Patents by Inventor James H. Foster

James H. Foster 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: 12219631
    Abstract: A wireless communication device may wirelessly control an object, such as a physical device, directly or through interaction with a virtual representation (or placeholder) of the object situated at a predefined physical location. In particular, the wireless communication device may identify an intent gesture performed by a user that indicates intent to control the object. For example, the intent gesture may involve pointing or orienting the wireless communication device toward the object, with or without additional input. Then, the wireless communication device may determine the object associated with the intent gesture using wireless ranging and/or device orientation. Moreover, the wireless communication device may interpret sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the wireless communication device to determine an action gesture corresponding to a command or a command value. The wireless communication device may then transmit the command value to control the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Duncan R. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20250039011
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and user interfaces for managing live communication between multiple participants using a computer system in accordance with some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Adam Stern MEYER, Durrell BISHOP, James H. FOSTER, Peter C. TSOI
  • Publication number: 20250026310
    Abstract: A system provides a personalized and secure user experience to access a secured asset, such as a vehicle. A first communication is transmitted, and a second communication is received in response to the first communication. An approach vector is determined based on the first communication and the second communication. The approach vector is compared with a known approach vector, a request for authentication is transmitted based on the comparison. A response to the request for authentication is received, and access to an asset is granted based on the approach vector and the response to the request for authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Duncan Kerr
  • Publication number: 20250014292
    Abstract: A light system that may project virtual content onto surfaces of a room. The system may include one or more low-resolution light-emitting diode (LED) projectors for emitting light representing low-resolution virtual content, and a high-resolution LED projector for emitting light representing high-resolution virtual content. The high-resolution projector may be used to project a 2D image of augmented or virtual reality content being viewed by a person in a room using a device such as a headset or glasses onto a surface of the room so that other persons in the room can view a representation of what the person using the device is seeing. The low-resolution projector(s) may project low-resolution images onto other surfaces in the room, for example the walls and ceiling. The system may also be configured to emit diffuse light to illuminate a room when not emitting light representing virtual content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Simmonds, James H. Foster, James E. Pedder, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
  • Publication number: 20250013272
    Abstract: A portable electronic device can include a display, a processor, a sensor, and a wireless communication module. The sensor can detect a presence of an operable object near the portable electronic device. The processor can cause the display to depict an interface corresponding to the operable object based at least in part on a detection of the presence of the operable object. The wireless communication module can emit a signal instructing the operable object to perform an action based at least in part on an input to the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Durrell Bishop, Emma Clark, Nicolas V. Scapel
  • Patent number: 12170579
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and user interfaces for managing live communication between multiple participants using a computer system in accordance with some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Stern Meyer, Durrell Bishop, James H. Foster, Peter C. Tsoi
  • Publication number: 20240393881
    Abstract: An electronic device may include touch input components and associated haptic output components. The control circuitry may provide haptic output in response to touch input on the touch input components and may send wireless signals to the external electronic device based on the touch input. The haptic output components may provide local and global haptic output. Local haptic output may be used to guide a user to the location of the electronic device or to provide a button click sensation to the user in response to touch input. Global haptic output may be used to notify the user that the electronic device is aligned towards the external electronic device and is ready to receive user input to control or communicate with the external electronic device. Control circuitry may switch a haptic output component into an inactive mode to inform the user that a touch input component is inactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, James H. Foster, Duncan Kerr, Adam S. Meyer, Per Haakan Linus Persson, Peter C. Tsoi, Stuart J. Wood
  • Patent number: 12147279
    Abstract: A portable electronic device can include a display, a processor, a sensor, and a wireless communication module. The sensor can detect a presence of an operable object near the portable electronic device. The processor can cause the display to depict an interface corresponding to the operable object based at least in part on a detection of the presence of the operable object. The wireless communication module can emit a signal instructing the operable object to perform an action based at least in part on an input to the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Durrell Bishop, Emma Clark, Nicolas V. Scapel
  • Patent number: 12118675
