Patents by Inventor Steve Hotelling

Steve Hotelling 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: 8982087
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Patent number: 8928618
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Publication number: 20140340831
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have a color filter layer and a thin film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin film transistor layer. A layer of polarizer may be laminated onto the surface of the color filter layer. Laser trimming may ensure that the edges of the polarizer are even with the edges of the color filter layer. The thin film transistor layer may have an array of thin film transistors that control pixels of the liquid crystal material in the display. Driver circuitry may be used to control the array. The driver circuitry may be encapsulated in a planarized encapsulant on the thin film transistor layer or may be mounted to the underside of the color filter layer. Conductive structures may connect driver circuitry on the color filter layer to the thin film transistor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs, John Z. Zhong, Steve Hotelling, Lynn Youngs, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Patent number: 8872785
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Publication number: 20140300578
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Steve HOTELLING
  • Publication number: 20140300577
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Steve HOTELLING, Joshua A. STRICKON, Brian Q. HUPPI
  • Patent number: 8823651
    Abstract: Operating a pointing device in a low power manner by receiving first tracking information from a first tracking device, de-activating the first tracking device when the accuracy of the first tracking information is determined to be inadequate, activating a second tracking device in order to acquire second tracking information when the first tracking device is deactivated, wherein the first tracking device is substantially lower power device that the second tracking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua Strickon, Brian Huppi, Christoph Krah
  • Patent number: 8767141
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have a color filter layer and a thin film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin film transistor layer. A layer of polarizer may be laminated onto the surface of the color filter layer. Laser trimming may ensure that the edges of the polarizer are even with the edges of the color filter layer. The thin film transistor layer may have an array of thin film transistors that control pixels of the liquid crystal material in the display. Driver circuitry may be used to control the array. The driver circuitry may be encapsulated in a planarized encapsulant on the thin film transistor layer or may be mounted to the underside of the color filter layer. Conductive structures may connect driver circuitry on the color filter layer to the thin film transistor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs, John Z. Zhong, Steve Hotelling, Lynn Youngs, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Patent number: 8743309
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have a color filter layer and a thin film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin film transistor layer. A layer of polarizer may be laminated onto the surface of the color filter layer. Laser trimming may ensure that the edges of the polarizer are even with the edges of the color filter layer. The thin film transistor layer may have an array of thin film transistors that control pixels of the liquid crystal material in the display. Driver circuitry may be used to control the array. The driver circuitry may be encapsulated in a planarized encapsulant on the thin film transistor layer or may be mounted to the underside of the color filter layer. Conductive structures may connect driver circuitry on the color filter layer to the thin film transistor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs, John Z. Zhong, Steve Hotelling, Lynn Youngs, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Patent number: 8704770
    Abstract: An ambidextrous mouse is disclosed. The ambidextrous mouse is configured for both left and right handed use. The mouse may include right handed buttons on the front side of the mouse and left handed buttons on the back side of the mouse. The user may change the handedness of the mouse by rotating the mouse about a vertical axis of the mouse such that the left hand can use the left hand buttons and the right hand can use the right hand buttons. The mouse may include a handedness selection system for configuring the mouse for right handed or left handed use even though the mouse has the capability for both right and left hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Brian Huppi
  • Patent number: 8704769
    Abstract: An ambidextrous mouse is disclosed. The ambidextrous mouse is configured for both left and right handed use. The mouse may include right handed buttons on the front side of the mouse and left handed buttons on the back side of the mouse. The user may change the handedness of the mouse by rotating the mouse about a vertical axis of the mouse such that the left hand can use the left hand buttons and the right hand can use the right hand buttons. The mouse may include a handedness selection system for configuring the mouse for right handed or left handed use even though the mouse has the capability for both right and left hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Brian Huppi
  • Patent number: 8693877
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to detect and emit various infrared (IR) and ambient light signals using an integrated sensor and emitter device. Embodiments include a sensor to sense proximity, to sense IR data signals, and to sense ambient light; and an emitter of an IR proximity signal. The sensor detects the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, detects IR data signals when the apparatus is detecting IR data, and detects ambient light when the apparatus sensing light. The IR data signals may include IR remote control (IR RC) and/or IR data association (IRDA) signals. The signals may be detected simultaneously and may be in different frequency bands. According to embodiments, such an emitter may also emit an IR data signals, such as IR RC and/or IRDA signals. These signals may be emitted simultaneously and may be in different frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Tam, David Tupman, Steve Hotelling
  • Publication number: 20140078108
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve HOTELLING, Joshua A. STRICKON, Brian Q. HUPPI
  • Publication number: 20140062955
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve HOTELLING, Joshua A. STRICKON, Brian Q. HUPPI
  • Patent number: 8605051
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Patent number: 8537115
    Abstract: An ambidextrous mouse is disclosed. The ambidextrous mouse is configured for both left and right handed use. The mouse may include right handed buttons on the front side of the mouse and left handed buttons on the back side of the mouse. The user may change the handedness of the mouse by rotating the mouse about a vertical axis of the mouse such that the left hand can use the left hand buttons and the right hand can use the right hand buttons. The mouse may include a handedness selection system for configuring the mouse for right handed or left handed use even though the mouse has the capability for both right and left hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Brian Huppi
  • Patent number: 8514185
    Abstract: A mutual capacitive touch sensing device is disclosed. The touch sensing device includes a mutual capacitive sensing controller having a plurality of distinct drive lines and a plurality of distinct sense lines; a source for driving a current or voltage separately though each drive line; and a mutual capacitance sensing circuit that monitors the capacitance at the sensing lines. The touch sensing device also includes a plurality of independent and spatially distinct mutual capacitive sensing nodes set up in a non two dimensional array. Each node includes a drive electrode that is spatially separated from a sense electrode. The drive electrode is coupled to one of the drive lines and the sense electrode is coupled to one of the sense lines. Each node is set up with a different combination of drive and sense line coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Hotelling
  • Patent number: 8479122
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing touch inputs are disclosed. The invention in one respect includes reading data from a multipoint sensing device such as a multipoint touch screen where the data pertains to touch input with respect to the multipoint sensing device, and identifying at least one multipoint gesture based on the data from the multipoint sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi, Imran Chaudhri, Greg Christie, Bas Ording, Duncan Robert Kerr, Jonathan P. Ive
  • Patent number: 8416209
    Abstract: A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi
  • Publication number: 20120293440
    Abstract: A user interface method is disclosed. The method includes detecting a touch and then determining a user interface mode when a touch is detected. The method further includes activating one or more GUI elements based on the user interface mode and in response to the detected touch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Steve Hotelling, Brian Q. Huppi, Joshua A. Strickon, Duncan Robert Kerr, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri, Greg Christie, Jonathan P. Ive