Patents by Inventor Andrew E. Winter
Andrew E. Winter 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: 10359848Abstract: Input device haptics and pressure sensing techniques are described. An input device includes an outer surface, a pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism, and a pressure sensing and haptic feedback module. The outer surface is configured to receive an application of pressure by an object. The pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism has one or more piezos configured to detect and quantify an amount of the application of the pressure to the outer surface by the object, the one or more piezos configured to output a signal indicating the quantified amount of the pressure. The pressure sensing and haptic feedback module is configured to receive the signal from the one or more piezos indicating the quantified amount of the pressure and control the haptic feedback of the pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Andrew E. Winter, Brian Rush Cox, Launnie K E Ginn, David Otto Whitt, Aric A. Fitz-Coy, Carl E. Picciotto, Gahn Gavyn Yun, John Jacob Nelson
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Publication number: 20180350536Abstract: A thin keyboard device is described herein. In one or more implementations, a keyboard device includes a plurality of keys, and a housing that includes a structural printed circuit board (PCB). The structural PCB includes, for each of the plurality of keys, a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace. The keyboard device further includes a key-switch mechanism for each of the plurality of keys. The key-switch mechanism includes a conductive material oriented towards the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace, and is configured to cause the conductive material to move downwards, when the key is depressed, to electrically connect the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace of the depressed key.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Andrew E. Winter
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Patent number: 10090121Abstract: A thin keyboard device is described herein. In one or more implementations, a keyboard device includes a plurality of keys, and a housing that includes a structural printed circuit board (PCB). The structural PCB includes, for each of the plurality of keys, a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace. The keyboard device further includes a key-switch mechanism for each of the plurality of keys. The key-switch mechanism includes a conductive material oriented towards the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace, and is configured to cause the conductive material to move downwards, when the key is depressed, to electrically connect the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace of the depressed key.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventor: Andrew E. Winter
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Patent number: 10073494Abstract: A mechanical attach and retention feature is described. An apparatus may include a cover portion that is configured to cover at least a portion of a display device of a computing device having a mobile form factor that is configured to be held by one or more hands of a user. The apparatus includes, a first mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the cover portion, a second mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the first mid-spine, and a connection portion that is rotationally connection to the second mid-spine. The connection portion is configured to form a removable physical coupling to the computing device using a projection that is configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device and a protrusion disposed on the projection, the protrusion configured to be received within a cavity formed as part of the channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Hua Wang, Karsten Aagaard, David Otto Whitt, III, Andrew E. Winter
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Publication number: 20180082803Abstract: A thin keyboard device is described herein. In one or more implementations, a keyboard device includes a plurality of keys, and a housing that includes a structural printed circuit board (PCB). The structural PCB includes, for each of the plurality of keys, a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace. The keyboard device further includes a key-switch mechanism for each of the plurality of keys. The key-switch mechanism includes a conductive material oriented towards the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace, and is configured to cause the conductive material to move downwards, when the key is depressed, to electrically connect the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace of the depressed key.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Andrew E. Winter
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Publication number: 20170102770Abstract: Input device haptics and pressure sensing techniques are described. An input device includes an outer surface, a pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism, and a pressure sensing and haptic feedback module. The outer surface is configured to receive an application of pressure by an object. The pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism has one or more piezos configured to detect and quantify an amount of the application of the pressure to the outer surface by the object, the one or more piezos configured to output a signal indicating the quantified amount of the pressure. The pressure sensing and haptic feedback module is configured to receive the signal from the one or more piezos indicating the quantified amount of the pressure and control the haptic feedback of the pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Andrew E. Winter, Brian Rush Cox, Launnie K.E. Ginn, David Otto Whitt, III, Aric A. Fitz-Coy, Carl E. Picciotto, Gahn Gavyn Yun, John Jacob Nelson
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Publication number: 20170031390Abstract: A mechanical attach and retention feature is described. An apparatus may include a cover portion that is configured to cover at least a portion of a display device of a computing device having a mobile form factor that is configured to be held by one or more hands of a user. The apparatus includes, a first mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the cover portion, a second mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the first mid-spine, and a connection portion that is rotationally connection to the second mid-spine. The connection portion is configured to form a removable physical coupling to the computing device using a projection that is configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device and a protrusion disposed on the projection, the protrusion configured to be received within a cavity formed as part of the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Hua Wang, Karsten Aagaard, David Otto Whitt, III, Andrew E. Winter
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Patent number: 9448631Abstract: Input device haptics and pressure sensing techniques are described. An input device includes an outer surface, a pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism, and a pressure sensing and haptic feedback module. The outer surface is configured to receive an application of pressure by an object. The pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism has one or more piezos configured to detect and quantify an amount of the application of the pressure to the outer surface by the object, the one or more piezos configured to output a signal indicating the quantified amount of the pressure. The pressure sensing and haptic feedback module is configured to receive the signal from the one or more piezos indicating the quantified amount of the pressure and control the haptic feedback of the pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Andrew E. Winter, Brian Rush Cox, Launnie K. E. Ginn, David Otto Whitt, III, Aric A. Fitz-Coy, Carl E. Picciotto, Gahn Gavyn Yun, John Jacob Nelson
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Patent number: 9423826Abstract: A mechanical attach and retention feature is described. An apparatus may include a cover portion that is configured to cover at least a portion of a display device of a computing device having a mobile form factor that is configured to be held by one or more hands of a user. The apparatus includes, a first mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the cover portion, a second mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the first mid-spine, and a connection portion that is rotationally connection to the second mid-spine. The connection portion is configured to form a removable physical coupling to the computing device using a projection that is configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device and a protrusion disposed on the projection, the protrusion configured to be received within a cavity formed as part of the channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Hua Wang, Karsten Aagaard, David Otto Whitt, III, Andrew E. Winter
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Publication number: 20150277508Abstract: A mechanical attach and retention feature is described. An apparatus may include a cover portion that is configured to cover at least a portion of a display device of a computing device having a mobile form factor that is configured to be held by one or more hands of a user. The apparatus includes, a first mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the cover portion, a second mid-spine that is rotationally connected to the first mid-spine, and a connection portion that is rotationally connection to the second mid-spine. The connection portion is configured to form a removable physical coupling to the computing device using a projection that is configured to be disposed within a channel formed in a housing of the computing device and a protrusion disposed on the projection, the protrusion configured to be received within a cavity formed as part of the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Hua Wang, Karsten Aagaard, David Otto Whitt, III, Andrew E. Winter
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Publication number: 20150227207Abstract: Input device haptics and pressure sensing techniques are described. An input device includes an outer surface, a pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism, and a pressure sensing and haptic feedback module. The outer surface is configured to receive an application of pressure by an object. The pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism has one or more piezos configured to detect and quantify an amount of the application of the pressure to the outer surface by the object, the one or more piezos configured to output a signal indicating the quantified amount of the pressure. The pressure sensing and haptic feedback module is configured to receive the signal from the one or more piezos indicating the quantified amount of the pressure and control the haptic feedback of the pressure sensor and haptic feedback mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Andrew E. Winter, Brian Rush Cox, Launnie K. E. Ginn, David Otto Whitt, III, Aric A. Fitz-Coy, Carl E. Picciotto, Gahn Gavyn Yun, John Jacob Nelson