Patents by Inventor Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON
Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON 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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Patent number: 9804712Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic device configured to detect an object positioned at a distance. The electronic device includes a reference oscillator generating a reference signal having a reference frequency; and a first measurement oscillator coupled to a first antenna located at a first position of the electronic device. The first measurement oscillator generates a first measurement signal having a first measurement frequency corresponding to a distance of an object from the first antenna. The first antenna has a first antenna load corresponding to the distance of the object from the first antenna, and the first measurement frequency varies in dependence on the first antenna load. The electronic device also includes a comparator coupled to the reference oscillator and the first measurement oscillator which generates a comparator output including a difference between the reference frequency and the first measurement frequency which represents the distance of the object from the first antenna.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Andrew Ashraf Fergusson, Iouri Petrovitch Besperstov, Jacek Idzik
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Patent number: 9600729Abstract: A system and method supporting signature verification. An input signature from a contact point of a stylus at a touch-sensitive surface is received. At least one sensor detects a first set of characteristics of the input signature that represents how the stylus is used when a present security level is a first level, and a second set of characteristics is determined when a present security level is a second security level. The second set of characteristics is a subset of the first set with fewer characteristics than the first set. One of the first set of characteristics or the second set of characteristics is transmitted to a characteristic receiving device to permit the input signature to be authenticated as a function, at least in part, of the first set or the second set of characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Jacek Idzik, Cornel Mercea, Andrew Ashraf Fergusson
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Publication number: 20160253568Abstract: A system and method supporting signature verification. An input signature from a contact point of a stylus at a touch-sensitive surface is received. At least one sensor detects a first set of characteristics of the input signature that represents how the stylus is used when a present security level is a first level, and a second set of characteristics is determined when a present security level is a second security level. The second set of characteristics is a subset of the first set with fewer characteristics than the first set. One of the first set of characteristics or the second set of characteristics is transmitted to a characteristic receiving device to permit the input signature to be authenticated as a function, at least in part, of the first set or the second set of characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Jacek IDZIK, Cornel MERCEA, Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON
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Patent number: 9280219Abstract: An apparatus and method pertaining to detecting user input, such as a signature, with respect to a stylus and the transmission of information regarding that input. The detected input can comprise, for example, characteristics of the input and transmit them to a secondary device to verify the input matches a stored template.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Jacek S. Idzik, Cornel Mercea, Andrew Ashraf Fergusson
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Patent number: 9280214Abstract: A handheld device and method of operation for determining motion of the handheld device relative to a stylus is presented, in which the stylus is used to provide a frame of reference for the handheld device rather than as a user input device. Stylus orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of a stylus, and handheld device orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of the handheld device, are used to determine motion of the handheld device relative to the stylus. The handheld device has orientation and/or motion sensors, a communication module operable to receive stylus orientation data, and a processor operable to determine the motion or orientation of the handheld device relative to the stylus and execute an application dependent thereon.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Cornel Mercea, Andrew Ashraf Fergusson, Jacek S. Idzik
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Patent number: 9128541Abstract: A stylus has a stylus barrel and a stylus nib that can move with respect to the stylus barrel. A first pressure sensor is configured to sense air pressure that corresponds to force being supplied to the stylus nib and a second pressure sensor serves to sense ambient air pressure. A control circuit operably couples to both pressure sensors and determines a gauge pressure value as corresponds to force being applied to the stylus nib. By one approach a temperature sensor can also operably couple to the control circuit and provide temperature information that the control circuit can utilize when determining the aforementioned gauge pressure value.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Andrew Ashraf Fergusson, Cornel Mercea
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Patent number: 8978487Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for a capacitive force sensor utilizing a magnetic spring. The force is applied across a body and a moveable element that are coupled by the magnetic spring. The moveable element is configured to vary the capacitance of a variable capacitor. A sensing circuit, electrically coupled to the variable capacitor, provides a force signal characteristic of the applied force. In application to a stylus pointing device, the moveable element is coupled to a moveable tip of the stylus. The force signal, which is characteristic of the force applied to the tip of the stylus, may be used to control an application executed on a host electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Andrew Ashraf Fergusson, Iouri Petrovitch Besperstov
