Patents by Inventor Steven P. Hotelling
Steven P. 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).
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Patent number: 11009390Abstract: An electronic device includes one or more light sources for emitting light toward a body part of a user and one or more optical sensors for capturing light samples while each light source is turned on and for capturing dark samples while the light source(s) are turned off. A signal produced by the one or more optical sensors is filtered and demodulated produce multiple demodulated signals each associated with a light source. Each signal associated with the light source(s) is analyzed to estimate or determine a physiological parameter of the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Marcelo M. Lamego
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Publication number: 20210109640Abstract: Multi-touch touch-sensing devices and methods are described herein. The touch sensing devices can include multiple sense points, each located at a crossing of a drive line and a sense line. In some embodiments, multiple drive lines may be simultaneously or nearly simultaneously stimulated with drive signals having unique characteristics, such as phase or frequency. A sense signal can occur on each sense line that can be related to the drive signals by an amount of touch present at sense points corresponding to the stimulated drive lines and the sense line. By using processing techniques based on the unique drive signals, an amount of touch corresponding to each sense point can be extracted from the sense signal. The touch sensing methods and devices can be incorporated into interfaces for a variety of electronic devices such as a desktop, tablet, notebook, and handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, and mobile telephones.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Steven P. HOTELLING, John Greer ELIAS, Kapil Vinod SAKARIYA
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Publication number: 20210089153Abstract: A touch sensing device is disclosed. The touch sensing device includes one or more multifunctional nodes each of which represents a single touch pixel. Each multifunctional node includes a touch sensor with one or more integrated I/O mechanisms. The touch sensor and integrated I/O mechanisms share the same communication lines and I/O pins of a controller during operation of the touch sensing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventor: Steven P. HOTELLING
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Patent number: 10949020Abstract: Embodiments may take the form of a system having a user input device and a first sensor coupled to the user input device. The first sensor is configured to sense touch on a surface of the user input device. The system may also include a second sensor in communication with the surface of the user device configured to sense wetting of a user's fingerprint on the surface. The system has a processor coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to estimate an amount of force applied by the user's fingerprint based at least in part upon the sensed wetting of the user's fingerprint.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2015Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Duncan Kerr, Steven P. Hotelling
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Patent number: 10929515Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to biometric authentication, e.g., facial recognition. In some embodiments, a device is configured to verify that image data from a camera unit exhibits a pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes and/or a probing pattern of illumination points (e.g., from lasers in a depth capture mode) before authenticating a user based on recognizing a face in the image data. In some embodiments, a secure circuit may control verification of the sequence and/or the probing pattern. In some embodiments, the secure circuit may verify frame numbers, signatures, and/or nonce values for captured image information. In some embodiments, a device may implement one or more lockout procedures in response to biometric authentication failures. The disclosed techniques may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of spoofing and/or replay attacks, in some embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Deepti S. Prakash, Lucia E. Ballard, Jerrold V. Hauck, Feng Tang, Etai Littwin, Pavan Kumar Ansosalu Vasu, Gideon Littwin, Thorsten Gernoth, Lucie Kucerova, Petr Kostka, Steven P. Hotelling, Eitan Hirsh, Tal Kaitz, Jonathan Pokrass, Andrei Kolin, Moshe Laifenfeld, Matthew C. Waldon, Thomas P. Mensch, Lynn R. Youngs, Christopher G. Zeleznik, Michael R. Malone, Ziv Hendel, Ivan Krstic, Anup K. Sharma
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Patent number: 10921941Abstract: An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls. Touch data is generated by the bezel when a user touches an area of the bezel. The device determines which of the controls has been selected based on which designated area is associated with the touch data from the bezel. The device then initiates the determined control. The device can have a sensor for determining the orientation of the device. Based on the orientation, the device can alter the areas designated on the bezel for the controls and can alter the location of the visual guides for the display so that they match the altered areas on the bezel.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nicholas King, Duncan Robert Kerr, Paul Herbst, Steven P. Hotelling
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Patent number: 10915207Abstract: A multipoint touch surface controller is disclosed herein. The controller includes an integrated circuit including output circuitry for driving a capacitive multi-touch sensor and input circuitry for reading the sensor. Also disclosed herein are various noise rejection and dynamic range enhancement techniques that permit the controller to be used with various sensors in various conditions without reconfiguring hardware.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Christoph H. Krah, Brian Q. Huppi