    Abstract: A light system that may project virtual content onto surfaces of a room. The system may include one or more low-resolution light-emitting diode (LED) projectors for emitting light representing low-resolution virtual content, and a high-resolution LED projector for emitting light representing high-resolution virtual content. The high-resolution projector may be used to project a 2D image of augmented or virtual reality content being viewed by a person in a room using a device such as a headset or glasses onto a surface of the room so that other persons in the room can view a representation of what the person using the device is seeing. The low-resolution projector(s) may project low-resolution images onto other surfaces in the room, for example the walls and ceiling. The system may also be configured to emit diffuse light to illuminate a room when not emitting light representing virtual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Simmonds, James H. Foster, James E. Pedder, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
  • Patent number: 12093446
    Abstract: A direct retinal projector may include a gaze tracking system that tracks position of a subject's pupil and automatically adjusts projection of a scanned light field so that the light field enters the pupil. A control loop adjusts a scanning mirror to substantially center an IR beam on a position sensing detector (PSD). In so doing, the scanning mirror is correctly positioned so that the scanned light field from the projector enters the subject's pupil. In addition, a direct retinal projector may include an adjustable focusing element that adjusts focus of a combined light beam generated by a projector as the light beam is scanned to an ellipsoid mirror that reflects the light beam to the subject's pupil. The focusing of the scanned beam may be adjusted as the beam is scanned across the azimuth angle of the curved ellipsoid mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Topliss, James H. Foster, Alexander Shpunt
  • Patent number: 12073025
    Abstract: An electronic device may include touch input components and associated haptic output components. The control circuitry may provide haptic output in response to touch input on the touch input components and may send wireless signals to the external electronic device based on the touch input. The haptic output components may provide local and global haptic output. Local haptic output may be used to guide a user to the location of the electronic device or to provide a button click sensation to the user in response to touch input. Global haptic output may be used to notify the user that the electronic device is aligned towards the external electronic device and is ready to receive user input to control or communicate with the external electronic device. Control circuitry may switch a haptic output component into an inactive mode to inform the user that a touch input component is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, James H. Foster, Duncan Kerr, Adam S. Meyer, Per Haakan Linus Persson, Peter C. Tsoi, Stuart J. Wood
  • Publication number: 20240264727
    Abstract: Devices, methods and graphical user interfaces for manipulating user interfaces based on fingerprint sensor inputs are provided. An electronic device with a display and a fingerprint sensor may obtain fingerprint-verification criteria for controlling verification of fingerprints. For each of a plurality of respective inputs that correspond to respective restricted operations, the device may identify fingerprint features of the respective input. The device may determine fingerprint-verification information for the respective input. In response to detecting the respective input and in accordance with a determination that the fingerprint-verification information meets respective authorization criteria for the respective restricted operation, the device may perform the respective restricted operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin J. POPE, Daniel W. JARVIS, Nicholas G. MERZ, Scott A. MYERS, Michael A. CRETELLA, Michael ENG, James H. FOSTER, Terry L. GILTON, Myra HAGGERTY, Byron B. HAN, M. Evans HANKEY, Steven P. HOTELLING, Brian R. LAND, Stephen Brian LYNCH, Paul MEADE, Mushtaq A. SARWAR, John P. TERNUS, Paul M. THOMPSON, Marcel VAN OS, John A. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 12049193
    Abstract: A system provides a personalized and secure user experience to access a secured asset, such as a vehicle. A first communication is transmitted, and a second communication is received in response to the first communication. An approach vector is determined based on the first communication and the second communication. The approach vector is compared with a known approach vector, a request for authentication is transmitted based on the comparison. A response to the request for authentication is received, and access to an asset is granted based on the approach vector and the response to the request for authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Duncan Kerr
  • Publication number: 20240196083
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with control circuitry, wireless transceiver circuitry, and a display. The electronic device may be used to provide information to a user in response to being pointed at a particular object. The control circuitry may determine when the electronic device is pointed at a particular object using wireless control circuitry and/or motion sensor circuitry. In response to determining that the electronic device is pointed at a particular object, the control circuitry may take suitable action. This may include, for example, displaying information about an object when the electronic device is pointed at the object, displaying control icons for electronic equipment when the electronic device is pointed at the electronic equipment, and/or displaying a virtual object when the electronic device is pointed at real world object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Adam S. Meyer, Peter C. Tsoi, Duncan Robert Kerr, Martha Evans Hankey, John B. Morrell, James H. Foster
  • Patent number: 11996190