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Publication number: 20150054774Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic device configured to detect an object positioned at a distance. The electronic device includes a reference oscillator generating a reference signal having a reference frequency; and a first measurement oscillator coupled to a first antenna located at a first position of the electronic device. The first measurement oscillator generates a first measurement signal having a first measurement frequency corresponding to a distance of an object from the first antenna. The first antenna has a first antenna load corresponding to the distance of the object from the first antenna, and the first measurement frequency varies in dependence on the first antenna load. The electronic device also includes a comparator coupled to the reference oscillator and the first measurement oscillator which generates a comparator output including a difference between the reference frequency and the first measurement frequency which represents the distance of the object from the first antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON, Iouri Petrovitch BESPERSTOV, Jacek IDZIK
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Patent number: 8947372Abstract: An electronic device includes a base, a touch-sensitive display moveable relative to the base, piezo actuators disposed between the base and the touch-sensitive display, the piezo actuators including a first piezo actuator and a second piezo actuator spaced from the first piezo actuator, and a controller configured to control the piezo actuators to alternately actuate the first piezo actuator and the second piezo actuator and apply forces to the touch-sensitive display, thereby causing the touch-sensitive display to pivot relative to the base.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Andrew Ashraf Fergusson, Bradley James Laflamme, Rene Pierre Marchand
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Publication number: 20150009187Abstract: A handheld device and method of operation for determining motion of the handheld device relative to a stylus is presented, in which the stylus is used to provide a frame of reference for the handheld device rather than as a user input device. Stylus orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of a stylus, and handheld device orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of the handheld device, are used to determine motion of the handheld device relative to the stylus. The handheld device has orientation and/or motion sensors, a communication module operable to receive stylus orientation data, and a processor operable to determine the motion or orientation of the handheld device relative to the stylus and execute an application dependent thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Cornel MERCEA, Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON, Jacek S. IDZIK
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Publication number: 20140375573Abstract: An apparatus and method pertaining to detecting user input, such as a signature, with respect to a stylus and the transmission of information regarding that input. The detected input can comprise, for example, characteristics of the input and transmit them to a secondary device to verify the input matches a stored template.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Jacek S. IDZIK, Cornel MERCEA, Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON
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Publication number: 20140267182Abstract: A stylus has a stylus barrel and a stylus nib that can move with respect to the stylus barrel. A first pressure sensor is configured to sense air pressure that corresponds to force being supplied to the stylus nib and a second pressure sensor serves to sense ambient air pressure. A control circuit operably couples to both pressure sensors and determines a gauge pressure value as corresponds to force being applied to the stylus nib. By one approach a temperature sensor can also operably couple to the control circuit and provide temperature information that the control circuit can utilize when determining the aforementioned gauge pressure value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON, Cornel MERCEA
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Publication number: 20140165742Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for a capacitive force sensor utilizing a magnetic spring. The force is applied across a body and a moveable element that are coupled by the magnetic spring. The moveable element is configured to vary the capacitance of a variable capacitor. A sensing circuit, electrically coupled to the variable capacitor, provides a force signal characteristic of the applied force. In application to a stylus pointing device, the moveable element is coupled to a moveable tip of the stylus. The force signal, which is characteristic of the force applied to the tip of the stylus, may be used to control an application executed on a host electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON, Iouri Petrovitch BESPERSTOV
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Publication number: 20120038558Abstract: An electronic device includes a base, a touch-sensitive display moveable relative to the base, piezo actuators disposed between the base and the touch-sensitive display, the piezo actuators including a first piezo actuator and a second piezo actuator spaced from the first piezo actuator, and a controller configured to control the piezo actuators to alternately actuate the first piezo actuator and the second piezo actuator and apply forces to the touch-sensitive display, thereby causing the touch-sensitive display to pivot relative to the base.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Andrew Ashraf FERGUSSON, Bradley James LAFLAMME, Rene Pierre MARCHAND