Patents by Inventor Duncan Kerr

Duncan Kerr 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: 20180324927
    Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible holes penetrate through at least a portion of the light resistant material in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Daniel Coster, Richard Howarth, Daniele de Iuliis, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Kerr, Jivan Kumar Khosla, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Rohrbach, Doug B. Satzger, Calvin Seid, Christopher Stringer, Eugene Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Patent number: 10120450
    Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi Cieplinski, Brett W. Degner, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler, Paul Puskarich, Marcelo H. Coelho, Aleksandar Pance
  • Publication number: 20180246469
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10034349
    Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible holes penetrate through at least a portion of the light resistant material in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Daniel Coster, Richard Howarth, Daniele de Iuliis, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Kerr, Jivan Kumar Khosla, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Rohrbach, Doug B. Satzger, Calvin Seid, Christopher Stringer, Eugene Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Patent number: 9977499
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least one of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Patent number: 9977500
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Publication number: 20180136613
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9971305
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20180129287
    Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi Cieplinski, Brett W. Degner, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler, Paul Puskarich, Marcelo H. Coelho, Aleksandar Pance
  • Publication number: 20180088532
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 9910494
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least one of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Patent number: 9886006
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9836025
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A first sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. A second sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. The watch also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 9829982
    Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi Cieplinski, Brett W. Degner, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler, Paul Puskarich, Marcelo H. Coelho, Aleksandar Pance
  • Publication number: 20170308039
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A first sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. A second sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. The watch also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 9788392
    Abstract: A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a light source configured to output light. The computing device also includes a light sensor configured to measure the level of light surrounding the computing device. The computing device further includes a control mechanism operatively coupled to the light source and light sensor and configured to adjust the level of output light based on the measured level of light surrounding the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Duncan Kerr, Bas Ording, Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri, Marcel van Os, Nick King
  • Patent number: 9772667
    Abstract: This relates to an event sensing device that includes an event sensing panel and is able to dynamically change the granularity of the panel according to present needs. Thus, the granularity of the panel can differ at different times of operation. Furthermore, the granularity of specific areas of the panel can also be dynamically changed, so that different areas feature different granularities at a given time. This also relates to panels that feature different inherent granularities in different portions thereof. These panels can be designed, for example, by placing more stimulus and/or data lines in different portions of the panel, thus ensuring different densities of pixels in the different portions. Optionally, these embodiments can also include the dynamic granularity changing features noted above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias, Steve Porter Hotelling, Duncan Kerr
  • Patent number: 9753436
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9709956
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A switch, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. An optical sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. The watch also includes a processor positioned within the enclosure and configured to modify a graphical output of the display. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20170192391
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A switch, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. An optical sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. The watch also includes a processor positioned within the enclosure and configured to modify a graphical output of the display. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette