Irvine Sensors Corporation

Clare Micronix Integrated Systems, Inc.

Semtech Corporation

Novalog, Inc.

Robert Edward DeCaro

James W Everitt

Patrick N Dennehey

Ying Wen Hsu

John C Carson

Olivier Nys

Christ H Saunders

Michael K Miyake

Christopher T Pinckney

Dale Maeding

Jean-Paul Bardyn

Bret R Howe

An apparatus and method for the use of a resistive touch screen as a proximity sensor. The touch screen operates in a touch sensing mode and a proximity sensing mode. The proximity sensing mode turns off the touch sensing circuit and uses the equivalent capacitor formed by the top layer of the touch screen with a nearby object to detect proximity. A control circuit selectively connects the touch screen with measurement circuits to perform each of the sensing functions. The control circuit can be implemented with timing based control or an event driven topology.

Use of resistive touch screen as a proximity sensor

A system for providing balanced currents at locations in devices requiring accurate, matched and repeatable current sources, for example visual displays having arrays of light-emitting sources. In one embodiment, the system provides closely balanced currents flowing through column drivers located at or near end regions of a display area. The system allows for more closely matching currents at adjacent columns in a device such as a visual display, wherein the currents are driven by separate driver circuits, thereby eliminating discontinuity in brightness across the entire display area and providing higher quality visual display devices. Another embodiment provides closely balanced currents flowing through column drivers located at or near end regions of a display area. The system additionally allows for balancing currents at adjacent columns or regions throughout the device.

System for current matching in integrated circuits

A method of providing balanced currents at locations in devices requiring accurate, matched and repeatable current sources, for example visual displays having arrays of light-emitting sources. In one embodiment, the method provides closely balanced currents flowing through column drivers located at or near end regions of a display area. The method allows for more closely matching currents at adjacent columns in a device such as a visual display, wherein the currents are driven by separate driver circuits, thereby eliminating discontinuity in brightness across the entire display area and providing higher quality visual display devices. Another embodiment provides closely balanced currents flowing through column drivers located at or near end regions of a display area. The method additionally allows for balancing currents at adjacent columns or regions throughout the device.

Method of current matching in integrated circuits

An improved apparatus and method are provided for wireless communication with computers. The communication apparatus is integral with a removable by cover of a computer case and operatively connected to memory means associated with the case. By mounting or affixing the wireless communication device to a bay or slot cover in the computer case, conventional existing computers can be readily retrofitted to include integral and upgradable wireless communication. In certain embodiments, a jack or other connection is provided in the bay or slot cover, and a removable wireless communication member is selectively connected to the jack. Cable means preferably connect a motherboard within the computer housing to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device or connection may be combined on a single bay cover with a conventional device such as a diskette drive, tape drive, or the like.

Wireless computer communication apparatus, and related method

Stacked, multimodular circuit assemblies are provided which comprise stacked, resealable, modules containing electronic circuitry, each module having a plurality of electrically conductive, embedded through-vias between the upper and major surfaces thereof. The through-vias are contained within the module matrix outside of the circuit-containing cavity or 'tub' of the module and within the outer edges of the module body. Electronic circuitry contained in the module cavity is electrically connected to the through-vias by signal traces or vias passing out of the cavity and into contact with the through-vias, and adjacent modules are electrically interconnected by a resealable, multichannel connector array between adjacent modules having electrically conductive channels coupling opposing through-vias of the adjacent modules. The connector arrays can also serve to seal the assembly when the entire assemblage of modules is compressed and to connect the stacked modular assembly to exterior circuitry such as a printed circuit board or other device. Methods are also provided for assembling and electrically interconnecting electronic components within such stacked multimodular assemblies by attaching components of an electronic circuit to at least two stackable modules of the type described within the cavity thereof, interconnecting the circuit components with the described through-vias, and stacking and interconnecting the stackable modules with the described multichannel connector arrays interposed between each adjacent module pair.

Stackable modules and multimodular assemblies

A wireless infrared pulse-transmitting system for communication with electronic components. The receiver for such a system has radically reduced current (and power) values, which permit a battery-powered receiver to remain on while awaiting transmitter signals. Use of several mosfet transistors operating in the subthreshold region minimizes power. Bandwidth requirements are met, in spite of the low power operation. In order to eliminate amplifier saturation, with the accompanying problem of recovery time which slows the transmission process, clamping circuitry is used to cause instantaneous shunting of signals when a predetermined signal level is reached.

Growing community of inventors

San Juan Capistrano, CA, United States of America

Robert Edward DeCaro