Patents by Inventor Kurt R. Stiehl
Kurt R. Stiehl 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: 20240144822Abstract: A vehicle may have devices such as knobs, sliders, touch sensors, cameras, and other devices for gathering user input, capturing images, and gathering other information. Control circuitry in the vehicle may display an interactive route map on a display in the vehicle body. The route map may have a route line depicting a route between a starting point and an ending point for a journey. The control circuitry may move a vehicle icon in forward and reverse along the route line in response to the user input to select a vehicle icon location. The control circuitry may display media that corresponds to the selected vehicle icon location. The media may include an image captured by the camera, media retrieved from remote databases, and/or other content associated with the location of the vehicle icon.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Daniel De Rocha Rosario, Kurt R Stiehl, Matthew J Allen, David A Krimsley, Kevin M Lynch
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Publication number: 20240109499Abstract: A vehicle may have a vehicle body and one or more displays. A display may be coupled to a roof portion of the vehicle body with a hinge or other attachment structure, may be mounted within a vehicle armrest, may be attached to a door, or may otherwise be mounted in an interior region of the vehicle body. The display may be a one-sided display, a two-sided display, a display with a touch sensitive edge portion formed from a strip-shaped pixel array extending along a peripheral display sidewall, a lenticular display or other display that is configured to display separate images to different respective vehicle occupant locations, or other suitable display. A positioner may rotate the display, slide the display, or otherwise move the display between a stowed position and one or more deployed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Kurt R Stiehl, Dominic E Dolci, Stephen B Lynch
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Publication number: 20240110684Abstract: A system may have lights. A light may include a first light source and a first reflector configured to provide lighting for a high-beam mode and for a low-beam mode. The light may include a second light source and a second reflector configured to provide lighting for a cornering light mode. The lighting provided by the first light source and the lighting provided by the second light source may pass through the same headlight lens aperture. A light blocking structure may provide a cutoff pattern that define the illumination pattern of the low-beam lighting and the cornering lighting. One or more additional light sources may be provided to boost the intensity of a hot spot for high-beam lighting.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Xiaofeng Tang, Christopher P. Child, Clarisse Mazuir, Kurt R. Stiehl, Bryce E. Wallis
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Publication number: 20240093845Abstract: A system may have a support structure that separates an exterior region from an interior region. The system may include a lighting system with interior and/or exterior lights with adjustable diffusers. An interior light may be used as a task light, a cabin light, a sensor indicator light, or a trim light. Adjustments to the adjustable diffusers can be used to adjust the angular spread of emitted light for operation in different lighting modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Paul J Costa, Stephen B Lynch, Kurt R Stiehl, Christopher P Child, Xiaofeng Tang, Christopher L Porritt, Michael C Wharton, Peter F Masschelein, Mark A Zurcher, Xin Li, Ryan J Garrone
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Patent number: 11937037Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
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Publication number: 20240034272Abstract: A transit request is initiated, which requests dispatch of a vehicle to a location of the electronic device. Information, including authentication information, is received and a communication channel is established with the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Benjamin B. LYON, Donald J. NOVOTNEY, James J. REUTHER, Birju N. SHAH, Kurt R. STIEHL
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Patent number: 11879610Abstract: A system may have lights. A light may include a first light source and a first reflector configured to provide lighting for a high-beam mode and for a low-beam mode. The light may include a second light source and a second reflector configured to provide lighting for a cornering light mode. The lighting provided by the first light source and the lighting provided by the second light source may pass through the same headlight lens aperture. A light blocking structure may provide a cutoff pattern that define the illumination pattern of the low-beam lighting and the cornering lighting. One or more additional light sources may be provided to boost the intensity of a hot spot for high-beam lighting.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Tang, Christopher P Child, Clarisse Mazuir, Kurt R Stiehl, Bryce E Wallis
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Publication number: 20230417096Abstract: A system may have a closure with an electrically controlled actuator. Sensor circuitry may gather user input. The sensor circuitry may include a force sensor, touch sensor, proximity sensor, and/or other sensors. Based on input from the sensor circuitry, the closure may be slid relative to a system body or may otherwise be moved relative to the body. The sensor may receive user input from a user's fingers. This allows the movement of the closure to track user hand motions. To open and close the closure, a user may press against closure edge sensors mounted to edges of the closure. Closure motion may also be controlled by button press input, proximity sensor readings, touch sensor input and/or other user input provided to an input device in the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Arian Behzadi, Arto Kivila, Jeffrey A Sewell, Kurt R Stiehl, Andrew W Kooker, Athena Y Huang, Kevin S Chan
