Patents by Inventor Nicholas Vincent King

Nicholas Vincent King 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).

  • Publication number: 20230236628
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 11644865
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Publication number: 20220261035
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Publication number: 20200341561
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 10739868
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Publication number: 20190196605
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 10248221
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 9970812
    Abstract: Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Robert Kerr, Wing Kong Low
  • Patent number: 9761129
    Abstract: Systems and methods for associating a remote controller with a device are provided. The systems and methods generally relate to receiving a request from a remote controlled to pair the remote controller to a device at several devices and determining at each of the several devices the strength of the wireless pairing request signal received by that device. If a device determines that its received signal is the strongest, the device may be paired with the remote controller. If instead a device determines that its received signal is not the strongest, it may ignore subsequent communications received from the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Vincent King
  • Publication number: 20170147087
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 9600037
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Publication number: 20160254954
    Abstract: One particular implementation conforming to aspects of the present disclosure takes the form of docking station for a computing device that maintains an indication of a docking station location. The location of the docking station may be utilized by the docking station and/or the computing device coupled to the docking station to configure the functionality and other aspects of the computing device. For example, the functionality of the computing device may be altered in response to the location of the docking station. Additionally, security features, display configurations and the availability of software applications may also be configured in response to the location of the docking station. In this manner, a single computing device may perform the functions of several computing devices based on the location of the docking station, without the need for the user of the device to configure the device manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Vincent King, Aleksandar Pance, Brett Bilbrey
  • Publication number: 20160216153
    Abstract: Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Robert Kerr, Wing Kong Low
  • Patent number: 9316535
    Abstract: Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Steven Porter Hotelling, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Robert Kerr, Wing Kong Low
  • Patent number: 9137254
    Abstract: Certain embodiments may take the form of a method of operating an electronic device to find and determine an identity of other local devices. The method includes transmitting electromagnetic signals from a first electronic device to find devices within a prescribed distance of the first device and receiving electromagnetic response signals from a second electronic device within the prescribed distance from the first electronic device. The method also includes identifying the second electronic device using information received in the electromagnetic response signals. Additionally, the method includes determining if the second electronic device is aware of other electronic devices and, if the second electronic device is aware of other electronic devices, obtaining identifying information of the other devices from the second electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Bilbrey, Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Todd Benjamin
  • Patent number: 9069426
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow measurement of a user's interaction with the housing of an electronic device. Some embodiments may measure the electrical characteristics of a housing of an electrical device, where the housing is capable of being temporarily deformed by the user's interaction. By measuring the electrical characteristics of the housing, such as the housing's capacitance, the user's interaction with the housing can be measured in a manner that is independent of the user's electrical characteristics and/or in a manner that may allow the pressure applied to the housing to be quantified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Publication number: 20140255025
    Abstract: Systems and methods for associating a remote controller with a device are provided. The systems and methods generally relate to receiving a request from a remote controlled to pair the remote controller to a device at several devices and determining at each of the several devices the strength of the wireless pairing request signal received by that device. If a device determines that its received signal is the strongest, the device may be paired with the remote controller. If instead a device determines that its received signal is not the strongest, it may ignore subsequent communications received from the remote controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Vincent King
  • Publication number: 20140225835
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that provide increased control of backlit keys for a keyboard. Some embodiments may include controllers within the keyboard that are capable of dynamically programming illumination of the keyboard based upon interaction, where each key of the keyboard may be individually programmed in a dynamic manner. For example, a spell checking function may be executing on a computer system, and as the user types various words, the keyboard may dynamically program the illumination of keyboard controllers such that the next letter of the word being typed is illuminated by the keyboard. Also, different keyboard illumination schemes may be generated based upon mouse movements by the user and/or based upon which application is currently executing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Alex J. Crumlin, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Chris Ligtenberg, James E. Orr, IV
  • Publication number: 20140218853
    Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 8786634
    Abstract: A graphic display module operating on a first device prepares graphic data to be displayed on a wirelessly connected display adapter that includes graphics processing capability. The display adapter transmits metadata to the graphic display module that includes the graphic processing capabilities of the display adapter. The graphic display module uses the metadata, and possibly the available bandwidth, to selectively delegate graphic processing tasks to the display adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Samuel Bushell, Nicholas Vincent King, Bob Bradley, John Stuart Harper