Patents by Inventor Eric T. Seymour

Eric T. Seymour 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).

  • Patent number: 10509549
    Abstract: Systems and processes for scanning a user interface are disclosed. One process can include scanning multiple elements within a user interface by highlighting the elements. The process can further include receiving a selection while one of the elements is highlighted and performing an action on the element that was highlighted when the selection was received. The action can include scanning the contents of the selected element or performing an action associated with the selected element. The process can be used to navigate an array of application icons, a menu of options, a standard desktop or laptop operating system interface, or the like. The process can also be used to perform gestures on a touch-sensitive device or mouse and track pad gestures (e.g., flick, tap, or freehand gestures).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fleizach, Eric T. Seymour, Clare Kasemset, Samuel White, Darren C. Minifie, Ian Fisch, Gregory F. Hughes, Justin Kaufman, Patti P. Hoa
  • Publication number: 20190354268
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display, a rotatable input mechanism, one or more processors, and memory. The electronic device displays content on the display and detects a first user input. In response to detecting the first user input, the electronic displays an enlarged view of the content that includes displaying an enlarged first portion of the content without displaying a second portion of the content. While displaying the enlarged view of the enlarged first portion of the content, in response to detecting a rotation of the rotatable input mechanism, the electronic device performs different tasks based on the operational state of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron EVERITT, Christopher B. FLEIZACH, Gregory F. HUGHES, Eric T. SEYMOUR, Eric Lance WILSON
  • Patent number: 10466883
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to screenreader techniques and volume control techniques for electronic devices. In some embodiments, a device displays a plurality of user interface objects in an ordered progression. A rotation of a rotary input mechanism is detected. In response to the rotation of the rotary input mechanism, if a rotary screenreader navigation mode is activated, a visual highlight is displayed and an auditory output is produced. In some embodiments, a device has a volume setting. A gesture is detected, and a volume adjustment mode is activated. The gesture ends with a contact being maintained, and the volume setting is adjusted in accordance with detected movement of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fleizach, Eric T. Seymour, Aaron Everitt
  • Patent number: 10365807
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display, a rotatable input mechanism, one or more processors, and memory. The electronic device displays content on the display, where the content includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The electronic device further detects a first user input, and in response to detecting the first user input, displays an enlarged view of the content that does not include the first edge. The electronic device further detects a rotation of the rotatable input mechanism in a first rotation direction, and in response to detecting the rotation, translates the enlarged view of the content in a first translation direction on the display to display the first edge of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Everitt, Christopher B. Fleizach, Gregory F. Hughes, Eric T. Seymour, Eric Lance Wilson
  • Patent number: 10275436
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display showing a user interface (UI) automatically adjusts the zoom level of a magnification region. The electronic device receives a request to magnify at least a portion of the display showing the UI. The electronic device determines the context that the electronic device was operating in at the time of the magnification request. The context is comprised of display parameters, environmental parameters, or both. The electronic device displays the UI at a zoom level determined based on user preferences. Upon detecting a text input condition, the device resizes and optionally moves the magnification region so that the resized magnification region does not overlap with the newly displayed composition interface window. The device uses an auto-snap feature when the content within the magnification region displays a second boundary upon scrolling the content within the magnification region from a first boundary opposite the second one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Everitt, Christopher Brian Fleizach, Darren C. Minifie, Elizabeth Caroline Furches Cranfill, Eric T. Seymour, Gregory F. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20190073121
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface displays, on the display, a first visual indicator that corresponds to a virtual touch. The device receives a first input from an adaptive input device. In response to receiving the first input from the adaptive input device, the device displays a first menu on the display. The first menu includes a virtual touches selection icon. In response to detecting selection of the virtual touches selection icon, a menu of virtual multitouch contacts is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher B. FLEIZACH, Eric T. SEYMOUR, James P. CRAIG
  • Patent number: 10120566
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface displays, on the display, a first visual indicator that corresponds to a virtual touch. The device receives a first input from an adaptive input device. In response to receiving the first input from the adaptive input device, the device displays a first menu on the display. The first menu includes a virtual touches selection icon. In response to detecting selection of the virtual touches selection icon, a menu of virtual multitouch contacts is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher B. Fleizach, Eric T. Seymour, James P. Craig
  • Patent number: 10013162
