Patents by Inventor Steve Hole
Steve Hole 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: 10126942Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying and intuitively interacting with keyboards on a touch-sensitive surface are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, a touch-sensitive display, and one or more touch sensors coupled to the touch-sensitive display. The method includes: displaying a plurality of keys on a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display and detecting, by the one or more touch sensors, a first contact at a first key of the plurality of keys on the keyboard. The method further includes: determining a value of a signal corresponding to the first contact. When the value is above a first non-zero threshold, the method includes actuating the first key. When the value is between a second non-zero threshold and the first non-zero threshold, the method includes forgoing actuating the first key.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Patent number: 9454270Abstract: Systems and methods that allow the user to rest their fingers on a touch-sensitive surface and make selections on that surface with a pressing action. Touch capacitance sensors that typically provide X and Y location data associated with a user's touch are also used to discern finger pressure in the Z direction. This allows the user to make an actuation on the touch screen by simply pressing harder at a location where they may already be resting their finger(s).Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Publication number: 20150324116Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying and intuitively interacting with keyboards on a touch-sensitive surface are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, a touch-sensitive display, and one or more touch sensors coupled to the touch-sensitive display. The method includes: displaying a plurality of keys on a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display and detecting, by the one or more touch sensors, a first contact at a first key of the plurality of keys on the keyboard. The method further includes: determining a value of a signal corresponding to the first contact. When the value is above a first non-zero threshold, the method includes actuating the first key. When the value is between a second non-zero threshold and the first non-zero threshold, the method includes forgoing actuating the first key.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Patent number: 9110590Abstract: A touch-sensitive display surface having touch-capacitive and vibration sensors. This surface allows the user to rest their fingers on the keys of an onscreen keyboard and type as they would on a regular keyboard. As the user places their fingers on the touch screen, the system relocates the onscreen keyboard to the location where the fingers are resting. The touch sensors report the signal strength level of each key touched to a processor, but no keystroke is issued by the processor until a corresponding “tap” (i.e., vibration) is detected. When a tap is detected, the processor references the status of the touch capacitance sensors before, during, and/or immediately after the moment in time the tap occurred. The size, position, and orientation of the onscreen keyboard keys are dynamically set as determined by the user initiating a home-row definition event by resting their fingers momentarily on a virtual home-row.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: TYPESOFT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Patent number: 9104260Abstract: Systems and methods that allow the user to rest their fingers on a touch-sensitive surface and make selections on that surface with a pressing action. Touch capacitance sensors that typically provide X and Y location data associated with a user's touch are also used to discern finger pressure in the Z direction. This allows the user to make an actuation on the touch screen by simply pressing harder at a location where they may already be resting their finger(s).Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: TYPESOFT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Patent number: 9069390Abstract: An intelligent touch-sensitive surface that is easy to clean, that self-monitors when it has become contaminated, and can discern when it has been cleaned. The surface incorporates a plurality of sensors that detect events that contribute to contamination and/or cleaning, including, but not limited to, detecting users' touches, movement of the surface, when liquid is present on the surface, when there has been a change of users, time passage since the last cleaning, and how well the surface was wiped. The surface then reports its cleaning status to software residing on a host computer, which in turn can transfer the information to a host server. In this way, the cleaning status of each surface can be monitored remotely and/or logged.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: TYPESOFT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Publication number: 20140028624Abstract: Systems and methods that allow the user to rest their fingers on a touch-sensitive surface and make selections on that surface with a pressing action. Touch capacitance sensors that typically provide X and Y location data associated with a user's touch are also used to discern finger pressure in the Z direction. This allows the user to make an actuation on the touch screen by simply pressing harder at a location where they may already be resting their finger(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: CLEANKEYS INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Publication number: 20130265273Abstract: Systems and methods that allow the user to rest their fingers on a touch-sensitive surface and make selections on that surface with a pressing action. Touch capacitance sensors that typically provide X and Y location data associated with a user's touch are also used to discern finger pressure in the Z direction. This allows the user to make an actuation on the touch screen by simply pressing harder at a location where they may already be resting their finger(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Cleankeys Inc.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Publication number: 20130187775Abstract: The present invention is a centralized system for the automated monitoring and reporting of compliance to infection prevention policies. It is focused on the proactive reduction (elimination) of pathogenic organisms causing infection within the facility by enforcing best practices for infection prevention.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: Cleankeys, Inc.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Publication number: 20130093715Abstract: Systems and methods that allow the user to rest their fingers on a touch-sensitive surface and make selections on that surface with a pressing action. Touch capacitance sensors that typically provide X and Y location data associated with a user's touch are also used to discern finger pressure in the Z direction. This allows the user to make an actuation on the touch screen by simply pressing harder at a location where they may already be resting their finger(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Patent number: 8390572Abstract: A touch-sensitive display surface having touch-capacitive and vibration sensors. This surface allows the user to rest their fingers on the keys of an onscreen keyboard and type as they would on a regular keyboard. As the user places their fingers on the touch screen, the system relocates the onscreen keyboard to the location where the fingers are resting. The touch sensors report the signal strength level of each key touched to a processor, but no keystroke is issued by the processor until a corresponding “tap” (i.e., vibration) is detected. When a tap is detected, the processor references the status of the touch capacitance sensors before, during, and/or immediately after the moment in time the tap occurred. The size, position, and orientation of the onscreen keyboard keys are dynamically set as determined by the user initiating a home-row definition event by resting their fingers momentarily on a virtual home-row.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Cleankeys Inc.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Publication number: 20120306758Abstract: Systems and methods uniquely identify the user of the keyboard. An example of the present invention includes sensors capable of detecting the interaction of a user caused by their touch, vibration, proximity, and actuation of key switches. Unique characteristics such as typing style, touch signature, tap strength, and others can be determined using the multi-sensor keyboard in ways not possible on a conventional mechanical keyboard. Further, it is also useful to know when a change of keyboard users has occurred for the purpose of infection prevention in healthcare settings where cross-contamination via computer keyboards is prevalent.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: CLEANKEYS INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Publication number: 20120206384Abstract: An intelligent touch-sensitive surface that is easy to clean, that self-monitors when it has become contaminated, and can discern when it has been cleaned. The surface incorporates a plurality of sensors that detect events that contribute to contamination and/or cleaning, including, but not limited to, detecting users' touches, movement of the surface, when liquid is present on the surface, when there has been a change of users, time passage since the last cleaning, and how well the surface was wiped. The surface then reports its cleaning status to software residing on a host computer, which in turn can transfer the information to a host server. In this way, the cleaning status of each surface can be monitored remotely and/or logged.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: CLEANKEYS INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole, Daniel Closson
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Publication number: 20120133589Abstract: A touch-sensitive display surface having touch-capacitive and vibration sensors. This surface allows the user to rest their fingers on the keys of an onscreen keyboard and type as they would on a regular keyboard. As the user places their fingers on the touch screen, the system relocates the onscreen keyboard to the location where the fingers are resting. The touch sensors report the signal strength level of each key touched to a processor, but no keystroke is issued by the processor until a corresponding “tap” (i.e., vibration) is detected. When a tap is detected, the processor references the status of the touch capacitance sensors before, during, and/or immediately after the moment in time the tap occurred. The size, position, and orientation of the onscreen keyboard keys are dynamically set as determined by the user initiating a home-row definition event by resting their fingers momentarily on a virtual home-row.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: CLEANKEYS INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Publication number: 20120113028Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling use of vibration sensors attached to the touch-sensitive surface to both detect and locate finger contact events on the surface. The invention specifically discriminates between intentional typing events and casual or unwanted contacts resulting from normal typing actions, thus allowing the user to rest their fingers on the keys and allowing them to type as they would on a regular keyboard. Signals from both touch and vibration sensors are translated into a series of input events. Input events are then temporally correlated to determine the location of the finger contact and activation of the corresponding key. Correlated events are then filtered to remove unwanted events and resolve ambiguous or contradictory results.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: CLEANKEYS INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Publication number: 20120075192Abstract: A touch-sensitive display surface having touch-capacitive and vibration sensors. This surface allows the user to rest their fingers on the keys of an onscreen keyboard and type as they would on a regular keyboard. As the user places their fingers on the touch screen, the system relocates the onscreen keyboard to the location where the fingers are resting. The touch sensors report the signal strength level of each key touched to a processor, but no keystroke is issued by the processor until a corresponding “tap” (i.e., vibration) is detected. When a tap is detected, the processor references the status of the touch capacitance sensors before, during, and/or immediately after the moment in time the tap occurred. The size, position, and orientation of the onscreen keyboard keys are dynamically set as determined by the user initiating a home-row definition event by resting their fingers momentarily on a virtual home-row.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: CLEANKEYS INC.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Publication number: 20120075193Abstract: A method and system that integrates a numeric keypad with a touchpad in the same physical location on a touch-sensitive display device. Operational mode of the same location is automatically determined based on user actions with the display or based on a manual entry by the user. The system operates in at least one mode of operation selected from: numpad mode, touchpad mode, keyboard mode and auto-detect mode. A visual indicator communicates with the user which mode is the current mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: Cleankeys Inc.Inventors: Randal J. Marsden, Steve Hole
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Publication number: 20020138605Abstract: A message tracking system and method for collecting and compiling information regarding the transfer and handling of messages, e.g., electronic mail messages, into a decision support subsystem or application is provided. The information may be used to analyze the reliability of the transport and handling method used for transferring a particular electronic message. The message tracking system includes a message tracking monitor for monitoring tracking information. The tracking information is collected and transmitted to a decision support subsystem and/or applications. The decision support subsystem and/or application may include a message tracking decision support database for storing the tracking information. A message tracking interface may be used to manage and access the message tracking monitor and the message tracking decision support subsystem/applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventor: Steve Hole