Patents by Inventor John B. Morrell

John B. Morrell 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: 10331081
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10303289
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for dynamically updating a touch-sensitive secondary display. An example method includes receiving a request to open an application and, in response, (i) displaying, on a primary display, a plurality of user interface (UI) objects associated with the application, the plurality including a first UI object displayed with associated content and other UI objects displayed without associated content; and (ii) displaying, on the touch-sensitive secondary display, a set of affordances representing the plurality of UI objects. The method also includes: detecting, via the touch-sensitive secondary display, a swipe gesture in a direction from a first affordance and towards a second affordance, the first affordance representing the first UI object and the second affordance represents a distinct second UI object. In response to detecting the swipe gesture, the method includes: updating the primary display to display associated content for the second UI object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Raymond S. Sepulveda, Chun Kin Minor Wong, Patrick L. Coffman, Dylan R. Edwards, Eric Lance Wilson, Gregg S. Suzuki, Christopher I. Wilson, Lawrence Y. Yang, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, Duncan R. Kerr, John B. Morrell
  • Publication number: 20190159170
    Abstract: An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts determines to provide an alert output (such as haptic, audio, visual, and so on) via an output device, determines a movement pattern based on one or more signals from one or more sensors indicating information relating at least to movement of the electronic device, and adjusts the alert output to account for the movement pattern. In some implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by delaying the alert output. In other implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by altering the alert output to be discernible despite the movement pattern based on a cadence of the movement pattern. In still other implementations, the electronic device may determine to provide the alert output in response to receiving an incoming communication and may adjust the alert output differently based on a priority associated with the incoming communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, Hung A. Pham, John B. Morrell, Brian T. Gleeson
  • Publication number: 20190146415
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10276001
    Abstract: A system includes a band, an attachment mechanism attached to the band, and one or more haptic devices included in the attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism can attach the band to an electronic device. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment mechanism can attach the band to a wearer. The haptic device or devices are in communication with a processing device. At least one of the one or more haptic devices produces a haptic response based on an activation signal received from the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Harry W. Smith, IV, Patrick Kessler, Camille Moussette, John B. Morrell
  • Publication number: 20190122528
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for providing an output for an electronic device. In certain embodiments, an alert is output in accordance with a current alert mode, which are selected based on one or more environmental conditions. The environmental conditions may be detected using one or more environmental sensors. The alert can optionally include one or more of: an audio component, a haptic component and a visual component. One or more of alert components correspond to an aspect of the environmental condition detected by the one or more environmental sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Lawrence Yang, Jonathan R. Dascola, Camille Moussette, Hugo D. Verweij, Jonah A. Harley, John B. Morrell
  • Patent number: 10236760
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an actuator or circuit includes elements moveably coupled via bearings positioned between curved grooves. The bearings and the curves may exert a restorative force to return the elements to an original position after movement and may be spherical, cubic, cylindrical, and/or include gears that interact with groove gears. In some embodiments, an electrical coil may be coplanar with a surface of an element and a hard magnet may be positioned in the center and be polarized to stabilize or destabilize the element with respect to another element. In various embodiments, a magnetic circuit includes an element with an electrical coil wrapped in multiple directions around the element. In some embodiments, an actuator includes attraction elements and exertion of force causes an element to approach, contact, and/or magnetically attach to one of the attraction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, John B. Morrell, Patrick Kessler, Samuel Weiss
  • Patent number: 10234828
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Publication number: 20190072902
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20190072911
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, and a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 10222753
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10216147
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10210743
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for providing an output for an electronic device. In certain embodiments, an alert is output in accordance with a current alert mode, which are selected based on one or more environmental conditions. The environmental conditions may be detected using one or more environmental sensors. The alert can optionally include one or more of: an audio component, a haptic component and a visual component. One or more of alert components correspond to an aspect of the environmental condition detected by the one or more environmental sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Yang, Jonathan R. Dascola, Camille Moussette, Hugo D. Verweij, Jonah A. Harley, John B. Morrell
  • Patent number: 10175652
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes an input device capable of receiving rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a crown positioned along an exterior of an enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The watch may include a tactile switch, and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs received at the crown. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20180364815
    Abstract: A method of operating a wearable electronic device having a display and a rotatable crown includes initiating a rotation-tracking mode based on a detection of a contact between a user and the rotatable crown. In response to initiating the rotation-tracking mode, the electronic device controls a graphical output of the display in accordance with rotational movement or absence of rotational movement of the rotatable crown, terminates the rotation-tracking mode based on a termination of the contact between the user and the rotatable crown, and in response to terminating the rotation-tracking mode, controls the graphical output of the display without regard to rotational movement or absence of rotational movement of the rotatable crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell
  • Publication number: 20180329368
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10126817
    Abstract: In an embodiment for use with a portable device, a haptic feedback system creates a haptic pop effect and the system may include a mechanism configured to produce a haptic pop effect and a controller electronically coupled with the mechanism to selectively activate the mechanism. In one example, the mechanism has a first normal state having mechanical energy stored therein, and a second state wherein said mechanical energy is released, thereby creating the haptic pop effect. The mechanism may include a material portion configured as a dome-shaped or arcuate diaphragm and made of metal that stores mechanical energy therein. A conductor such as a Nitinol wire may be positioned about and bonded to the perimeter of the material, and has a variable length of a first length to a shorter second length in response to the signal being applied to the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Morrell, Patrick Kessler, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10118661
    Abstract: An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Robert R. Ambrogi, James J. Dattolo, Robert J. Duggan, J. Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann, Matthew M. McCambridge, John B. Morrell, Michael D. Piedmonte, Richard J. Rosasco
  • Publication number: 20180302881
    Abstract: An electronic device that provides situationally-aware alerts determines to provide an alert output (such as haptic, audio, visual, and so on) via an output device, determines a movement pattern based on one or more signals from one or more sensors indicating information relating at least to movement of the electronic device, and adjusts the alert output to account for the movement pattern. In some implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by delaying the alert output. In other implementations, the electronic device may adjust the alert output by altering the alert output to be discernible despite the movement pattern based on a cadence of the movement pattern. In still other implementations, the electronic device may determine to provide the alert output in response to receiving an incoming communication and may adjust the alert output differently based on a priority associated with the incoming communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, Hung A. Pham, John B. Morrell, Brian T. Gleeson
  • Publication number: 20180275662
    Abstract: An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Robert R. Ambrogi, James J. Dattolo, Robert J. Duggan, J. Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann, Matthew M. McCambridge, John B. Morrell, Michael D. Piedmonte, Richard J. Rosasco