Texas Instruments Corporation

Syscan, Inc.

Utstarcom, Incorporated

Other

Dali Systems Co. Ltd.

Centillium Communications, Inc.

Ikanos Communications, Inc.

Syscan Technology (shenzhen) Co., Ltd.

Quiet Solutions, Inc.

Dongtai Liu

George Reitsma

Darwin Hu

Dali Yang

Alpha Hou

James B Anderson

Evgeny Fomin

Chengrong Lu

Yanbin Yu

Christopher Alan Oberhauser

Daniele Miatton

William Xiao-Qing Huang

Mohammed A Safai

George Reistsma

Athos Canclini

Riccardo Tarelli

George Pieter Reitsma

A dual touch sensor with XY-position and Z-force sensing, such as for implementing a touch button, includes a touch sensor assembly with: (a) an XY-position sensor (such as capacitive, single ended or differential) including an XY electrode disposed at the backside of the touch surface opposite the button area to define an XY sensing area corresponding to the button area, the XY-position sensor to sense a touch within the XY sensing area, as a button-touch event; and (b) a Z-force sensor (such as inductive or capacitive) including a Z-electrode to sense touch-pressure deflection of the touch surface, including to sense a touch-pressure deflection that exceeds a button-press threshold as a button-press event. Sensor electronics coupled to the XY-position sensor and the Z-force sensor detects, as a button touch-press condition, the capacitive XY-position sensor sensing a button-touch event, substantially contemporaneous with the Z-Force sensor sensing a button-press event.

Dual touch sensor architecture with XY-position and Z-force sensing for touch-on-surface button

A device (such as for mobile communications) including a capacitive touch-on-surface (ToS) display adapted for capacitive touch-force sensing. A ToS capacitive sensor includes a profiled capacitive sensor electrode, intermediate and spaced from parallel ground plates by elastomeric insulator/dielectric spacer elements. The profiled capacitive sensor electrode has a non-uniform density profile that is relatively lower near a center of the electrode, and relatively higher near edges of the electrode, for example, equalizing touch-force sensitivity such that sensitivity to a touch-force deflection is substantially uniform across the profiled capacitive electrode. Capacitive sensor electronics coupled to the profiled capacitive sensor electrode measures a touch-force deflection of the ToS display panel based on a resulting touch-force deflection of the profiled capacitive electrode, such that the combined distance between the profiled capacitive sensor electrode and the ground electrodes is reduced by compression of the elastomeric spacer elements.

Capacitive touch-on-surface input apparatus with touch-force sensing using profiled capacitive electrode

A touch sensing apparatus for dual (adjacent) touch buttons (areas) defined on a touch surface (such as a sidewall of a mobile communications device). The apparatus includes first and second touch sensor assemblies, each including a support structure, a mounting structure to mount the touch sensor assembly to the back-side of the surface, and a sense inductor coil disposed on one of the support structure and the mounting structure. The first touch sensor assembly mounted to the back-side of the surface opposite the first touch area. The second touch sensor assembly mounted to the back-side of the surface opposite the second touch area. The touch sensor assembly can be constructed with the sense inductor coil disposed on the support structure, such that deflection of the respective touch area causes the touch surface to deflect toward the sense inductor coil, or with the sense inductor coil is disposed on the mounting structure, such that deflection of the respective touch area causes the touch surface and the sense coil inductor to deflect toward the support structure.

Touch sensing apparatus with dual touch sensors

Touch/key sensing with N-1 key scan averaging, for use with an N-key touch input apparatus, including a key matrix of N touch-key sense circuits, including: (a) continuously scanning the key matrix at a first bandwidth to determine a respective touch-key baseline sense signal, independent of a key-press condition, and a related touch-key baseline value based on successive baseline sense signals; and (b) during successive key-scan periods, scanning the key matrix at a second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth, and for each touch key N, determining a touch-key sense signal, generating an N-1 key-scan average value by averaging the touch-key baseline values for the other N-1 touch keys, comparing the Nth touch-key sense signal to a key-press threshold based on the N-1 key-scan average value; and (c) signaling a key-press condition if the touch-key sense signal is greater in magnitude than the N-1 key-scan average value by the key-press threshold.

