Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Butler
Christopher J. Butler 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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Publication number: 20240118773Abstract: An optical stylus system including an optical stylus and optical sensing system that are together operative to determine one or more of the target or touch location, centroid, hover distance, tilt angle, azimuth, and in some instances the orientation and rotation of the stylus is disclosed. In some examples, light illuminator and detector angular filters are employed to limit the illumination and detection angles of light to minimize false object detection. In other examples, the stylus is a passive stylus with a surface that reflects light with a consistent angular reflection profile or reflected light pattern regardless of stylus tilt. In still other examples, the stylus can detect light at different modulation frequencies emitted from an array of light emitters in the optical sensing system, or the stylus can emit light and detect reflected light with different spectral distributions across the optical sensing system to determine stylus location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Christoph H. KRAH, Mohammad YEKE YAZDANDOOST, Christopher J. BUTLER
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Patent number: 11747950Abstract: A device configured to determine the location and magnitude of a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a transparent touch sensor that is configured to detect a location of a touch on the transparent touch sensor. The device also includes a force-sensing structure disposed at the periphery of the transparent touch sensor. The force sensor includes an upper capacitive plate and a compressible element disposed on one side of the upper capacitive plate. The force sensor also includes a lower capacitive plate disposed on a side of the compressible element that is opposite the upper capacitive plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jonah A. Harley, Peter W. Richards, Brian Q. Huppi, Omar Sze Leung, Dhaval N. Shah, Martin P. Grunthaner, Steven P. Hotelling, Miguel C. Christophy, Vivek Katiyar, Tang Yew Tan, Christopher J. Butler, Erik G. De Jong, Ming Sartee, Rui Qiao, Steven J. Martisauskas, Storrs T. Hoen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Lee E. Hooton, Ian A. Spraggs, Sawyer I. Cohen, David A. Pakula
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Patent number: 11036341Abstract: A plurality of metallic components (e.g., conductive rods) can be included within an insulator layer of a touch sensor panel. The metallic components included within the insulator layer can be electrically floating. The metallic components can increase a signal coupling strength across the thickness of the insulator layer. In some examples, the metallic components can have a uniform spacing and uniform physical dimensions. In some examples, the metallic components can provide increased signal coupling in areas directly above touch sensitive regions of underlying touch sensor electrodes. In some examples, the metallic components can pass through the insulator in a straight line that is normal to opposing surfaces of the insulator layer. In some examples, the metallic components can be flared or otherwise pass through the insulator along a path that is not straight and/or not orthogonal to opposing surfaces of the insulator layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Apple inc.Inventors: Alexandre Gourevitch, Christophe Blondin, Christopher J. Butler
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Patent number: 10956469Abstract: A method for identifying correlated datasets comprises receiving a natural language query from a user, extracting electronic metadata from a plurality of computerized datasets, correlating the electronic metadata with the natural language query using natural language processing, calculating a correlation score between the natural language query and each of the plurality of electronic datasets, and returning a result to the user, wherein the result includes one or more datasets of the plurality of electronic datasets with a correlation score greater than or equal to a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Butler, Lianhua Chi, Bo Han, Juerg von Kaenel, Anna T. T. Phan
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Patent number: 10739899Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
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Publication number: 20190369779Abstract: A device configured to determine the location and magnitude of a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a transparent touch sensor that is configured to detect a location of a touch on the transparent touch sensor. The device also includes a force-sensing structure disposed at the periphery of the transparent touch sensor. The force sensor includes an upper capacitive plate and a compressible element disposed on one side of the upper capacitive plate. The force sensor also includes a lower capacitive plate disposed on a side of the compressible element that is opposite the upper capacitive plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Jonah A. Harley, Peter W. Richards, Brian Q. Huppi, Omar Sze Leung, Dhaval N. Shah, Martin P. Grunthaner, Steven P. Hotelling, Miguel C. Christophy, Vivek Katiyar, Tang Yew Tan, Christopher J. Butler, Erik G. De Jong, Ming Sartee, Rui Qiao, Steven J. Martisauskas, Storrs T. Hoen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Lee E. Hooton, Ian A. Spraggs, Sawyer I. Cohen, David A. Pakula
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Publication number: 20190361560Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
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Patent number: 10466829Abstract: An optical force sensor that may compensate for environmental effects, including, for example, variations in temperature of the device or the surroundings. In some examples, two force-sensitive layers are separated by a compliant layer. The relative electrical response of the two force-sensitive layers may be used to compute an estimate of the force of a touch that reduces the effect of variations in temperature. In some examples, piezoelectric films having anisotropic strain properties are used to reduce the effects of temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Charley T. Ogata, John Stephen Smith, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Shin John Choi, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner
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Patent number: 10423265Abstract: An optical force sensor, which may be used as input to an electronic device. The optical force sensor may be configured to compensate for variations in temperature using two or more force-sensitive components that are formed from materials having different temperature- and strain-dependent responses.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Charley T. Ogata, John Stephen Smith, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Shin John Choi, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner
