Tracy Scott Dattalo

7735383, Jun 15, 2010

Jun 24, 2008

12/144928

Tracy Scott Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US
Bob Lee Mackey - San Jose CA, US
Calvin Wang - Santa Clara CA, US
John J. Brady - Santa Clara CA, US

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

G01L 1/12

73862626, 73780

Embodiments for a capacitive sensing apparatus with attenuated electrical interference across a plurality of routing traces are provided. One embodiment forms a first sensor electrode on a substrate. In addition, a first routing trace is formed on the substrate, the first routing trace coupled with the first sensor electrode. One embodiment additionally forms a second sensor electrode on the substrate. A second routing trace differing in length from the first routing trace is also formed on the substrate, the second routing trace coupled with the second sensor electrode. To attenuate electrical interference, the second routing trace is formed having an approximately equal RC time constant characteristic as the first routing trace.

8232810, Jul 31, 2012

May 12, 2009

12/464743

Joseph Kurth Reynolds - Mountain View CA, US
Tracy Scott Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

G01R 27/26
G06F 3/045

324662, 324661, 324686, 324688, 345174

An input device is provided with improved electrostatic discharge protection. Specifically, the input device includes a plurality of capacitive sensing electrodes configured for object detection. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) shunt is disposed near the capacitive sensing electrodes and configured to provide ESD protection to the capacitive sensing electrodes. The input device also includes an extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode configured to for object detection of relatively distant objects. The ESD shunt has an associated first resistance, and the extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode has an associated second resistance. The second resistance is greater than the first resistance such that an electrostatic discharge at a first exposed location would be attracted to the ESD shunt via a first potential discharge path instead of being attracted to the extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode via a second potential discharge path, where the first discharge path is longer than the second discharge path.

8358226, Jan 22, 2013

Oct 27, 2008

12/259255

Joseph Kurth Reynolds - Mountain View CA, US
Tracy Scott Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US
Izhak Baharav - Palo Alto CA, US

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

G08C 21/00

341 33, 178 1806

Methods for determining actuation of a capacitive button are described. In some embodiments, indicia from the at least three distinct sensor electrodes associated with at least three sensor electrode elements comprising the capacitive button are received, the indicia indicative of interaction of an input object with the at least three distinct sensor electrodes. The actuation of the capacitive button is then determined, based at least in part on satisfying a set of criteria comprising: a location condition concerning a location of the input object relative to a center of the capacitive button, and a coupling condition concerning a change in capacitive coupling of the at least three distinct sensor electrodes associated with the at least three sensor electrode elements comprising the capacitive button.

8487788, Jul 16, 2013

Dec 13, 2012

13/714345

Tracy Scott Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

G08C 21/00

341 33

In a method for determining actuation of a first capacitive button having a first set of at least three sensor electrode elements associated with at least three distinct sensor electrodes, and wherein a sensor electrode element of the first set of sensor electrode elements and a sensor electrode element of a second set of at least three sensor electrode elements of a second capacitive button share at least one sensor electrode in common, indicia is received from the at least three distinct sensor electrodes comprising the first capacitive button. At least three electrode values are generated from the indicia. The at least three electrode values are utilized to determine actuation of the capacitive button.

20080246735, Oct 9, 2008

Apr 5, 2007

11/784328

Joseph K. Reynolds - Santa Clara CA, US
Paul J. Ausbeck - Santa Clara CA, US
Tracy S. Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US

G06F 3/041

345173

A tactile feedback apparatus for a capacitive sensing device is comprised of a dielectric insulator having a surface. A finger receiving recess is defined in the surface. The finger receiving recess is configured for receiving a deflected portion of a finger. The finger receiving recess is comprised of a finger deflecting feature and a tactile feedback feature. The finger deflecting feature is coupled to the surface and structured such that a variety of finger sizes pressed into the finger receiving recess would deflect into a predictable and repeatable shape for affecting the capacitive sensing device in a substantially uniform manner. The tactile feedback element is coupled to the surface and disposed such that the tactile feedback element contacts the deflected portion of the finger to provide tactile feedback to the finger only when the finger is sufficiently deflected into the finger receiving recess to actuate the capacitive sensing device.

20090033343, Feb 5, 2009

Jul 30, 2007

11/888170

Joseph K. Reynolds - Sunnyvale CA, US
Tracy S. Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US

G01R 27/26

324688

A capacitive sensing apparatus includes capacitive sensor electrodes, and a combined guard and sensing electrode that is disposed proximate to the capacitive sensor electrodes. The combined guard and sensing electrode has at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the combined guard and sensing electrode can detect an object at a distance that is greater than the distance at which the object can be sensed by the capacitive sensor electrodes. In the second operating mode, the combined guard and sensing electrode can electrically guard the capacitive sensor electrodes.

20090107737, Apr 30, 2009

Oct 27, 2008

12/259182

Joesph K Reynolds - Mountain View CA, US
Tracy Scott Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US
John C Fravel - San Jose CA, US
Izhak Baharav - Palo Alto CA, US

G08C 21/00

178 1806

Methods for determining actuation of a capacitive button having at least three sensor electrode elements associated with at least three distinct sensor electrodes are described. In one embodiment, indicia from the at least three distinct sensor electrodes associated with the at least three sensor electrode elements comprising the capacitive button are received. At least three electrode values are generated from the indicia. The at least three electrode values are then utilized to determine actuation of the capacitive button.

20090174675, Jul 9, 2009

May 30, 2008

12/130904

Dave Gillespie - Los Gatos CA, US
Tracy Scott Dattalo - Santa Clara CA, US

G06F 3/041

345173

A system and method for locating multiple objects on a capacitive touch pad is described. The method for determining locations of a plurality of objects contemporaneously interacting with a capacitive touch pad having a sensing region includes generating a first capacitive profile associated with a first object and a second object contemporaneously in the sensing region and determining locations of the first and second objects with respect to the sensing region utilizing the first capacitive profile.