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Patent number: 10890953Abstract: A touch sensing device is disclosed. The touch sensing device includes one or more multifunctional nodes each of which represents a single touch pixel. Each multifunctional node includes a touch sensor with one or more integrated I/O mechanisms. The touch sensor and integrated I/O mechanisms share the same communication lines and I/O pins of a controller during operation of the touch sensing device.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Steven P. Hotelling
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Patent number: 10871850Abstract: Multi-touch touch-sensing devices and methods are described herein. The touch sensing devices can include multiple sense points, each located at a crossing of a drive line and a sense line. In some embodiments, multiple drive lines may be simultaneously or nearly simultaneously stimulated with drive signals having unique characteristics, such as phase or frequency. A sense signal can occur on each sense line that can be related to the drive signals by an amount of touch present at sense points corresponding to the stimulated drive lines and the sense line. By using processing techniques based on the unique drive signals, an amount of touch corresponding to each sense point can be extracted from the sense signal. The touch sensing methods and devices can be incorporated into interfaces for a variety of electronic devices such as a desktop, tablet, notebook, and handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, and mobile telephones.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, John Greer Elias, Kapil Vinod Sakariya
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Patent number: 10872581Abstract: An electronic device may have components that experience performance variations as the device changes orientation relative to a user. Changes in the orientation of the device relative to the user can be monitored using a motion sensor. A camera may be used to periodically capture images of a user's eyes. By processing the images to produce accurate orientation information reflecting the position of the user's eyes relative to the device, the orientation of the device tracked by the motion sensor can be periodically updated. The components may include audio components such as microphones and speakers and may include a display with an array of pixels for displaying images. Control circuitry in the electronic device may modify pixel values for the pixels in the array to compensate for angle-of-view-dependent pixel appearance variations based on based on the orientation information from the motion sensor and the camera.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jiaying Wu, Cheng Chen, Hung A. Pham, Lu Zhang, Paul V. Johnson, See-Ho Tsang, Steven P. Hotelling, Wesley S. Smith
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Publication number: 20200348789Abstract: An electronic device may include a display. The display may be formed by an array of light-emitting diodes mounted to the surface of a substrate. The substrate may be a silicon substrate. Circuitry may be located in spaces between the light-emitting diodes. Circuitry may also be located on the rear surface of the silicon substrate and may be coupled to the array of light-emitting diodes using through-silicon vias. The circuitry may include integrated circuits and other components that are attached to the substrate and may include transistors and other circuitry formed within the silicon substrate. Touch sensor electrodes, light sensors, and other components may be located in the spaces between the light-emitting diodes. The substrate may be formed from a transparent material that allows image light to reach a lens and image sensor mounted below the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Wei Chen, Steven P. Hotelling, John Z. Zhong, William C. Athas, Wei H. Yao
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Patent number: 10817096Abstract: A force-sensitive device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Charley T. Ogata, Martin P. Grunthaner, Michael B. Wittenberg, Peter W. Richards, Romain A. Teil, Steven P. Hotelling
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Patent number: 10739882Abstract: An electronic device may include a display. The display may be formed by an array of light-emitting diodes mounted to the surface of a substrate. The substrate may be a silicon substrate. Circuitry may be located in spaces between the light-emitting diodes. Circuitry may also be located on the rear surface of the silicon substrate and may be coupled to the array of light-emitting diodes using through-silicon vias. The circuitry may include integrated circuits and other components that are attached to the substrate and may include transistors and other circuitry formed within the silicon substrate. Touch sensor electrodes, light sensors, and other components may be located in the spaces between the light-emitting diodes. The substrate may be formed from a transparent material that allows image light to reach a lens and image sensor mounted below the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wei Chen, Steven P. Hotelling, John Z. Zhong, William C. Athas, Wei H. Yao
