Patents by Inventor John Weldon Nicholson

John Weldon Nicholson 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).

  • Apparatus, method, and program product for powering a device using a USB connection
    Patent number: 10079500
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for powering a device using a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection. One apparatus includes a processor, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to: detect a USB connection between a first device and a second device; determine to provide power between the first device and the second device via the USB connection based on information transmitted between the first device and the second device; select a direction to provide power between the first device and the second device based on the information transmitted between the first device and the second device; and control power to be provided between the first device and the second device after determining to provide power and selecting the direction to provide power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso, Jason A. Matteson
  • Orientation control
    Patent number: 10061402
    Abstract: A method can include operating a 3-axis accelerometer having two axes that define a plane and an axis perpendicular to the plane to provide acceleration values for the three axes; increasing a threshold responsive to an increase in magnitude of the acceleration value for the axis perpendicular to the plane or decreasing the threshold responsive to a decrease in magnitude of the acceleration value for the axis perpendicular to the plane; and orienting output to a display in either a portrait format or a landscape format based on comparing the acceleration values for the two axes that define the plane to the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Miles Hunt, John Weldon Nicholson
  • Projecting light at angle corresponding to the field of view of a camera
    Patent number: 10051196
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a camera, a processor, and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to initiate the camera and project light from the device at an angle corresponding to a field of view of the camera according to a current focal length of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Richard Perrin, John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso
  • Directing input of handwriting strokes
    Patent number: 10037137
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: presenting, on an input and display device, one or more input fields for an underlying application; detecting, using the input and display device, one or more handwriting input strokes provided to an input field overlay application; determining, using a processor, an input field targeting characteristic based on the one or more handwriting input strokes; selecting one of the one or more input fields as a target input field based on the input field targeting characteristic; and inserting a converted form of the one or more handwriting input strokes into the target input field. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianbang Zhang, Jon Wayne Heim, Russell Speight VanBlon, Grigori Zaitsev, Jason Peter Sallinger, John Weldon Nicholson
  • Orienting a microphone array to a user location
    Patent number: 10019996
    Abstract: For orienting a microphone array to a user location, a processor detects a user location with a presence sensor that detects a user using electromagnetic signals. In addition, the processor orients a microphone array to the user location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Song Wang, John Weldon Nicholson, Ming Qian
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NATURAL LANGUAGE UNDERSTANDING USING SENSOR INPUT
    Publication number: 20180151176
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a processor, a microphone accessible to the processor, at least a first sensor that is accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to receive first input from the microphone that is generated based on audible input from a user. The instructions are also executable by the processor to receive second input from the first sensor, perform natural language understanding based on the first input, augment the natural language understanding based on the second input, and provide an output based on the augmentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Ming Qian, Song Wang, John Weldon Nicholson, Jatinder Kumar
  • Apparatus, method, and program product for setting a cursor position
    Patent number: 9983695
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for setting a cursor position. One method includes receiving, by use of a processor, indications of a first stylus position corresponding to a first time period. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving indications of a second stylus position corresponding to a second time period after the first time period. In a further embodiment, the method includes determining a cursor position as a function of the indications of the first stylus position, the indications of the second stylus position, and at least one other input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore)PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Russell Speight VanBlon
  • Apparatus, method, and program product for erasing with a stylus
    Patent number: 9939929
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for erasing with a stylus. By use of a processor, an orientation of a stylus relative to a display is determined. Whether a touch event of the display occurs is determined. An erase function is performed in response to the touch event occurring and the orientation of the stylus being is in a substantially inverted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Joshua Neil Novak, Russell Speight VanBlon, Jianbang Zhang
  • Apparatus, method, and program product for detecting input gestures
    Patent number: 9910586
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for detecting input gestures. In one method, an input is detected by use of a processor. Moreover, the method may include determining a centric position of the input. A vertical axis and a horizontal axis of a virtual coordinate plane may extend through the centric position of the input such that an origin of the virtual coordinate plane is positioned within the centric position of the input. The method may also include determining that the input includes a circular gesture if the input intersects at least a positive point on a first axis extending through the origin, a negative point on the first axis, a positive point on a second axis extending through the origin, and a negative point on the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: David Alexander Schwarz, Scott Edwards Kelso, John Weldon Nicholson, Matthew Price Roper
  • ORIENTING A MICROPHONE ARRAY TO A USER LOCATION
    Publication number: 20180061422
    Abstract: For orienting a microphone array to a user location, a processor detects a user location with a presence sensor that detects a user using electromagnetic signals. In addition, the processor orients a microphone array to the user location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Song Wang, John Weldon Nicholson, Ming Qian
  • Specialized virtual personal assistant setup
    Patent number: 9892199
    Abstract: An apparatus for setting up a specialized personal electronic assistant on an electronic device includes a processor, a display, a language module, a tracking module, a knowledge module, and a rendering module. The language module interprets a communication from a user into a data request. The tracking module stores the data request as one of a plurality of stored data requests. The knowledge module determines a response to the data request. The rendering module displays the response in a tiled area on an image display of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Steven Richard Perrin, Matthew Lloyd Hagenbuch, John Weldon Nicholson
  • ACTIVATING VOICE ASSISTANT BASED ON AT LEAST ONE OF USER PROXIMITY AND CONTEXT
    Publication number: 20180025733
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a processor, a microphone accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to, without receiving a user command to enter voice recognition mode, automatically activate the microphone responsive to a determination based on a proximity signal that a user is proximate to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Ming Qian, Song Wang, John Weldon Nicholson
  • APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR POWERING A DEVICE USING A USB CONNECTION
    Publication number: 20170366028
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for powering a device using a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection. One apparatus includes a processor, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to: detect a USB connection between a first device and a second device; determine to provide power between the first device and the second device via the USB connection based on information transmitted between the first device and the second device; select a direction to provide power between the first device and the second device based on the information transmitted between the first device and the second device; and control power to be provided between the first device and the second device after determining to provide power and selecting the direction to provide power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso, Jason A. Matteson
  • Obscuring displayed information
    Patent number: 9824475
    Abstract: A method can include rendering pixel representations of information to a rectangular display; and rendering pixel representations of perspectival text to the rectangular display where the pixel representations of perspectival text overlay a portion of the pixel representations of information. Various other methods, apparatuses, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Stewart, Howard J. Locker, John Weldon Nicholson, Michaela Rose Case
  • Control input handling
    Patent number: 9823748
    Abstract: An aspect provides a method, including: accepting, at an input component of an information handling device, input of a user; identifying, using a processor, the input of the user as controlling input; determining, using a processor, one or more control factors associated with the controlling input; classifying, using a processor, the controlling input as one of a permissible control action and an impermissible control action for an application running on the information handling device based on the one or more control factors; and performing an action selected from the group consisting of: accepting, at the input component, confirming input; and providing feedback to one or more users. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Aaron Michael Stewart, Corinna Paine Proctor
  • APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DETECTING INPUT GESTURES
    Publication number: 20170255379
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed for detecting input gestures. In one method, an input is detected by use of a processor. Moreover, the method may include determining a centric position of the input. A vertical axis and a horizontal axis of a virtual coordinate plane may extend through the centric position of the input such that an origin of the virtual coordinate plane is positioned within the centric position of the input. The method may also include determining that the input includes a circular gesture if the input intersects at least a positive point on a first axis extending through the origin, a negative point on the first axis, a positive point on a second axis extending through the origin, and a negative point on the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: David Alexander Schwarz, Scott Edwards Kelso, John Weldon Nicholson, Matthew Price Roper
  • DISPLAY OF INK INPUT AND DIGITAL RECOGNITION RESULTS
    Publication number: 20170212879
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: accepting, at an input surface, ink input; determining, using a processor, typeset for the ink input; providing, on a display, a combined display of the ink input and the typeset; where the combined display visually associates the ink input and the typeset. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso, Bradley Park Strazisar
  • FORCE INDICATION OF A BOUNDARY
    Publication number: 20170205884
    Abstract: For force identification of a boundary, a processor detects an attention area intersecting a physical boundary of the display. Intersecting the physical boundary includes approaching within a boundary buffer distance of the physical boundary. The processor provides a force indication by stiffening the feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Ming Qian, Scott Edwards Kelso, John Weldon Nicholson, Steven Richard Perrin
  • GESTURE AMBIGUITY DETERMINATION AND RESOLUTION
    Publication number: 20170205888
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and program products are disclosed. An apparatus may include a processor configured to determine whether a user-input gesture is an ambiguous gesture, present a set of candidate gestures corresponding to the user-input gesture, in response to the user-input gesture being an ambiguous gesture, and resolve the ambiguous gesture based on user-input. The processor may magnify an area around the ambiguous gesture, wherein presenting the set of candidate gestures includes displaying the candidate gestures within the magnified area. The apparatus may include a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The apparatus may also include an input device that receives a user-input gesture and a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Jianbang Zhang
  • PEN HOVER RANGE
    Publication number: 20170168597
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using a processor, a location of a user input device relative to an input surface; detecting, using a sensor, that the user input device has moved a predetermined distance from the input surface; receiving, using at least one other sensor, movement data of the user input device; and modifying, based on the movement data, the identified location of the user input device relative to the input surface. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Scott Edwards Kelso