    Abstract: While an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface is in a screen reader accessibility mode, the device displays a character input area and a keyboard, the keyboard including a plurality of key icons. The device detects a sequence of one or more gestures on the touch-sensitive surface that correspond to one or more characters. A respective gesture of the one or more gestures that corresponds to a respective character is a single finger gesture that moves across the touch-sensitive surface along a respective path that corresponds to the respective character. The respective path traverses one or more locations on the touch-sensitive surface that correspond to one or more key icons of the plurality of key icons without activating the one or more key icons. In response to detecting the respective gesture, the device enters the corresponding respective character in the character input area of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher B. Fleizach, Darren C. Minifie, Gregory F. Hughes, Ryan N. Dour, Ian M. Fisch, Joel M. Lopes Da Silva, Michael M. Pedersen, II, Eric T. Seymour, Devang K. Naik, Ryan S. Dixon
  • Patent number: 9965141
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and user interfaces enable users identify a user-selected location of a user interface with reduced movement and motor effort. A first selection indicator is overlaid on the user interface and moved in a first direction. Responsive to receiving a first user input to stop movement of the first selection indicator, movement of the first selection indicator is ceased over a first location of the user interface. A second selection indicator is overlaid on the user interface and the second selection indicator is moved in a second direction. Responsive to receiving a second user input to stop movement of the second selection indicator, movement of the second selection indicator is ceased over a second location of the user interface. The user-selected location of the user interface is selected based at least in part on the first and the second locations of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Hughes, Christopher Brian Fleizach, Eric T. Seymour, Darren C. Minifie, Patti Pei-Chin Hoa
  • Publication number: 20180113600
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods that enable low-vision users to interact with touch-sensitive secondary displays. An example method includes: displaying, on a primary display, a first user interface for an application and displaying, on a touch-sensitive secondary display, a second user interface that includes a plurality of application-specific affordances that control functions of the application. Each respective affordance is displayed with a first display size. The method also includes: detecting, via the secondary display, an input that contacts at least one application-specific affordance. In response to detecting the input and while it remains in contact with the secondary display, the method includes: (i) continuing to display the first user interface on the primary display and (ii) displaying, on the primary display, a zoomed-in representation of the at least one application-specific affordance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Eric T. Seymour, Gregory F. Hughes, James P. Craig, Susumu Harada
  • Publication number: 20180039395
    Abstract: Systems and processes for scanning a user interface are disclosed. One process can include scanning multiple elements within a user interface by highlighting the elements. The process can further include receiving a selection while one of the elements is highlighted and performing an action on the element that was highlighted when the selection was received. The action can include scanning the contents of the selected element or performing an action associated with the selected element. The process can be used to navigate an array of application icons, a menu of options, a standard desktop or laptop operating system interface, or the like. The process can also be used to perform gestures on a touch-sensitive device or mouse and track pad gestures (e.g., flick, tap, or freehand gestures).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher FLEIZACH, Eric T. SEYMOUR, Clare KASEMSET, Samuel WHITE, Darren C. MINIFIE, Ian FISCH, Gregory F. HUGHES, Justin KAUFMAN, Patti P. HOA
  • Patent number: 9792013
    Abstract: Systems and processes for scanning a user interface are disclosed. One process can include scanning multiple elements within a user interface by highlighting the elements. The process can further include receiving a selection while one of the elements is highlighted and performing an action on the element that was highlighted when the selection was received. The action can include scanning the contents of the selected element or performing an action associated with the selected element. The process can be used to navigate an array of application icons, a menu of options, a standard desktop or laptop operating system interface, or the like. The process can also be used to perform gestures on a touch-sensitive device or mouse and track pad gestures (e.g., flick, tap, or freehand gestures).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fleizach, Eric T. Seymour, Clare Kasemset, Samuel White, Darren C. Minifie, Ian Fisch, Gregory F. Hughes, Justin Kaufman, Patti P. Hoa
  • Patent number: 9769858
    Abstract: A method for controlling a peripheral from a group of computing devices is provided. The method sets up a group of computing devices for providing media content and control settings to a peripheral device such as a hearing aid. The computing devices in the group are interconnected by a network and exchange data with each other regarding the peripheral. A master device in the group is directly paired with the peripheral device and can use the pairing connection to provide media content or to apply the control settings to the peripheral device. The peripheral device is paired with only the master devices of the group. A slave device can request to directly pair with the peripheral device and become the master device in order to provide media content to the peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Eric T. Seymour, Christopher B. Fleizach, Ian M. Fisch, Joakim Linde, Edwin Foo
  • Patent number: 9763276
    Abstract: A method for controlling a peripheral from a group of computing devices is provided. The method sets up a group of computing devices for providing media content and control settings to a peripheral device such as a hearing aid. The computing devices in the group are interconnected by a network and exchange data with each other regarding the peripheral. A master device in the group is directly paired with the peripheral device and can use the pairing connection to provide media content or to apply the control settings to the peripheral device. The peripheral device is paired with only the master devices of the group. A slave device can request to directly pair with the peripheral device and become the master device in order to provide media content to the peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Eric T. Seymour, Christopher B. Fleizach, Ian M. Fisch, Joakim Linde, Edwin Foo
