Patents by Inventor Colin M. Ely

Colin M. Ely 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: 11924055
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display system and control circuitry. The user's environment may be presented on the display system. The environment on the display system may be a captured image of the environment, may be the actual real world viewed through an optical combiner, or may be a completely virtual image representing the environment. The control circuitry may gather information about external electronic devices in the user's environment, including determining a type and location of each external electronic device and a status of wireless communications links between external electronic devices. The display system may overlay computer-generated display elements onto the user's environment to indicate the status of wireless communications links between the external electronic devices. In response to touch or gesture input, the control circuitry may send control signals to the external electronic devices to establish or break wireless communications links between external electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Stephen Brian Lynch, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20240053707
    Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a crown assembly having a shaft and a user-rotatable crown. The user-rotatable crown may include a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to the shaft and functions as an electrode. The conductive cap may be coupled to the shaft using solder or another conductive attachment mechanism. The shaft may electrically couple the conductive cap to a processing unit of the electronic device. One or more additional electrodes may be positioned on the exterior surface of the electronic device. The conductive cap is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while another electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The processing unit of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter, such as an electrocardiogram, of the user based on voltages at the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Sameer Pandya, Steven C. Roach
  • Patent number: 11896115
    Abstract: A posture-monitoring system for monitoring a body posture of a user includes an array of wirelessly locatable tags, including a first tag configured to be positioned along a first shoulder region of the user and having a first battery and a first wireless circuit configured to transmit a first locating signal, a second tag configured to be positioned along a second shoulder region of the user and having a second battery and a second wireless circuit configured to transmit a second locating signal, and a third tag configured to be positioned along a back region of the user and having a third battery and a third wireless circuit configured to transmit a third locating signal. The posture-monitoring system further includes a portable electronic device including a processing unit and a wireless circuit operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the first, second, and third locating signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Colin M. Ely, Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20240036523
    Abstract: A switch module for an electronic device detects translational inputs and defines at least portion of a conductive path from an input surface of the electronic device to a processing unit of the electronic device. The switch module may be a component of a crown assembly for detecting rotational inputs, translational inputs, touch inputs and/or biological signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The switch module may include a conductive dome and a friction guard that is positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member of the crown assembly. The conductive dome and/or the friction guard may define at least a portion of the conductive path from the input surface to the processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Antonio Herrera, Colin M. Ely
  • Patent number: 11886149
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 11860588
    Abstract: A watch can include a watch body and a band for securing the watch to the user. The watch body can detect an identification of the band or combination of band portions, which can serve as an input to initiate actions performed by the watch body. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the watch body. Identification of the band can be performed by components of the watch body that also serve other purposes. The watch body can respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the watch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Ryan C. Perkins, Benjamin J. Kallman, Daniel J. Hiemstra, Colin M. Ely, William C. Lukens, Osamu Yabe, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, David D. Dashevsky, Eugene C. Cheung, Prashanth S. Holenarsipur, Tyler S. Bushnell, Zaki Moustafa
  • Publication number: 20230418230
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20230384875
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for detecting gestures on a reduced-size electronic device at locations off of the display, such as gestures on the housing of the device or on a rotatable input mechanism (e.g., a digital crown) of the device, and responding to the gestures by, for example, navigating lists of items and selecting items from the list; translating the display of an electronic document; or sending audio control data to an external audio device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: Colin M. ELY
  • Publication number: 20230367405
    Abstract: A device including a mechanical input and a touch-sensitive surface for detecting one or more touch inputs and an input from the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs, and a second portion for detecting at least the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs and the mechanical input. The mechanical input can comprise an electrically conductive material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the mechanical input and the touch-sensitive surface. The device can include a sensing element, the mechanical input can comprise an electrically insulating material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the touch-sensitive surface and the sensing element. The device can include logic to differentiate between the touch inputs and the mechanical input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina SHEDLETSKY, Christopher WERNER, Colin M. ELY, Fletcher R. ROTHKOPF
