Patents by Inventor Nicole M. Wells

Nicole M. Wells 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: 10162452
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface displays a first user interface of a first software application, detects an input on the touch-sensitive surface while displaying the first user interface, and, in response to detecting the input while displaying the first user interface, performs a first operation in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies intensity input criteria including that the input satisfies a first intensity threshold, and performs a second operation in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies pan criteria including that the input has moved across the touch-sensitive surface by at least a predefined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Jonathan R. Dascola, Olivier D. R. Gutknecht, Peter L. Hajas, Chanaka G. Karunamuni, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Kevin E. Ridsdale, Sophia Teutschler, Nicole M. Wells
  • Patent number: 10162447
    Abstract: A force-sensitive input device for receiving user input. The input device can include a contact (e.g., touch) sensor and a plurality of force sensors. By combining the information from a multi-touch event with information from each of the plurality of force sensors, a contact centroid and a force centroid can be determined. Thereafter, by projecting a vector defining the force applied to the input device onto a vector defined between the contact centroid and an individual contact location, a magnitude of force applied at that contact location can be approximated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 10152208
    Abstract: An electronic device displays, on a display, a user interface. While displaying the user interface, the device detects an input on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the input while displaying the first user interface, and while detecting the input, in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies an activation intensity threshold, performs a first operation. The activation intensity threshold includes a first intensity threshold component that decreases from a first intensity value over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Gregory M. Apodaca, Alex Bijamov, Jonathan R. Dascola, Christopher P. Foss, Olivier D. R. Gutknecht, Peter L. Hajas, Michael T. Jurewitz, Chanaka G. Karunamuni, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Sophia Teutschler, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 10095396
    Abstract: An electronic device displays a settings user interface that includes one or more control objects. The settings user interface is configured to adjust operations of the device that use one or more sensors that detect intensity of contacts with a touch-sensitive surface, and/or one or more tactile output generators. The device detects an input for a first control object of the one or more control objects; and, in accordance with the detected input for the first control object, changes the second intensity threshold and the second tactile output. The device provides a first tactile output in response to detecting that an intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface increases above a first intensity threshold, and provides a second tactile output in response to detecting that an intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface increases above a second intensity threshold, distinct from the first intensity threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Aram D. Kudurshian, Christopher P. Foss, Gary I. Butcher, Patrick L. Coffman, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 10019065
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The device detects a first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface, and, in response to detecting the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface, determines a first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface. The device identifies a first intensity model identifier from a plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers, and, in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier, determines a first touch characterization parameter. Subsequent to determining the first touch characterization parameter, the device sends first touch information to the first software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Raleigh J. Ledet, Ryan S. Dixon, Nils T. Beck, Nicole M. Wells
  • Patent number: 9990113
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes: a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object. The device receives an input that corresponds to a gesture detected on a touch-sensitive surface of a user input device. The gesture includes a movement of a contact across the touch-sensitive surface followed by a lift-off of the contact from the touch-sensitive surface. The gesture includes a characteristic movement distance and a characteristic movement speed. In accordance with a determination that the gesture satisfies coasting criteria, the device moves the current focus in the user interface; and decelerates movement of the current focus across the series of user interface objects at a first deceleration rate that is based on: the characteristic movement distance of the gesture, and the characteristic movement speed of the gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Publication number: 20180143723
    Abstract: An electronic device detects a change in intensity of an input on an input element that includes detecting an increase in intensity followed by a decrease in intensity, and determines whether the first decrease in intensity of the input meets up-click detection criteria, which require that the intensity of the input decrease below a first up-click intensity threshold in order for the up-click detection criteria to be met. The first up-click intensity threshold is time varying, in accordance with the detected intensity of the input during the first decrease in intensity of the input. If the first decrease in intensity of the input meets the up-click detection criteria, first feedback is provided, indicating that the first decrease in intensity of the input was recognized as an up-click, and if the first decrease in intensity of the input does not meet the up-click detection criteria, the first feedback is not provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Leah M. Gum, Nicholas A. Fahrner, Camille Moussette, Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Joshua B. Kopin, Jules K. Fennis
  • Publication number: 20180067596
    Abstract: An electronic device detects a change in intensity of an input on an input element that includes detecting an increase in intensity followed by a decrease in intensity, and recognizes at least a portion of the change in intensity of the input as a first input event that is associated with a first operation, for example a single click operation. After recognizing the first input event, the device delays performance of the first operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a second input event, wherein the delay is limited by a default delay time period. If the second event is recognized before default delay time period has elapsed, a second operation is performed and the first operation is not performed. However, if early-confirmation criteria for the first input event are met before the default delay period elapses, the first operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Leah M. Gum, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Camille Moussette, Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Joshua B. Kopin, Jules K. Fennis
  • Patent number: 9910524
    Abstract: An electronic device detects a change in intensity of an input on an input element that includes detecting an increase in intensity followed by a decrease in intensity, and recognizes at least a portion of the change in intensity of the input as a first input event that is associated with a first operation, for example a single click operation. After recognizing the first input event, the device delays performance of the first operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a second input event, wherein the delay is limited by a default delay time period. If the second event is recognized before default delay time period has elapsed, a second operation is performed and the first operation is not performed. However, if early-confirmation criteria for the first input event are met before the default delay period elapses, the first operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Leah M. Gum, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Camille Moussette, Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Joshua B. Kopin, Jules K. Fennis
  • Publication number: 20180046307
    Abstract: A force-sensitive input device for receiving user input. The input device can include a contact (e.g., touch) sensor and a plurality of force sensors. By combining the information from a multi-touch event with information from each of the plurality of force sensors, a contact centroid and a force centroid can be determined. Thereafter, by projecting a vector defining the force applied to the input device onto a vector defined between the contact centroid and an individual contact location, a magnitude of force applied at that contact location can be approximated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 9798409
