Patents by Inventor Joel N. Ruscher

Joel N. Ruscher 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: 20240127011
    Abstract: This Application sets forth techniques for managing (e.g., tracking or detecting the presence or absence of) physical cards stored in a physical wallet. In particular, the techniques set forth a smart wallet configured to detect the physical cards stored therein, as well as a smart card configured to be inserted into a traditional wallet and to detect the physical cards stored therein. The smart wallet/smart card can be configured to, upon detecting a change to physical cards stored in the smart wallet/traditional wallet, gather information associated with the physical cards and store the information into a memory of the smart wallet/smart card. The smart wallet/smart card can, upon being communicably coupled to a wireless device, transmit the information to the wireless device. Subsequently, the wireless device can output a notification indicating any missing physical cards as well as provide remedial options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Joel N. RUSCHER, Amrith V. RAM, James E. ORR, Travis J. MCQUEEN, Jack ERDOZAIN, JR.
  • Publication number: 20240085947
    Abstract: A tablet computing system may include a display, and an enclosure enclosing the display. An exterior surface of the enclosure may define a stylus charging region, a stylus attachment region, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface. The tablet computing system may further include a magnetic attachment mechanism positioned along the interior surface opposite the stylus attachment region and configured to releasably couple a stylus to the tablet computing system. The magnetic attachment mechanism may include a frame structure, and a magnet positioned in a recess of the frame structure and configured to move from a rest position in the frame structure to an attachment position proximate the interior surface of the housing member in response to the stylus being positioned on the stylus attachment region of the exterior surface of the housing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Guangtao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240070409
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wearable electronic device may have a coil. The device may have a finger-ring housing that surrounds a finger-shaped opening to allow the device to be worn on a finger of a user. The coil may be formed from metal traces on a printed circuit that wrap around the finger-shaped opening. Near-field communications circuitry in the device may be used to gather near-field communications tag information. The tag information may be gathered in response to user input. Wireless communications circuitry that uses a non-near-field communications antenna may wirelessly transmit the tag information and/or other information such as user input to a companion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Michael J. Ershov, Joel N. Ruscher, Stefan Hafeneger, Travis J. McQueen
  • Patent number: 11829831
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wearable electronic device may have a coil. The device may have a finger-ring housing that surrounds a finger-shaped opening to allow the device to be worn on a finger of a user. The coil may be formed from metal traces on a printed circuit that wrap around the finger-shaped opening. Near-field communications circuitry in the device may be used to gather near-field communications tag information. The tag information may be gathered in response to user input. Wireless communications circuitry that uses a non-near-field communications antenna may wirelessly transmit the tag information and/or other information such as user input to a companion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J Ershov, Joel N Ruscher, Stefan Hafeneger, Travis J McQueen
  • Patent number: 11670972
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing coupled to a display window, a battery and a plurality of inductive charging transmit coils coupled to the battery. The plurality of inductive charging coils are positioned within the enclosure to generate an inductive charging region that extends through the display window and across at least a portion of an exterior of the display window. Sensing circuitry is configured to sense a position of a stylus at the display window and a processor is configured to selectively engage and disengage one or more of the plurality of inductive charging transmit coils based on the sensed position of the stylus. The stylus receives power when it is positioned within the inductive charging window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Blake R. Marshall, Marco Soldano, Liquan Tan, Todd K. Moyer, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Victor Luzzato, Wai Man Raymund Kwok
  • Patent number: 11487322
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include an enclosure and a transparent cover. The electronic device may include a display assembly. The electronic device may further include an inductive charging unit designed to inductively charge a stylus, or other object suitable for use with the display assembly. The electronic device may further include audio modules, at least some of which are designed to cause resonation of the enclosure to produce acoustical energy in the form of audible sound. Some audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively low frequencies, while other audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively high frequencies. The electronic device may further include a vision system designed for facial recognition. The display assembly may include a metal chassis as well as antennae for wireless communication. In order to prevent antennae interference, the metal chassis can be electrically grounded to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Melody L. Kuna, Ryan J. Mihelich, Taylor Harrison Gilbert, Joel N. Ruscher, Carli E. Oster, Alex Chun Lap Yeung
  • Patent number: 11294479
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Wireless charging and magnetic coupling with a host device are also facilitated. The stylus can be provided with the above features in a small form factor that improves a user experience with the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Ryan P. Brooks, Henry N. Tsao, Wing-Shan Wong
  • Publication number: 20210303089
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Wireless charging and magnetic coupling with a host device are also facilitated. The stylus can be provided with the above features in a small form factor that improves a user experience with the stylus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Joel N. RUSCHER, Ryan P. BROOKS, Henry N. TSAO, Wing-Shan WONG
  • Patent number: 11079864
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Wireless charging and magnetic coupling with a host device are also facilitated. The stylus can be provided with the above features in a small form factor that improves a user experience with the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Ryan P. Brooks, Henry N. Tsao, Wing-Shan Wong
  • Patent number: 11031195
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The circuitry of the electronic device may include components mounted on a printed circuit. The components may include movable components such as keys in a keyboard. A fabric layer may overlap the keys. Border regions of the fabric layer that surround each key may be characterized by a stiffness. To ensure that the keys or other movable components in the device exhibit satisfactory stiffness levels, the keys can be tested and selected border regions or other fabric layer portions may be laser ablated or otherwise processed to locally reduce fabric layer stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Joel N. Ruscher, Christopher T. Lebedeff, Sean Murphy, Melody Kuna
