公开(公告)号：US10288658B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US15886173

申请日：2018-02-01

Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated

Inventor： Peter Spevak

IPC: G01R27/26 ,  G01N27/22 ,  G01N27/24 ,  G06F3/038 ,  G06F3/0362 ,  G01D5/24 ,  G01D5/241 ,  G01R31/02 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G01R31/28

Abstract: Described example user interface control apparatus includes a first structure, with a first side, conductive capacitor plate structures spaced along a first direction on the first side, a movable second structure with an auxiliary conductive structure, and an interface circuit to provide excitation signals to, and receive sense signals from, the conductive capacitor plate structures to perform a mutual capacitance test and a self-capacitance test of individual ones of the conductive capacitor plate structures to determine a position of the second structure or a user's finger relative to the first structure along the first direction.

公开(公告)号：US10275090B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-30

申请号：US15242233

申请日：2016-08-19

Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated

Inventor： Peter Spevak

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041 ,  H03K17/96 ,  H03M11/00

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of capacitive sensors arranged in a matrix on a substrate. A measuring circuitry measures the capacitance of each of a plurality of row lines and a plurality of column lines in the matrix coupled to the capacitive sensors. A first electrode is on the substrate on a first edge of the matrix and is proximal to a first corner of the matrix. The first electrode is coupled to the measuring circuitry. A second electrode is on the substrate on the first edge of the matrix and is proximal to a second corner of the matrix, the second corner opposing the first corner on the first edge. The second electrode is coupled to the measuring circuitry. The measuring circuitry determines the positions of two touches to the touch pad. Methods are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11929744B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US16783291

申请日：2020-02-06

Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED

Inventor： Peter Spevak

IPC: G01L1/14 ,  G01D5/241 ,  G01R27/26 ,  H03K17/975

CPC classification number: H03K17/975 ,  G01D5/241 ,  G01L1/144 ,  G01R27/2605

Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable electrode which moves along an interstitial pathway defined by four fixed electrodes. The first and second fixed electrodes are separated by a first distance. The third and fourth fixed electrodes are separated by a second distance and adjacent to the first and second fixed electrodes, respectively. A capacitance sensing circuit coupled to the four fixed electrodes determines a first capacitance using the first and second fixed electrodes and a second capacitance using the third and fourth fixed electrodes. In some examples, the apparatus also comprises fifth and sixth fixed electrodes separated by a third distance and orthogonal to the first and second fixed electrodes and seventh and eighth fixed electrodes separated by a fourth distance and orthogonal to the third and fourth fixed electrodes. The fifth and seventh fixed electrodes are adjacent, and the sixth and eighth fixed electrodes are adjacent.

公开(公告)号：US11255889B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-22

申请号：US16752792

申请日：2020-01-27

Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED

Inventor： Peter Spevak

IPC: G01R27/26 ,  H03B28/00 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first oscillator circuit coupled to a first electrode and a second oscillator circuit coupled to a second electrode. The first and second oscillator circuits oscillate synchronously in response to a capacitance between the first and second electrodes being greater than or equal to a threshold coupling capacitance and asynchronously in response to the capacitance being less than the threshold coupling capacitance. The first and second electrodes are separated by a distance, such that a disturbance within the distance increases the capacitance between the electrodes equal to or above the threshold coupling capacitance. The frequency of the first oscillator circuit is inversely proportional to a capacitance of the first electrode, and the frequency of the second oscillator circuit is inversely proportional to a capacitance of the second electrode.

公开(公告)号：US10890991B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-12

申请号：US16532829

申请日：2019-08-06

Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED

Inventor： Peter Spevak

IPC: G06F3/0362 ,  G06F3/038 ,  G06F3/03 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: Disclosed examples include optical and capacitive position detection systems and user interface control apparatus to detect relative positions of a stationary first structure and a movable second structure. The optical system includes pairs of optical source and sensor devices spaced along a first direction on the first structure and a reflector extending along the first direction on the second structure to selectively reflect light from one of the optical sources to the corresponding optical sensor of a given pair when the reflector is proximate the given pair. The capacitive sensing system includes capacitor plate structures on the first structure and a conductive structure on the second structure to move along the first direction to selectively modify a capacitance of a given group of two or more of the plate structures. The detection system also includes an interface circuit to provide a position signal representing the relative position of the first and second structures according to signals from the optical sensors and the capacitor plate structures.

公开(公告)号：US10401984B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-03

申请号：US15725707

申请日：2017-10-05

Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated

Inventor： Peter Spevak

IPC: G06F3/0362 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/03 ,  G06F3/038

Abstract: Disclosed examples include optical and capacitive position detection systems and user interface control apparatus to detect relative positions of a stationary first structure and a movable second structure. The optical system includes pairs of optical source and sensor devices spaced along a first direction on the first structure and a reflector extending along the first direction on the second structure to selectively reflect light from one of the optical sources to the corresponding optical sensor of a given pair when the reflector is proximate the given pair. The capacitive sensing system includes capacitor plate structures on the first structure and a conductive structure on the second structure to move along the first direction to selectively modify a capacitance of a given group of two or more of the plate structures. The detection system also includes an interface circuit to provide a position signal representing the relative position of the first and second structures according to signals from the optical sensors and the capacitor plate structures.

公开(公告)号：US10068512B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-04

申请号：US15055229

申请日：2016-02-26

Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated

Inventor： Peter Spevak

IPC: G09G3/18 ,  G09G3/36 ,  G09F9/35 ,  G09F9/302

Abstract: A modulator can include a common signal modulator that outputs a predetermined number of common signals to a multiplexer interface liquid crystal display (MUX LCD) based on an output state of a set of general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins of a controller, wherein each common signal has at least four bias levels. The modulator can also include a segment signal modulator that outputs a predetermined number of segment signals to the MUX LCD based on an output state of another set of GPIO pins of the controller, wherein each segment signal has at least three bias levels.