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).

  • Publication number: 20240118773
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christoph H. KRAH, Mohammad YEKE YAZDANDOOST, Christopher J. BUTLER
  • Patent number: 11747950
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11036341
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Apple inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Gourevitch, Christophe Blondin, Christopher J. Butler
  • Patent number: 10956469
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Lianhua Chi, Bo Han, Juerg von Kaenel, Anna T. T. Phan
  • Patent number: 10739899
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20190369779
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    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
  • Publication number: 20190361560
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
  • Patent number: 10466829
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10423265
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10386970
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10379657
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 10282014
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Peter W. Richards, Christian M. Sauer, Manu Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20190042046
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner, Shahrooz Shahparnia, Sunggu Kang, Kai Wang
  • Patent number: 10139959
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner, Peter W. Richards, Romain A. Teil, Sinan Filiz
  • Patent number: 10120478
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner, Shahrooz Shahparnia, Sunggu Kang, Kai Wang
  • Patent number: 10109110
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Rahil Garnavi, Timothy M. Lynar
  • Publication number: 20180275811
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, Martin P. Grunthaner, John Stephen Smith, Charley T. Ogata, Christian M. Sauer, Shin John Choi, Christopher J. Butler, Steven J. Martisauskas
  • Patent number: 10048789
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20180196871
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher J. Butler, Lianhua Chi, Bo Han, Juerg von Kaenel, Anna T.T. Phan
  • Publication number: 20170300161
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    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