Patents by Inventor Omar S. Leung
Omar S. Leung 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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Publication number: 20220334612Abstract: An input device is operable to detect input. The input device is a deflection based capacitive sensing input device. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input device appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Patent number: 11353921Abstract: An input device is operable to detect input. The input device is a deflection based capacitive sensing input device. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input device appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Publication number: 20210109567Abstract: An input device is operable to detect input. The input device is a deflection based capacitive sensing input device. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input device appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Patent number: 10901559Abstract: An input device is operable to detect input. The input device is a deflection based capacitive sensing input device. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input device appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Patent number: 10452210Abstract: The present disclosure addresses methods and apparatus facilitating capacitive sensing using a conductive surface, and facilitating the sensing of proximity to the conductive surface. The sensed proximity will often be that of a user, but can be another source of a reference voltage potential. In some examples, the described systems are capable of sensing capacitance (including parasitic capacitance) in a circuit that includes the outer conductive surface, and where that outer conductive surface is at a floating electrical potential. In some systems, the systems can be switched between two operating modes, a first mode in which the system will sense proximity to the conductive surface, and a second mode in which the system will use a capacitance measurement to sense contact with the conductive surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Patent number: 10359884Abstract: Ground detection of a touch sensitive device is disclosed. The device can detect its grounded state so that poor grounding can be selectively compensated for in touch signals outputted by the device. The device can include one or more components to monitor certain conditions of the device. The device can analyze the monitored conditions to determine the grounding condition of the device. The device can apply a function to compensate its touch signal outputs if the device determines that it is poorly grounded. Conversely, the device can omit the function if the device determines that it is well grounded.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, David Amm, Michael Lammers, John T. Orchard, Brian Michael King, Omar S. Leung, Deniz Teoman
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Patent number: 10289235Abstract: Touch and hover switching is disclosed. A touch and hover sensing device can switch between a touch mode and a hover mode. During a touch mode, the device can be switched to sense one or more objects touching the device. During a hover mode, the device can be switched to sense one or more objects hovering over the device. The device can include a panel having multiple sensors for sensing a touching object and/or a hovering object and a touch and hover control system for switching the device between the touch and hover modes. The device's touch and hover control system can include a touch sensing circuit for coupling to the sensors to measure a capacitance indicative of a touching object during the touch mode, a hover sensing circuit for coupling to the sensors to measure a capacitance indicative of a hovering object during the hover mode, and a switching mechanism for switching the sensors to couple to either the touch sensing circuit or the hover sensing circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brian Michael King, Omar S. Leung, Paul G. Puskarich, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Andrea Mucignat, Avi E. Cieplinski, Muhammad U. Choudry, Praveen R. Subramani, Marc J. Piche, David Amm, Duncan Robert Kerr
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Patent number: 10268303Abstract: Improved capacitive touch and hover sensing with a sensor array is provided. An AC ground shield positioned behind the sensor array and stimulated with signals of the same waveform as the signals driving the sensor array may concentrate the electric field extending from the sensor array and enhance hover sensing capability. The hover position and/or height of an object that is nearby, but not directly above, a touch surface of the sensor array, e.g., in the border area at the end of a touch screen, may be determined using capacitive measurements of sensors near the end of the sensor array by fitting the measurements to a model. Other improvements relate to the joint operation of touch and hover sensing, such as determining when and how to perform touch sensing, hover sensing, both touch and hover sensing, or neither.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, David T. Amm, Omar S. Leung, Christopher Tenzin Mullens, Brian Michael King, Brian Richards Land, Reese T. Cutler
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Publication number: 20190079610Abstract: An input device is operable to detect input. The input device is a deflection based capacitive sensing input device. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input device appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Patent number: 10198108Abstract: Detecting a signal from a touch and hover sensing device, in which the signal can be indicative of concurrent touch events and/or hover events, is disclosed. A touch event can indicate an object touching the device. A hover event can indicate an object hovering over the device. The touch and hover sensing device can ensure that a desired hover event is not masked by an incidental touch event, e.g., a hand holding the device, by compensating for the touch event in the detected signal that represents both events. Conversely, when both a hover event and a touch event are desired, the touch and hover sensing device can ensure that both events are detected by adjusting the device sensors and/or the detected signal. The touch and hover sensing device can also detect concurrent hover events by identifying multiple peaks in the detected signal, each peak corresponding to a position of a hovering object.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brian Michael King, Omar S. Leung, Paul G. Puskarich, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Andrea Mucignat, Avi E. Cieplinski, Muhammad U. Choudry, Praveen R. Subramani, Marc J. Piche, David Amm, Duncan Robert Kerr
