Patents by Inventor Patrick Kessler
Patrick Kessler 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: 10069392Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of an electromagnetic actuator that produces a haptic output during operation. Generally, an electromagnetic coil is wrapped around a central magnet array. A shaft passes through the central magnet array, such that the central array may move along the shaft when the proper force is applied. When a current passes through the electromagnetic coil, the coil generates a magnetic field. The coil is stationary with respect to a housing of the actuator, while the central magnet array may move along the shaft within the housing. Thus, excitation of the coil exerts a force on the central magnet array, which moves in response to that force. The direction of the current through the coil determines the direction of the magnetic field and thus the motion of the central magnet array.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Bradley J. Hamel, David H. Narajowski, Jonah A. Harley, Michael E. Leclerc, Patrick Kessler, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Storrs T. Hoen
-
Patent number: 10061361Abstract: A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Euan Abraham, John M. Brock, Matthew P. Casebolt, Robert L. Coish, Laura M. DeForest, Michelle Goldberg, Bradley Joseph Hamel, Ron Hopkinson, Jim Hwang, Caitlin E. Kalinowski, Steven Keiper, Patrick Kessler, Eugene Kim, Chris Ligtenberg, Jay K. Osborn, John Raff, Nicholas A. Rundle, David J. Yeh
-
Publication number: 20180129287Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi Cieplinski, Brett W. Degner, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler, Paul Puskarich, Marcelo H. Coelho, Aleksandar Pance
-
Publication number: 20180120940Abstract: A haptic electromagnetic actuator for track pad is provided. The actuator includes an array of electromagnets with alternating South and North poles on a first end, each magnet comprising a metal core and an electrical wire around the metal core. The array of magnets is coupled to a base plate on a second end opposite to the first end. The actuator also includes an attraction plate at a distance from the first end of the array of the magnets such that the attraction plate moves toward the magnets when an electrical current flows through the electrical wire around the metal core and moves away from the magnets when the current becomes zero. The array of magnets is configured to form a uniform gap from the attraction plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Patrick Kessler, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Jonah A. Harley, Brett W. Degner, Nicholas Alan Rundle, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Nicholaus Lubinski, Kenneth L. Staton, Omar Sze Leung
-
Publication number: 20180068538Abstract: A fabric-based electronic device may include an electronic device housing coupled to fabric. Control circuitry may be mounted in the electronic device housing and may control the movement of an output device in the fabric that provides tactile output to a user. For example, the output device may include a wire enclosed within a flexible tube. The flexible tube may be intertwined with fibers in the fabric. The wire may include a kink or other irregularity that presses against the inner surface of the flexible tube. When the wire is rotated or moved into an appropriate position, the kink may press against the inner surface of the tube, which in turn forms a protrusion on the fabric. The protrusion may press against the user's body and may therefore be used to obtain the attention of a user that is wearing or holding the fabric-based electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Patrick Kessler, Daniel A. Podhajny
-
Patent number: 9886093Abstract: A band includes one or more haptic actuators that can be activated to provide haptic stimulation to a wearer. An electronic device can be in communication with the one or more haptic actuators through a wired and/or wireless connection. The electronic device can be a separate device, or the electronic device can be removably or fixedly attached to the band. An activation signal can be sent to a single haptic actuator or to groups of two or more haptic actuators.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Camille Moussette, Patrick Kessler
-
Publication number: 20180030765Abstract: An adjustable support structure including two parallel layers of flexible material separated by a coupling that maintains separation between the parallel layers such that the layers may easily displace in a parallel direction but not in a perpendicular direction. The adjustable support structure may also include a displacement brake to selectively resist or maintain parallel displacement of the layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventor: Patrick Kessler
-
Patent number: 9829982Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi Cieplinski, Brett W. Degner, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler, Paul Puskarich, Marcelo H. Coelho, Aleksandar Pance
-
Patent number: 9829932Abstract: A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Euan Abraham, John M. Brock, Matthew P. Casebolt, Robert L. Coish, Laura M. DeForest, Michelle Goldberg, Bradley Joseph Hamel, Ron Hopkinson, Jim Hwang, Caitlin E. Kalinowski, Steven Keiper, Patrick Kessler, Eugene Kim, Chris Ligtenberg, Jay K. Osborn, John Raff, Nicholas A. Rundle, David J. Yeh
-
Patent number: 9830783Abstract: A fabric-based electronic device may include an electronic device housing coupled to fabric. Control circuitry may be mounted in the electronic device housing and may control the movement of an output device in the fabric that provides tactile output to a user. For example, the output device may include a wire enclosed within a flexible tube. The flexible tube may be intertwined with fibers in the fabric. The wire may include a kink or other irregularity that presses against the inner surface of the flexible tube. When the wire is rotated or moved into an appropriate position, the kink may press against the inner surface of the tube, which in turn forms a protrusion on the fabric. The protrusion may press against the user's body and may therefore be used to obtain the attention of a user that is wearing or holding the fabric-based electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Patrick Kessler, Daniel A. Podhajny
