Patents by Inventor Bill Lawrence

Bill Lawrence 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).

  • Magnetic force in a directional input device
    Patent number: 9946293
    Abstract: Embodiments for a user input device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user input device comprises a body, an elongate directional control element having a first end projecting towards the body and a second end projecting away from the body and configured to be movable by a user, a magnet to hold the directional control element in one or more predetermined positions, and a sensor coupled to the body to detect a change in position of the directional control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Vasco Rubio, Eph John Evans, Bill Lawrence, Anthony John Grant, Gary Strowe
  • MAGNETIC FORCE IN A DIRECTIONAL INPUT DEVICE
    Publication number: 20130147642
    Abstract: Embodiments for a user input device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user input device comprises a body, an elongate directional control element having a first end projecting towards the body and a second end projecting away from the body and configured to be movable by a user, a magnet to hold the directional control element in one or more predetermined positions, and a sensor coupled to the body to detect a change in position of the directional control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vasco Rubio, Eph John Evans, Bill Lawrence, Anthony John Grant, Gary Strowe