Patents by Inventor Michael A. Cretella

Michael A. Cretella 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: 8847979
    Abstract: A tablet device determines a spatial relationship between the tablet device and a protective cover. The tablet device operates in accordance with the spatial relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Samuel G. Smith, Matthew I. Brown, Nicholas Zambetti, Rohan Goel, Laura Charlotte Shumaker, Jeremy C. Franklin, Michael A. Cretella, Jr., Paul Meade, Chris Mullens
  • Publication number: 20140164562
    Abstract: Described herein are computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and computer systems for the establishment of data communications between devices based through the use of acoustic signals. A first device transmits an acoustic signal, which is received by one or more other devices. The first device and the receiving devices establish a new communications network (e.g., create a new Wi-Fi network and/or peer-to-peer wireless network), or form/establish a grouping within a pre-existing communications network to which the devices are all connected. The devices can then exchange data over the new communications network or within the grouping on the pre-existing network. Also described herein are techniques for a device to determine its distance and/or other positioning information relative to another device, using acoustic and/or RF signaling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Brian M. King, David T. Amm, Michael A. Cretella, Omar S. Leung
  • Patent number: 8750799
    Abstract: A wireless communications system includes an accessory device and multiple host devices. A host device pairs wirelessly with an accessory device using a unique link key, detects a primary trigger event and responds by transferring automatically its pairing with the accessory device to a second host device while all devices remain within wireless range of each other. The pairing transfer involves communicating the link key to the second host device, unpairing the accessory device from the first host device, and establishing a wireless pairing of the accessory device to the second host device. The primary trigger event can involve establishing a ported connection between host devices. A secondary trigger event results in the first host device automatically reclaiming its pairing with the accessory device. An accessory device can also select and pair with one of multiple host devices in response to a specific user gesture detected by the accessory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Giles, Jack I-Chieh Fu, Clifford J. Hunt, Michael A. Cretella, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140121855
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. CRETELLA, JR., Venu Madhav DUGGINENI, Michael Man-Cheung ENG, Ronald Keryuan HUANG, Christopher MOORE, Christopher T. MULLENS
  • Patent number: 8624695
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Cretella, Jr., Venu Madhav Duggineni, Michael Man-Cheung Eng, Ronald Keryuan Huang, Christopher Moore, Christopher T. Mullens
  • Publication number: 20130328825
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining information of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew I. BROWN, Nicholas Zambetti, Samuel G. Smith, Michael A. Cretella, JR., Chris Mullens
  • Publication number: 20130328914
    Abstract: A tablet device determines a spatial relationship between the tablet device and a protective cover. The tablet device operates in accordance with the spatial relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel G. SMITH, Matthew I. Brown, Nicholas Zambetti, Rohan Goel, Laura Charlotte Shumaker, Jeremy C. Franklin, Michael A. Cretella, JR., Paul Meade, Chris Mullens
  • Publication number: 20130328917
    Abstract: A tablet device includes a display configured to present visual content, a sensor array configured to detect a status of a foldable flap in relation to the display, and a processor configured to operate the tablet device in accordance with the determined status of the foldable flap in relation to the display. In one embodiment, the processor receives a setting value and uses the setting value to execute an application in accordance with the determined relationship of the flap and the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Zambetti, Matthew Irvine Brown, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Duncan R. Kerr, Imran Chaudri, Paul Meade, Jeremy C. Franklin, Michael A. Cretella, JR., May-Li Khoe
  • Publication number: 20130080762
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. CRETELLA, JR., Venu Madhav Duggineni, Michael Man-Cheung Eng, Ronald Keryuan Huang, Christopher Moore, Christopher T. Mullens
  • Publication number: 20130076614
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining information of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. IVE, Duncan R. Kerr, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Steve P. Hotelling, Christopher T. Mullens, Martin P. Grunthaner, Michael A. Cretella, JR.
  • Patent number: 8289115
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Cretella, Jr., Venu Madhav Duggineni, Michael Man-Cheung Eng, Ronald Keryuan Huang, Christopher Moore, Christopher T. Mullens
  • Publication number: 20120083209
    Abstract: A wireless communications system includes an accessory device and multiple host devices. A host device pairs wirelessly with an accessory device using a unique link key, detects a primary trigger event and responds by transferring automatically its pairing with the accessory device to a second host device while all devices remain within wireless range of each other. The pairing transfer involves communicating the link key to the second host device, unpairing the accessory device from the first host device, and establishing a wireless pairing of the accessory device to the second host device. The primary trigger event can involve establishing a ported connection between host devices. A secondary trigger event results in the first host device automatically reclaiming its pairing with the accessory device. An accessory device can also select and pair with one of multiple host devices in response to a specific user gesture detected by the accessory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Giles, Jack I-Chieh Fu, Clifford J. Hunt, Michael A. Cretella, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120072167
    Abstract: Accurate and reliable techniques for determining a current status of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. CRETELLA, JR., Venu Madhav DUGGINENI, Michael Man-Cheung ENG, Ronald Keryuan HUANG, Christopher MOORE, Christopher T. MULLENS
  • Patent number: 7668046
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for determining the position of a user interface mouse using time of arrival measurements. A transmitter transmits a signal to an array of receivers that are spatially separated from one another. The time difference of arrival for is found for each receiver relative to a predetermined reference receiver. Using the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of each receiver, the location in 3-dimensional space of each receiver, and the speed of sound the position of the transmitter in 3-dimensional space relative to the reference receiver may be found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventors: Christian Banker, Michael Cretella, Jeff Dimaria, Jamie Mitchell, Jeff Tucker, Brian King
  • Publication number: 20090027271
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for determining the position of a user interface mouse using time of arrival measurements. A transmitter transmits a signal to an array of receivers that are spatially separated from one another. The time difference of arrival for is found for each receiver relative to a predetermined reference receiver. Using the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of each receiver, the location in 3-dimensional space of each receiver, and the speed of sound the position of the transmitter in 3-dimensional space relative to the reference receiver may be found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Christian Banker, Michael A. Cretella, JR., Jeff Dimaria, Jamie Mitchell, Jeff Tucker, Brian King
  • Publication number: 20020192467
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a reinforcing sheet containing at least one sheet made of a plurality of high tensile modulus fiber monofilaments (12). The sheet defines a first surface (13) and a second surface (15). A first scrim (18) is bonded to the first surface of the sheet and a second scrim (18′) is bonded to the second surface of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Duane R. Secrist, F. Michael Cretella