Patents by Inventor Christopher T. Mullens

Christopher T. Mullens 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).

  • SENSOR FUSION
    Publication number: 20130080762
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. CRETELLA, JR., Venu Madhav Duggineni, Michael Man-Cheung Eng, Ronald Keryuan Huang, Christopher Moore, Christopher T. Mullens
  • ACCESSORY DEVICE
    Publication number: 20130076614
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining information of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. IVE, Duncan R. Kerr, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Steve P. Hotelling, Christopher T. Mullens, Martin P. Grunthaner, Michael A. Cretella, JR.
  • MOTION-BASED DEVICE OPERATIONS
    Publication number: 20120306770
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems of motion-based device operations are described. A mobile device can coordinate operations of a motion sensor and a proximity sensor. The mobile device can determine a gesture event using the motion sensor. The mobile device can determine a proximity event using the proximity sensor. The mobile device can use the gesture event and proximity event to confirm one another, and determine that the mobile device has moved in proximity to a target object following a specified gesture. Upon confirmation, the mobile device can perform a specified task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher Moore, Christopher T. Mullens, Gregory Novick, Ronald K. Huang, William Matthew Vieta, Xiaoyuan Tu
  • Sensor fusion
    Patent number: 8289115
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Cretella, Jr., Venu Madhav Duggineni, Michael Man-Cheung Eng, Ronald Keryuan Huang, Christopher Moore, Christopher T. Mullens
  • WIRELESS ACCESSORY DEVICE PAIRING TRANSFER BETWEEN MULTIPLE HOST DEVICES
    Publication number: 20120083208
    Abstract: A wireless communications system includes an accessory device and multiple host devices. A host device pairs wirelessly with an accessory device using a unique link key, detects a primary trigger event and responds by transferring automatically its pairing with the accessory device to a second host device while all devices remain within wireless range of each other. The pairing transfer involves communicating the link key to the second host device, unpairing the accessory device from the first host device, and establishing a wireless pairing of the accessory device to the second host device. The primary trigger event can involve establishing a ported connection between host devices. A secondary trigger event results in the first host device automatically reclaiming its pairing with the accessory device. An accessory device can also select and pair with one of multiple host devices in response to a specific user gesture detected by the accessory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Giles, Jack I-Chieh Fu, Christopher T. Mullens, Craig P. Dooley, Adrian E. Sun
  • SENSOR FUSION
    Publication number: 20120072167
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. CRETELLA, JR., Venu Madhav DUGGINENI, Michael Man-Cheung ENG, Ronald Keryuan HUANG, Christopher MOORE, Christopher T. MULLENS