Patents by Inventor Benjamin Lyon
Benjamin 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).
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Publication number: 20220373338Abstract: An autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Matthew E Last, Philip J. Sieh, Benjamin Lyon
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Patent number: 11402221Abstract: Some embodiments provide an autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Matthew E. Last, Philip J. Sieh, Benjamin Lyon
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Publication number: 20200049515Abstract: Some embodiments provide an autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020
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Patent number: 10451425Abstract: Some embodiments provide an autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
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Publication number: 20170363430Abstract: Some embodiments provide an autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2015Publication date: December 21, 2017
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Patent number: 8866780Abstract: A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Lakshman Rathnam, Louis Bokma, Fletcher Rothkopf, Andrea Mucignat, Erturk Kocalar, Benjamin Lyon, Joseph Fisher
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Patent number: 8816967Abstract: A capacitive sensor may include a flex circuit, a substrate facing the flex circuit, and conductive electrodes configured to sense an input applied to the substrate. At least one of the conductive electrodes is associated with a surface of the substrate and an at least one of the electrodes is associated with a surface of the flex circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Joseph Fisher, Lakshman Rathnam
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Patent number: 8730179Abstract: Integrated touch sensor and solar panel stack-up configurations that may be used on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices such as a media player or phone are disclosed. The solar cell stack-up configurations may include one or more touch sensor layers and one or more solar cell layers. By integrating both the touch sensors and the solar cell layers into the same stack-up, surface area on the portable device may be conserved. The solar panel may be mounted face down or otherwise obstructed by a touch sensor or other component. In this configuration, the device may include light channels that allow light into the device and direct the light around the component and to the solar panel. A parabolic reflector may be used to direct the light.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Nathaniel Rosenblatt, Benjamin Lyon, John Benjamin Filson, Steve Porter Hotelling, Gordon Cameron, Cameron Frazier
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Patent number: 8416198Abstract: A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Lakshman Rathnam, Louis Bokma, Fletcher Rothkopf, Andrea Mucignat, Erturk Kocalar, Benjamin Lyon, Joseph Fisher
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Patent number: 8368654Abstract: Integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations that may be used on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices such as a media player or phone are disclosed. The integrated touch sensor array and solar cell stack-ups may include electrodes that are used both for collecting solar energy and for sensing on a touch sensor array. By integrating both the touch sensors and the solar cell layers into the same stack-up, surface area on the portable device may be conserved. In addition to being used for capacitive sensing, the integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations may also be used for optical sensing.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Nathaniel Rosenblatt, Benjamin Lyon, John Benjamin Filson, Steve Porter Hotelling, Gordon Cameron, Cameron Frazier
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Patent number: 8049736Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly provides a two layer capacitive trackpad sensor in which an EMI ground grid is interposed among the sensor's capacitive elements on each of its layers. The EMI grid on each of the two layers is electrically coupled via, typically, vias. The described arrangement of sensor elements (capacitor plates) and EMI ground grid traces may be incorporated into a PCB having additional layers (e.g., a four, six or eight layer PCB). If used in this manner, additional vias are provided on the PCB which permit electrical coupling between these “additional layers” and which are electrically isolated from, and shielded by, the EMI ground grid.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Steven P. Hotelling
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Patent number: 7728823Abstract: An input device and system are described that acquires (measures) raw track pad sensor data and transmits this data to a host computer where it is analyzed by an application executing on one or more host computer central processing units. The resulting input processing architecture provides a track pad input device that is both lower in cost to manufacture and more flexible than prior art track pad input devices. Lower costs may be realized by eliminating the prior art's dedicated track pad hardware for processing sensor data (e.g., a processor and associated firmware memory). Increased flexibility may be realized by providing feature set functionality via software that executes on the host computer. In this architecture, track pad functionality may be modified, updated, and enhanced through software upgrade procedures.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Stephanie Cinereski, Chad Bronstein, Steven Hotelling
