Patents by Inventor Keith Kinerk
Keith Kinerk 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: 7400915Abstract: A rotating user interface for a portable electronic device (FIG. 2, through FIG. 5) includes a circular portion that rotates relative to a housing portion. Rotation of the rotating user interface controls motion on a display such as a steering wheel for a gaming mode of the device. A moveable user interface includes a plurality of keys (206, 208) arranged and constructed to be configured in one of a first configuration (FIG. 2) and a second configuration (FIG. 3); and a controller 102, coupled to the plurality of keys, operable to detect when the plurality of keys are in the first configuration or second configuration and correspondingly to control the device to perform a first function or second function corresponding to the detected configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2005Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Motorola IncInventors: Daniel Wong, Michael Charlier, Keith Kinerk
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Publication number: 20070120838Abstract: A wireless communication handset (100) having a movable housing portion (204) coupled to a housing portion (202) that rotates relative to the housing portion. The movable housing portion may be a ring that rotates from one position 200 to another position 300 relative to the housing. Rotation of the ring to a first position activates a first function. Indicia 210 disposed on the ring indicates the desired mode. Rotation of the ring to a second position activates a second mode corresponding to a second indicia on the ring. The ring is interchangeable with other rings (FIG. 5 through FIG. 7) having different indicia corresponding to different modes or functions. The software that corresponds to the different modes may be stored in a memory 104 of the device or downloaded to the device upon coupling the ring thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2006Publication date: May 31, 2007Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.Inventors: KEITH KINERK, DANIEL WONG
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Patent number: 7138977Abstract: A proportional force input apparatus for an electronic device includes a mechanism operable by a user of the electronic device, such as a stylus inserted into a spring-loaded socket of the device. The mechanism provides a tactile feedback to the user proportional to a force applied by the user. A variable strength sensor detects the force applied by the user to the mechanism and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user. A processor operates to input the electric signal from the variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device. Optionally, a second sensor can detect rotation of the stylus. As a result, a stylus can be used to provide vector information to an application such as a game.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2003Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Keith Kinerk, Daniel Wong
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Patent number: 7117009Abstract: An apparatus and method for electronic device control. The apparatus can include a first housing including a first housing face, a display coupled to the first housing face, a second housing pivotably attached to the first housing the second housing including a second housing face, the second housing face being configured to cover at least a portion of the first housing face. The apparatus can also include a housing orientation detection module coupled to the second housing, the housing orientation detection module configured to detect a position of the second housing relative to the first housing. The apparatus can additionally include a controller configured to display motion on the display based on the position detected by the housing orientation detection module. The second housing can be pivotably attached to the first housing along at least two axes of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Wong, Keith Kinerk
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Patent number: 7031759Abstract: A rotating user interface for a portable electronic device (FIG. 2, through FIG. 5 et sequence) includes a circular portion that rotates relative to a housing portion. Rotation of the rotating user interface controls motion on a display such as a steering wheel for a gaming mode of the device. A moveable user interface includes a plurality of keys (206, 208) arranged and constructed to be configured in one of a first configuration (FIG. 2) and a second configuration (FIG. 3); and a controller 102, coupled to the plurality of keys, operable to detect when the plurality of keys are in the first configuration or second configuration and correspondingly to control the device to perform a first function or second function corresponding to the detected configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Wong, Michael Charlier, Keith Kinerk
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Publication number: 20060035687Abstract: A rotating user interface for a portable electronic device (FIG. 2, through FIG. 5) includes a circular portion that rotates relative to a housing portion. Rotation of the rotating user interface controls motion on a display such as a steering wheel for a gaming mode of the device. A moveable user interface includes a plurality of keys (206, 208) arranged and constructed to be configured in one of a first configuration (FIG. 2) and a second configuration (FIG. 3); and a controller 102, coupled to the plurality of keys, operable to detect when the plurality of keys are in the first configuration or second configuration and correspondingly to control the device to perform a first function or second function corresponding to the detected configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Inventors: Daniel Wong, Michael Charlier, Keith Kinerk
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Publication number: 20060022822Abstract: A holster (100) for holstering portable electronic device (102) and clipping to objects when the portable electronic device is removed therefrom. The holster comprises a body (104) adapted to selectively retain the portable electronic device and a clip (110) carried on the body and adapted to removably couple the body of the holster to an object. The holster includes a sensor (118) a controller (114) and a transmitter to transmit the alert signal to the device. The holster transmits (908) an alert signal or message to the portable electronic device upon the sensing (904) of changed characteristics of the holster.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2004Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventors: Daniel Wong, Michael Charlier, Keith Kinerk
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Publication number: 20040204059Abstract: An apparatus and method for electronic device control. The apparatus can include a first housing including a first housing face, a display coupled to the first housing face, a second housing pivotably attached to the first housing the second housing including a second housing face, the second housing face being configured to cover at least a portion of the first housing face. The apparatus can also include a housing orientation detection module coupled to the second housing, the housing orientation detection module configured to detect a position of the second housing relative to the first housing. The apparatus can additionally include a controller configured to display motion on the display based on the position detected by the housing orientation detection module. The second housing can be pivotably attached to the first housing along at least two axes of rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: Daniel Wong, Keith Kinerk
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Publication number: 20040135765Abstract: A proportional force input apparatus for an electronic device includes a mechanism operable by a user of the electronic device, such as a stylus inserted into a spring-loaded socket of the device. The mechanism provides a tactile feedback to the user proportional to a force applied by the user. A variable strength sensor detects the force applied by the user to the mechanism and converts this to an electrical signal proportional to the force applied by the user. A processor operates to input the electric signal from the variable strength sensor and provide force information to an application running on the electronic device. Optionally, a second sensor can detect rotation of the stylus. As a result, a stylus can be used to provide vector information to an application such as a game.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: Keith Kinerk, Daniel Wong
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Publication number: 20040127267Abstract: A rotating user interface for a portable electronic device (FIG. 2, through FIG. 5 et sequence) includes a circular portion that rotates relative to a housing portion. Rotation of the rotating user interface controls motion on a display such as a steering wheel for a gaming mode of the device. A moveable user interface includes a plurality of keys (206, 208) arranged and constructed to be configured in one of a first configuration (FIG. 2) and a second configuration (FIG. 3); and a controller 102, coupled to the plurality of keys, operable to detect when the plurality of keys are in the first configuration or second configuration and correspondingly to control the device to perform a first function or second function corresponding to the detected configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Daniel Wong, Michael Charlier, Keith Kinerk
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Publication number: 20040125092Abstract: A wireless communication handset (100) having a movable housing portion (204) coupled to a housing portion (202) that rotates relative to the housing portion. The movable housing portion may be a ring that rotates from one position 200 to another position 300 relative to the housing. Rotation of the ring to a first position activates a first function. Indicia 210 disposed on the ring indicates the desired mode. Rotation of the ring to a second position activates a second mode corresponding to a second indicia on the ring. The ring is interchangeable with other rings (FIG. 5 through FIG. 7) having different indicia corresponding to different modes or functions. The software that corresponds to the different modes may be stored in a memory 104 of the device or downloaded to the device upon coupling the ring thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Keith Kinerk, Daniel Wong