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).

  • Patent number: 12504638
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2025
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
  • Patent number: 12453396
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zaki Moustafa, Qigen Ji, Caitlin M. Mclain, Clayton J. Mccoy, Hao Zhu, Hsiang Hung Chen, Stephen E. Dey, Fernando F. Cunha
  • Patent number: 12422688
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
  • Publication number: 20250237866
    Abstract: A display and vision correction system includes a head-mounted display unit, a glasses frame, and a removable lens assembly. The head-mounted display unit is configured to be worn on a head of a user and includes a display for providing graphical content to the user. The glasses frame is configured to be worn on the head of the user. The removable lens assembly is removably coupleable to the head-mounted display unit and to the glasses frame. The removable lens assembly includes a corrective lens element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Ivan S. Maric, Andreas G. Weber, Anna V. Mirabella, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Forrest C. Wang, Jason C. Sauers, Jeremy C. Franklin, Julian Hoenig, Julian Jaede, Kristi E. Bauerly, Stephen E. Dey, Wey-Jiun Lin
  • Patent number: 12360367
    Abstract: A display and vision correction system includes a head-mounted display unit, a glasses frame, and a removable lens assembly. The head-mounted display unit is configured to be worn on a head of a user and includes a display for providing graphical content to the user. The glasses frame is configured to be worn on the head of the user. The removable lens assembly is removably coupleable to the head-mounted display unit and to the glasses frame. The removable lens assembly includes a corrective lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ivan S. Maric, Andreas G. Weber, Anna V. Mirabella, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Forrest C. Wang, Jason C. Sauers, Jeremy C. Franklin, Julian Hoenig, Julian Jaede, Kristi E. Bauerly, Stephen E. Dey, Wey-Jiun Lin
  • Patent number: 12353649
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William Whitney, Yuhao Pan, Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Tong Chen, Stephen E. Dey
  • Publication number: 20250147581
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device can include interface features to provide guidance for optimal placement of the wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device and/or another electronic device can be operated to guide a user to position the wearable electronic device in a manner that will achieve proper alignment of components with respect to the user and maximize user comfort. For example, the wearable electronic device and/or another device can include sensors for detecting features of the user's face, forces distributed on the face when worn, and/or alignment with the face (e.g., eyes). The guidance can include instructions or other interface features to encourage adjustment of the wearable electronic device. While the head wearable electronic device can provide such guidance to the user wearing it, the feedback can also be provided to another person and/or via another device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. WANG, Adam Y. KOLLGAARD, Scott M. LEINWEBER, Venkata Narayana Murthy ARELEKATTI, John CAGLE, Liam R. MARTINEZ, Ivan S. MARIC, Stephen E. DEY, Trevor J. NESS, Sally R. ANNIS, Jeremy C. FRANKLIN
  • Publication number: 20250147327
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
  • Patent number: 12242064
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Trevor J. Ness, Stephen E. Dey, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20240385453
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20240337852
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
  • Patent number: 12061345
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jia Tao, Phil M. Hobson, Stephen E. Dey
  • Publication number: 20240237788
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Zaki MOUSTAFA, Qigen JI, Caitlin M. MCLAIN, Clayton J. MCCOY, Hao ZHU, Hsiang Hung CHEN, Stephen E. DEY, Fernando F. CUNHA
  • Patent number: 11992337
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Mehmet Mutlu, Mengshu Huang, Stephen E. Dey, Yuhao Pan
  • Patent number: 11944167
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zaki Moustafa, Qigen Ji, Caitlin M. McLain, Clayton J. McCoy, Hao Zhu, Hsiang Hung Chen, Stephen E. Dey, Fernando F. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20240103644
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Killian J. POORE, Stephen E. DEY, Trevor J. NESS
  • Patent number: 11940293
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mengshu Huang, Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Stephen E. Dey, Yuhao Pan, Mehmet Mutlu
  • Patent number: 11886650
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Stephen E. Dey, Trevor J. Ness
  • Publication number: 20240004483
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: William WHITNEY, Yuhao PAN, Ahmet Fatih CIHAN, Tong CHEN, Stephen E. DEY
  • Publication number: 20230359037
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Trevor J. Ness, Stephen E. Dey, Fletcher R. Rothkopf