Patents by Inventor Nicole M. Wells

Nicole M. Wells 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: 11960707
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object. While the display is presenting the user interface, the electronic device receives an input that corresponds to a movement of a contact across on a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device, in response to receiving the input and in accordance with a determination that a first axis is a dominant axis, moves the current focus along the first axis by a first amount and along the second axis by a second amount. The amount of movement of the current focus along the second axis is reduced to a first non-zero amount by a scaling factor that is based on one or more inputs received prior to receiving the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L. C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Publication number: 20230259252
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object. While the display is presenting the user interface, the electronic device receives an input that corresponds to a movement of a contact across on a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device, in response to receiving the input and in accordance with a determination that a first axis is a dominant axis, moves the current focus along the first axis by a first amount and along the second axis by a second amount. The amount of movement of the current focus along the second axis is reduced to a first non-zero amount by a scaling factor that is based on one or more inputs received prior to receiving the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L.C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Patent number: 11635876
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object. While the display is presenting the user interface, the electronic device receives an input that corresponds to a movement of a contact across on a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device, in response to receiving the input and in accordance with a determination that a first axis is a dominant axis, moves the current focus along the first axis by a first amount and along the second axis by a second amount. The amount of movement of the current focus along the second axis is reduced to a first non-zero amount by a scaling factor that is based on one or more inputs received prior to receiving the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L. C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Publication number: 20220187961
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object. While the display is presenting the user interface, the electronic device receives an input that corresponds to a movement of a contact across on a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device, in response to receiving the input and in accordance with a determination that a first axis is a dominant axis, moves the current focus along the first axis by a first amount and along the second axis by a second amount. The amount of movement of the current focus along the second axis is reduced to a first non-zero amount by a scaling factor that is based on one or more inputs received prior to receiving the input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L.C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Patent number: 11262890
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object of the plurality of user interface objects. While the display is presenting the user interface, the electronic device receives from the user input device an input that corresponds to a gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface of the user input device. The gesture includes a movement of a contact across the touch-sensitive surface followed by a lift-off of the contact from the touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device, in accordance with a determination that the gesture satisfies movement criteria, provides, to the display, data to move the current focus in the user interface from the first user interface object to a second user interface object of the plurality of user interface objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L. C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Publication number: 20210382613
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors that detect intensities of contacts on the touch-sensitive surface displays, on the display, a user interface. While displaying the user interface, the electronic device detects an input that includes a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting the input while displaying the user interface, and while continuing to detect the input on the touch-sensitive surface: If an intensity of the contact satisfies an activation intensity threshold, the electronic device performs a first operation associated with the activation intensity threshold. The activation intensity threshold is determined based on whether or not prior inputs by the user on the touch-sensitive surface exceed a respective intensity threshold. If an intensity of the contact does not satisfy an activation intensity threshold, the electronic device forgoes performing the first operation associated with the activation intensity threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Aram D. Kudurshian, Christopher P. Foss, Gary I. Butcher, Patrick L. Coffman, Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 11112957
    Abstract: An electronic device, while displaying a user interface of a first software application, detects a first input, including a contact that does not satisfy a first threshold and is detected at a location associated with region of the user interface associated with at least a first operation. In response to the first input, if a first tactile output setting is active for the first input, the device performs the first operation without generating a tactile output, and if a second tactile output setting is active for the first input, the device forgoes performing the first operation. In response to a second input that includes a contact that satisfies the first intensity threshold and is detected at a location associated with the region of the user interface, if the second tactile output setting is active for the second input, the device performs the first operation and generates a tactile output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Aram D. Kudurshian, Christopher P. Foss, Gary I. Butcher, Patrick L. Coffman, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 11099679
