Patents by Inventor Duncan R. Kerr

Duncan R. Kerr 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: 10606539
    Abstract: The computing system includes a primary display, memory, and a housing at least partially containing a physical in put mechanism and a touch screen adjacent to the physical input mechanism: displays, on the primary display, a first user interface, the first user interface comprising one or more user interface elements; and identifies an active user interface element among the one or more user interface elements that is in focus on the primary display. In accordance with a determination that the active user interface element that is in focus on the primary display is associated with an application executed by the computing system, the computing system displays a second user interface on the touch screen, including: (A) a first set of corresponding to the application; and (B) at least one system-level affordance corresponding a system-level functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, John B. Morrell, Lawrence Y. Yang, Eric Lance Wilson, Adam S. Meyer
  • Patent number: 10602556
    Abstract: A wireless communication device may locate a proximate object in an environment, such as an electronic device or a resource. During this communication technique, the wireless communication device may receive a transmission that includes an identifier associated with the object. The wireless communication device may determine a range and/or a direction of the object from the wireless communication device. For example, the wireless communication device may determine the range and/or the direction, at least in part, using wireless ranging. Next, the wireless communication device may present output information that indicates the range and/or the direction. In particular, the wireless communication device may display a map of a proximate area with an indicator representative of the object shown on the map. Alternatively, the wireless communication device may display an image of the proximate area with the indicator representative of the object on the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Duncan R. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20200092925
    Abstract: A wireless communication device may wirelessly control an object, such as a physical device, directly or through interaction with a virtual representation (or placeholder) of the object situated at a predefined physical location. In particular, the wireless communication device may identify an intent gesture performed by a user that indicates intent to control the object. For example, the intent gesture may involve pointing or orienting the wireless communication device toward the object, with or without additional input. Then, the wireless communication device may determine the object associated with the intent gesture using wireless ranging and/or device orientation. Moreover, the wireless communication device may interpret sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the wireless communication device to determine an action gesture corresponding to a command or a command value. The wireless communication device may then transmit the command value to control the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: James H. FOSTER, Duncan R. KERR
  • Publication number: 20190369823
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface creates a plurality of workspace views. A respective workspace view is configured to contain content assigned by a user to the respective workspace view. The content includes application windows. The device displays a first workspace view in the plurality of workspace views on the display without displaying other workspace views in the plurality of workspace views and detects a first multifinger gesture on the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting the first multifinger gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, the device replaces display of the first workspace view with concurrent display of the plurality of workspace views.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Julian MISSIG, Jonathan KOCH, Avi E. CIEPLINSKI, B. Michael VICTOR, Jeffrey Traer BERNSTEIN, Duncan R. KERR, Myra M. HAGGERTY
  • Patent number: 10368378
    Abstract: A wireless communication device may wirelessly control an object, such as a physical device, directly or through interaction with a virtual representation (or placeholder) of the object situated at a predefined physical location. In particular, the wireless communication device may identify an intent gesture performed by a user that indicates intent to control the object. For example, the intent gesture may involve pointing or orienting the wireless communication device toward the object, with or without additional input. Then, the wireless communication device may determine the object associated with the intent gesture using wireless ranging and/or device orientation. Moreover, the wireless communication device may interpret sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the wireless communication device to determine an action gesture corresponding to a command or a command value. The wireless communication device may then transmit the command value to control the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Duncan R. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20190220135
    Abstract: An example method is performed at a computing system with: a first housing that includes a primary display, and a second housing at least partially containing (i) a physical keyboard and (ii) a touch-sensitive secondary display (TSSD) that is distinct from the primary display. The example method includes: displaying, on the primary display, a user interface. The example method also includes, detecting an input directed to a user interface element in the user interface displayed on the primary display, and the input includes movement. In response to detecting the movement, the method further includes: moving the user interface element towards the TSSD; ceasing to display the respective portion of the user interface on the primary display; and displaying, on the TSSD that is integrated into the second housing that contains the physical keyboard, a representation of the user interface element that was previously displayed on the primary display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Raymond S. Sepulveda, Chun Kin Minor Wong, Patrick L. Coffman, Dylan R. Edwards, Eric Lance Wilson, Gregg S. Suzuki, Christopher I. Wilson, Lawrence Y. Yang, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, John B. Morrell
  • Publication number: 20190220134
