Patents by Inventor Fletcher R. Rothkopf

Fletcher R. Rothkopf 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: 20220129102
    Abstract: A device including a mechanical input and a touch-sensitive surface for detecting one or more touch inputs and an input from the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs, and a second portion for detecting at least the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs and the mechanical input. The mechanical input can comprise an electrically conductive material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the mechanical input and the touch-sensitive surface. The device can include a sensing element, the mechanical input can comprise an electrically insulating material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the touch-sensitive surface and the sensing element. The device can include logic to differentiate between the touch inputs and the mechanical input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina SHEDLETSKY, Christopher WERNER, Colin M. ELY, Fletcher R. ROTHKOPF
  • Patent number: 11314281
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a display unit, a head support, a power storage device, and one or more receiving coils. The head support is coupled to the display unit and configured to engage a head of a user for supporting the display unit thereon. The power storage device is coupled to the display unit for storing power to be supplied to the display unit. The one or more receiving coils are coupled to the head support for inductively charging the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, James W. VanDyke, Grant H. Mulliken
  • Patent number: 11304316
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain multiple housing portions. The housing portions may be coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures. Flexible displays may be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housing portions in a device are rotated relative to each other, the flexible display may bend. The hinge may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which an active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration. Engagement structures may be used to help the housing grip external objects and to hold the housing portions together. The hinges may be provided with rotational detents to help hold the flexible display in desired positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Andrew J. M. Janis, Teodor Dabov
  • Patent number: 11275406
    Abstract: A wearable accessory device is disclosed. The wearable accessory device includes a flexible display coupled to a bi-stable spring. Coupling the display to the bi-stable spring allows the accessory device to be easily worn in a number of convenient locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Derek W. Wright, Scott A. Myers
  • Publication number: 20220075813
    Abstract: Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John Benjamin Filson, Kyle Yeates
  • Patent number: 11237413
    Abstract: Some implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that display images at multiple focus distances on HMDs. The systems can avoid or mitigate vergence-accommodation conflict (VAC) and depth-blur conflict (DBC) experienced by users on traditional HMDs. Some implementations use a geometric phase lens and a circular polarization switch. The geometric phase lens passively changes its power depending on the light's circular polarization. The circular polarization switch changes the polarization of the light at appropriate times. With the circular polarization switch and geometric phase lens positioned over an HMD screen, the system can quickly change the apparent distance to the screen, which in turn changes the accommodative state of the eye needed to focus on the rendered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas G. Weber, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Tobias Eble, Yury A. Petrov
  • Patent number: 11221590
    Abstract: A consumer product that is a portable and, in some cases, a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device may have functionalities including: keeping time; monitoring a user's physiological signals and providing health-related information based on those signals; communicating with other electronic devices or services; visually depicting data on a display; gather data form one or more sensors that may be used to initiate, control, or modify operations of the device; determine a location of a touch on a surface of the device and/or an amount of force exerted on the device, and use either or both as input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Jonathan Ive, Julian Hoenig, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Patent number: 11221697
    Abstract: A device including a mechanical input and a touch-sensitive surface for detecting one or more touch inputs and an input from the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs, and a second portion for detecting at least the mechanical input. The touch-sensitive surface can include a first portion for detecting at least the touch inputs and the mechanical input. The mechanical input can comprise an electrically conductive material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the mechanical input and the touch-sensitive surface. The device can include a sensing element, the mechanical input can comprise an electrically insulating material, and the mechanical input can be detected based on capacitance measurements between the touch-sensitive surface and the sensing element. The device can include logic to differentiate between the touch inputs and the mechanical input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Christopher Werner, Colin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 11205548
    Abstract: A waterproof button assembly. The waterproof button assembly may include a housing including an opening and a button. The button may be positioned at least partially within the housing via the opening. The assembly may also include a plurality of engagement components positioned on opposite-distal ends of the button. The plurality of engagement components may be configured to retain the button within the housing. The engagement components may extend distally from the button, such that a portion of the engagement components may be positioned within apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing. The assembly may also include a plurality of supports, a tactile dome in contact with the button and at least one of the plurality of supports. A sensing component of the assembly may be positioned adjacent the housing and in alignment with the button and/or tactile dome for sensing actuation of the button within the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre M. Teplitxky, Colin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Samuel B. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20210383657
    Abstract: A connectible component is connected to a housing. A sensor of the housing is utilized to detect an identity element of the at connectible component. The connectible component is identified utilizing the at least one sensor. In some implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify whether or not a connectible component is connected to the housing. In other implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify the type of connectible component that is connected. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronic device and the electronic device may be configured based on the type of connectible component that is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Trevor J. Ness
