Patents by Inventor Stephen E. Dey
Stephen E. Dey 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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Patent number: 12242064Abstract: A display system includes a controller and a head-mounted display. The head-mounted display includes a display, a head support coupled to the display for supporting the display on a head of a user to be viewed by the user, and sensors coupled to the head support for sensing an environment from the head-mounted display unit in low light. The sensors include one or more of an infrared sensor for sensing the environment with infrared electromagnetic radiation, or a depth sensor for sensing distances to objects of the environment, and also include an ultrasonic sensor for sensing the environment with ultrasonic sound waves. The controller determines graphical content according to the sensing of the environment with the one or more of the infrared sensor or the depth sensor and with the ultrasonic sensor, and operates the display to provide the graphical content concurrent with the sensing of the environment.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Trevor J. Ness, Stephen E. Dey, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
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Publication number: 20240385453Abstract: A head-mountable display device includes a housing defining a front opening and a rear opening, a display screen disposed in the front opening, a display assembly disposed in the rear opening, a first securement strap coupled to the housing, the first securement strap including a first electronic component, a second securement strap coupled to the housing, the second securement strap including a second electronic component, and a securement band extending between and coupled to the first securement strap and the second securement strap.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Inventors: Trevor J. Ness, Jason C. Sauers, Jeffrey C. Olson, Edward S. Huo, Samuel G. Smith, James W. Vandyke, Claire E. Dalke, Jeremy C. Franklin, Muhammad F. Hossain, Jia Tao, Wey-Jiun Lin, Jan K. Quijalvo, Ivan S. Maric, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Stephen E. Dey, Phil M. Hobson, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Ritu Shah, Marinus Meursing, Matthew A. Mayer, Julian Hoenig, Julian Jaede, Yoonhoo Jo, Forrest C. Wang, Michael J. Rockwell, Neal D. Evans, Paul Meade
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Publication number: 20240337852Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a display with first and second pixel arrays that display content for a user. A head-mounted support structure in the device supports the pixel arrays on the head of the user. A left positioner may be used to position a left lens module that includes a left lens and the first pixel array. A right positioner may be used to position a right lens module that includes a right lens and the second pixel array. Sensing circuitry such as proximity sensing circuitry may be used to detect relative positions between the left and right lens modules and facing surfaces of a user's nose while the user is wearing the head-mounted support structure. Control circuitry may adjust the positions of the left and right lens modules using interpupillary distance information for the user and using information from the sensing circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
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Patent number: 12061345Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a display with first and second pixel arrays that display content for a user. A head-mounted support structure in the device supports the pixel arrays on the head of the user. A left positioner may be used to position a left lens module that includes a left lens and the first pixel array. A right positioner may be used to position a right lens module that includes a right lens and the second pixel array. Sensing circuitry such as proximity sensing circuitry may be used to detect relative positions between the left and right lens modules and facing surfaces of a user's nose while the user is wearing the head-mounted support structure. Control circuitry may adjust the positions of the left and right lens modules using interpupillary distance information for the user and using information from the sensing circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2023Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
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Publication number: 20240237788Abstract: A wristband can comfortably secure an electronic device, such as a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device, to a wrist of a user. The wristband can include a number of magnets that allow the wristband to be magnetically coupled to itself when folded over or when separate band portions are overlapping. The magnets can include a polymer mixed with a magnetic material to provide magnetic properties and flexibility. The magnets can be joined together by a continuous support structure that extends through opposing pairs of the magnets. The support structure can provide substantial and ability as well as tensile strength. The magnets and the support structure can be surrounded by a flexible cover to protect the components within.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2024Publication date: July 18, 2024Inventors: Zaki MOUSTAFA, Qigen JI, Caitlin M. MCLAIN, Clayton J. MCCOY, Hao ZHU, Hsiang Hung CHEN, Stephen E. DEY, Fernando F. CUNHA
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Patent number: 11992337Abstract: A wearable electronic device including a housing that is worn by a user and a SMI sensor contained within the housing. The SMI sensor may include an emitter that outputs coherent light toward the skin of a user when the housing is worn by the user. The SMI sensor may also include a detector that detects a portion of the coherent light reflected towards the sensor and generates electrical signals that indicate displacements of the skin based on the portion of coherent light received at the detector. The housing may include a transmitter that is operatively coupled with the SMI sensor and is configured to transmit physiological data to a receiving device based on electrical signals output from the SMI sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2022Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Mehmet Mutlu, Mengshu Huang, Stephen E. Dey, Yuhao Pan