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Publication number: 20230349528Abstract: A system may have lights produce illumination. A light may be provided with a collimated light source that produces collimated light. The collimated light source may use lenses or reflective optical elements to produce the collimated light. The light may have an array of light elements each of which emits a respective beam of the illumination. Each light element may have a preshaping lens that receives the collimated light and produces corresponding preshaped output light and an output lens that receives the output light from the preshaping lens and produces a corresponding beam of the illumination. An electrically adjustable shutter may be located between each preshaping lens and output lens to adjust the illumination between a low-beam pattern and high-beam pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Xiaofeng Tang, Kurt R. Stiehl, Clarisse Mazuir, Christopher P. Child
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Patent number: 11787368Abstract: In some exemplary processes for accessing a vehicle, a transit request is initiated. The transit request summons a vehicle towards a location of a user device. Information generated in response to the transit request is received. The information includes first authentication information and second authentication information. Third authentication information from the vehicle is received using a first wireless communication protocol. A determination is made as to whether the third authentication information corresponds to the first authentication information. In accordance with determining that the third authentication information corresponds to the first authentication information, a wireless communication connection is established with the vehicle using a second wireless communication protocol and the second authentication information. The second wireless communication protocol is different from the first wireless communication protocol.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Donald J. Novotney, James J. Reuther, Birju N. Shah, Kurt R. Stiehl
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Publication number: 20230231090Abstract: A system may have an exterior display. The exterior display may display symbols that correspond to intended actions for the system or instructions for nearby viewers. The exterior display may include an array of light-emitting diodes, a collimator, a one-way filter to prevent sunlight from washing out the display, and a cover layer. The one-way filter may include a microlens array and a masking layer. The collimator is configured to collimate light from the array of light-emitting diodes and provide the collimated light to the one-way filter. The microlens array receives the collimated light and focuses the collimated light through a plurality of holes in the masking layer. In this way, the majority of display light is passed through the one-way filter towards a viewer. However, the majority of ambient sunlight is blocked by the masking layer, thus preserving a high contrast for the exterior display even in bright sunlight.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Xiaofeng Tang, Bryce E Wallis, Christopher P Child, Clarisse Mazuir, Kurt R Stiehl, Rong Liu, Yong Seok Choi, Yu P Sun
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Patent number: 11642995Abstract: A support surface includes a table top, a movement stage, a movement actuator, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The movement stage is coupled to the table top and configured to couple to a structure. The movement stage is further configured to permit the table top to move in a degree of freedom. The movement actuator is operable to move the table top in the degree of freedom. The first sensor is for receiving a first user input. The second sensor is for receiving a second user input. The controller operates the movement actuator to move the table top according to the first user input received by the first sensor when the second user input is simultaneously received by the second sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Athena Y. Huang, Tyson B. Manullang, Kurt R. Stiehl
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Publication number: 20230093629Abstract: A system may have lights. A light may include a first light source and a first reflector configured to provide lighting for a high-beam mode and for a low-beam mode. The light may include a second light source and a second reflector configured to provide lighting for a cornering light mode. The lighting provided by the first light source and the lighting provided by the second light source may pass through the same headlight lens aperture. A light blocking structure may provide a cutoff pattern that define the illumination pattern of the low-beam lighting and the cornering lighting. One or more additional light sources may be provided to boost the intensity of a hot spot for high-beam lighting.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Xiaofeng Tang, Christopher P Child, Clarisse Mazuir, Kurt R Stiehl, Bryce E Wallis
