Patents by Inventor Louis W. Bokma

Louis W. Bokma 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: 11036318
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a rotatable mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises sense electrode positioned proximate to the mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a capacitive sense circuit comprising drive circuity operatively coupled to the mechanical input mechanism and configured for driving a drive signal onto the mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a capacitive sense circuit comprising sense circuitry operatively coupled to the sense electrode and configured to measure an amount of coupling between the rotatable mechanical input mechanism and the sense electrode. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a housing, wherein the sense electrode is included in a gasket for connecting a display to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Prashanth Holenarsipur, Yuta Kuboyama, Mengshu Huang
  • Patent number: 10942605
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first signal from a first sensor of the device, the first signal indicative of a grounding condition of the device; setting one or more touch detection thresholds based on the grounding condition; receiving a touch signal from a touch sensor of the device, the touch signal indicative of a touch by an object; and determining whether one or more parameters of the touch signal exceeds the one or more touch detection thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Sean E. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20190272060
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Louis W. BOKMA, Joseph R. FISHER, JR., Saket VORA
  • Patent number: 10296136
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Joseph R. Fisher, Jr., Saket Vora
  • Publication number: 20190095036
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first signal from a first sensor of the device, the first signal indicative of a grounding condition of the device; setting one or more touch detection thresholds based on the grounding condition; receiving a touch signal from a touch sensor of the device, the touch signal indicative of a touch by an object; and determining whether one or more parameters of the touch signal exceeds the one or more touch detection thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Louis W. BOKMA, Sean E. O'CONNOR
  • Patent number: 10203803
    Abstract: Touch scan modes for touch sensitive devices during device charge is disclosed. To prevent adverse effects to the touch sensor panel due to inductive noise while the device is charging, the touch controller can switch to a touch scan mode (i.e., power charging touch mode) that can cancel or reduce noise from the touch scan or touch image. Power charging touch modes can include low noise frequency selection, increased number of touch samples employed to calculate an average, and simultaneous sampling. In some examples, a power charging touch mode can be different from a normal touch scan mode (i.e., a touch scan mode when the device is not charging). With the one or more power charging touch modes, false touch readings, erroneous touch location identification, and/or undetected touches can be eliminated or reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley W. Zuber, David H. C. Shih, Louis W. Bokma
  • Patent number: 10152162
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first signal from a first sensor of the device, the first signal indicative of a grounding condition of the device; setting one or more touch detection thresholds based on the grounding condition; receiving a touch signal from a touch sensor of the device, the touch signal indicative of a touch by an object; and determining whether one or more parameters of the touch signal exceeds the one or more touch detection thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Sean E. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 10095345
    Abstract: A low power can for device wake up and unlock is disclosed. The low power scan can include one or more algorithms used to detect a sequence and/or one or more gestures to wake up a processor and unlock the device for user interaction. A sequence and/or one or more gestures can be determined by a microcontroller and/or by a separate hardware component. The microcontroller can send a notification or a wake signal to the processor and/or switch the device from an idle to an active state. By detecting a sequence and one or more gestures in the microcontroller before powering on or waking up the processor, the amount of power consumed can be reduced and the battery life extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Sean Erik O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20180173364
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Louis W. BOKMA, Joseph R. FISHER, Jr., Saket VORA
  • Patent number: 9904410
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Joseph R. Fisher, Jr., Saket Vora
  • Publication number: 20170090599