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Patent number: 10146383Abstract: An input device is operable to detect input. The input device is a deflection based capacitive sensing input device. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input device appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Patent number: 10001885Abstract: The present disclosure addresses methods and apparatus facilitating capacitive sensing using a conductive surface, and facilitating the sensing of proximity to the conductive surface. The sensed proximity will often be that of a user, but can be another source of a reference voltage potential. In some examples, the described systems are capable of sensing capacitance (including parasitic capacitance) in a circuit that includes the outer conductive surface, and where that outer conductive surface is at a floating electrical potential. In some systems, the systems can be switched between two operating modes, a first mode in which the system will sense proximity to the conductive surface, and a second mode in which the system will use a capacitance measurement to sense contact with the conductive surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aleksandar Pance, Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Patent number: 9851813Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a navigational object (e.g., a cursor) using an input device are disclosed herein. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a motion-based input device adapted to move relative to a surface. The input device has one or more force sensors capable of detecting forces acting upon the input device. The system may then move a navigational object displayed on a receiving device in relatively small increments or relatively large increments, depending upon the detected forces acting upon the input device.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David T. Amm, Omar S. Leung
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Patent number: 9836158Abstract: Compensation for sensors in a touch and hover sensing device is disclosed. Compensation can be for sensor resistance and/or sensor sensitivity variation that can adversely affect touch and hover measurements at the sensors. To compensate for sensor resistance, the device can gang adjacent sensors together so as to reduce the overall resistance of the sensors. In addition or alternatively, the device can drive the sensors with voltages from multiple directions so as to reduce the effects of the sensors' resistance. To compensate for sensor sensitivity variation (generally at issue for hover measurements), the device can apply a gain factor to the measurements, where the gain factor is a function of the sensor location, so as to reduce the sensitivity variation at different sensor locations on the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brian Michael King, Omar S. Leung, Paul G. Puskarich, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Andrea Mucignat, Avi E. Cieplinski, Muhammad Umar Choudry, Praveen R. Subramani, Marc J. Piche, David Amm, Duncan Robert Kerr
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Publication number: 20170199625Abstract: Ground detection of a touch sensitive device is disclosed. The device can detect its grounded state so that poor grounding can be selectively compensated for in touch signals outputted by the device. The device can include one or more components to monitor certain conditions of the device. The device can analyze the monitored conditions to determine the grounding condition of the device. The device can apply a function to compensate its touch signal outputs if the device determines that it is poorly grounded. Conversely, the device can omit the function if the device determines that it is well grounded.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Steven P. HOTELLING, David AMM, Michael LAMMERS, John T. ORCHARD, Brian Michael KING, Omar S. LEUNG, Deniz TEOMAN
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Patent number: 9658698Abstract: Systems and methods for using measurements of a lateral force applied to a motion-based input device are disclosed. The input device has a force detection module operable to detect lateral forces applied to the input device and generate force data representative of the applied lateral forces. The system also includes a processor coupled to the force detection module. The processor is operable to initiate an event based upon the force data.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David T. Amm, Omar S. Leung
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Patent number: 9639187Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the speed and/or position of an input device from vibrational signals is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a response spectrum is generated as the input device moves across a surface. Amplitude and frequency data associated with the response spectrum is analyzed to determine the magnitude of the velocity.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David T. Amm, Omar S. Leung
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Publication number: 20170068356Abstract: The present disclosure addresses methods and apparatus facilitating capacitive sensing using a conductive surface, and facilitating the sensing of proximity to the conductive surface. The sensed proximity will often be that of a user, but can be another source of a reference voltage potential. In some examples, the described systems are capable of sensing capacitance (including parasitic capacitance) in a circuit that includes the outer conductive surface, and where that outer conductive surface is at a floating electrical potential. In some systems, the systems can be switched between two operating modes, a first mode in which the system will sense proximity to the conductive surface, and a second mode in which the system will use a capacitance measurement to sense contact with the conductive surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Aleksandar PANCE, Omar S. LEUNG, David T. AMM
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Publication number: 20170003783Abstract: An input device is disclosed. The input is a deflection based capacitive sensing input. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: Omar S. Leung, David T. Amm
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Publication number: 20170003816Abstract: A capacitive sensing apparatus is disclosed. In some examples, the capacitive sensing apparatus includes a sensor control system configured to: during a first scan of the sensor array: transmit a first alternating current (AC) signal concurrently with a second alternating current (AC) signal to the sensor array, transmit the first AC signal to the first electrode of the sensor array, measure a self capacitance at the first input location, and transmit the second AC signal to the second electrode of the sensor array without measuring a self capacitance at the second input location, and during a second scan of the sensor array: transmit the first AC signal concurrently with the second AC signal to the sensor array, transmit the first AC signal to the first electrode of the sensor array without measuring the self capacitance at the first input location, and measure the self capacitance at the second input location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey Traer BERNSTEIN, David T. AMM, Omar S. LEUNG, Christopher Tenzin MULLENS, Brian Michael KING, Brian Richards LAND, Reese T. CUTLER