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Patent number: 10386970Abstract: A device configured to determine the location and magnitude of a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a transparent touch sensor that is configured to detect a location of a touch on the transparent touch sensor. The device also includes a force-sensing structure disposed at the periphery of the transparent touch sensor. The force sensor includes an upper capacitive plate and a compressible element disposed on one side of the upper capacitive plate. The force sensor also includes a lower capacitive plate disposed on a side of the compressible element that is opposite the upper capacitive plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jonah A. Harley, Peter W. Richards, Brian Q. Huppi, Omar Sze Leung, Dhaval N. Shah, Martin P. Grunthaner, Steven P. Hotelling, Miguel C Christophy, Vivek Katiyar, Tang Yew Tan, Christopher J. Butler, Erik G. de Jong, Ming Sartee, Rui Qiao, Steven J. Martisauskas, Storrs T. Hoen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Lee E. Hooton, Ian A. Spraggs, Sawyer I. Cohen, David A. Pakula
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Patent number: 10379657Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
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Patent number: 10282014Abstract: A system can include a display, a first device, and a second device all operatively connected to a controller. The first and second devices each use or share at least a portion of the display area. The controller is adapted to transmit during a pixel refresh time period of the display a first signal that is received by the first device. The first sync signal indicates a first time period in which a first operation can be performed in the first device. The controller is also adapted to transmit a second sync signal that is received by the second device indicating a second time period in which a second operation can be performed in the second device. The second time period can be during the pixel refresh time period or outside of the pixel refresh time period.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Peter W. Richards, Christian M. Sauer, Manu Agarwal
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Publication number: 20190042046Abstract: Systems for detecting an amount and/or location of a force applied to a device using a piezoelectric film are provided. One example system can include a transparent piezoelectric film for generating an electric charge in response to a deformation of the film. Electrodes positioned on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric film can be used to detect the generated electric charge and determine an amount and/or location of force applied to the film based on the generated electric charge. In another embodiment, the system can include a capacitive touch sensor for determining a location of a touch event on the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner, Shahrooz Shahparnia, Sunggu Kang, Kai Wang
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Patent number: 10139959Abstract: A method of calibrating a force sensor that includes an input surface and an array of sensing elements. The input has a number of test locations and is deformable under applied force. The force sensor is mounted in a predetermined test orientation. For each test location of the plurality of test locations on the input surface of the force sensor a predetermined test force to the test location. An element calibration value is measured for each sensing element of the array of sensing elements of the force sensor. An (x, y) deformation map of the input surface of the force sensor corresponding to the application of the predetermined test force to the test location is determined based on the measured element calibration values.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner, Peter W. Richards, Romain A. Teil, Sinan Filiz
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Patent number: 10120478Abstract: Systems for detecting an amount and/or location of a force applied to a device using a piezoelectric film are provided. One example system can include a transparent piezoelectric film for generating an electric charge in response to a deformation of the film. Electrodes positioned on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric film can be used to detect the generated electric charge and determine an amount and/or location of force applied to the film based on the generated electric charge. In another embodiment, the system can include a capacitive touch sensor for determining a location of a touch event on the device.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner, Shahrooz Shahparnia, Sunggu Kang, Kai Wang
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Patent number: 10109110Abstract: An augmented reality display system used to diminish (for example, obscure, obfuscate, hide, make less distracting, block out, “white wash” and/or make less discernible) certain portions of a base image (for example, a user's view of a part of the real world as seen through eyeglasses). Some examples of visual subject matter that can be diminished include: (i) driver distraction phenomena; (ii) advertising; and/or (iii) subject matter the user is not authorized to view.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Butler, Rahil Garnavi, Timothy M. Lynar
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Publication number: 20180275811Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
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Patent number: 10048789Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
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Publication number: 20180196871Abstract: A method for identifying correlated datasets comprises receiving a natural language query from a user, extracting electronic metadata from a plurality of computerized datasets, correlating the electronic metadata with the natural language query using natural language processing, calculating a correlation score between the natural language query and each of the plurality of electronic datasets, and returning a result to the user, wherein the result includes one or more datasets of the plurality of electronic datasets with a correlation score greater than or equal to a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Lianhua Chi, Bo Han, Juerg von Kaenel, Anna T.T. Phan
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Publication number: 20170300161Abstract: An optical force sensor that may compensate for environmental effects, including, for example, variations in temperature of the device or the surroundings. In some examples, two force-sensitive layers are separated by a compliant layer. The relative electrical response of the two force-sensitive layers may be used to compute an estimate of the force of a touch that reduces the effect of variations in temperature. In some examples, piezoelectric films having anisotropic strain properties are used to reduce the effects of temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Charley T. Ogata, John Stephen Smith, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Shin John Choi, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner