Patents by Inventor Ralph T. Brunner

Ralph T. Brunner 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: 10341553
    Abstract: Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy S. Jones, Nikhil Bhogal, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Publication number: 20180316849
    Abstract: Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jeremy S. Jones, Nikhil Bhogal, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Patent number: 10057481
    Abstract: Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Jones, Nikhil Bhogal, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Publication number: 20170078564
    Abstract: Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jeremy Jones, Nikhil Bhogal, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Patent number: 9544495
    Abstract: Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Jones, Nikhil Bhogal, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Patent number: 9412329
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for per display scale factors within a multiple display system are described. In one aspect of the invention, a machine implemented method includes setting a scale factor for each window buffer equal to an extreme scale factor among a plurality of displays. The method further includes transferring data from each window buffer into a corresponding frame buffer for one of the plurality of displays by setting a scale factor of each frame buffer equal to the scale factor of the corresponding display. In one example according to this aspect, the method further includes displaying on a high resolution display and a low resolution display an image, stored in the corresponding frame buffers, with substantially the same physical size even though the displays have different scale factors and pixel densities. Also, the extreme scale factor is one of the largest scale factor or the smallest scale factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Fullerton, Ralph T. Brunner, Ali Ozer
  • Publication number: 20150205502
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an image editing application that edits an image. The image editing application assigns a mask value to each pixel of the image that includes several pixels. The mask value for a pixel is for using when processing the pixel. The image editing application displays the image in a display area. The image editing application receives several user inputs on a set of pixels of the image. The image editing application incrementally applies an image processing operation to the set of pixels by changing the mask values for the set of pixels each time the set of pixels receives a user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Randy Ubillos, Timothy D. Cherna, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Patent number: 9041727
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an image editing application that edits an image. The image editing application assigns a mask value to each pixel of the image that includes several pixels. The mask value for a pixel is for using when processing the pixel. The image editing application displays the image in a display area. The image editing application receives several user inputs on a set of pixels of the image. The image editing application incrementally applies an image processing operation to the set of pixels by changing the mask values for the set of pixels each time the set of pixels receives a user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Ubillos, Timothy D. Cherna, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Publication number: 20140354665
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for per display scale factors within a multiple display system are described. In one aspect of the invention, a machine implemented method includes setting a scale factor for each window buffer equal to an extreme scale factor among a plurality of displays. The method further includes transferring data from each window buffer into a corresponding frame buffer for one of the plurality of displays by setting a scale factor of each frame buffer equal to the scale factor of the corresponding display. In one example according to this aspect, the method further includes displaying on a high resolution display and a low resolution display an image, stored in the corresponding frame buffers, with substantially the same physical size even though the displays have different scale factors and pixel densities. Also, the extreme scale factor is one of the largest scale factor or the smallest scale factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Guy Fullerton, Ralph T. Brunner, Ali Ozer
  • Patent number: 8810480
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for per display scale factors within a multiple display system are described. In one aspect of the invention, a machine implemented method includes setting a scale factor for each window buffer equal to an extreme scale factor among a plurality of displays. The method further includes transferring data from each window buffer into a corresponding frame buffer for one of the plurality of displays by setting a scale factor of each frame buffer equal to the scale factor of the corresponding display. In one example according to this aspect, the method further includes displaying on a high resolution display and a low resolution display an image, stored in the corresponding frame buffers, with substantially the same physical size even though the displays have different scale factors and pixel densities. Also, the extreme scale factor is one of the largest scale factor or the smallest scale factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Fullerton, Ralph T. Brunner, Ali Ozer
  • Publication number: 20140152883
    Abstract: Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Jeremy Jones, Nikhil Bhogal, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Publication number: 20130235071
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an image editing application that edits an image. The image editing application assigns a mask value to each pixel of the image that includes several pixels. The mask value for a pixel is for using when processing the pixel. The image editing application displays the image in a display area. The image editing application receives several user inputs on a set of pixels of the image. The image editing application incrementally applies an image processing operation to the set of pixels by changing the mask values for the set of pixels each time the set of pixels receives a user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Randy Ubillos, Timothy D. Cherna, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Patent number: 8245152
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to accelerate scrolling for buffered windows. In one aspect of the invention, a method to scroll a buffered window on a data processing system includes: determining a second region of a second pixel image of a window in a frame buffer, which corresponds to a first region of a first pixel image of the window buffered in a window buffer that is scrolled from a first position to a second position in the first pixel image of the window in the window buffer; and scrolling the second region in the frame buffer to synchronize the second pixel image in the frame buffer with the first pixel image in the window buffer. In one example according to this aspect, the second region in the frame buffer is scrolled using graphics hardware; the frame buffer is located inside a video memory under control of the graphics hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brunner, Haroon Sheikh, Peter Graffagnino
  • Publication number: 20120076405
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for locating an embedded color chart in an image are described. In one exemplary method, an image that includes an embedded color chart is located without the intervention of the user. The embedded color chart is verified and used to create a color profile of the image. Furthermore, the orientation angle of the color chart is determined and the image orientation is fixed based on this angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brunner, David Hayward
  • Patent number: 8073248
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for locating an embedded color chart in an image are described. In one exemplary method, an image that includes an embedded color chart is located without the intervention of the user. The embedded color chart is verified and used to create a color profile of the image. Furthermore, the orientation angle of the color chart is determined and the image orientation is fixed based on this angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brunner, David Hayward
  • Publication number: 20110072389
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to accelerate scrolling for buffered windows. In one aspect of the invention, a method to scroll a buffered window on a data processing system includes: determining a second region of a second pixel image of a window in a frame buffer, which corresponds to a first region of a first pixel image of the window buffered in a window buffer that is scrolled from a first position to a second position in the first pixel image of the window in the window buffer; and scrolling the second region in the frame buffer to synchronize the second pixel image in the frame buffer with the first pixel image in the window buffer. In one example according to this aspect, the second region in the frame buffer is scrolled using graphics hardware; the frame buffer is located inside a video memory under control of the graphics hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brunner, Haroon Sheikh, Peter Graffagnino
  • Patent number: 7802196
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to accelerate scrolling for buffered windows. In one aspect of the invention, a method to scroll a buffered window on a data processing system includes: determining a second region of a second pixel image of a window in a frame buffer, which corresponds to a first region of a first pixel image of the window buffered in a window buffer that is scrolled from a first position to a second position in the first pixel image of the window in the window buffer; and scrolling the second region in the frame buffer to synchronize the second pixel image in the frame buffer with the first pixel image in the window buffer. In one example according to this aspect, the second region in the frame buffer is scrolled using graphics hardware; the frame buffer is located inside a video memory under control of the graphics hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brunner, Haroon Sheikh, Peter Graffagnino
  • Patent number: 7675529
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to scale components of user interfaces. To scale a view component according to an arbitrary transformation, which may be represented by a scaling factor, a coordinate transformation, or other parameters, at least one embodiment of the present invention determines a new transformation for the view component so that, when the new transformation is used, the boundaries of the view components are aligned with pixel lines (and/or, other conditions are satisfied). In one aspect of the invention, a method to scale a view component of a Graphical User Interface includes: adjusting first layout parameters (e.g., coordinates of an origin, a width, a height, a coordinate of a boundary, and others), which correspond to a first transformation to scale the view component, to generate second layout parameters for the view component; and computing a second transformation from the second layout parameters to scale the view component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brunner, Kristin Webster
  • Publication number: 20080304741
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for locating an embedded color chart in an image are described. In one exemplary method, an image that includes an embedded color chart is located without the intervention of the user. The embedded color chart is verified and used to create a color profile of the image. Furthermore, the orientation angle of the color chart is determined and the image orientation is fixed based on this angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Ralph T. Brunner, David Hayward
  • Patent number: 7417649
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for nonlinear scaling of video images. To match the aspect ratios of a video image and the target display area, at least one embodiment of the present invention scales the video image according to one or more nonlinear functions along the horizontal direction and/or the vertical direction. In one embodiment, the nonlinear functions are such that the original aspect ratio of the video image is preserved near the center region (or strip) of the image and the image is gradually stretched (or compressed) as it is mapped to the edges. In one example, the scaling is implemented by the texture mapping functionality of OpenGL using graphics hardware. In one embodiment of the present invention, the nonlinear mapping is constructed according to a polynomial mapping; and, the coefficients of the polynomial are adjustable by a user to trade off distortion between the image center and the image edges, giving the user control over the location and the amount of distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Fleming, Ralph T. Brunner