Bradley R Martin

US Patent:

20170023418, Jan 26, 2017

Filed:

Oct 3, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/283913

Inventors:

- Redmond WA, US
Flavio P. Ribeiro - Bellevue WA, US
Glennis E. Covington - Redmond WA, US
Christian C. Gadke - Lake Oswego OR, US
Xuezhong Wu - Bellevue WA, US
Bradley R. Martin - Auburn WA, US
Francie Judith Zant - Seattle WA, US
Scott M. Mail - Seattle WA, US
James C. Marshall - Puyallup WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G01L 1/14
G06F 3/041
G06F 3/044

Abstract:

Input device configurations are described. In implementations, an input device includes a sensor substrate having a capacitive sensor to detect proximity of an object that contacts the input device. The input device also includes a flexible contact layer spaced apart from the sensor substrate, where the flexible contact layer is implemented to flex and contact the sensor substrate responsive to pressure applied by the object to initiate an input to a computing device. The flexible contact layer can include a force concentrator pad that is designed to cause pressure to be channeled through the force concentrator pad to cause the flexible contact layer to contact the sensor substrate to initiate the input.

US Patent:

20160313832, Oct 27, 2016

Filed:

Jul 6, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/203636

Inventors:

- Redmond WA, US
Richard D. Harley - Sammamish WA, US
Xuezhong Wu - Bellevue WA, US
Bradley R. Martin - Auburn WA, US
Kurt A. Jenkins - Sammamish WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/044
G06F 3/02
G06F 1/16
G06F 3/041
F21V 8/00

Abstract:

Input device backlighting techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a light guide configured to transmit light, a sensor assembly having a plurality of sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object as a corresponding one or more inputs, a connection portion configured to form a communicative coupling to a computing device to communicate the one or more inputs received by the sensor assembly to the computing device, and an outer layer. The outer layer has a plurality of indications of inputs formed using openings in the outer layer such that light from the light guide is configured to pass through the openings to function as a backlight. The outer layer also has a plurality of sub-layers arranged to have increasing levels of resistance to transmission of the light from the light guide, one to another.

US Patent:

20150242112, Aug 27, 2015

Filed:

Feb 26, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/190707

Inventors:

- Redmond WA, US
Bradley Robert Martin - Auburn WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/0488
G06F 3/0354
G06F 3/038
G06F 3/044

Abstract:

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to human interface devices having touch sensors. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a human interface device including a touch sensor comprising two or more touch sensing units, each touch sensing unit comprising a touch sensing pad and a charge accumulation capacitor in communication with the touch sensing pad, the charge accumulation capacitor having a larger capacitance than the touch sensing pad. The human interface device further includes a controller in communication with each touch sensing unit, the controller being configured to acquire a touch sensing sample from each touch sensing unit by iteratively charging the touch sensing pad of the touch sensing unit and transferring charge from the touch sensing pad of the touch sensing unit to the charge accumulation capacitor of the touch sensing unit until a threshold has been met, and detect a touch gesture based upon the touch sensing samples.

US Patent:

20150084865, Mar 26, 2015

Filed:

Sep 20, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/033290

Inventors:

- Redmond WA, US
Richard D. Harley - Sammamish WA, US
Xuezhong Wu - Bellevue WA, US
Bradley R. Martin - Auburn WA, US
Kurt A. Jenkins - Sammamish WA, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/0346
G06F 3/023

US Classification:

345158

Abstract:

Input device backlighting techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes a light guide configured to transmit light, a sensor assembly having a plurality of sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object as a corresponding one or more inputs, a connection portion configured to form a communicative coupling to a computing device to communicate the one or more inputs received by the sensor assembly to the computing device, and an outer layer. The outer layer has a plurality of indications of inputs formed using openings in the outer layer such that light from the light guide is configured to pass through the openings to function as a backlight. The outer layer also has a plurality of sub-layers arranged to have increasing levels of resistance to transmission of the light from the light guide, one to another.