  • Publication number: 20210365116
    Abstract: One exemplary implementation provides an improved user experience on a device by using physiological data to initiate a user interaction for the user experience based on an identified interest or intention of a user. For example, a sensor may obtain physiological data (e.g., pupil diameter) of a user during a user experience in which content is displayed on a display. The physiological data varies over time during the user experience and a pattern is detected. The detected pattern is used to identify an interest of the user in the content or an intention of the user regarding the content. The user interaction is then initiated based on the identified interest or the identified intention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Avi Bar-Zeev, Devin W. Chalmers, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Grant H. Mulliken, Holly E. Gerhard, Lilli I. Jonsson
  • Patent number: 11182420
    Abstract: Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John Benjamin Filson, Kyle Yeates
  • Publication number: 20210343235
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for applying concealment of components of an electronic device. In one embodiment, an electronic device may include a component that is disposed behind a display (e.g., a transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display) that is configured to selectively become transparent at certain transparency regions. Additionally, the electronic device includes data processing circuitry configured to determine when an event requesting that the component be exposed occurs. The data processing circuitry may control portions of the display to become transparent, to expose the component upon the occurrence of the event requesting that the component be exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin Mark Rappoport, Christopher J. Stringer, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Jeremy C. Franklin, John Patrick Ternus, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Scott Andrew Myers, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20210337480
    Abstract: A power source is configured to supply power to one or more components of an electronic device. A processing device that is in communication with the power source can be configured to determine an estimated power requirement of the mobile electronic device during a time period, to determine a charge state of the power source, and to produce an indication of the remaining use time of the electronic device based on the estimated power requirement and the charge state of the power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Samuel Bruce Weiss
  • Publication number: 20210327140
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an exemplary process for initializing members of a shared enhanced reality setting is described. In accordance with some embodiments, an exemplary process for forming a private sub-space and example features of the private sub-space is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Fletcher R. ROTHKOPF, Grant H. MULLIKEN, James Williams Charles VANDYKE
  • Publication number: 20210320281
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided with a display and a light sensor that receives light that passes through the display. The display includes features that increase the amount of light that passes through the display. The features may be translucency enhancement features that allow light to pass directly through the display onto a light sensor mounted behind the display or may include a light-guiding layer that guides light through the display onto a light sensor mounted along an edge of the display. The translucency enhancement features may be formed in a reflector layer or an electrode layer for the display. The translucency enhancement features may include microperforations in a reflector layer of the display, a light-filtering reflector layer of the display, or a reflector layer of the display that passes a portion of the light and reflects an additional portion of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Paul S. Drzaic, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 11137648
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display having a thin-film transistor layer. One or more holes in the thin-film transistor layer may be used to form pathways from display circuitry to other circuitry underneath the display. One or more conductive bridges may pass through holes in the thin-film transistor layer and may have one end that couples to the display circuitry and a second end that couples to a printed circuit underneath the display. These conductive bridges may be formed from wire bonding. Wire bond connections may be encapsulated with potting material to improve the reliability of the wire bond and increase the resiliency of the display. Display signal lines may be routed through holes in a thin-film transistor layer to run along a backside of the display thereby reducing the need for space in the border region for display circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Drzaic, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen Brian Lynch, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus
  • Patent number: 11119573
    Abstract: One exemplary implementation provides an improved user experience on a device by using physiological data to initiate a user interaction for the user experience based on an identified interest or intention of a user. For example, a sensor may obtain physiological data (e.g., pupil diameter) of a user during a user experience in which content is displayed on a display. The physiological data varies over time during the user experience and a pattern is detected. The detected pattern is used to identify an interest of the user in the content or an intention of the user regarding the content. The user interaction is then initiated based on the identified interest or the identified intention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Bar-Zeev, Devin W. Chalmers, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Grant H. Mulliken, Holly E. Gerhard, Lilli I. Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20210271093
    Abstract: A head-mounted display to be worn by a user includes a housing, and an eye chamber to be positioned adjacent to eyes of the user. A support assembly includes a headband and an adjustment mechanism that is operable to change fit of the headband relative to the head of the user in response to a control signal, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a feedback component, and the control signal is generated based on output from the feedback component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Marinus Meursing, Jeffrey C. Olson, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Jason C. Sauers
  • Patent number: 11107334
    Abstract: A connectible component is connected to a housing. A sensor of the housing is utilized to detect an identity element of the at connectible component. The connectible component is identified utilizing the at least one sensor. In some implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify whether or not a connectible component is connected to the housing. In other implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify the type of connectible component that is connected. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronic device and the electronic device may be configured based on the type of connectible component that is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Trevor J. Ness