  • Patent number: 11815860
    Abstract: A switch module for an electronic device detects translational inputs and defines at least portion of a conductive path from an input surface of the electronic device to a processing unit of the electronic device. The switch module may be a component of a crown assembly for detecting rotational inputs, translational inputs, touch inputs and/or biological signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The switch module may include a conductive dome and a friction guard that is positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member of the crown assembly. The conductive dome and/or the friction guard may define at least a portion of the conductive path from the input surface to the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Antonio Herrera, Colin M Ely
  • Publication number: 20230350349
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Shannon X. Yang, Willam C. Lukens, Mandeep Gill, Jeanny Wang, William S. Lee, Stephen P. Jackson, Rex T. Ehman, Colin M. Ely, Nikolas T. Vitt, Trevor J. Ness
  • Publication number: 20230341819
    Abstract: An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 11796961
    Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a crown assembly having a shaft and a user-rotatable crown. The user-rotatable crown may include a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to the shaft and functions as an electrode. The conductive cap may be coupled to the shaft using solder or another conductive attachment mechanism. The shaft may electrically couple the conductive cap to a processing unit of the electronic device. One or more additional electrodes may be positioned on the exterior surface of the electronic device. The conductive cap is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while another electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The processing unit of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter, such as an electrocardiogram, of the user based on voltages at the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Sameer Pandya, Steven C. Roach
  • Patent number: 11782531
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for detecting gestures on a reduced-size electronic device at locations off of the display, such as gestures on the housing of the device or on a rotatable input mechanism (e.g., a digital crown) of the device, and responding to the gestures by, for example, navigating lists of items and selecting items from the list; translating the display of an electronic document; or sending audio control data to an external audio device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Colin M. Ely
  • Patent number: 11740715
    Abstract: A device including a mechanical input and a touch-sensitive surface for detecting one or more touch inputs and an input from the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs, and a second portion for detecting at least the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs and the mechanical input. The mechanical input can comprise an electrically conductive material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the mechanical input and the touch-sensitive surface. The device can include a sensing element, the mechanical input can comprise an electrically insulating material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the touch-sensitive surface and the sensing element. The device can include logic to differentiate between the touch inputs and the mechanical input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Christopher Werner, Colin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 11740591
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Shannon X. Yang, William C. Lukens, Mandeep Gill, Jeanny Wang, William S. Lee, Stephen P. Jackson, Rex T. Ehman, Colin M. Ely, Nikolas T. Vitt, Trevor J. Ness
  • Publication number: 20230259235
    Abstract: Various embodiments for detecting and rejecting false, unintended rotations of rotary inputs of electronic devices are disclosed herein. In one example, an electronic device is provided with an optical detector that measures the distance between the electronic device and the wearer's forearm or hand, and when the distance is smaller than a threshold distance, the turns of the rotary input are false, unintended turns. In another example, a crown of a rotary input includes a plurality of capacitive sensors that detects the presence of a wearer's finger, which when absent, the turns of the rotary input are false turns. In another example, deflections or positions of a shaft of the rotary input are measured and if the deflections/positions indicate an upward force on the rotary input (which are likely caused by the wearer's forearm or hand), the turns of the rotary input are false turns. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Christopher M. Werner, Colin M. Ely, Samuel Weiss
  • Patent number: 11720064
    Abstract: An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20230238683
    Abstract: A portable electronic device can include a housing defining an internal volume and an opening. The device can also include a rear cover disposed in the opening, with an inner surface of the rear cover defining the internal volume, and a conductive antenna component embedded within the rear cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Steven C. Roach, Eric T. Chiang, YoungHoon Kim, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael R. Parker, Christopher M. Werner, Ryan C. Perkins, Bora Inci, Sherry Tang, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell, Daniela Deschamps, Colin M. Ely, Devon K. Copeland, Ming Kun Shi
  • Publication number: 20230229197
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing sidewall defining an opening and a display component, such as a display cover, disposed in the opening to form a gap between the housing sidewall and the display component. In at least one example, the cavity is defined by the sidewall and the display cover with the cavity in fluid communication with an external environment through the gap. In at least one example, an epoxy component at least partially defines the cavity and can be in direct contact with the housing sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Daniela M. Deschamps, Ross L. Jackson, Colin M. Ely, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell