Patents by Inventor John Greer Elias
John Greer Elias 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).
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Patent number: 8654083Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem den Boer
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Publication number: 20130330017Abstract: Phase shift reduction in touch signals is disclosed. Touch signals with phase shifts can be demodulated with I- and Q-demodulation waveforms to generate the I and Q components of the signals. The I and Q components can then be combined so as to provide magnitude information not affected by the phase of the touch signals. The touch signals can be reconstructed with the combined I and Q components, thereby providing reconstructed touch signals with little or no phase shift.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventor: John Greer ELIAS
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Patent number: 8593426Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
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Publication number: 20130285972Abstract: A touch sensor panel configured to switch between a mutual capacitance near field sensing architecture and a self-capacitance far field sensing architecture. The touch sensor panel includes circuitry that can switch the configuration of touch electrodes to act as either drive lines in a mutual capacitance configuration or as sense electrodes in a self-capacitance configuration. The touch sensor panel also includes circuitry that can switch the configuration of touch electrodes to act as either sense lines in a mutual capacitance configuration or a sense electrode in a self-capacitance configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: John Greer ELIAS, Steven Porter Hotelling
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Publication number: 20130285971Abstract: A touch sensor panel configured to detect objects touching the panel as well as objects that are at a varying proximity to the touch sensor panel. The touch sensor panel includes circuitry that can configure the panel in a mutual capacitance (near field) architecture or a self-capacitance (far field and super far field) architecture. The touch sensor panel can also include circuitry that works to minimize an effect that a parasitic capacitance can have on the ability of the touch sensor panel to reliably detect touch and proximity events.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: John Greer ELIAS, Steven Porter HOTELLING
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Publication number: 20130285973Abstract: A touch sensor panel configured to mitigate the effect of parasitic capacitance on the ability of a capacitive touch sensor panel to reliably detect touch and proximity events. The touch sensor panel includes circuitry that can electrically drive a set of conductive shields that partially encapsulate various conductive components of the touch sensor panel. The touch sensor panel can also include circuitry that work to calibrate the touch sensor panel against variations in signal phase due to a parasitic capacitance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: John Greer ELIAS, Steven Porter Hotelling
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Patent number: 8552998Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, John Greer Elias, Kapil Vinod Sakariya
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Patent number: 8552989Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem den Boer
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Patent number: 8542211Abstract: A touch sensor panel can be constructed on a single surface of a substrate. The panel can be formed as a plurality of distributed RC lines arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each distributed RC line can include alternating connected transistors and metal pads formed on a single surface of the substrate. During operation, the rows and columns are enabled at different times, and the pulse travel times for each row and column in both directions are measured. Equalized travel times are then computed as the sum of the pulse travel times in both directions, and indicate which rows and columns have a finger touching it. The un-equalized pulse travel time data can then be used to determine the relative positions of the fingers within the rows and columns and un-ambiguously determine the positions of all the finger contacts.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2007Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: John Greer Elias
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Patent number: 8482533Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
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Patent number: 8466881Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
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Patent number: 8466880Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
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Patent number: 8466883Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
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Patent number: 8451244Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem den Boer
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Patent number: 8441453Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias
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Patent number: 8432371Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem Den Boer
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Publication number: 20130063285Abstract: Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards and processes for detecting touch events and key depressions on the touch sensitive mechanical keyboard are provided. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the mechanical keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate either a key depression command or a touch event command.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventor: John Greer ELIAS
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Publication number: 20130063286Abstract: Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards for detecting touch events and key depressions on the keyboard are provided. The keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. One or more of the depressible mechanical keys can be multi-purpose keys capable of being depressed to multiple levels. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can receive key depression input, touch event input, or combinations thereof at the same time. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate a key depression command or a touch event command in response to the detected touch events and key depressions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventors: John Greer ELIAS, Steven J. Martisauskas
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Publication number: 20120268423Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Steve Porter HOTELLING, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem Den Boer
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Patent number: 8259078Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steve Porter Hotelling, Wei Chen, Christoph Horst Krah, John Greer Elias, Wei Hsin Yao, John Z. Zhong, Andrew Bert Hodge, Brian Richards Land, Willem den Boer