Mihai M Bulea

US Patent:

8440920, May 14, 2013

Filed:

Dec 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/644969

Inventors:

Mihai M. Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US
Patrick Worfolk - Campbell CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/044

US Classification:

178 1806

Abstract:

A two-dimensional capacitive sensor device comprises a sensor substrate with a plurality of wedge shaped sensor cells arranged in a single-layer circular pattern proximal to the substrate. The plurality of wedge shaped sensor cells are arranged in a rotationally symmetric pattern about a center of the single-layer circular pattern. A sensor cell of the plurality of wedge shaped sensor cells comprises a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode separated by a border. The first and second sensor electrodes are configured for detecting changes in capacitance caused by one or more input objects. The first and second sensor electrodes become substantially thinner in width approaching the center of the single-layer circular pattern than at a distance further from the center. A sensor circuitry is communicatively coupled with the sensor electrodes of the sensor cell and the sensor circuitry is configured to interpret the changes in capacitance.

US Patent:

8456443, Jun 4, 2013

Filed:

Jul 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/508920

Inventors:

Mihai M. Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US
Patrick Worfolk - Cambell CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345174, 178 1806, 463 37

Abstract:

A two-dimensional capacitive sensor device comprises first, second, and third sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode has a varying width along a first direction, a maximum width at a first edge along the first direction, and a minimum width at a second edge along the first direction. The second sensor electrode has a varying width along the first direction and substantially identical widths at the first edge and second edge. The third sensor electrode has a varying width along the first direction, a minimum width at the first edge, and a maximum width at the second edge. The first, second, and third sensor electrodes have substantially equal surface area and are arranged in a first sensor cell with the second disposed between the first and third sensor electrodes. The two-dimensional capacitive sensor device comprises a plurality of sensor cells disposed in a repeated fashion in a single layer.

US Patent:

8531433, Sep 10, 2013

Filed:

Jul 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/184309

Inventors:

Mihai M. Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/045

US Classification:

345174

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for producing capacitive images of a sensing region of a sensor electrode are disclosed. The sensor electrode comprises a plurality of connection sections and a non-connection section. The sensor electrode is connected to sensor circuitry at a plurality of connection locations located in the plurality of connection sections and not the non-connection section. The apparatus is operated by transmitting a transmitter signal into the sensor electrode at a connection location of the plurality of connection locations, receiving a plurality of resulting signals from the sensor electrode at multiple connection locations of the plurality of connection locations, and producing a capacitive image using the plurality of resulting signals. The plurality of resulting signals includes effects of the transmitter signal propagating through the sensor electrode to the multiple connection locations. The capacitive image comprising a non-connection value associated with the non-connection section.

US Patent:

8570297, Oct 29, 2013

Filed:

Dec 14, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/636952

Inventors:

Mihai M. Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US
Thomas E. Shortledge - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/045

US Classification:

345174, 345173, 345156

Abstract:

An input device is provided that facilitates improved user interface functionality by determining force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region. The input device includes a processing system, a sensor configured to sense objects in a sensing region proximate a surface, and a plurality of force sensors. The plurality of force sensors are coupled to the surface to provide a plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. The processing system is configured to determine positional information for each the multiple objects sensed by the sensor in the sensing region. Furthermore, the processing system is configured to determine force information for each of the multiple objects from the positional information and the plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. Thus, device and method provides the ability to determine both positional information and force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region.

US Patent:

8618428, Dec 31, 2013

Filed:

Dec 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/968000

Inventors:

Mihai M. Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/044
G06F 3/045

US Classification:

178 1804, 345174

Abstract:

The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide the ability to determine object information for objects causing rigid motion on a capacitive sensor device. In one embodiment, the device and method is configured to determine an estimated rigid motion response associated with a substantially rigid motion of the at least one sensing electrode using a set of sensor values, where the substantially rigid motion was caused by one or more objects in contact with the input surface. The estimated rigid motion response at least partially accounts for effects of capacitive coupling with the object(s) in contact with the input surface. The device and method may determine object information using the estimated rigid motion response. Where the input device is used to direct an electronic system, the object information may be used to facilitate a variety of interface actions.

US Patent:

20100019780, Jan 28, 2010

Filed:

Jul 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/179523

Inventors:

Mihai Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

G01R 27/26

US Classification:

324662

Abstract:

Methods for determining the position of multiple objects concurrently disposed within a capacitive sensing region are described. In one embodiment, indicia are received from a first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes oriented along a first axis. Indicia are received from a second plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes oriented along a second axis, wherein the second axis is oriented non-parallel to the first axis. Indicia are received from a third plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes oriented along a third axis, wherein the third axis is oriented non-parallel to the first axis and the second axis. Then, the indicia received from the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, the indicia received from the second plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, and the indicia received from the third plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes is used to determine the positions of the multiple objects concurrently disposed within the capacitive sensing region.

US Patent:

20110062969, Mar 17, 2011

Filed:

Jun 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/815662

Inventors:

Kirk Hargreaves - Sunnyvale CA, US
Mihai M. Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

G01R 27/26

US Classification:

324658

Abstract:

A capacitive imaging sensor device includes a sensor substrate. A first set of sensor electrodes is disposed on a first surface of the sensor substrate, substantially in parallel with a first axis, and with at least two of its sensor electrodes extending for different lengths along the first axis. A second set of sensor electrodes is disposed on the first surface, substantially in parallel with the first axis, and in a common single layer with the first set. A processing system is coupled with the first and second sets and configured for: measuring a first capacitive coupling between a first sensor electrode of the first set and a sensor electrode of the second set; measuring a second capacitive coupling between a second sensor electrode of the first set and the sensor electrode of the second set; and determining a capacitance image using the first and second measurements of capacitive coupling.

US Patent:

20120120017, May 17, 2012

Filed:

Nov 17, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/948455

Inventors:

Patrick Worfolk - Campbell CA, US
Mihai M. Bulea - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/045

US Classification:

345174

Abstract:

The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide the ability to determine object information for objects causing deflection of a surface of a capacitive sensor device. The devices and methods are configured to determine an estimated deflection response associated with a deflection of the at least one sensing electrode using a set of sensor values, where the deflection was caused by one or more objects in contact with the input surface. The estimated deflection response at least partially accounts for effects of capacitive coupling with the object(s) in contact with the input surface, Object information may then be generated using the estimated deflection response. Where the input device is used to direct an electronic system the object information may be used to facilitate a variety of interface actions on a variety of different electronic systems.