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Publication number: 20230001847Abstract: A vehicle may have lights such as headlights. The lights may be moved using a positioner. Control circuitry in the vehicle may use sensor circuitry to monitor the environment surrounding the vehicle. The sensor circuitry may include one or more sensors such as a lidar sensor, radar sensor, image sensor, and/or other sensors to measure the shape of a surface in front of the vehicle and the location of the surface relative to the vehicle. These sensors and/or other sensors in the sensor circuitry also measure headlight illumination on the surface. Based on the known shape of the surface in front of the vehicle and the distance of the surface from the vehicle, the control circuitry can predict where a headlight should be aimed on the surface. By comparing predictions of headlight illumination on the surface to measurements of headlight illumination on the surface, the vehicle can determine how to move the headlight with the positioner to align the headlight.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Christopher P. Child, Clarisse Mazuir, Kurt R. Stiehl, Mark A. Zurcher, Mikael B. Mannberg, Ryan J. Garrone, Xiaofeng Tang
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Publication number: 20220396216Abstract: A vehicle may have a vehicle body and one or more movable sensors mounted to the body. A movable sensor may be rotated, linearly translated, or otherwise moved between multiple positions in response to location information, driving mode information, vehicle speed, and/or other information. The movable sensor may be moved to track objects, to provide pedestrians and others with visual feedback, to allow the sensor to gather desired sensor information to support driver assistance and autonomous driving operations, to place the sensor in a stowed position, and to perform other functions. The movable sensor may be protected with a movable cover. A cleaner may clean the sensor. The sensor may be a radar sensor, lidar sensor, camera, or other sensor. Information from the sensor may be used to detect roadway obstructions, to detect objects near the vehicle, to monitor pedestrians, and to monitor other conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Kurt R. Stiehl, Christopher P. Child, Michael C. Wharton, Romain A. Teil, Stephen B. Lynch
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Patent number: 11465586Abstract: In some exemplary processes for accessing a vehicle, a transit request is initiated. The transit request summons a vehicle towards a location of a user device. Information generated in response to the transit request is received. The information includes first authentication information and second authentication information. Third authentication information from the vehicle is received using a first wireless communication protocol. A determination is made as to whether the third authentication information corresponds to the first authentication information. In accordance with determining that the third authentication information corresponds to the first authentication information, a wireless communication connection is established with the vehicle using a second wireless communication protocol and the second authentication information. The second wireless communication protocol is different from the first wireless communication protocol.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin B. Lyon, Donald J. Novotney, James J. Reuther, Birju N. Shah, Kurt R. Stiehl
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Patent number: 11458243Abstract: A medical device is provided for irrigation of a patient wound site. The device contains a tube having a proximal portion adapted to receive an irrigation solution, a distal portion having a nozzle and an intermediate portion for transporting the solution. The tube has a barrel portion that may be manipulated by a user to position the device relative to the wound site. A distinctive nozzle has a body formed with a distally leading channel presenting a semispherical first spatial conformation and a proximally leading opening formed in the body presenting a second spatial conformation intersecting the semispherical terminus. This geometry, derived from principles of flow mechanics discussed herein, defines what will be described as an “effective diameter” of the nozzle. An assembly and system utilizing the device am also disclosed. The invention utilizes a fluid-isolating durable peristaltic pump for a continuous flow of irrigation solution, along with a single use tube set that embodies the device.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Inventors: James Bowen Stiehl, Kurt R. Stiehl
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Publication number: 20220295169Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
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Publication number: 20220265916Abstract: A medical device is provided for irrigation of a patient wound site. The device contains a tube having a proximal portion adapted to receive an irrigation solution, a distal portion having a nozzle and an intermediate portion for transporting the solution. The tube has a barrel portion that may be manipulated by a user to position the device relative to the wound site. A distinctive nozzle has a body formed with a distally leading channel presenting a semispherical first spatial conformation and a proximally leading opening formed in the body presenting a second spatial conformation intersecting the semispherical terminus. This geometry, derived from principles of flow mechanics discussed herein, defines what will be described as an “effective diameter” of the nozzle. An assembly and system utilizing the device am also disclosed. The invention utilizes a fluid-isolating durable peristaltic pump for a continuous flow of irrigation solution, along with a single use tube set that embodies the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: James Bowen Stiehl, Kurt R. Stiehl
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Patent number: 11363363Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins