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).

  • Publication number: 20180246469
    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: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 10039080
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, Hung A. Pham, John B. Morrell, Brian T. Gleeson
  • Patent number: 9983587
    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: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 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: 20180136613
    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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9971305
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20180129292
    Abstract: An electronic device receives a first set of one or more inputs corresponding to user interface elements displayed on the display and a first set of one or more tactile outputs, and also receives a second set of one or more inputs corresponding to one or more hardware elements and a second set of one or more tactile outputs. In response, in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more tactile outputs and the second set of one or more tactile outputs overlap, the device outputs, with one or more tactile output generators, a modified tactile output sequence that is modified so as to emphasize the second set of one or more tactile outputs relative to the first set of one or more tactile outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Brian T. Gleeson, John B. Morrell
  • Publication number: 20180088532
    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: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20180075715
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a haptic actuator or a device having a haptic actuator that is capable of producing short, sharp and crisp pulses in a short amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: John B. Morrell, Jonah A. Harley, Storrs T. Hoen, Brett W. Degner, Camille Moussette, Anthnoy Guetta, Samuel B. Weiss, Douglas A. Scott
  • Patent number: 9886006
    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: September 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Publication number: 20180032203
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    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
  • Patent number: 9864432
    Abstract: An electronic device receives a first set of one or more inputs corresponding to user interface elements displayed on the display and a first set of one or more tactile outputs, and also receives a second set of one or more inputs corresponding to one or more hardware elements and a second set of one or more tactile outputs. In response, in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more tactile outputs and the second set of one or more tactile outputs overlap, the device outputs, with one or more tactile output generators, a modified tactile output sequence that is modified so as to emphasize the second set of one or more tactile outputs relative to the first set of one or more tactile outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Brian T. Gleeson, John B. Morrell, Douglas A. Scott, Joseph M. Williams
  • Patent number: 9836025
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A first sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. A second sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. The watch also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Patent number: 9830782
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a haptic actuator or a device having a haptic actuator that is capable of producing short, sharp and crisp pulses in a short amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Morrell, Jonah A. Harley, Storrs T. Hoen, Brett W. Degner, Camille Moussette, Anthony Guetta, Samuel B Weiss, Douglas A. Scott
  • Publication number: 20170337804
    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: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Lawrence Yang, Jonathan R. Dascola, Camille Moussette, Hugo D. Verweij, Jonah A. Harley, John B. Morrell
  • Publication number: 20170315622
    Abstract: A configurable, force-sensitive input structure for an electronic device is disclosed. The input structure has a metal contact layer, a sense layer positioned below the metal contact layer, and a drive layer capacitively coupled to the sense layer. The input structure may also have a compliant layer positioned between and coupled to the sense layer and the drive layer, a rigid base layer positioned below the drive layer, and a set of supports positioned between the metal contact layer and the rigid base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: John B. Morrell, Ron A. Hopkinson, Peter M. Arnold, Mikael M. Silvanto, William F. Leggett
  • Publication number: 20170308039
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A first sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. A second sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. The watch also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, John B. Morrell, Duncan Kerr, Camille Moussette
  • Publication number: 20170311282
    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: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, Hung A. Pham, John B. Morrell, Brian T. Gleeson
  • Publication number: 20170257844
    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: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, Hung A. Pham, John B. Morrell, Brian T. Gleeson
  • Patent number: 9753436
    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 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Publication number: 20170249024
    Abstract: A haptic mouse is configured to provide various kinds of haptic input. In some embodiments, the mouse has first and second housing portions and an actuator operable to provide haptic output by moving the first housing portion with respect to the second housing portion so as to tangentially displace skin or alter hand posture of a user's hand. In various embodiments, the mouse has a force sensor, an actuator, and a controller operable to determine an amount of force exerted on the haptic mouse, simulate a mouse click if the amount of the force exceeds a threshold, and adjust the threshold upon receiving an instruction. In numerous embodiments, the mouse has a housing, a friction adjustment mechanism operable to alter friction between the housing and a surface by adjusting an amount of a material in contact with the surface, and a controller operable to provide a haptic output by signaling the friction adjustment mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Jackson, John B. Morrell, Megan A. McClain, Steven J. Taylor, Brian T. Gleeson