Cirque Corporation

Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.

Jared Bytheway

Keith Lynn Paulsen

Jon Bertrand

Brian Monson

Paul Vincent

David Taylor

Paul H Glad

Ethan Sturm

J Douglas Moore

Nate Coy

Tomoki Yamada

Richard D Woolley

Dale J Carter

Brent Quist

Steven M Austin

Steven C Peterson

A human body detecting sensor system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a drive circuit, a detection circuit, and a comparison circuit. The second electrode is connected to the first electrode via a capacitor. The drive circuit generates a first signal having a prescribed frequency for driving the first electrode. The detection circuit detects a second signal generated at the second electrode in response to the first signal being supplied to the first electrode. The comparison circuit compares the first signal with the second signal. The comparison circuit detects a touch and/or an approach of an object, which has an impedance in a certain range corresponding to a human body, with respect to at least one of the first and second electrodes when a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal is within a prescribed range.

Human body sensor system using signal phase shift

A system for detecting a change in a battery cell may include instructions executable by a processor to determine a baseline profile of a battery cell with a capacitance sensor, detect a changed profile from the baseline profile with the capacitance sensor, match the changed profile with a stored profile where the stored profile is associated with a condition, and classify the battery cell as having the condition associated with the stored profile.

Battery swell detection

A capacitance sensor may be positioned to detect size changes in objects. The sensor may be constructed with to use mutual capacitance or self-capacitance to detect the size changes.

Size detection

A system that provides mechanical movement of a surface of a touch sensor when force is applied, may include a substrate; a touch sensor formed on a substrate; a flex arm coupled to the substrate forming a flexible joint between the substrate and the flex arm; a housing for the touch sensor, the housing supporting the touch sensor at a distal end of the flex arm; and a force sensor integrated into the flex arm.

Movement capability for buttonless touchpads and forcepads

A portable electronic device may include an electrical resistance sensor and a battery assembly being adjacent to the electrical resistance sensor. The electrical resistance sensor is positioned to be compressed when the battery assembly swells, and the electrical resistance sensor further includes a pressure sensitive material that exhibits a characteristic of changing an electrical conductance when compressed.

Resistance sensor for battery swell detection

A computing device may include a keyboard, a switch in mechanical communication with an underside of a key arranged in the keyboard, a processor, a transmit line electrically connected to the processor, a sense line electrically connected to the processor, and the transmit line and the sense line are selectively connectable through the switch when the key is depressed, memory in communication with the processor, and programmed instructions stored in the memory that, when executed, cause the processor to identify changes in capacitance from the sense line when the key is not depressed, identify a hand gesture performed proximate the keyboard based on the changes in capacitance, and execute an action based on at least one the identification of the hand gesture.

Hand gestures recognition over a switch based keyboard

A device may include a flexible material defining an exterior of a cavity, an interior electrode located within the cavity, a first peripheral electrode peripherally located with respect to the interior electrode on a first side of the interior electrode, a second peripheral electrode peripherally located with respect to the interior electrode on a second side of the interior electrode where the interior electrode is between the first peripheral electrode and the second peripheral electrode, a controller electrically connected to the interior electrode, the first peripheral electrode, and the second peripheral electrode, and programmed instructions written into memory of the controller where the programmed instructions cause the controller, when executed to measure a first capacitance between the first peripheral electrode and the interior electrode and measure a second capacitance between the second peripheral electrode and the interior electrode.

Flexible three-dimensional sensing input device

An apparatus may include a capacitance sensor, a processor in communication with the capacitance sensor, and memory having programmed instructions that cause the processor, when executed, to determine a closure status of a closure member based on a measurement from the capacitance sensor.

Closure member sensor

A system and method for increasing the proximity sensing distance of a touch and proximity sensitive touch sensor to thereby enable greater distance of detectability of a user in a proximity sensing mode of a touch sensor by driving a time varying voltage or drive signal onto a user who is also holding a touch sensor with at least one hand, and then sensing the drive signal from the user's fingers or thumb on sense electrodes that are on the touch sensor when the fingers are within a proximity sensing distance of sense electrodes in the touch sensor.

Finger tracking in an input device with proximity sensing

An input device includes a keyboard system where the keyboard system includes a keyboard transmit line electrically connected to an integrated circuit, a keyboard sense line electrically connected to the integrated circuit, and the keyboard transmit line and the keyboard sense line are selectively connectable through a switch incorporated into the keyboard system. The input device also includes a capacitive touch system where the capacitive touch system includes a touch transmit line electrically connected to the integrated circuit, and a touch sense line electrically connected to the integrated circuit. The keyboard system and the capacitive touch system use at least one common component of the integrated circuit during operation, and the keyboard system and the capacitive touch system are executable simultaneously.

Hybrid circuit for a touch pad keyboard

A computing device may include a keyboard, a switch in mechanical communication with an underside of a key arranged in the keyboard, a processor, a transmit line electrically connected to the processor, a sense line electrically connected to the processor, and the transmit line and the sense line are selectively connectable through the switch when the key is depressed, memory in communication with the processor, and programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to measure at least one change in capacitance from the sense line, identify the at least one change as a capacitive characteristic indicative that the key is depressed, identify that logic configured to indicate that the key is depressed from measurements associated with a temporary connection made between the transmit line and the sense line failed to identify the key is depressed, and execute a command to indicate that the key is depressed.

Keyboard capacitive backup

A system and method that combines skimmer detection technology with a waterproof and sealed touch sensor keypad that may be used outdoors in wet environments, and is capable of being operated by a user wearing gloves.

Touch keyboard

Systems and methods for providing a touch sensor include a dynamic suspension system to enable the touch sensor to emulate the tactile sensation that a user feels when using pushbutton switches, wherein a touch sensor is combined with at least one snap dome and a post inside the snap dome to keep the touch sensor rigid until the touch sensor is allowed to be displaced when a force is applied, and then the post is retracted or released to enable movement of the touch sensor and the snap dome are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and methods for a clickable touchpad that enables the clickable function to be selectively locked or unlocked in accordance with detected or sensed conditions are disclosed.

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

Jared Bytheway