Patents by Inventor John Greer

John Greer 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: 11965944
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact, multi-user magnetic tracking system. In an embodiment, a compactness is achieved by using a single coil and inertial sensors at the transmitter and magnetometers and inertial sensors at the receiver for sensing the magnetic field generated by the single coil and for determining a position and attitude of the receiver relative to the transmitter. The transmitter and receiver each include a wireless transceiver for exchanging clock synchronization data and sending transmitter attitude data to the receiver. In another embodiment, frequency or time division multiplexing is used to differentiate between multiple users of the multi-user magnetic tracking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guangwu Duan, Jian Guo, John Greer Elias, Savas Gider
  • Patent number: 11950040
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for volume control of ear devices. In an embodiment, a method comprises: determining a reference attitude of the ear device based on sensor data collected by motion sensors of the ear device; storing the reference attitude; receiving, with at least one processor, a first user input indicating a user request for a volume control mode of the ear device; receiving a rotation input; determining, with the at least one processor, an amount of volume level increase/decrease based on attitude change relative to the reference attitude due to the rotation input; adjusting a volume level of the ear device in accordance with the volume level increase/decrease; and receiving second user input indicating a second user request to release the volume control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, John Greer Elias, Jacob L. Matlick
  • Publication number: 20240036724
    Abstract: A method for performing multi-touch (MT) data fusion is disclosed in which multiple touch inputs occurring at about the same time are received to generating first touch data. Secondary sense data can then be combined with the first touch data to perform operations on an electronic device. The first touch data and the secondary sense data can be time-aligned and interpreted in a time-coherent manner. The first touch data can be refined in accordance with the secondary sense data, or alternatively, the secondary sense data can be interpreted in accordance with the first touch data. Additionally, the first touch data and the secondary sense data can be combined to create a new command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Wayne Carl WESTERMAN, John Greer ELIAS
  • Patent number: 11886651
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem den Boer, John Z. Zhong
  • Patent number: 11816329
    Abstract: A method for performing multi-touch (MT) data fusion is disclosed in which multiple touch inputs occurring at about the same time are received to generating first touch data. Secondary sense data can then be combined with the first touch data to perform operations on an electronic device. The first touch data and the secondary sense data can be time-aligned and interpreted in a time-coherent manner. The first touch data can be refined in accordance with the secondary sense data, or alternatively, the secondary sense data can be interpreted in accordance with the first touch data. Additionally, the first touch data and the secondary sense data can be combined to create a new command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
  • Patent number: 11675454
    Abstract: Multi-touch touch-sensing devices and methods are described herein. The touch sensing devices can include multiple sense points, each located at a crossing of a drive line and a sense line. In some embodiments, multiple drive lines may be simultaneously or nearly simultaneously stimulated with drive signals having unique characteristics, such as phase or frequency. A sense signal can occur on each sense line that can be related to the drive signals by an amount of touch present at sense points corresponding to the stimulated drive lines and the sense line. By using processing techniques based on the unique drive signals, an amount of touch corresponding to each sense point can be extracted from the sense signal. The touch sensing methods and devices can be incorporated into interfaces for a variety of electronic devices such as a desktop, tablet, notebook, and handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, and mobile telephones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, John Greer Elias, Kapil Vinod Sakariya
  • Publication number: 20230074080
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for volume control of ear devices. In an embodiment, a method comprises: determining a reference attitude of the ear device based on sensor data collected by motion sensors of the ear device; storing the reference attitude; receiving, with at least one processor, a first user input indicating a user request for a volume control mode of the ear device; receiving a rotation input; determining, with the at least one processor, an amount of volume level increase/decrease based on attitude change relative to the reference attitude due to the rotation input; adjusting a volume level of the ear device in accordance with the volume level increase/decrease; and receiving second user input indicating a second user request to release the volume control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, John Greer Elias, Jacob L. Matlick
  • Publication number: 20230055434
    Abstract: A method for performing multi-touch (MT) data fusion is disclosed in which multiple touch inputs occurring at about the same time are received to generating first touch data. Secondary sense data can then be combined with the first touch data to perform operations on an electronic device. The first touch data and the secondary sense data can be time-aligned and interpreted in a time-coherent manner. The first touch data can be refined in accordance with the secondary sense data, or alternatively, the secondary sense data can be interpreted in accordance with the first touch data. Additionally, the first touch data and the secondary sense data can be combined to create a new command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Wayne Carl WESTERMAN, John Greer ELIAS
  • Patent number: 11549823
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact 3-axis coil design for a magnetic tracking system. In an embodiment, compactness is achieved by using a 3-axis coil in the transmitter that includes a scaffold design with a side surface having a curved groove for guiding one or more windings of a z-axis coil, such that the physical geometry is not increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guangwu Duan, Jian Guo, John Greer Elias, Savas Gider
  • Patent number: 11481109
    Abstract: A method for performing multi-touch (MT) data fusion is disclosed in which multiple touch inputs occurring at about the same time are received to generating first touch data. Secondary sense data can then be combined with the first touch data to perform operations on an electronic device. The first touch data and the secondary sense data can be time-aligned and interpreted in a time-coherent manner. The first touch data can be refined in accordance with the secondary sense data, or alternatively, the secondary sense data can be interpreted in accordance with the first touch data. Additionally, the first touch data and the secondary sense data can be combined to create a new command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
  • Patent number: 11443077
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide improved physical space planning and development. One or more network devices obtain a business profile of a workgroup using an activity-based workspace and determine space requirements for the business profile. The network devices store component parameters for design components that can potentially be deployed to the activity-based workspace and solicit, via a graphical user interface, a workspace layout for the activity-based workspace. The soliciting includes providing a list of the design components that can be selectively placed within the workspace layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Rossi, Lisa Brinkman, Trevor Jones, Annette Morlino, Marianne Millnamow, Derek K. Chin, Sonya Dufner, Louis Milo, Jill Daniele, Marla Shalit, Nathalia Uquillas, John Greer, Karen L. Ehrenworth, Robert Zuffi, Karl Anoushian, Michael Siciliano, William H. Peet, Christine Cush, Raymond H. Brungard, John Gols
  • Publication number: 20220225064
    Abstract: A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: John Greer, David Galbraith, Pete Tasker, Philip Catherwood, Alan Millen, Paul McGrotty
  • Patent number: 11338625
    Abstract: Embodiments included herein are directed towards an automatic tire inflation monitoring system and method. The method may include confirming, using a battery powered electronic sensor, that there is no active tire re-inflation in progress. The method may further include monitoring, using the battery powered electronic sensor, the status of all tire pressures over a period of time and determining, using the battery powered electronic sensor, whether a rate of tire pressure reduction exceeds a first value. The method may include reporting, using the battery powered electronic sensor, a fault if the rate exceeds the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Sensata Technolgies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul McGrotty, John Greer, David George Galbraith, Krishna Raj Pradeep, Jonathan Primrose
  • Publication number: 20220090942
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact 3-axis coil design for a magnetic tracking system. In an embodiment, compactness is achieved by using a 3-axis coil in the transmitter that includes a scaffold design with a side surface having a curved groove for guiding one or more windings of a z-axis coil, such that the physical geometry is not increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Guangwu Duan, Jian Guo, John Greer Elias, Savas Gider
  • Publication number: 20220074785
    Abstract: The technology provides a method for monitoring a load carrier vehicle (10; 12; 22; 154), comprising measuring at least one sensor value indicating a force and determining a mass based on the at least one sensor value. Furthermore, monitoring devices (156) used in the method and load carrier vehicles (10; 12; 22; 154) are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Zwijze, Frank Sienkiewicz, Jonas Bautista, Sietse Hendriks, Dennis Kamphuis, Andrew Forti, John Greer, Matthew Via
  • Publication number: 20220065958
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact, multi-user magnetic tracking system. In an embodiment, a compactness is achieved by using a single coil and inertial sensors at the transmitter and magnetometers and inertial sensors at the receiver for sensing the magnetic field generated by the single coil and for determining a position and attitude of the receiver relative to the transmitter. The transmitter and receiver each include a wireless transceiver for exchanging clock synchronization data and sending transmitter attitude data to the receiver. In another embodiment, frequency or time division multiplexing is used to differentiate between multiple users of the multi-user magnetic tracking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Guangwu Duan, Jian Guo, John Greer Elias, Savas Gider
  • Publication number: 20220057880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Steve Porter HOTELLING, Wei CHEN, Christoph Horst KRAH, John Greer ELIAS, Wei Hsin YAO, Andrew Bert HODGE, Brian Richards LAND, Willem den BOER, John Z. ZHONG
  • Patent number: 11199425
    Abstract: Magnetic sensing technology can be used to detect changes, or disturbances (e.g., changes in magnetic field strength), in magnetic fields and can be used to measure the precise location/positioning of an electronic device in proximity to a magnetic source. In order to avoid interference by earth's static magnetic field, a modulated magnetic field can be used for magnetic based proximity sensing. Received modulated magnetic field signals can be demodulated to determine a received magnetic field strength. A drive current of a magnetic transmitter coil can be varied to maintain the detected magnetic field strength at a target value or within a desirable range. The drive current can also be varied to remain below a burnout current level that can cause damage to the transmitter coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Savas Gider, Jian Guo, John Greer Elias
  • Patent number: 11175762
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem den Boer, John Z. Zhong
  • Publication number: 20210276375
    Abstract: Embodiments included herein are directed towards an automatic tire inflation monitoring system and method. The method may include confirming, using a battery powered electronic sensor, that there is no active tire re-inflation in progress. The method may further include monitoring, using the battery powered electronic sensor, the status of all tire pressures over a period of time and determining, using the battery powered electronic sensor, whether a rate of tire pressure reduction exceeds a first value. The method may include reporting, using the battery powered electronic sensor, a fault if the rate exceeds the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: John Paul McGrotty, John Greer, David George Galbraith, Krishna Raj Pradeep, Jonathan Primrose