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Patent number: 10735106Abstract: Mobile devices with ultrasound ranging are disclosed. A mobile device with ultrasound ranging can include a multifunctional component capable of performing multiple functions in the device, where the component can function as an ultrasound transmitter capable of transmitting an ultrasound signal to a proximate device. In some examples, the component can also function as a power button capable of powering the device up and down. In some examples, the component can also function as a home button capable of causing a home page to display on the device. The mobile device can further include an ultrasound receiver capable of receiving an ultrasound signal from the proximate device, where the device can calculate a range of the proximate device based on a time lapse associated with the received ultrasound signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: David Amm, Brian Michael King, Steven P. Hotelling, Michael B. Wittenberg
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Patent number: 10706252Abstract: Input members with capacitive sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment of an electronic button, a first circuit is configured to capture a fingerprint of a user's finger placed on the electronic button, and a second circuit is configured to sense a force applied to the electronic button by the user's finger. The first circuit is further configured to provide temperature information to compensate for temperature sensitivities of the second circuit, and the second circuit is further configured to provide force information to the first circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Thayne M. Miller, Jean-Marie Bussat, Steven P. Hotelling, Sawyer I. Cohen, Tyler B. Cater
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Patent number: 10707971Abstract: Ultrasonic ranging for mobile devices is disclosed. A mobile device using ultrasonic ranging can include an ultrasound transmitter capable of emitting an ultrasound signal for detection by a proximate device and an ultrasound receiver capable of receiving an ultrasound signal from the proximate device. The mobile device can then use a time lapse associated with one or both of these ultrasound signals to find a range to the proximate device.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brian Michael King, David Amm, Scott P. Porter, Steven P. Hotelling
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Publication number: 20200210017Abstract: A multi-touch capacitive touch sensor panel can be created using a substrate with column and row traces formed on either side of the substrate. To shield the column (sense) traces from the effects of capacitive coupling from a modulated Vcom layer in an adjacent liquid crystal display (LCD) or any source of capacitive coupling, the row traces can be widened to shield the column traces, and the row traces can be placed closer to the LCD. In particular, the rows can be widened so that there is spacing of about 30 microns between adjacent row traces. In this manner, the row traces can serve the dual functions of driving the touch sensor panel, and also the function of shielding the more sensitive column (sense) traces from the effects of capacitive coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Steven P. HOTELLING, Brian Richards LAND
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Patent number: 10658878Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device has a rectifier and a wireless power receiving coil that receives wireless power signals. The wireless power transmitting device uses a layer of coils to transmit the wireless power signals. A dielectric layer in the wireless power transmitting device defines a charging surface that receives the wireless power receiving device. A layer of temperature sensors is interposed between the layer of coils and the dielectric layer. Control circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device uses temperature information from the temperature sensors to determine whether a foreign object such as a coin is present on the charging surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: J. Stephen Smith, Behrooz Shahsavari, Jacob E. Mattingley, Joseph C. Doll, Steven P. Hotelling, Siddharth Seth, Douglas J. Adams, Michael A. Cretella
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Patent number: 10642330Abstract: This relates to an event sensing device that includes an event sensing panel and is able to dynamically change the granularity of the panel according to present needs. Thus, the granularity of the panel can differ at different times of operation. Furthermore, the granularity of specific areas of the panel can also be dynamically changed, so that different areas feature different granularities at a given time. This also relates to panels that feature different inherent granularities in different portions thereof. These panels can be designed, for example, by placing more stimulus and/or data lines in different portions of the panel, thus ensuring different densities of pixels in the different portions. Optionally, these embodiments can also include the dynamic granularity changing features noted above.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, John Greer Elias, Steven P. Hotelling, Duncan Robert Kerr
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Patent number: 10635217Abstract: An electronic device that senses home button inputs through ultrasonic force sensing. The electronic device may correlate that amount of force that a user applies to the home button with a specific home button command. In certain embodiments, the system may combine the force of touch information with other information that is sensed for a particular touch to correlate the touch input with a greater number of home button commands. A home button embodiment discussed herein may include a home button image that is displayed on a touch sensitive panel. In other embodiments, a home button may be located outside of the boundaries of a touch sensitive panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brian Q. Huppi, Martin P. Grunthaner, John G. Elias, Sinan Filiz, Steven P. Hotelling