Patents by Inventor Benjamin B. Lyon

Benjamin B. Lyon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10643391
    Abstract: A VR system for vehicles that may implement methods that address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for passengers. The VR system may provide virtual views that match visual cues with the physical motions that a passenger experiences. The VR system may provide immersive VR experiences by replacing the view of the real world with virtual environments. Active vehicle systems and/or vehicle control systems may be integrated with the VR system to provide physical effects with the virtual experiences. The virtual environments may be altered to accommodate a passenger upon determining that the passenger is prone to or is exhibiting signs of motion sickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Rober, Sawyer I. Cohen, Daniel Kurz, Tobias Holl, Benjamin B. Lyon, Peter Georg Meier, Jeffrey M. Riepling, Holly Gerhard
  • Publication number: 20200110920
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Pope, Shawn Arnold, Barry J. Corlett, Terry L. Gilton, Syed Husaini, Steven Webster, Scott A. Myers, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Publication number: 20200082638
    Abstract: A VR system for vehicles that may implement methods that address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for passengers. The VR system may provide augmented or virtual views that match visual cues with the physical motions that a passenger experiences. The VR system may project virtual content so that the content appears as a distant object stabilized or fixed in the external environment. The VR system may aid in productivity, as passengers may perform work while riding in the vehicle without experiencing motion sickness. In addition, the VR system may provide enhanced virtual experiences to passengers in moving vehicles by matching accelerations and motions of the vehicle to accelerations and motions in the virtual experiences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Rober, Sawyer I. Cohen, Daniel Kurz, Tobias Holl, Benjamin B. Lyon, Peter Georg Meier, Jeffrey M. Riepling, Holly Gerhard
  • Patent number: 10495527
    Abstract: An object can depress an input device, such as, for example, a function button in an electronic device. A resistive element having a mechanically resistive force can be disposed to resist the depression or movement of the input device. One or more electrodes can be disposed to provide a measure of capacitance based on the depression of the input device. A shield can be disposed to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the one or more electrodes and the object. The electronic device can include a fingerprint sensor operably connected to at least one of the one or more electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Dale Setlak, Michael B. Wittenberg, Shin John Choi
  • Patent number: 10482669
    Abstract: A VR system for vehicles that may implement methods that address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for passengers. The VR system may provide augmented or virtual views that match visual cues with the physical motions that a passenger experiences. The VR system may project virtual content so that the content appears as a distant object stabilized or fixed in the external environment. The VR system may aid in productivity, as passengers may perform work while riding in the vehicle without experiencing motion sickness. In addition, the VR system may provide enhanced virtual experiences to passengers in moving vehicles by matching accelerations and motions of the vehicle to accelerations and motions in the virtual experiences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Rober, Sawyer I. Cohen, Daniel Kurz, Tobias Holl, Benjamin B. Lyon, Peter Georg Meier, Jeffrey M. Riepling, Holly Gerhard
  • Patent number: 10423815
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Pope, Shawn Arnold, Barry J. Corlett, Terry L. Gilton, Syed Husaini, Steven Webster, Scott A. Myers, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Patent number: 10328897
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a vehicle navigation system which can navigate a vehicle through an environment based on driving commands received from a remote control system based on manual operator interaction with an interface of the remote control system. Remote driving control can be engaged based on determination, via processing vehicle sensor data, of a health emergency associated with one or more occupants of the vehicle, and the remote control system can generate remote driving commands which cause the vehicle to be navigated to a particular location without requiring the occupant associated with the health emergency to manually navigate the vehicle. The remote control system can monitor the occupant via communicated vehicle sensor data and can control remote control devices included in the vehicle to provide external indication that the vehicle is being navigated according to remote driving control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartholomeus C. Nabbe, Tie-Qi Chen, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Publication number: 20190137348
    Abstract: An object can depress an input device, such as, for example, a function button in an electronic device. A resistive element having a mechanically resistive force can be disposed to resist the depression or movement of the input device. One or more electrodes can be disposed to provide a measure of capacitance based on the depression of the input device. A shield can be disposed to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the one or more electrodes and the object. The electronic device can include a fingerprint sensor operably connected to at least one of the one or more electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Dale Setlak, Michael B. Wittenberg, Shin John Choi
  • Publication number: 20190080180
    Abstract: Automated capture of image data for points of interest may be implemented for points of interest in an environment external to a vehicle. Sensors implemented as part of a vehicle may collect sensor data for an environment. Processing of the sensor data may be performed to detect points of interest in the environment. In response to detecting a point of interest, image data may be captured by one or more of the sensors implemented at the vehicle. Different types of image data may be captured, such as panoramic images and three-dimensional reconstructions of a scene. Metadata may be generated for captured image data which may describe the point of interest that is captured by the image data. The image data and the metadata may be stored locally at the vehicle or to a remote data store. The image data may also be shared with other computing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Ahmad Al-Dahle, Xinyu Xu
  • Patent number: 10209148