    Abstract: A method is performed at a computing system including: a first housing that includes a primary display, and a second housing at least partially containing (i) a physical keyboard and (ii) a touch-sensitive secondary display (TSSD) distinct from the primary display. The method includes: receiving a request to open a file associated with a content-editing application. The method further includes, in response to receiving the request: displaying, on the primary display, content from the file within the content-editing application; and also displaying, on the TSSD, a user interface including multiple user interface elements each associated with a content-display parameter for modifying presentation of content within the content-editing application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Raymond S. Sepulveda, Chun Kin Minor Wong, Patrick L. Coffman, Dylan R. Edwards, Eric Lance Wilson, Gregg S. Suzuki, Christopher I. Wilson, Lawrence Y. Yang, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, John B. Morrell
  • Publication number: 20190213846
    Abstract: An electronic device receives an incoming communication and determines that the device is in a first use context. In response to receiving the incoming communication, the device provides first feedback that includes a first ongoing audio output that corresponds to the first use context and a first ongoing tactile output with a first tactile output profile that corresponds to the first use context. While providing the first ongoing audio output and the first ongoing tactile output, the device detects that the electronic device is in a second use context, different from the first use context. In response to detecting that the electronic device is in the second use context, the device provides second feedback that includes a second ongoing tactile output that has a second tactile output profile that corresponds to the second use context.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Duncan R. Kerr, Joshua B. Kopin, Miao He, Jules K. Fennis, Hugo D. Verweij, Matthew I. Brown, Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Afrooz Family
  • Patent number: 10303289
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for dynamically updating a touch-sensitive secondary display. An example method includes receiving a request to open an application and, in response, (i) displaying, on a primary display, a plurality of user interface (UI) objects associated with the application, the plurality including a first UI object displayed with associated content and other UI objects displayed without associated content; and (ii) displaying, on the touch-sensitive secondary display, a set of affordances representing the plurality of UI objects. The method also includes: detecting, via the touch-sensitive secondary display, a swipe gesture in a direction from a first affordance and towards a second affordance, the first affordance representing the first UI object and the second affordance represents a distinct second UI object. In response to detecting the swipe gesture, the method includes: updating the primary display to display associated content for the second UI object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Raymond S. Sepulveda, Chun Kin Minor Wong, Patrick L. Coffman, Dylan R. Edwards, Eric Lance Wilson, Gregg S. Suzuki, Christopher I. Wilson, Lawrence Y. Yang, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, John B. Morrell
  • Patent number: 10276000
    Abstract: An electronic device detects a first increase in a characteristic intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface, and in response the device produces a first tactile output that has a first tactile output profile. The first tactile output profile includes an output parameter that varies in accordance with a proximity of the characteristic intensity of the contact to meeting a first intensity criteria. While producing the tactile output that has the first tactile output profile, the device detects a second increase in the characteristic intensity of the contact. In response to detecting the second increase in the characteristic intensity, in accordance with a determination that the characteristic intensity meets the first intensity criteria, the device produces a second tactile output that has a second tactile output profile that is different from the first tactile output profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Duncan R. Kerr, Joshua B. Kopin, Miao He, Jules K. Fennis
  • Patent number: 10254927
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface creates a plurality of workspace views. A respective workspace view is configured to contain content assigned by a user to the respective workspace view. The content includes application windows. The device displays a first workspace view in the plurality of workspace views on the display without displaying other workspace views in the plurality of workspace views and detects a first multifinger gesture on the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting the first multifinger gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, the device replaces display of the first workspace view with concurrent display of the plurality of workspace views.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Julian Missig, Jonathan Koch, Avi E. Cieplinski, B. Michael Victor, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, Myra M. Haggerty
  • Publication number: 20190042078
    Abstract: An electronic device with a touch-sensitive display detects an input on the touch-sensitive display, which includes detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive display while the touch-sensitive display is in a low power mode. In response to detecting the input on the touch-sensitive display while the touch-sensitive display is in the low-power mode, if the input meets display-activation criteria, the device displays a respective user interface on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the respective user interface was not displayed on the touch-sensitive display when the touch-sensitive display was in the low-power mode. And, if the input does not meet the display-activation criteria, the device maintains the touch-sensitive display in the low-power mode after detecting the input without displaying the respective user interface on the touch-sensitive display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi E. Cieplinski, Duncan R. Kerr, Nicholas V. King
  • Publication number: 20180204425