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aggregating and sharing wellness data. The wellness data can be received by a user device from any number of sensors external or internal to the user device, from a user manually entering the wellness data, or from other users or entities. The user device can securely store the wellness data on the user device and transmit the wellness data to be stored on a remote database. A user of the device can share some or all of the wellness data with friends, relatives, caregivers, healthcare providers, or the like. The user device can further display a user's wellness data in an aggregated view of different types of wellness data. Wellness data of other users can also be viewed if authorizations from those users have been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aroon Pahwa, Rebecca L. Weber, Divya Nag, Christopher D. Soli, Lawrence Y. Yang, Stephen O. Lemay, Kevin M. Lynch, Stacey F. Lysik, Dylan R. Edwards, Zachury B. Minjack, Zachery W. Kennedy, Adam L. Beberg, Dennis S. Park, Afshad M. Mistri, Anton M. Davydov, Jay K. Blahnik, Christine M. Eun, James H. Foster, Stephanie M. Greer, Daniel S. Keen, Natalia C. Maric, Gregory B. Novick, Michael O'Reilly, Donald W. Pitschel
  • Patent number: 11989394
    Abstract: Devices, methods and graphical user interfaces for manipulating user interfaces based on fingerprint sensor inputs are provided. While a display of an electronic device with a fingerprint sensor displays a first user interface, the device may detect movement of a fingerprint on the fingerprint sensor. In accordance with a determination that the movement of the fingerprint is in a first direction, the device allows navigating through the first user interface, and in accordance with a determination that the movement of the fingerprint is in a second direction different from the first direction, the device allows displaying a second user interface different from the first user interface on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Pope, Daniel W. Jarvis, Nicholas G. Merz, Scott A. Myers, Michael A. Cretella, Michael Eng, James H. Foster, Terry L. Gilton, Myra Haggerty, Byron B. Han, M. Evans Hankey, Steven P. Hotelling, Brian R. Land, Stephen Brian Lynch, Paul Meade, Mushtaq A. Sarwar, John P. Ternus, Paul M. Thompson, Marcel Van Os, John A. Wright
  • Patent number: 11930267
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with control circuitry, wireless transceiver circuitry, and a display. The electronic device may be used to provide information to a user in response to being pointed at a particular object. The control circuitry may determine when the electronic device is pointed at a particular object using wireless control circuitry and/or motion sensor circuitry. In response to determining that the electronic device is pointed at a particular object, the control circuitry may take suitable action. This may include, for example, displaying information about an object when the electronic device is pointed at the object, displaying control icons for electronic equipment when the electronic device is pointed at the electronic equipment, and/or displaying a virtual object when the electronic device is pointed at real world object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam S. Meyer, Peter C. Tsoi, Duncan Robert Kerr, Martha Evans Hankey, John B. Morrell, James H. Foster
  • Publication number: 20230319914
    Abstract: A wireless communication device may locate a proximate object in an environment, such as an electronic device or a resource. During this communication technique, the wireless communication device may receive a transmission that includes an identifier associated with the object. The wireless communication device may determine a range and/or a direction of the object from the wireless communication device. For example, the wireless communication device may determine the range and/or the direction, at least in part, using wireless ranging. Next, the wireless communication device may present output information that indicates the range and/or the direction. In particular, the wireless communication device may display a map of a proximate area with an indicator representative of the object shown on the map. Alternatively, the wireless communication device may display an image of the proximate area with the indicator representative of the object on the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: James H. FOSTER, Duncan R. KERR
  • Patent number: 11768376
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a head-mounted display or other display system may have a transparent display. The transparent display may be formed from a transparent display panel or a display device that provides images to a transparent optical coupler. A user may view real-world objects through the transparent display. Control circuitry can direct the transparent display to display computer-generated content over selected portions of the real-world objects. The head-mounted display may have adjustable components through which the user may view the real-world objects. The adjustable components may include an adjustable light modulator, an adjustable color filter, and an adjustable polarizer. The control circuitry may adjust these components based on information from a front-facing camera that captures images of the real-world objects, based on information from a gaze tracking camera, and based on other input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Pedder, James H. Foster, Julian Hoening, Julian Jaede
  • Publication number: 20230209469
    Abstract: Methods for performing power management of a multi-interface transponder (MIT) device, e.g., such as positional tag device. The MIT device may transition between various power states, e.g., based on detected events, such as detecting movement of the MIT device, receiving a wakeup signal, receiving an indication of a transition in transportation mode, and/or detecting that the MIT device may be lost, such as based on a lack of contact with another device for more than a threshold period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: James H. Foster, Marlene Nilsen, Paul G. Puskarich