  • Patent number: 11031164
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a receiving element that includes a ferromagnetic structure axially symmetrical around a central axis disposed along a length of the ferromagnetic structure. The ferromagnetic structure includes a groove region defining two end regions on opposing sides of the groove region, where the groove region has a smaller length than the two end regions. The receiving element also includes an inductor coil wound about the groove region of the ferromagnetic structure and in between the two end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Blake R. Marshall, Florence W. Ow, Joel N. Ruscher, Liquan Tan, Aidan N. Zimmerman, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Hao Zhu, Qigen Ji, Madhusudanan Keezhveedi Sampath, Nan Liu, Robert Scritzky, Gianpaolo Lisi
  • Patent number: 10739870
    Abstract: An input device, such as a hand-held, wireless stylus, can be used to measure coordinates of a three-dimensional object. Position data can be calculated based on, for example, acceleration, orientation, and static parameters of a stylus. As the stylus contacts contours of the object, the position data of the stylus can allow mapping of the object as well as digital rendering thereof. The stylus can also be used to virtually create three-dimensional illustrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Collin A. Huston, Joel N. Ruscher, Kevin C. Armendariz
  • Publication number: 20200249775
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Wireless charging and magnetic coupling with a host device are also facilitated. The stylus can be provided with the above features in a small form factor that improves a user experience with the stylus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Joel N. RUSCHER, Ryan P. Brooks, Henry N. Tsao, Wing-Shan Wong
  • Publication number: 20200241595
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include an enclosure and a transparent cover. The electronic device may include a display assembly. The electronic device may further include an inductive charging unit designed to inductively charge a stylus, or other object suitable for use with the display assembly. The electronic device may further include audio modules, at least some of which are designed to cause resonation of the enclosure to produce acoustical energy in the form of audible sound. Some audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively low frequencies, while other audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively high frequencies. The electronic device may further include a vision system designed for facial recognition. The display assembly may include a metal chassis as well as antennae for wireless communication. In order to prevent antennae interference, the metal chassis can be electrically grounded to the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Melody L. KUNA, Ryan J. MIHELICH, Taylor Harrison GILBERT, Joel N. RUSCHER, Carli E. OSTER, Alex Chun Lap YEUNG
  • Patent number: 10725515
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a receiving element that includes a ferromagnetic structure axially symmetrical around a central axis disposed along a length of the ferromagnetic structure. The ferromagnetic structure includes a groove region defining two end regions on opposing sides of the groove region, where the groove region has a smaller length than the two end regions. The receiving element also includes an inductor coil wound about the groove region of the ferromagnetic structure and in between the two end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Blake R. Marshall, Florence W. Ow, Joel N. Ruscher, Liquan Tan, Aidan N. Zimmerman, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Hao Zhu, Qigen Ji, Madhusudanan Keezhveedi Sampath, Nan Liu, Robert Scritzky, Gianpaolo Lisi
  • Patent number: 10649489
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include an enclosure and a transparent cover. The electronic device may include a display assembly. The electronic device may further include an inductive charging unit designed to inductively charge a stylus, or other object suitable for use with the display assembly. The electronic device may further include audio modules, at least some of which are designed to cause resonation of the enclosure to produce acoustical energy in the form of audible sound. Some audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively low frequencies, while other audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively high frequencies. The electronic device may further include a vision system designed for facial recognition. The display assembly may include a metal chassis as well as antennae for wireless communication. In order to prevent antennae interference, the metal chassis can be electrically grounded to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Melody L. Kuna, Ryan J. Mihelich, Taylor Harrison Gilbert, Joel N. Ruscher, Carli E. Oster, Alex Chun Lap Yeung
  • Patent number: 10627923
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Wireless charging and magnetic coupling with a host device are also facilitated. The stylus can be provided with the above features in a small form factor that improves a user experience with the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Ryan P. Brooks, Henry N. Tsao, Wing-Shan Wong
  • Publication number: 20200099245
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing coupled to a display window, a battery and a plurality of inductive charging transmit coils coupled to the battery. The plurality of inductive charging coils are positioned within the enclosure to generate an inductive charging region that extends through the display window and across at least a portion of an exterior of the display window. Sensing circuitry is configured to sense a position of a stylus at the display window and a processor is configured to selectively engage and disengage one or more of the plurality of inductive charging transmit coils based on the sensed position of the stylus. The stylus receives power when it is positioned within the inductive charging window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Blake R. Marshall, Marco Soldano, Liquan Tan, Todd K. Moyer, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Victor Luzzato, Wai Man Raymund Kwok
  • Publication number: 20200089275
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include an enclosure and a transparent cover. The electronic device may include a display assembly. The electronic device may further include an inductive charging unit designed to inductively charge a stylus, or other object suitable for use with the display assembly. The electronic device may further include audio modules, at least some of which are designed to cause resonation of the enclosure to produce acoustical energy in the form of audible sound. Some audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively low frequencies, while other audio modules produce acoustical energy in relatively high frequencies. The electronic device may further include a vision system designed for facial recognition. The display assembly may include a metal chassis as well as antennae for wireless communication. In order to prevent antennae interference, the metal chassis can be electrically grounded to the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Melody L. KUNA, Ryan J. MIHELICH, Taylor Harrison GILBERT, Joel N. RUSCHER, Carli E. OSTER, Alex Chun Lap YEUNG
  • Publication number: 20200089340
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Wireless charging and magnetic coupling with a host device are also facilitated. The stylus can be provided with the above features in a small form factor that improves a user experience with the stylus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Joel N. RUSCHER, Ryan P. BROOKS, Henry N. TSAO, Wing-Shan WONG