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Patent number: 7719522Abstract: An input device and system are described that acquires (measures) raw track pad sensor data and transmits this data to a host computer where it is analyzed by an application executing on one or more host computer central processing units. The resulting input processing architecture provides a track pad input device that is both lower in cost to manufacture and more flexible than prior art track pad input devices. Lower costs may be realized by eliminating the prior art's dedicated track pad hardware for processing sensor data (e.g., a processor and associated firmware memory). Increased flexibility may be realized by providing feature set functionality via software that executes on the host computer. In this architecture, track pad functionality may be modified, updated and enhanced through software upgrade procedures.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Stephanie Cinereski, Chad Bronstein, Steven P. Hotelling
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Publication number: 20100078230Abstract: Integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations that may be used on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices such as a media player or phone are disclosed. The integrated touch sensor array and solar cell stack-ups may include electrodes that are used both for collecting solar energy and for sensing on a touch sensor array. By integrating both the touch sensors and the solar cell layers into the same stack-up, surface area on the portable device may be conserved. In addition to being used for capacitive sensing, the integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations may also be used for optical sensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Michael Nathaniel Rosenblatt, Benjamin Lyon, John Benjamin Filson, Steve Porter Hotelling, Gordon Cameron, Cameron Frazier
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Publication number: 20100079387Abstract: Integrated touch sensor and solar panel stack-up configurations that may be used on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices such as a media player or phone are disclosed. The solar cell stack-up configurations may include one or more touch sensor layers and one or more solar cell layers. By integrating both the touch sensors and the solar cell layers into the same stack-up, surface area on the portable device may be conserved. The solar panel may be mounted face down or otherwise obstructed by a touch sensor or other component. In this configuration, the device may include light channels that allow light into the device and direct the light around the component and to the solar panel. A parabolic reflector may be used to direct the light.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Michael Nathaniel Rosenblatt, Benjamin Lyon, John Benjamin Filson, Steve Porter Hotelling, Gordon Cameron, Cameron Frazier
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Publication number: 20100073319Abstract: A capacitive sensor may include a flex circuit, a substrate facing the flex circuit, and conductive electrodes configured to sense an input applied to the substrate. At least one of the conductive electrodes is associated with a surface of the substrate and an at least one of the electrodes is associated with a surface of the flex circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2008Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Joseph Fisher, Lakshman Rathnam
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Patent number: 7671837Abstract: Scrolling input arrangements are presented including: a flexible membrane; a number of capacitive sensors mechanically integrated with the flexible membrane, the capacitive sensors radially disposed with respect to a first axis that is perpendicular with respect to the flexible membrane; an integrated circuit mechanically coupled with the flexible membrane and electronically coupled with the capacitive sensors, the integrated circuit configured to process a number of electronic signals from the capacitive sensors to provide a scrolling function; and a connection region on the flexible membrane for electronically coupling the scrolling input arrangement with an electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Larry Forsblad, Steve Hotelling, Brian Lynch, Benjamin Lyon, Jan Moolsintong, Doug Weber, Steve Zadesky
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Publication number: 20090141046Abstract: A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2008Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Lakshman Rathnam, Louis Bokma, Fletcher Rothkopf, Andrea Mucignat, Erturk Kocalar, Benjamin Lyon, Joseph Fisher
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Publication number: 20080223628Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly provides a two layer capacitive trackpad sensor in which an EMI ground grid is interposed among the sensor's capacitive elements on each of its layers. The EMI grid on each of the two layers is electrically coupled via, typically, vias. The described arrangement of sensor elements (capacitor plates) and EMI ground grid traces may be incorporated into a PCB having additional layers (e.g., a four, six or eight layer PCB). If used in this manner, additional vias are provided on the PCB which permit electrical coupling between these “additional layers” and which are electrically isolated from, and shielded by, the EMI ground grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Steven P. Hotelling
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Patent number: 7394458Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly provides a two layer capacitive trackpad sensor in which an EMI ground grid is interposed among the sensor's capacitive elements on each of its layers. The EMI grid on each of the two layers is electrically coupled via, typically, vias. The described arrangement of sensor elements (capacitor plates) and EMI ground grid traces may be incorporated into a PCB having additional layers (e.g., a four, six or eight layer PCB). If used in this manner, additional vias are provided on the PCB which permit electrical coupling between these “additional layers” and which are electrically isolated from, and shielded by, the EMI ground grid.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Steven P. Hotelling