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Patent number: 11944167Abstract: A wristband can comfortably secure an electronic device, such as a wristwatch or fitness/health tracking device, to a wrist of a user. The wristband can include a number of magnets that allow the wristband to be magnetically coupled to itself when folded over or when separate band portions are overlapping. The magnets can include a polymer mixed with a magnetic material to provide magnetic properties and flexibility. The magnets can be joined together by a continuous support structure that extends through opposing pairs of the magnets. The support structure can provide substantial and ability as well as tensile strength. The magnets and the support structure can be surrounded by a flexible cover to protect the components within.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Zaki Moustafa, Qigen Ji, Caitlin M. McLain, Clayton J. McCoy, Hao Zhu, Hsiang Hung Chen, Stephen E. Dey, Fernando F. Cunha
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Publication number: 20240103644Abstract: A tracking system includes a stylus comprising a light emitter, a head-mounted device comprising an optical sensor configured to detect the light emitter, and a processor communicatively coupled to the optical sensor and configured to determine a position of the stylus based on detection of the light emitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Killian J. POORE, Stephen E. DEY, Trevor J. NESS
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Patent number: 11940293Abstract: A system may include one or more finger devices that gather input from a user's fingers. A finger device may include one or more self-mixing interferometric proximity sensors that measure a distance to the user's finger. The proximity sensor may measure changes in distance between the proximity sensor and a flexible membrane that rests against a side portion of the user's finger. The self-mixing interferometric proximity sensor may include a laser and a photodiode. In some arrangements, a single laser driver may drive the lasers of multiple self-mixing proximity sensors using time-multiplexing. The self-mixing proximity sensor may operate according to a duty cycle. Interpolation and stitching may be used to determine the total displacement of the user's finger including both the on periods and off periods of the self-mixing proximity sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Mengshu Huang, Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Stephen E. Dey, Yuhao Pan, Mehmet Mutlu
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Patent number: 11906745Abstract: Display backing components for head-mounted devices (HMDs) are described that reduce eddy currents in magnetic fields generated by a coil. A HMD may include a coil that is used to generate a magnetic field that may be used to track position of other devices with respect to the HMD. Display backing components, used to provide rigidity, are modified with holes or other gaps to interrupt the path of the eddy currents and reduce the interference with the magnetic field, thus improving the power efficiency of the coil and of the HMD. These modifications may be formed by casting, drilling, cutting or otherwise perforating the display backing during manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Qianyi Zhao, Runren Zhang, Zhenggang Cheng, Jeffrey A Griffis, Stephen E Dey
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Patent number: 11886650Abstract: A tracking system includes a stylus comprising a light emitter, a head-mounted device comprising an optical sensor configured to detect the light emitter, and a processor communicatively coupled to the optical sensor and configured to determine a position of the stylus based on detection of the light emitter.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Stephen E. Dey, Trevor J. Ness
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Publication number: 20240012496Abstract: A system may include an electronic device such as a head-mounted device and a handheld controller for controlling the electronic device. The handheld controller may have a housing with an elongated shaft extending between first and second tip portions. The handheld controller may include a touch sensor for gathering touch input, a button, rotating scroll wheel, or other input device for gathering other user input, a force sensor for gathering force input, an inertial measurement unit for gathering motion data, a camera for capturing images of the environment, and/or one or more haptic output devices such as an actuator for providing haptic output. The control circuitry may send control signals to the head-mounted device based on the sensor data and user input (e.g., force input, touch input, motion input, voice input, etc.) gathered with the handheld controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Stephen E Dey, Erin M Bosch, Yuhao Pan, Ian P Colahan, Christopher K Ewy
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Publication number: 20240004483Abstract: Optical sensors can be used for content generation using an input device without a touch sensitive surface. In some examples, the optical sensors can be used to detect characteristics of the input device including position, orientation, and/or motion of the input device. In some examples, some or all of the characteristics of the input device can be used in processing to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the generation of content can use information from one or more additional sensors of the input device and/or from additional devices in combination with the characteristics of the input device based on the optical sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2022Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: William WHITNEY, Yuhao PAN, Ahmet Fatih CIHAN, Tong CHEN, Stephen E. DEY