Touch keypad with key scanning

A touch-scroll apparatus can provide touch-scroll input/functionality, such as for a mobile communication device (as an example application). The touch-scroll apparatus includes a multi-coil sensor assembly including multiple sense inductor coils (for example, three). A sensor slot is formed in a portion of the device case (such as a device side-wall), defining a touch-scrolling surface/area at the exterior of the device. The sidewall slot is dimensioned to receive and position the touch-scrolling multi-coil sensor assembly relative to the touch-scrolling surface/area. Inductive sensor electronics is coupled to the multiple touch-scroll sense inductor coils to detect scrolling movement and direction based on signal output from the sensor inductor coil signals (such as changes in coil inductance), including for each a peak signal corresponding to maximum deflection of the touch-scrolling surface/area opposite the sense inductor coil. The touch-scrolling sensor assembly can be secured within the sensor slot with elastomeric pads.

Inductive touch input

An apparatus to secure a sensor assembly for a device touch button (such as for a mobile communications device). A touch sensor slot forms a part of the device case interior at a back-side of the touch button surface, and is configured to position the touch sensor (such as a sense coil inductor) relative to the associated touch button. A touch sensor spring clip is inserted within the touch sensor slot to flexibly urge the touch sensor toward the front-side surface of the touch sensor slot (back-side of the touch button surface). The touch sensor can include front-side spacers to maintain a sensing gap between the touch sensor and the touch button surface, and can include a sensor stiffener at the back-side surface of the touch sensor assembly, the touch sensor spring clip contacting the sensor stiffener. The touch sensor assembly can comprise a flex circuit PCB assembly.

Apparatus to secure a sensor assembly for a device touch button

A capacitive sensing methodology is suitable for sensing touch position along a sensor track based on touch capacitance based on touch position and touch pressure. The method is operable with a capacitive sensor including first and second capacitive sensor electrodes juxtaposed in a complementary configuration to define the sensor track, the complementary first and second sensor electrodes configured such that, as touch position moves along the sensor track, the electrode capacitance Cof one sensor electrode monotonically decreases, and the electrode capacitance Cof the complementary other sensor electrode monotonically increases, so that the touch capacitance corresponds to a combination of Cand C. Pressure-compensated touch position data is generated from touch position information generated based on position and pressure functions, where the position function generates position information based on Cand C, and the pressure function generates pressure information based on Cand C.

Capacitive position sensing with pressure compensation using dual-electrode sensor

Remote inductive sensing uses a sensor resonator with a remote sense inductor coupled to a resonator capacitor through a shielded transmission line. The T-line includes a signal line and a shield return line: the sense inductor is connected at a T-line sensing end between the signal line and the shield return line, and the resonator capacitor is connected at a T-line terminal end to at least the signal line. An inductance-to-data converter (IDC) is connected at the T-line terminal end to the signal line and shield return line (set to a common mode voltage). In operation, the IDC drives oscillation signals over the signal line to the sensor resonator to sustain a resonance state, with the sense inductor projecting a magnetic sensing field, and converts changes in oscillation drive signals, representing changes in resonance state resulting from a sensed condition, into sensor data corresponding to the sensed condition.

Remote sensing using sensor resonator with sensor inductor coupled to resonator capacitor over shielded cable

A finger sensing device includes a first conductive plate, wherein the area between the finger and the first conductive plate increases in response to the finger moving in a first direction proximate the first conductive plate. A second conductive plate is located proximate the first conductive plate, wherein the area between the finger and the second conductive plate decreases in response to the finger moving in the first direction proximate the second conductive plate. A first capacitance detector is coupled to the first conductive plate for measuring a first capacitance between the finger and the first conductive plate. A second capacitance detector is coupled to the second conductive plate for measuring a second capacitance between the finger and the second conductive plate.

Finger sensing device and method

An apparatus to secure a touch sensor assembly for a device touch button (such as for a mobile communications device). A touch sensor slot IS integral with the device at the touch button area. A touch sensor assembly includes a touch flex sensor, and at least three alternating front-side and back-side flexible spacer elements attached to the touch flex sensor. The touch flex sensor can be secured within the touch sensor slot, and spaced from the front-side and back-side slot walls by respectively the front-side and back-side spacer elements. An elastic insulator material is introduced into the touch sensor slot surrounding the touch flex sensor. The sensor slot can be formed in a device wall, or formed by a touch sensor slot structure attached to the device at the touch button area, with an interior surface of the device forming a front-side wall of the touch sensor slot.

