Azoteq (pty) Ltd

Other

Microchip Technology Inc.

Global Touch Solutions, LLC

Azotec (pty) Limited

Azoteq Holdings Limited

Azoteq (pte) Ltd

Bruwer, Frederick Johannes

Frederick Johannes Bruwer

Douw Gerbrandt Van Der Merwe

Dieter Sydney-Charles Mellet

Brandt Aucamp

Willem Smit

Daniel Barend Rademeyer

Johann Swanepoel

Jacobus Daniel Van Wyk

Regardt Busch

Willem Jabcobus Marneweck

Johannes Albertus Van Niekerk

Daniel Van Wyk

Willem Adriaan Doorduin

Terence Erasmus

Abraham Carl Greyling

Riaan Du Toit

Jacobus Daniël Van Wyk

Alan Frederick Butler

Lajos Monte Vari

Aucamp Brandt

Gerrit Johannes De Villiers

Jakobus Daniel Van Wyk

Pieter Jacobus Pretorius

Theodor Johannes Dippenaar

Nico Johann Swanepoel

Gideon Jacobus K{umlaut Over (u)}hn

Jean Viljoen

Grant Cecil Harker

An inductive sensing-based user interface device which includes a conductive barrier with at least one aperture, a magnetic flux modifier attached to a rotary member on one side of the barrier and an inductive structure on an opposed side of the barrier aligned with the aperture, magnetically coupled to the flux modifier, wherein a change in sensed inductance is used to determine rotational input.

Inductive sensing user interface devices

Inductance values are measured though the use of a charge transfer based measurement system. During a first phase, a target inductor is connected to an energy source to allow current through an inductor to increase. In a second phase, the inductor is disconnected from the energy source, to allow the current to decrease, and to facilitate transfer of charge to a capacitor. The phases may be repeated, and a count is kept of the number of repetitions.

Inductance sensing

An intelligent mains power supply dimmer unit and LED lamp combination with improved power factor. The dimmer applies phase-cutting at a first angle for a first period to a mains voltage supplied to the lamp, whereafter the dimmer removes the phase-cutting. The lamp interprets the first angle as a first power level, which is then stored. The lamp retrieves the level after the first period and regulates its consumption accordingly.

Power factor dimming

Improved means and methods to sense rotation using magnetic field sensors, inductance sensing and capacitive sensing employ a user interface comprising a knob and an integrated circuit containing a magnetic field sensor and inductance measuring circuitry. A permanent magnet and a metal member are attached to the knob, allowing detection of rotation of the knob and when the knob is depressed. A first press is interpreted as an activation command, a subsequent rotation is detected, indicated and stored, a second press is interpreted as a deactivation command and a third press is interpreted as a command to reactivate and automatically select a specific rotational position.

Rotational sensing

A method for a smart phone app is provided wherein entry to a secure data storage area is facilitated on a file or object level, and not on an app level, wherein the secure data storage area is hidden from the normal application display or view. To obtain an interface which allows entry into the secure data storage area, a user may perform one or other input action, gesture or other step, wherein these are linked with a specific file or object.

Secure mobile phone document storage application

A user interface which includes a capacitive measurement circuit with a sense plate covered by an electrically conductive cover member, and wherein said circuit may sense two types of events, said types distinguished by an inverse change in measured capacitance, and wherein user proximity and touches with less than a minimum required force constitute one event type, and touches with more than said minimum force constitute the other event type.

Pressure dependent capacitive sensing circuit switch construction

An integrated circuit compensates for parasitic capacitance in a capacitive measuring apparatus wherein a capacitance measurement is done by repeatedly transferring charge from a capacitor to be measured to a reference capacitor.

Parasitic capacitance cancellation in capacitive measurement

An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor technology that differentiates between proximity and physical contact events to activate and control various loads including light bulbs, products with radio frequency circuitry or electric motors. An input to the microchip is connected to a switch or sensing structure that does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The electronic circuit controls various functions in response to user actions including automatic delayed shut-off functions, find-in-the-dark indicator and power source level/product state indications. The microchip allows the user to select specific functions based on the time duration of activation signals, the time duration between activation signals and the number of activation signals at the input. The microchip is further configured to interpret and react to the signals received from a user in a way that enhances ease of use of the product and to use the indicators to provide information to the user that is influenced by the signals received as well as the state of the product.

User interface with proximity sensing

A microchip for control of a switch mode power supply (SMPS), with said microchip also having the ability to measure capacitance of an electrode or sense plate structure or structures, and use of a low power, power supply structure to supply said microchip, said power supply structure distinct from the main energy path via said SMPS to a load. The microchip may control said SMPS to transition between an active state and an inactive state, with the measured capacitance used to determine a condition for state transition. In said SMPS inactive state, only the microchip draws power to operate its capacitive sensing circuitry, leading to a significant SMPS standby losses decrease compared to prior art. Further teachings by the present invention include capacitive sensing based data transfer, universal charging platforms for mobile devices, noise immunity enhancements, various lighting embodiments as well as SMPS operation improvements.

Capacitive sensing enabled switch mode power supply and data transfer

A capacitive sensing-based electronic switch, which incorporates an integrated circuit with processing capability, which can only be activated by user action in a dedicated area, whereby switch activation occurs only if, at least, a touch is capacitively sensed and criteria based on timing plus sequential touches on capacitive sensors are satisfied.

Intelligent capacitive swipe switch

The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a microchip in communication with the switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the exhaustible power source of the electronic device and controls (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least one other function of the device in response to activation and deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the switch.

Intelligent user interface including a touch sensor device

An integrated circuit for compensating for parasitic capacitance in a capacitive measuring apparatus wherein a capacitance measurement is done by repeatedly transferring charge from a capacitor to be measured to a reference capacitor.

Parasitic capacitance cancellation in capacitive measurement applications

Growing community of inventors

Paarl, South Africa

Frederick Johannes Bruwer