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a rotatable mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises sense electrode positioned proximate to the mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a capacitive sense circuit comprising drive circuity operatively coupled to the mechanical input mechanism and configured for driving a drive signal onto the mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a capacitive sense circuit comprising sense circuitry operatively coupled to the sense electrode and configured to measure an amount of coupling between the rotatable mechanical input mechanism and the sense electrode. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a housing, wherein the sense electrode is included in a gasket for connecting a display to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Yuta KUBOYAMA, Louis W. BOKMA, Erik DE JONG, Christopher M. DODSON, Colin M. ELY, Prashanth HOLENARSIPUR, Mengshu HUANG, Serhan O. ISIKMAN, Brian R. LAND, Anant RAI, Albert WANG, Michael B. WITTENBERG
  • Publication number: 20170024078
    Abstract: A technique for recognizing and rejecting false activation events related to a capacitance sense interface includes measuring a capacitance value of a capacitance sensor within the capacitance sense interface to generate a measured capacitance value. The measured capacitance value is analyzed to determine a baseline capacitance value for the capacitance sensor. The baseline capacitance value may be updated based at least in part upon a weighted moving average of the measured capacitance value. The measured capacitance value may also be analyzed to determine whether the capacitance sensor was activated during a startup phase and to adjust the baseline capacitance value in response to determining that the capacitance sensor was activated during the startup phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Andrew C. Page, Dennis R. Seguine
  • Patent number: 9494627
    Abstract: A technique for recognizing and rejecting false activation events related to a capacitance sense interface includes measuring a capacitance value of a capacitance sense element. The measured capacitance value is analyzed to determine a baseline capacitance value for the capacitance sensor. The capacitance sense interface monitors a rate of change of the measured capacitance values and rejects an activation of the capacitance sense element as a non-touch event when the rate of change of the measured capacitance values have a magnitude greater than a threshold level, indicative of a maximum rate of change of a touch event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Andrew C. Page, Dennis R. Seguine
  • Publication number: 20160320906
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Louis W. BOKMA, Joseph R. FISHER, JR., Saket VORA
  • Patent number: 9407098
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system that determines a battery chemistry for a battery in a peripheral device. During operation, the system determines a first voltage of the battery at a first time and a second voltage of the battery at a second time. The first voltage and the second voltage are then compared to one or more predetermined battery usage profiles to determine the battery chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Sebastiani, Louis W. Bokma, Nima Parivar
  • Patent number: 9400581
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. Bokma, Joseph R. Fisher, Jr., Saket Vora
  • Publication number: 20160178704
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system that determines a battery chemistry for a battery in a peripheral device. During operation, the system determines a first voltage of the battery at a first time and a second voltage of the battery at a second time. The first voltage and the second voltage are then compared to one or more predetermined battery usage profiles to determine the battery chemistry. The remaining life of the battery is determined using the battery chemistry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Marco Sebastiani, Louis W. Bokma, Nima Parivar
  • Publication number: 20160062494
    Abstract: Touch scan modes for touch sensitive devices during device charge is disclosed. To prevent adverse effects to the touch sensor panel due to inductive noise while the device is charging, the touch controller can switch to a touch scan mode (i.e., power charging touch mode) that can cancel or reduce noise from the touch scan or touch image. Power charging touch modes can include low noise frequency selection, increased number of touch samples employed to calculate an average, and simultaneous sampling. In some examples, a power charging touch mode can be different from a normal touch scan mode (i.e., a touch scan mode when the device is not charging). With the one or more power charging touch modes, false touch readings, erroneous touch location identification, and/or undetected touches can be eliminated or reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Wesley W. ZUBER, David H.C. SHIH, Louis W. BOKMA
  • Publication number: 20150346895
    Abstract: A low power can for device wake up and unlock is disclosed. The low power scan can include one or more algorithms used to detect a sequence and/or one or more gestures to wake up a processor and unlock the device for user interaction. A sequence and/or one or more gestures can be determined by a microcontroller and/or by a separate hardware component. The microcontroller can send a notification or a wake signal to the processor and/or switch the device from an idle to an active state. By detecting a sequence and one or more gestures in the microcontroller before powering on or waking up the processor, the amount of power consumed can be reduced and the battery life extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis W. BOKMA, Sean Erik O'CONNOR
  • Publication number: 20150091867
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Louis W. BOKMA, Joseph R. FISHER, JR., Saket VORA