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Publication number: 20230359037Abstract: A display system includes a controller and a head-mounted display. The head-mounted display includes a display, a head support coupled to the display for supporting the display on a head of a user to be viewed by the user, and sensors coupled to the head support for sensing an environment from the head-mounted display unit in low light. The sensors include one or more of an infrared sensor for sensing the environment with infrared electromagnetic radiation, or a depth sensor for sensing distances to objects of the environment, and also include an ultrasonic sensor for sensing the environment with ultrasonic sound waves. The controller determines graphical content according to the sensing of the environment with the one or more of the infrared sensor or the depth sensor and with the ultrasonic sensor, and operates the display to provide the graphical content concurrent with the sensing of the environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Trevor J. Ness, Stephen E. Dey, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
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Publication number: 20230350503Abstract: An external device, such as a head-mountable device, can be operated with a ring input device worn on a finger of a user. Such devices can be operated to provide inputs that are received and acted upon by the external device. The inputs can be provided as rotating, tilting, and/or sliding at least a portion of the ring input device with another finger of the user. The ring input device can provide feedback to the user as confirmation that the inputs are being received. A feedback system can also be operated to limit or otherwise provide a force on the finger and/or another portion of the hand to simulate sensations perceived by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Gabriele D′AMONE, Muhammad F. HOSSAIN, Ivan S. MARIC, Aidan N. ZIMMERMAN, Stephen E. DEY
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Publication number: 20230341498Abstract: A head-mountable device can include multiple microphones for directional audio detection. The head-mountable device can also include a speaker for audio output and/or a display for visual output. The head-mountable device can be configured to provide visual outputs based on audio inputs by displaying an indicator on a display based on a location of a source of a sound. The head-mountable device can be configured to audio outputs based on audio inputs by modifying an audio output of the speaker based on a detected sound and a target characteristic. Such characteristics can be based on a direction of a gaze of the user, as detected by an eye sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Killian J. POORE, Stephen E. DEY, Trevor J. NESS
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Publication number: 20230333394Abstract: A head-mounted device or other electronic device may emit an alternating-current magnetic field. A wireless controller may have alternating-current magnetometers for monitoring the alternating-current field. The wireless controller may also have an accelerometer for measuring the orientation of the controller relative to the Earth's gravity and a direct-current magnetometer for measuring the orientation of the controller relative to the Earth's magnetic field. The alternating-current magnetometers may be three-coil magnetometers located at different locations in a controller housing. Using data from the alternating-current magnetometers, the direct-current magnetometer, the accelerometer, and/or other sensors, the wireless controller can determine the position and orientation of the wireless controller. This information can be wirelessly transmitted to the head-mounted device to control the head-mounted device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Yuhao Pan, Guangwu Duan, Jeffrey A. Griffis, John G. Elias, Krishna Prasad Vummidi Murali, Michael A. Lehr, Savas Gider, Stephen E. Dey
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Publication number: 20230314820Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a display with first and second pixel arrays that display content for a user. A head-mounted support structure in the device supports the pixel arrays on the head of the user. A left positioner may be used to position a left lens module that includes a left lens and the first pixel array. A right positioner may be used to position a right lens module that includes a right lens and the second pixel array. Sensing circuitry such as proximity sensing circuitry may be used to detect relative positions between the left and right lens modules and facing surfaces of a user's nose while the user is wearing the head-mounted support structure. Control circuitry may adjust the positions of the left and right lens modules using interpupillary distance information for the user and using information from the sensing circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
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Patent number: 11755107Abstract: A system may include one or more finger devices that gather input from a user's fingers. The system may include control circuitry that sends control signals to an electronic device based on the input gathered with the finger devices. A finger device may include one or more proximity sensors that measure a distance to the user's finger. The proximity sensor may be a self-mixing optical proximity sensor having a laser and photodiode. The proximity sensor may have submicron resolution and may be configured to detect very small movements of the finger as finger pad is moved around by a thumb finger, by a surface, and/or by other finger movements. The proximity sensor may measure changes in distance between the proximity sensor and a flexible membrane that rests against a side portion of the user's finger.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Stephen E. Dey, Adrian Z. Harb, Mengshu Huang, Yuhao Pan, Paul X. Wang
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Patent number: 11740316Abstract: A head-mountable device can include multiple microphones for directional audio detection. The head-mountable device can also include a speaker for audio output and/or a display for visual output. The head-mountable device can be configured to provide visual outputs based on audio inputs by displaying an indicator on a display based on a location of a source of a sound. The head-mountable device can be configured to audio outputs based on audio inputs by modifying an audio output of the speaker based on a detected sound and a target characteristic. Such characteristics can be based on a direction of a gaze of the user, as detected by an eye sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Stephen E. Dey, Trevor J. Ness