Cirque Corporation

Cirris Systems Corporation

Jon Bertrand

Jared Bytheway

Brian Monson

Paul H Glad

Douglas Steck

Marlin Carl Shelley

David Taylor

Todd Rich

Paul Samuel Smith

Michael B Daley

Kevin W Shelley

Scott D Meredith

Todd D Rich

Brett C Zufelt

Kevin M Denning

Paul Vincent

Tyler Smith

Ethan Sturm

Michael Litster

A capacitance module may include a sensor layer having a set of electrodes; a component layer having a controller in communication with the set of electrodes; a shield layer positioned between the sensor layer and the component layer; an antenna disposed on the component layer; and anti-warping segments adjacent to the antenna and disposed on the component layer. The anti-warping segments may be electrically isolated from each other.

Anti-warping segments of a capacitance module

A capacitance module may include a capacitance electrode on a first substrate, shielding material disposed on a second substrate where the second substrate is aligned with the first substrate, an antenna where the shielding material is between the antenna and the capacitance electrode, and a continuous opening defined in the shielding material. The continuous opening may include a branching shape, the branching shape having a stem and multiple branches extending from the stem; and the continuous opening may overlap with the antenna.

Continuous opening in a shield layer

An electronic device may include a first part; a second part may be movably connected to the second part; a first capacitance electrode incorporated into the first part; a second capacitance electrode incorporated into the second part; a controller in communication with the first capacitance electrode, the second capacitance electrode, or combinations thereof; memory in communication with the controller; and programmed instructions stored in the memory and configured, when executed, to cause the controller to broadcast a signal with the first capacitance electrode; and detect with the broadcasted signal with the second capacitance electrode.

Screen detection with a capacitance module

A device may include a first set of electrodes; a second set of electrodes transversely oriented from the first set of electrodes; and a processor and memory, where the memory has programmed instructions to cause the processor, when executed to: activate a first portion of electrodes in the first set, measure a first resulting capacitance from activating the first portion of electrodes with at least some electrodes of the second set, activate a second portion of electrodes in the second set, and measure a second resulting capacitance from activating the second portion of electrodes with at least some electrodes of the first set.

Multi-axis measurement with a capacitance module

A portable electronic device may include a battery assembly, a battery swell detection unit in proximity to the battery assembly, the battery swell detection unit includes a circuit, a switch positioned to be moved by swelling of a battery cell, a processor, and memory having programmed instructions that cause the processor, when executed, to detect battery swelling based on a position of the switch.

Switch activated battery swell detection

A capacitance module may include at least one capacitance electrode; a controller in communication with the electrode; memory in communication with the controller, and programmed instructions stored in the memory and configured, when executed, to cause the controller to detect, with at least one capacitance electrode, a broadcasted signal from an electronic display component.

An apparatus may include a touch sensor where the touch sensor has a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes that are electrically isolated from the first set of electrodes, a shield layer positioned adjacent to the touch sensor where the shield layer has a first section and a second section where the first section of the shield layer has a different electrical characteristic than the second section of the shield layer, and a ground feature incorporated into the touch sensor.

Ground feature in a capacitive touch system

An apparatus may include a touch sensor where the touch sensor has a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes that are electrically isolated from the first set of electrodes, a shield layer positioned adjacent to the touch sensor, and the shield layer having a plurality of thermal expansion grooves.

Thermal expansion groove of a capacitive touch system

A portable electronic device may include a battery assembly and a battery swell detection unit in proximity to the battery assembly. The battery swell detection unit may include an electrode, a dome made of an electrically conductive material positioned between the battery assembly and the electrode, a processor, and memory having programmed instructions that cause the processor, when executed, to detect battery swelling based on a depression of the dome.

Battery swell detection with an electrically conductive dome

A device may include a pressure sensor; a user interface including an input surface opposite to an underside of the user interface, where the underside is positioned near the pressure sensor; a controller; memory in communication with the controller and comprising programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to detect a lower pressure input, simultaneously detect a higher pressure input, calculate a pressure differential between the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input, and move an object depicted in a display in communication with the controller based on the pressure differential.

Pressure gesture

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

Touch sensor systems and methods are disclosed including a radio frequency antenna that can be placed on or very near the touch pad. The touch pad sensor includes a patterned shielding that shields the touch pad sensor from back-side signals and has opening that are large enough to allow radio frequencies to pass through the touch pad sensor.

Radio frequency transparent capacitive touch systems and methods

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 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.

Growing community of inventors

Taylorsville, UT, United States of America

Jon Bertrand