    Abstract: An electronic device detects a first increase in a characteristic intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface, and in response the device produces a first tactile output that has a first tactile output profile. The first tactile output profile includes an output parameter that varies in accordance with a proximity of the characteristic intensity of the contact to meeting a first intensity criteria. While producing the tactile output that has the first tactile output profile, the device detects a second increase in the characteristic intensity of the contact. In response to detecting the second increase in the characteristic intensity, in accordance with a determination that the characteristic intensity meets the first intensity criteria, the device produces a second tactile output that has a second tactile output profile that is different from the first tactile output profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Duncan R. Kerr, Joshua B. Kopin, Miao He, Jules K. Fennis
  • Patent number: 9935631
    Abstract: A control indication assembly. A first control mounted on a surface of a computer is coupled to a first sensor, to a first sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to the first control when a user-touch occurs to the first sensor, and to a first indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch. A second control mounted on a surface of a display which is coupled to the computer is coupled to a second sensor, to a second sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said second control when said user-touch occurs to the display, and to a second indicator to indicate an occurrence of the user-touch. The first and second control are configured such that the first and second indicator are synchronized to exhibit identical behaviors when the user-touch occurs to either the first control or the second control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Gong, Brian Q. Huppi, Christoph H. Krah, Richard D. Cappels, Duncan R. Kerr, Michael Culbert
  • Publication number: 20180032203
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for dynamically updating a touch-sensitive secondary display. An example method includes receiving a request to open an application and, in response, (i) displaying, on a primary display, a plurality of user interface (UI) objects associated with the application, the plurality including a first UI object displayed with associated content and other UI objects displayed without associated content; and (ii) displaying, on the touch-sensitive secondary display, a set of affordances representing the plurality of UI objects. The method also includes: detecting, via the touch-sensitive secondary display, a swipe gesture in a direction from a first affordance and towards a second affordance, the first affordance representing the first UI object and the second affordance represents a distinct second UI object. In response to detecting the swipe gesture, the method includes: updating the primary display to display associated content for the second UI object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Raymond S. Sepulveda, Chun Kin Minor Wong, Patrick L. Coffman, Dylan R. Edwards, Eric Lance Wilson, Gregg S. Suzuki, Christopher I. Wilson, Lawrence Y. Yang, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, John B. Morrell
  • Patent number: 9797558
    Abstract: A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Duncan R. Kerr, Steven P. Hotelling
  • Publication number: 20170228935
    Abstract: A wireless communication device may locate a proximate object in an environment, such as an electronic device or a resource. During this communication technique, the wireless communication device may receive a transmission that includes an identifier associated with the object. The wireless communication device may determine a range and/or a direction of the object from the wireless communication device. For example, the wireless communication device may determine the range and/or the direction, at least in part, using wireless ranging. Next, the wireless communication device may present output information that indicates the range and/or the direction. In particular, the wireless communication device may display a map of a proximate area with an indicator representative of the object shown on the map. Alternatively, the wireless communication device may display an image of the proximate area with the indicator representative of the object on the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: James H. FOSTER, Duncan R. KERR
  • Publication number: 20170229009
    Abstract: A wireless communication device may wirelessly control an object, such as a physical device, directly or through interaction with a virtual representation (or placeholder) of the object situated at a predefined physical location. In particular, the wireless communication device may identify an intent gesture performed by a user that indicates intent to control the object. For example, the intent gesture may involve pointing or orienting the wireless communication device toward the object, with or without additional input. Then, the wireless communication device may determine the object associated with the intent gesture using wireless ranging and/or device orientation. Moreover, the wireless communication device may interpret sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the wireless communication device to determine an action gesture corresponding to a command or a command value. The wireless communication device may then transmit the command value to control the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: James H. FOSTER, Duncan R. KERR
  • Patent number: 9729685
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining information of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan R. Kerr, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Steve P. Hotelling, Christopher T. Mullens, Martin P. Grunthaner, Michael A. Cretella, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170010847
    Abstract: A method is performed at a computing system with a first housing that includes a primary display and a second housing at least partially containing (i) a physical keyboard and a touch-sensitive secondary display (“TSSD”) that is distinct from the primary display. The method includes: displaying, on the primary display, a first user interface for an application and displaying, on the TSSD, a first set of affordances corresponding to a first portion of the application. The method further includes: detecting a swipe gesture on the TSSD. If the swipe gesture was performed in a first direction, the method includes: displaying a second set of affordances corresponding to the first portion on the TSSD. If the swipe gesture was performed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the method includes: displaying a third set of affordances corresponding to a second portion of the application on the TSSD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, John B. Morrell, Lawrence Y. Yang, Eric Lance Wilson