-
Patent number: 9793066Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a low travel switch mechanism. The low travel switch mechanism may include a substrate, a dome coupled to the substrate, a keycap, and an integrated pivot component disposed between the keycap and the dome. The integrated pivot component may include a hinge assembly coupled to a light guide structure. The hinge assembly may secure to the substrate, via one or more hinge interconnects, joints, or interlock features to form a pivot point. When the keycap receives a keystroke, the integrated pivot component may be operative to pivot about the pivot point and contact the dome to cause a switching event or operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: John M. Brock, Patrick Kessler, Craig C. Leong, Keith J. Hendren, James J. Niu
-
Publication number: 20170285781Abstract: An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch-sensitive track pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a tracking control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the ovable track pad so as to generate one or more other control signals (e.g, button signals). The control signals can be used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Brett William Degner, Patrick Kessler, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Bartley K. Andre, Matthew P. Casebolt
-
Patent number: 9652040Abstract: An electronic device may generate a canceling component that reduces or eliminates the unforced response for a base waveform applied to a component haptic output device of the electronic device. The electronic device may create a sculpted waveform that has no or reduced unforced response and may store the created sculpted waveform. The electronic device may apply the sculpted waveform to the component haptic output device. In one embodiment, a space of at least possible parameters may be defined. Canceling component corresponding to points in the space may be iteratively tested. A heat map may be generated based on the unforced response cancellation or elimination of the canceling components corresponding to the points. Based at least on the heat map, a canceling component may be selected. A sculpted waveform may then be generated by combining the base waveform with the canceling component.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Melisa Orta Martinez, Wayne C. Westerman, Zhiqiang Gu, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler
-
Patent number: 9612674Abstract: An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch-sensitive track pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a tracking control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the movable track pad so as to generate one or more other control signals (e.g., button signals). The control signals can be used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brett William Degner, Patrick Kessler, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Bartley K. Andre, Matthew P. Casebolt
-
Patent number: 9608506Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of an electromagnetic actuator that produces a haptic output during operation. Generally, an electromagnetic coil is wrapped around a central magnet array. A shaft passes through the central magnet array, such that the central array may move along the shaft when the proper force is applied. When a current passes through the electromagnetic coil, the coil generates a magnetic field. The coil is stationary with respect to a housing of the actuator, while the central magnet array may move along the shaft within the housing. Thus, excitation of the coil exerts a force on the central magnet array, which moves in response to that force. The direction of the current through the coil determines the direction of the magnetic field and thus the motion of the central magnet array.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Bradley J. Hamel, David H. Narajowski, Jonah A. Harley, Michael E. Leclerc, Patrick Kessler, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Storrs T. Hoen
-
Publication number: 20170075424Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi Cieplinski, Brett W. Degner, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler, Paul Puskarich, Marcelo H. Coelho, Aleksandar Pance
-
Patent number: 9535557Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Avi Cieplinski, Brett W. Degner, Duncan Kerr, Patrick Kessler, Paul Puskarich, Marcelo H. Coelho, Aleksandar Pance
-
Publication number: 20160371942Abstract: A system includes a band, an attachment mechanism attached to the band, and one or more haptic devices included in the attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism can attach the band to an electronic device. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment mechanism can attach the band to a wearer. The haptic device or devices are in communication with a processing device. At least one of the one or more haptic devices produces a haptic response based on an activation signal received from the processing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: December 22, 2016Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Smith IV, Patrick Kessler, Camille Moussette, John B. Morrell
-
Publication number: 20160349806Abstract: A desktop computing system having at least a central core surrounded by housing having a shape that defines a volume in which the central core resides is described. The housing includes a first opening and a second opening axially displaced from the first opening. The first opening having a size and shape in accordance with an amount of airflow used as a heat transfer medium for cooling internal components, the second opening defined by a lip that engages a portion of the airflow in such a way that at least some of the heat transferred to the air flow from the internal components is passed to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: Eugene A. Whang, Christopher J. Stringer, Brett W. Degner, David H. Narajowski, Patrick Kessler, Eric R. Prather, Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski, Adam T. Stagnaro, Daniel L. McBroom, Matthew P. Casebolt, Michael D. McBroom
-
Patent number: D806517Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Otto LLCInventors: Patrick Kessler, Robert Sean Murphy, Jordan Fountain, Joshua Funamura