Uniform-density coplanar touch sensor
Granted: August 25, 2015
Patent Number:
9116586
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more drive electrodes and one or more sense electrodes of a touch sensor. Each drive electrode and each sense electrode includes a number of first and second conductive regions made of a conductive mesh of lines of conductive material. The first conductive regions have a first mesh density. The second conductive regions have a second mesh density. The first mesh density is greater than the second mesh density. The apparatus also includes…
Dielectric layer for touch sensor stack
Granted: August 25, 2015
Patent Number:
9116584
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a substrate comprising a first surface. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of first electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials on the first surface. The touch sensor further includes a dielectric layer formed over the first electrodes and at least a portion of the first surface. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant less than or equal to approximately 3.
Executing gestures with active stylus
Granted: August 25, 2015
Patent Number:
9116558
In one embodiment, a stylus with one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for transmitting signals wirelessly to a device through a touch sensor of the device has one or more sensors for detecting movement of the stylus.
Transmitting/receiving device and method for transmitting data in a radio network
Granted: August 18, 2015
Patent Number:
9112587
In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes circuitry coupled to a switch between a first and second antenna of a device. The circuitry generates a first control signal for the switch to couple a transceiver of the device to the first antenna for transmission of a first data frame. The circuitry determines whether the transceiver has received, within a pre-determined time interval after transmission of the first data frame, a second data frame containing an acknowledgement message…
Calibrating temperature coefficients for integrated circuits
Granted: August 18, 2015
Patent Number:
9112513
A calibration system and method are disclosed that include a first bias current generator configured for generating a first bias current that is proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) and a second bias current generator configured for generating a second bias current that is complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT). The first and second bias currents are copied, multiplied and then summed into a total output bias current, which can be used to bias an electronic circuit. A…
Method for restructuring distorted capacitive touch data
Granted: August 18, 2015
Patent Number:
9110550
In one embodiment, a method for restructuring distorted capacitive touch data includes receiving an array of touch amplitude data associated with an electrode line of a capacitive touch sensor in response to a touch on a touch sensitive display. The method also includes detecting a distortion in the array of touch amplitude data and calculating, in response to detecting the distortion, a corrected array of touch amplitude data such that the corrected array of touch amplitude data…
Self-capacitance measurement using compensation capacitor
Granted: August 4, 2015
Patent Number:
9098155
In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a first amount of charge between a measurement capacitance and a sample-and-hold capacitor resulting in a voltage at the measurement capacitance being a first voltage. The division of the first amount of charge is based at least in part on a configuration of a compensation capacitor relative to the measurement capacitance and the sample-and-hold capacitor. The configuration being determined based at least in part on an output without the…
Dielectric layer for touch sensor stack
Granted: August 4, 2015
Patent Number:
9098152
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a substrate comprising a first surface. The touch sensor also includes a plurality of first electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials on the first surface. The touch sensor further includes a dielectric layer attached at least indirectly to the first electrodes and at least a portion of the first surface. The dielectric layer is configured to face an electronic display panel with an air gap between the dielectric layer and the…
Method for identifying smart meters in a smart grid
Granted: July 28, 2015
Patent Number:
9094430
A method for providing an identification of individual smart meters among a plurality of smart meters communicably coupled in a networked grid area based on a unique identification number stored in the memory of the smart meter is provided. The method includes calculating a first value corresponding to the unique identification number, receiving a query message including a second value corresponding to the unique identification number of one of the plurality of smart meters and…
Dual-mode, AC/DC power converter with power factor correction
Granted: July 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9088219
A dual-mode circuit for the control of an AC/DC power converter is disclosed. An example dual-mode controller circuit generates a waveform that drives a switch on or off and controls the power converter. The controller circuit in addition to power factor correction (PFC) circuitry includes a critical conducting mode (CrM) module as well as a discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) module configured to generate waveforms adapted for CrM and DCM operation of a power converter. The circuit…
Touch sensor with high-density macro-feature design
Granted: July 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9086770
In one embodiment, a touch position-sensing panel comprises a sensing area comprising a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes in a first layer, the plurality of first electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a first direction, the first layer having a first plurality of gaps formed therein, a plurality of second electrodes in a second layer, the plurality of second electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a second direction, the second layer having a second…
Dynamic reconfiguration of electrodes in an active stylus
Granted: July 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9086745
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a change in an operating characteristic of a stylus. The stylus is operable to communicate wirelessly with a device through a touch sensor of the device, and the stylus includes one or more electrodes. The method includes, in response to the change, dynamically configuring an electrode for the operating characteristic of the stylus as changed.
Programmable logic unit
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9083339
Programmable logic units are described. A described unit includes one or more input interfaces to receive one or more input signals; logic elements that are individually programmable; one or more output interfaces to provide one or more output signals; and a programmable interconnect array that is configured to selectively form one or more interconnections within the unit based on one or more programming settings. The programmable interconnect array can be programmable to route the one…
Proximity sensor
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9081572
In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring detection by a sensing element of a key touch on a touch screen; determining an amount of time that has elapsed since the sensing element last detected a change of capacitance indicative of a key touch on the touch screen; and, if the amount of time that has elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration, then initiating a particular function of an apparatus.
Touch sensor with capacitive voltage divider
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9081454
In certain embodiments, a touch-sensor controller is operable to apply a first voltage to a first drive line. The first drive line comprises a first one or more drive electrodes. The touch-sensor controller is further operable to measure a second voltage across a capacitor. The capacitor is coupled to a first sense line. The first sense line comprises a first one or more sense electrodes. The touch-sensor controller is further operable to determine, based on the second voltage across the…
Shieldless touch sensor noise cancellation
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9081443
An apparatus may include a controller and a capacitive sensor that includes electrodes. The controller includes a processor and a memory. When logic is executed by the processor, the logic is capable of selecting a first subset of electrodes for measurement and selecting one of the electrodes from a second subset of electrodes as a reference drive electrode. The logic is further capable of determining a difference between a capacitance measurement of the first subset and a capacitance…
Position-sensing panel and method
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9081427
An exemplary touch position sensing panel includes an opaque electrode layer and a transparent electrode layer separated from the opaque electrode layer by a substrate. The electrodes are arranged such that nodes are formed in areas where the electrodes cross over each other. The transparent electrode layer shields the opaque layer from electric field noise from electric field sources underlying the position-sensing panel, such as a display, while at the same time providing transparency…
Voltage regulator and control circuit for supplying voltage to a plurality of subcircuits via a chain of switches
Granted: July 7, 2015
Patent Number:
9075588
An example circuit includes a voltage regulator, a controller, and a chain of switches. The voltage regulator is configured to generate a supply voltage, the supply voltage connected to each switch in the chain of switches, and generate a supply voltage status signal, the supply voltage status signal indicating a status of the supply voltage. The chain of switches includes a first switch configured to switch the supply voltage to a first subcircuit of a plurality of sub circuits based on…
Substrate for electrical component and method
Granted: July 7, 2015
Patent Number:
9077344
Insulating substrates may be selectively removed to form electrical connections between conductive patterns on different faces of the insulating substrate or between conductive patterns on the insulating substrate and external circuits.
Stored authorization status for cryptographic operations
Granted: July 7, 2015
Patent Number:
9076002
A hardware authentication device is disclosed that uses a cryptographic signature verification operation to authorize a subsequent cryptographic operation to be performed using the same or different keys and stores that authorization status in protected memory. The cryptographic algorithm may be an ECDSA signature, SHA-based Message Authentication Code (MAC) or any other cryptographic algorithm. The authorization status may be stored for a number of uses for a period of time or until a…