    Abstract: A force-sensitive input device for receiving user input. The input device can include a contact (e.g., touch) sensor and a plurality of force sensors. By combining the information from a multi-touch event with information from each of the plurality of force sensors, a contact centroid and a force centroid can be determined. Thereafter, by projecting a vector defining the force applied to the input device onto a vector defined between the contact centroid and an individual contact location, a magnitude of force applied at that contact location can be approximated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Publication number: 20170220116
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The device detects a first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface, and, in response to detecting the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface, determines a first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface. The device identifies a first intensity model identifier from a plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers, and, in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier, determines a first touch characterization parameter. Subsequent to determining the first touch characterization parameter, the device sends first touch information to the first software application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Raleigh J. Ledet, Ryan S. Dixon, Nils T. Beck, Nicole M. Wells
  • Patent number: 9645669
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The device detects a first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface, and, in response to detecting the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface, determines a first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface. The device identifies a first intensity model identifier from a plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers, and, in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier, determines a first touch characterization parameter. Subsequent to determining the first touch characterization parameter, the device sends first touch information to the first software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Raleigh J. Ledet, Ryan S. Dixon, Nils T. Beck, Nicole M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20170068410
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes: a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object. The device receives an input that corresponds to a gesture detected on a touch-sensitive surface of a user input device. The gesture includes a movement of a contact across the touch-sensitive surface followed by a lift-off of the contact from the touch-sensitive surface. The gesture includes a characteristic movement distance and a characteristic movement speed. In accordance with a determination that the gesture satisfies coasting criteria, the device moves the current focus in the user interface; and decelerates movement of the current focus across the series of user interface objects at a first deceleration rate that is based on: the characteristic movement distance of the gesture, and the characteristic movement speed of the gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Publication number: 20170045982
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface displays a first user interface of a first software application, detects an input on the touch-sensitive surface while displaying the first user interface, and, in response to detecting the input while displaying the first user interface, performs a first operation in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies intensity input criteria including that the input satisfies a first intensity threshold, and performs a second operation in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies pan criteria including that the input has moved across the touch-sensitive surface by at least a predefined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Jonathan R. Dascola, Olivier D.R. Gutknecht, Peter L. Hajas, Chanaka G. Karunamuni, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Kevin E. Ridsdale, Sophia Teutschler, Nicole M. Wells
  • Patent number: 9542037
    Abstract: An electronic device detects a first touch input on a first touch region of a touch-sensitive surface, and identifies a first intensity model identifier associated with the first touch region. In response to detecting the first touch input, the device determines a first intensity of the first touch input on the first touch region; determines a first touch characterization parameter; and, subsequently sends to a first software application the first touch characterization parameter. The device also detects a second touch input on a second touch region of the touch-sensitive surface, and identifies a second intensity model identifier associated with the second touch region. In response to detecting the second touch input, the device determines a second intensity of the second touch input on the second touch region; determines a second touch characterization parameter; and, subsequently sends to the first software application the second touch characterization parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Raleigh J. Ledet, Ryan S. Dixon, Nils T. Beck, Nicole M. Wells
  • Patent number: 9535594
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface with a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus is on a first user interface object. The device receives an input corresponding to movement of a contact across a touch-sensitive surface. The movement includes first and second components each corresponding to first and second axes on the display. The device moves the current focus, along the first and second axes by amounts based on magnitudes of the first and second components. The amount of movement of the current focus along a non-dominant axis is reduced relative to the amount of movement of the current focus along a dominant axis by a scaling factor that is based on a rate of movement of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Publication number: 20160357305
    Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts. The method includes displaying, on the display, a user interface for an application; detecting an edge input that includes detecting a change in a characteristic intensity of a contact proximate to an edge of the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the edge input: in accordance with a determination that the edge input meets system-gesture criteria, performing an operation that is independent of the application, wherein: the system-gesture criteria include intensity criteria; the system-gesture criteria include a location criterion that is met when the intensity criteria for the contact are met while the contact is within a first region relative to the touch-sensitive surface; and the first region relative to the touch-sensitive surface is determined based on one or more characteristics of the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Andrew B. Cato, Matthew H. Gamble, Craig M. Federighi, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 9507459
    Abstract: An electronic device displays a user interface that includes a first display region and a second display region. The device detects a first intensity of a touch input at a first location on a touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region; detects a movement of the touch input to a second location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region; after detecting the movement, detects a second intensity of the touch input at the second location; and, in response, in accordance with a determination that the first intensity does not satisfy a first intensity threshold, processes the second intensity using one or more intensity thresholds associated with the second display region; and, in accordance with a determination that the first intensity satisfies the first intensity threshold, processes the second intensity using one or more intensity thresholds associated with the first display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Raleigh J. Ledet, Ryan S. Dixon, Nils T. Beck, Nicole M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20160291771
    Abstract: An electronic device displays, on a display, a user interface. While displaying the user interface, the device detects an input on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the input while displaying the first user interface, and while detecting the input, in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies an activation intensity threshold, performs a first operation. The activation intensity threshold includes a first intensity threshold component that decreases from a first intensity value over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Gregory M. Apodaca, Alex Bijamov, Jonathan R. Dascola, Christopher P. Foss, Olivier D.R. Gutknecht, Peter L. Hajas, Michael T. Jurewitz, Chanaka G. Karunamuni, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Sophia Teutschler, Wayne C. Westerman