Patents by Inventor Collin R. Petty
Collin R. Petty 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: 20230012897Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Patent number: 11513613Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Patent number: 11275475Abstract: A compliant material, such as a conductive foam, is positioned in the dielectric or capacitive gap between drive and sense electrodes and/or other conductive elements of a capacitive and/or other force sensor, such as a TFT or other display element and a sensor assembly. The compliant material prevents damage by preventing and/or cushioning contact. The compliant material may be conductive. By being conductive and being positioned between the electrodes while still being separated from one or more of the electrodes, the compliant material also shortens the effective electrical distance between the electrodes. As a result, the force sensor may be more sensitive than would otherwise be possible while being less vulnerable to damage.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Bechstein, Collin R. Petty, Martin P. Grunthaner, Andrew W. Joyce, John R. Matthews, Pavan O. Gupta, Albert Lin
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Publication number: 20210181865Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Publication number: 20210124460Abstract: A compliant material, such as a conductive foam, is positioned in the dielectric or capacitive gap between drive and sense electrodes and/or other conductive elements of a capacitive and/or other force sensor, such as a TFT or other display element and a sensor assembly. The compliant material prevents damage by preventing and/or cushioning contact. The compliant material may be conductive. By being conductive and being positioned between the electrodes while still being separated from one or more of the electrodes, the compliant material also shortens the effective electrical distance between the electrodes. As a result, the force sensor may be more sensitive than would otherwise be possible while being less vulnerable to damage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2021Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Daniel J. Bechstein, Collin R. Petty, Martin P. Grunthaner, Andrew W. Joyce, John R. Matthews, Pavan O. Gupta, Albert Lin
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Patent number: 10955937Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Patent number: 10921943Abstract: A compliant material, such as a conductive foam, is positioned in the dielectric or capacitive gap between drive and sense electrodes and/or other conductive elements of a capacitive and/or other force sensor, such as a TFT or other display element and a sensor assembly. The compliant material prevents damage by preventing and/or cushioning contact. The compliant material may be conductive. By being conductive and being positioned between the electrodes while still being separated from one or more of the electrodes, the compliant material also shortens the effective electrical distance between the electrodes. As a result, the force sensor may be more sensitive than would otherwise be possible while being less vulnerable to damage.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Bechstein, Collin R. Petty, Martin P. Grunthaner, Andrew W. Joyce, John R. Matthews, Pavan O. Gupta, Albert Lin
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Patent number: 10871847Abstract: Disclosed are electronic devices and methods of their operation that use force sensors to detect user applied forces on an input surface and determine their locations on the input surface, using only force sensors. The locations may be determined using weighted averages of the positions of the force sensors and their values. The methods may compare dynamically updated baseline force values to received force sensor values to distinguish user applied forces from changes in the force sensor values caused other sources. After detection of a user applied force, the baseline force values are frozen, and the force sensor values used to find the location on the input surface where the user applied the force. The electronic device can operate according to a state space model, with a first state in which there is no user applied force, and a second state in which there is user applied force.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Julian K. Shutzberg, Baboo V. Gowreesunker, Collin R. Petty
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Publication number: 20200348795Abstract: A compliant material, such as a conductive foam, is positioned in the dielectric or capacitive gap between drive and sense electrodes and/or other conductive elements of a capacitive and/or other force sensor, such as a TFT or other display element and a sensor assembly. The compliant material prevents damage by preventing and/or cushioning contact. The compliant material may be conductive. By being conductive and being positioned between the electrodes while still being separated from one or more of the electrodes, the compliant material also shortens the effective electrical distance between the electrodes. As a result, the force sensor may be more sensitive than would otherwise be possible while being less vulnerable to damage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Daniel J. Bechstein, Collin R. Petty, Martin P. Grunthaner, Andrew W. Joyce, John R. Matthews, Pavan O. Gupta, Albert Lin
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Publication number: 20200110473Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Patent number: 10509486Abstract: An input mechanism for an electronic watch includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Publication number: 20190302902Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Patent number: 10379629Abstract: An input mechanism for an electronic watch includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Publication number: 20190102031Abstract: Disclosed are electronic devices and methods of their operation that use force sensors to detect user applied forces on an input surface and determine their locations on the input surface, using only force sensors. The locations may be determined using weighted averages of the positions of the force sensors and their values. The methods may compare dynamically updated baseline force values to received force sensor values to distinguish user applied forces from changes in the force sensor values caused other sources. After detection of a user applied force, the baseline force values are frozen, and the force sensor values used to find the location on the input surface where the user applied the force. The electronic device can operate according to a state space model, with a first state in which there is no user applied force, and a second state in which there is user applied force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Julian K. Shutzberg, Baboo V. Gowreesunker, Collin R. Petty
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Publication number: 20180341342Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Patent number: 10061399Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Publication number: 20180018026Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2016Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Publication number: 20170045976Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display, trackpad member, or other structure that can shift laterally with respect to another device structure in response to the application of shear force. Shear force may be applied by the fingers of a user. Shear force sensors may be provided in an electronic device to measure the shear force that is applied. The shear force sensors may be capacitive sensors. A capacitive shear force sensor may have capacitive electrodes. In response to application of shear force, the capacitive electrodes may move with respect to each other. Parallel planar electrodes may shift with respect to each other so that the amount of overlap and therefore capacitance between the electrodes changes or the separation distance between parallel planar electrodes may increase or decrease to produce measureable capacitance changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, William C. Lukens, Collin R. Petty