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive surface. The device detects a touch input on the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting the touch input, the device, in accordance with a determination that the touch input is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that is associated with a first intensity model of a plurality of different intensity models, processes the touch input in accordance with an intensity applied by the touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the first intensity model without generating a tactile output; and, in accordance with a determination that the touch input is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that is associated with a second intensity model different from the first intensity model, processes the touch input in accordance with an intensity applied by the touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the second intensity model, including conditionally generating a tactile output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Raleigh J. Ledet, Ryan S. Dixon, Nils T. Beck, Nicole M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20210247877
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object of the plurality of user interface objects. While the display is presenting the user interface, the electronic device receives from the user input device an input that corresponds to a gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface of the user input device. The gesture includes a movement of a contact across the touch-sensitive surface followed by a lift-off of the contact from the touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device, in accordance with a determination that the gesture satisfies movement criteria, provides, to the display, data to move the current focus in the user interface from the first user interface object to a second user interface object of the plurality of user interface objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L.C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Patent number: 11086368
    Abstract: An electronic device detects an input sequence that includes an increase in intensity of an input that corresponds to a first input event. If the input sequence includes a second input event, including a decrease in intensity of the input after the first input event, a long press is not detected and a first operation is performed. If the second input event is not detected within a second time period that is longer than the first time period and the input had a characteristic intensity above a respective intensity threshold between when the first input event was detected and when the second time period elapsed, a long press is detected on an accelerated basis, and a second operation is performed. Finally, a long press is detected if the second input event is not detected within a longer, default time period, and the second operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Leah M. Gum, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Camille Moussette, Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Joshua B. Kopin, Jules K. Fennis
  • Patent number: 10963130
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects. A current focus is on a first user interface object of the first group of user interface objects. The device receives an input that corresponds to a request to move the current focus to a user interface object in the second group of user interface objects; determines a projection of the first user interface object based on a direction of the input; identifies one or more user interface objects that overlap with the projection of the first user interface object in the direction on the display that corresponds to the direction of the input; and moves the current focus to a second user interface object of the one or more identified user input objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seely, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L. C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Publication number: 20200371630
    Abstract: An electronic device detects an input sequence that includes an increase in intensity of an input that corresponds to a first input event. If the input sequence includes a second input event, including a decrease in intensity of the input after the first input event, a long press is not detected and a first operation is performed. If the second input event is not detected within a second time period that is longer than the first time period and the input had a characteristic intensity above a respective intensity threshold between when the first input event was detected and when the second time period elapsed, a long press is detected on an accelerated basis, and a second operation is performed. Finally, a long press is detected if the second input event is not detected within a longer, default time period, and the second operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Leah M. Gum, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Camille Moussette, Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Joshua B. Kopin, Jules K. Fennis
  • Patent number: 10775915
    Abstract: An electronic device detects a change in intensity of an input on an input element that includes detecting an increase in intensity followed by a decrease in intensity, and determines whether the first decrease in intensity of the input meets up-click detection criteria, which require that the intensity of the input decrease below a first up-click intensity threshold in order for the up-click detection criteria to be met. The first up-click intensity threshold is time varying, in accordance with the detected intensity of the input during the first decrease in intensity of the input. If the first decrease in intensity of the input meets the up-click detection criteria, first feedback is provided, indicating that the first decrease in intensity of the input was recognized as an up-click, and if the first decrease in intensity of the input does not meet the up-click detection criteria, the first feedback is not provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Leah M. Gum, Nicholas A. Fahrner, Camille Moussette, Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux, Joshua B. Kopin, Jules K. Fennis
  • Publication number: 20200225753
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive surface. The device detects a touch input on the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting the touch input, the device, in accordance with a determination that the touch input is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that is associated with a first intensity model of a plurality of different intensity models, processes the touch input in accordance with an intensity applied by the touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the first intensity model without generating a tactile output; and, in accordance with a determination that the touch input is at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that is associated with a second intensity model different from the first intensity model, processes the touch input in accordance with an intensity applied by the touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the second intensity model, including conditionally generating a tactile output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Raleigh J. Ledet, Ryan S. Dixon, Nils T. Beck, Nicole M. Wells