    Abstract: An object can depress an input device, such as, for example, a function button in an electronic device. A resistive element having a mechanically resistive force can be disposed to resist the depression or movement of the input device. One or more electrodes can be disposed to provide a measure of capacitance based on the depression of the input device. A shield can be disposed to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the one or more electrodes and the object. The electronic device can include a fingerprint sensor operably connected to at least one of the one or more electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Dale Setlak, Michael B. Wittenberg, Shin John Choi
  • Publication number: 20180276449
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Pope, Shawn Arnold, Barry J. Corlett, Terry L. Gilton, Syed Husaini, Steven Webster, Scott A. Myers, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Patent number: 10068120
    Abstract: Improving fingerprint image measurement despite damage to the stratum corneum. Determining whether a fingerprint image is adequate for matching with a database. If not, re-measure those image portions that are inadequate (overexposed or underexposed), such re-measuring a minimal selection of image portions. An amount of time or power to re-measure is minimized. Improving fingerprint image data collection despite fixed pattern noise like saturated bars in blocks of picture elements. Determining a histogram of grayscale values, removing fixed pattern noise, and expanding real histogram values to obtain more bits of precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Patent number: 10007832
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Pope, Shawn Arnold, Barry J. Corlett, Terry L. Gilton, Syed Husaini, Steven Webster, Scott A. Myers, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Patent number: 10007833
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Pope, Shawn Arnold, Barry J. Corlett, Terry L. Gilton, Syed Husaini, Steven Webster, Scott A. Myers, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Patent number: 9984270
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensor is incorporated in a display stack in an electronic device. A single fingerprint can be captured at one time at a single pre-defined fixed location on a display. Alternatively, a single fingerprint can be acquired at one time at any location on a display. Alternatively, multiple touches on the display can be acquired substantially simultaneously where only one fingerprint is captured at a time or where all of the fingerprints are acquired at the same time. The fingerprint sensor can be implemented as an integrated circuit connected to a bottom surface of a cover sheet, near the bottom surface of the cover sheet, or connected to a top surface of a display. Alternatively, the fingerprint sensor can be implemented as a full panel fingerprint sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marduke Yousefpor, Jean-Marie Bussat, Benjamin B. Lyon, Giovanni Gozzini, Steven P. Hotelling, Dale Setlak
  • Publication number: 20180089900
    Abstract: A VR system for vehicles that may implement methods that address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for passengers. The VR system may provide augmented or virtual views that match visual cues with the physical motions that a passenger experiences. The VR system may project virtual content so that the content appears as a distant object stabilized or fixed in the external environment. The VR system may aid in productivity, as passengers may perform work while riding in the vehicle without experiencing motion sickness. In addition, the VR system may provide enhanced virtual experiences to passengers in moving vehicles by matching accelerations and motions of the vehicle to accelerations and motions in the virtual experiences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Rober, Sawyer I. Cohen, Daniel Kurz, Tobias Holl, Benjamin B. Lyon, Peter Georg Meier, Jeffrey M. Riepling, Holly Gerhard
  • Publication number: 20180089901
    Abstract: A VR system for vehicles that may implement methods that address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for passengers. The VR system may provide virtual views that match visual cues with the physical motions that a passenger experiences. The VR system may provide immersive VR experiences by replacing the view of the real world with virtual environments. Active vehicle systems and/or vehicle control systems may be integrated with the VR system to provide physical effects with the virtual experiences. The virtual environments may be altered to accommodate a passenger upon determining that the passenger is prone to or is exhibiting signs of motion sickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Rober, Sawyer I. Cohen, Daniel Kurz, Tobias Holl, Benjamin B. Lyon, Peter Georg Meier, Jeffrey M. Riepling, Holly Gerhard
  • Patent number: 9880675
    Abstract: A capacitive fingerprint sensor that may be formed of an array of sensing elements. Each capacitive sensing element of the array may register a voltage that varies with the capacitance of a capacitive coupling. A finger may capacitively couple to the individual capacitive sensing elements of the sensor, such that the sensor may sense a capacitance between each capacitive sensing element and the flesh of the fingerprint. The capacitance signal may be detected by sensing the change in voltage on the capacitive sensing element as the relative voltage between the finger and the sensing chip is changed. Alternately, the capacitance signal may be detected by sensing the change in charge received by the capacitive sensing elements as the relative voltage between the finger and the sensing chip is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Jean-Marie Bussat, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Patent number: 9871897
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for creating a sensor stack or element for use in an electronic device. In one example, a method may include providing a substrate made of sapphire; affixing, by physical vapor deposition, a decorative feature on the substrate; providing a silicon layer including a capacitive sensor; and bonding the sensor to the substrate. In one example, the affixing operation may include an icon, logo, symbol or other graphic as the decorative feature. The method may also include reducing the substrate or silicon layer from an initial thickness to a second thickness, the second thickness being thinner that the initiation thickness. The sensor stack may be used or configured as an input button for the electronic device such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, or other computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Patrick E. O'Brien, Scott A. Myers
  • Publication number: 20170351902
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Pope, Shawn Arnold, Barry J. Corlett, Terry L. Gilton, Syed Husaini, Steven Webster, Scott A. Myers, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin B. Lyon