  • Patent number: 9703450
    Abstract: An electronic device, while in an interaction configuration mode: displays a first user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects; and, while displaying the first user interface, detects one or more gesture inputs on a touch-sensitive surface. For a respective gesture input, the device determines whether one or more user interface objects of the plurality of user interface objects correspond to the respective gesture input. The device visually distinguishes a first set of user interface objects in the plurality of user interface objects that correspond to the detected one or more gesture inputs from a second set of user interface objects in the plurality of user interface objects that do not correspond to the detected one or more gesture inputs. The device detects an input; and, in response to detecting the input, exits the interaction configuration mode and enters a restricted interaction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Seymour, Christopher Fleizach
  • Publication number: 20170185285
    Abstract: While an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface is in a screen reader accessibility mode, the device displays a character input area and a keyboard, the keyboard including a plurality of key icons. The device detects a sequence of one or more gestures on the touch-sensitive surface that correspond to one or more characters. A respective gesture of the one or more gestures that corresponds to a respective character is a single finger gesture that moves across the touch-sensitive surface along a respective path that corresponds to the respective character. The respective path traverses one or more locations on the touch-sensitive surface that correspond to one or more key icons of the plurality of key icons without activating the one or more key icons. In response to detecting the respective gesture, the device enters the corresponding respective character in the character input area of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher B. FLEIZACH, Darren C. MINIFIE, Gregory F. HUGHES, Ryan N. DOUR, Ian M. FISCH, Joel M. LOPES DA SILVA, Michael M. PEDERSEN, II, Eric T. SEYMOUR, Devang K. NAIK, Ryan S. DIXON
  • Patent number: 9633191
    Abstract: While an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface is in a screen reader accessibility mode, the device displays an application launcher screen including a plurality of application icons. A respective application icon corresponds to a respective application stored in the device. The device detects a sequence of one or more gestures on the touch-sensitive surface that correspond to one or more characters. A respective gesture that corresponds to a respective character is a single finger gesture that moves across the touch-sensitive surface along a respective path that corresponds to the respective character. The device determines whether the detected sequence of one or more gestures corresponds to a respective application icon of the plurality of application icons, and, in response to determining that the detected sequence of one or more gestures corresponds to the respective application icon, performs a predefined operation associated with the respective application icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher B. Fleizach, Darren C. Minifie, Gregory F. Hughes, Ryan N. Dour, Ian M. Fisch, Joel M. Lopes Da Silva, Michael M. Pedersen, II, Eric T. Seymour, Devang K. Naik, Ryan S. Dixon
  • Publication number: 20160349970
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display showing a user interface (UI) automatically adjusts the zoom level of a magnification region. The electronic device receives a request to magnify at least a portion of the display showing the UI. The electronic device determines the context that the electronic device was operating in at the time of the magnification request. The context is comprised of display parameters, environmental parameters, or both. The electronic device displays the UI at a zoom level determined based on user preferences. Upon detecting a text input condition, the device resizes and optionally moves the magnification region so that the resized magnification region does not overlap with the newly displayed composition interface window. The device uses an auto-snap feature when the content within the magnification region displays a second boundary upon scrolling the content within the magnification region from a first boundary opposite the second one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Aaron M. Everitt, Christopher Brian Fleizach, Darren C. Minifie, Elizabeth Caroline Furches Cranfill, Eric T. Seymour, Gregory F. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20160259530
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display, a rotatable input mechanism, one or more processors, and memory. The electronic device displays content on the display, where the content includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The electronic device further detects a first user input, and in response to detecting the first user input, displays an enlarged view of the content that does not include the first edge. The electronic device further detects a rotation of the rotatable input mechanism in a first rotation direction, and in response to detecting the rotation, translates the enlarged view of the content in a first translation direction on the display to display the first edge of the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Aaron EVERITT, Christopher B. FLEIZACH, Gregory F. HUGHES, Eric T. SEYMOUR, Eric Lance WILSON
  • Publication number: 20160259535
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to screenreader techniques and volume control techniques for electronic devices. In some embodiments, a device displays a plurality of user interface objects in an ordered progression. A rotation of a rotary input mechanism is detected. In response to the rotation of the rotary input mechanism, if a rotary screenreader navigation mode is activated, a visual highlight is displayed and an auditory output is produced. In some embodiments, a device has a volume setting. A gesture is detected, and a volume adjustment mode is activated. The gesture ends with a contact being maintained, and the volume setting is adjusted in accordance with detected movement of the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher FLEIZACH, Eric T. SEYMOUR, Aaron EVERITT