  • Publication number: 20200073523
    Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a first group of user interface objects and a second group of user interface objects. A current focus is on a first user interface object of the first group of user interface objects. The device receives an input that corresponds to a request to move the current focus to a user interface object in the second group of user interface objects; determines a projection of the first user interface object based on a direction of the input; identifies one or more user interface objects that overlap with the projection of the first user interface object in the direction on the display that corresponds to the direction of the input; and moves the current focus to a second user interface object of the one or more identified user input objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nicole M. Wells, Justin T. Voss, Blake R. Seeley, Matthew D. Ricketson, Henrique D. Penha, Grace H. Hwang, Graham R. Clarke, Jeffrey L. Robbin, William M. Bachman, Benjamin W. Keighran, Jennifer L.C. Folse, Jonathan Lochhead, Joe R. Howard, Joshua K. McGlinn
  • Publication number: 20190332257
    Abstract: An electronic device, while displaying a user interface of a first software application, detects a first input, including a contact that does not satisfy a first threshold and is detected at a location associated with region of the user interface associated with at least a first operation. In response to the first input, if a first tactile output setting is active for the first input, the device performs the first operation without generating a tactile output, and if a second tactile output setting is active for the first input, the device forgoes performing the first operation. In response to a second input that includes a contact that satisfies the first intensity threshold and is detected at a location associated with the region of the user interface, if the second tactile output setting is active for the second input, the device performs the first operation and generates a tactile output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Aram D. Kudurshian, Christopher P. Foss, Gary I. Butcher, Patrick L. Coffman, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 10402073
    Abstract: An electronic device displays a user interface of a first software application that includes one or more draggable objects and one or more control objects; and, detects a contact on a touch-sensitive surface at a first location while a focus selector is displayed over a first draggable object and a movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to a second location that corresponds to a first control object. In accordance with a determination that the contact at the first location satisfies object selection criteria, the device moves the first draggable object to the first control object in accordance with the movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface to the first control object. In accordance with a determination that the contact at the second location satisfies first intensity criteria, the device performs a first predetermined operation that corresponds to activation of the first control object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Aram D. Kudurshian, Christopher P. Foss, Gary I. Butcher, Patrick L. Coffman, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Nicole M. Wells, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 10353467
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing haptic output and audio output on computing devices using the same haptic device and methods for calibrating the same. To produce the haptic and audio output, the computing device receives a profile of a desired output waveform that is to be provided by the haptic device. Using the desired output waveform, an input waveform is generated. Once the input waveform that will produce the desired output waveform is generated, the input waveform may be calibrated to account for various structural components of the haptic device and may also be combined with an audio waveform. The input waveform is then provided to the haptic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Peteris K. Augenbergs, Marc J. Piche, Vinay Chawda, Nicole M. Wells, Scott J. McEuen, Curtis P. Wiederhold, Jonah A. Harley, Wayne C. Westerman, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, Brett W. Degner, Paul Briant, Thomas Wedlick
  • Patent number: 10346030
    Abstract: A method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts. The method includes displaying, on the display, a user interface for an application; detecting an edge input that includes detecting a change in a characteristic intensity of a contact proximate to an edge of the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the edge input: in accordance with a determination that the edge input meets system-gesture criteria, performing an operation that is independent of the application, wherein: the system-gesture criteria include intensity criteria; the system-gesture criteria include a location criterion that is met when the intensity criteria for the contact are met while the contact is within a first region relative to the touch-sensitive surface; and the first region relative to the touch-sensitive surface is determined based on one or more characteristics of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nicole M. Wells, Andrew B. Cato, Matthew H. Gamble, Craig M. Federighi, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 10162452
    Abstract: An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface displays a first user interface of a first software application, detects an input on the touch-sensitive surface while displaying the first user interface, and, in response to detecting the input while displaying the first user interface, performs a first operation in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies intensity input criteria including that the input satisfies a first intensity threshold, and performs a second operation in accordance with a determination that the input satisfies pan criteria including that the input has moved across the touch-sensitive surface by at least a predefined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Jonathan R. Dascola, Olivier D. R. Gutknecht, Peter L. Hajas, Chanaka G. Karunamuni, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Kevin E. Ridsdale, Sophia Teutschler, Nicole M. Wells