Patents by Inventor James A. Chion

James A. Chion 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: 11046182
    Abstract: The disclosure describes methods and systems for controlling a rotary dial input device. A dial of the rotary dial input device has a specific mass that, in conjunction with a low-friction rotational bearing system, provides a momentum scrolling effect when physically spun and released. Upon spinning the dial freely, without subsequent user contact, the mass and velocity of the rotating dial provides momentum that causes the dial to continue to rotate for one or more revolutions. During this rotation a corresponding effect is provided, or dynamically rendered, to a user interface display device. Such an effect scrolls a list of objects displayed at the same, or a substantially similar, rate of speed to that of the dial rotating under momentum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Chion, Timothy J. Meador, Pierluigi Dalla Rosa, Robin Bigio
  • Patent number: 10671271
    Abstract: A multiple input rotary dial user interface device and system is provided. The rotary dial user interface device may include a rotationally fixed touchpad, disposed within a center of a rotatable dial. Although fixed rotationally, the touchpad of the rotary dial user interface device may move in a linear axial direction, along the rotational axis, with or independently of the rotary dial. In addition to providing input by rotating the rotary dial, a user can provide input via touching the touchpad, actuating the touchpad, and/or actuating the rotary dial in the linear axial direction. In some cases, the rotary dial user interface device may employ the use of a static rotary encoder sensing rotation of an encoder wheel affixed to the rotary dial to determine momentum characteristics associated with the dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Chion, Timothy J. Meador, Pierluigi Dalla Rosa, Robin Bigio
  • Publication number: 20200122575
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a rotary dial input device are provided. A dial of the rotary dial input device may have a specific mass that, in conjunction with a low-friction rotational bearing system, provides a momentum scrolling effect when physically spun and released. Upon spinning the dial freely, without subsequent user contact, the mass and velocity of the rotating dial provides momentum that causes the dial to continue to rotate for one or more revolutions. During this rotation a corresponding effect may be provided, or dynamically rendered, to a user interface display device. Such an effect may scroll a list of objects displayed at the same, or a substantially similar, rate of speed to that of the dial rotating under momentum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: James A. Chion, Timothy J. Meador, Pierluigi Dalla Rosa, Robin Bigio
  • Publication number: 20200125228
    Abstract: A multiple input rotary dial user interface device and system is provided. The rotary dial user interface device may include a rotationally fixed touchpad, disposed within a center of a rotatable dial. Although fixed rotationally, the touchpad of the rotary dial user interface device may move in a linear axial direction, along the rotational axis, with or independently of the rotary dial. In addition to providing input by rotating the rotary dial, a user can provide input via touching the touchpad, actuating the touchpad, and/or actuating the rotary dial in the linear axial direction. In some cases, the rotary dial user interface device may employ the use of a static rotary encoder sensing rotation of an encoder wheel affixed to the rotary dial to determine momentum characteristics associated with the dial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: James A. Chion, Timothy J. Meador, Pierluigi Dalla Rosa, Robin Bigio