Securing a touch sensor assembly for a touch button within a device

A touch button structure for a mobile communications or other device, including a sensor slot with front-side and back-side slot walls formed in the device wall, an interior surface of a touch button area forming the front-side slot wall, and a sensor component inserted within the sensor slot. The sensor component includes a sense element operable to sense a touch-deflection of the front-side slot wall toward the sense element in response to a touch-press of the touch button, and front-side and back-side elastic insulating retention laminates affixed to the front/back-side of the sense element. The front/back-side elastic laminates being compressible for insertion of the sensor component into the sensor slot, and when inserted, are decompressible to contact respectively the front-side and back-side slot walls, and at least the front-side elastic laminate is compressible in response to a deflection of the front-side slot wall in the direction of the sense element.

Securing a touch sensor assembly for a touch button

A rotational resolver system and method includes a rotational shaft to which at least one eccentric conductive coarse resolution disc is fixed and to which at least one conductive fine resolution disc is also fixed. The fine resolution disc defines a plurality of generally semicircular protruding edge segments. At least one conductive coarse-disc sensing coil is disposed adjacent an edge of the coarse resolution disc, and at least one conductive fine-disc sensing coil is disposed adjacent the edge of the fine resolution disc. These coils may be oriented for axial sensing of the respective disc.

Multi-level rotational resolvers using inductive sensors

A rotational sensing system is adaptable to sensing motor rotation based on eddy current sensing. An axial target surface is incorporated with the motor rotor, and includes one or more conductive target segment(s). An inductive sensor is mounted adjacent the axial target surface, and includes one or more inductive sense coil(s), such that rotor rotation rotates the target segment(s) laterally under the sense coil(s). An inductance-to-digital converter (IDC) drives sensor excitation current to project a magnetic sensing field toward the rotating axial target surface. Sensor response is characterized by successive sensor phase cycles that cycle between Lin which a sense coil is aligned with a target segment, and Lin which the sense coil is misaligned. The number of sensor phase cycles in a rotor rotation cycle corresponds to the number of target segments. The IDC converts sensor response measurements from successive sensor phase cycles into rotational data.

Rotational sensing based on inductive sensing

An embodiment of the invention is a predistortion approach to linearize a power amplifier by using one or more analog multiplier(s) and a DSP-based processor. For the analog embodiment, the inherent nature of the analog circuitries allows digital predistortion processing structured directly at the RF band, and enables a single power amplifier to support multi-modulation schemes, multi-carriers and multi-channels. As a result, the predistortion architecture is particularly suitable for wireless transmission systems, such as base-stations, repeaters, and indoor signal coverage systems. The wireless system performance can be improved and upgraded just by using the new PA module rather than change or rebuild new subsystem in existing base station. The analog embodiment can also mix and match its analog multipliers with other analog components such as phase splitters, phase shifters, attenuators, filters, couplers, mixers, low-noise amplifiers, buffers, envelope detectors, and etc., to provide additional features.

Analog power amplifier predistortion methods and apparatus

An embodiment of the invention is a predistortion approach to linearize a power amplifier without frequency conversion of the RF signals by using envelope and phase detectors to detect the error to be corrected, and then one or more analog multiplier(s) and a DSP-based processor. For the analog embodiment, the inherent nature of the analog circuitries allows digital predistortion processing structured directly at the RF band, and enables a single power amplifier to support multi-modulation schemes, multi-carriers and multi-channels. As a result, the predistortion architecture is particularly suitable for wireless transmission systems, such as base-stations, repeaters, and indoor signal coverage systems. The wireless system performance can be improved and upgraded just by using the new PA module rather than change or rebuild new subsystem in existing base station. The analog embodiment can also mix and match its analog multipliers with other analog components such as phase splitters, phase shifters, attenuators, filters, couplers, mixers, low-noise amplifiers, buffers, envelope detectors, and etc., to provide additional features.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Dongtai Liu