Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Matzinger

Thomas R. Matzinger 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: 11953952
    Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
  • Patent number: 11848166
    Abstract: Keyboards, input devices, and related systems include key mechanisms with keycaps and actuators that provide adjustable feedback in response to user input. The actuators are controllable to provide variable tactile force or audible feedback that is dependent upon the user input. Encoders are able to transduce a location or relative position of a keycap as it is being pressed over time, and a signal is provided to actuators to cause them to provide feedback corresponding to the position of the keycap as it moves. The feedback can change the feel or sound of the keycap based on the keycap positions, time of operation, velocity, user identity, and other factors. Thus, the feel or sound of a keyboard or related input device can be adjusted electronically for efficient testing and increased user customization and feedback modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John A Porcella, Daniel A. Greenberg, Thomas R. Matzinger
  • Publication number: 20220365558
    Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
  • Patent number: 11429157
    Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
  • Publication number: 20210375564
    Abstract: Keyboards, input devices, and related systems include key mechanisms with keycaps and actuators that provide adjustable feedback in response to user input. The actuators are controllable to provide variable tactile force or audible feedback that is dependent upon the user input. Encoders are able to transduce a location or relative position of a keycap as it is being pressed over time, and a signal is provided to actuators to cause them to provide feedback corresponding to the position of the keycap as it moves. The feedback can change the feel or sound of the keycap based on the keycap positions, time of operation, velocity, user identity, and other factors. Thus, the feel or sound of a keyboard or related input device can be adjusted electronically for efficient testing and increased user customization and feedback modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: John A. Porcella, Daniel A. Greenberg, Thomas R. Matzinger
  • Publication number: 20210263556
    Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
  • Patent number: 11094483
    Abstract: Keyboards, input devices, and related systems include key mechanisms with keycaps and actuators that provide adjustable feedback in response to user input. The actuators are controllable to provide variable tactile force or audible feedback that is dependent upon the user input. Encoders are able to transduce a location or relative position of a keycap as it is being pressed over time, and a signal is provided to actuators to cause them to provide feedback corresponding to the position of the keycap as it moves. The feedback can change the feel or sound of the keycap based on the keycap positions, time of operation, velocity, user identity, and other factors. Thus, the feel or sound of a keyboard or related input device can be adjusted electronically for efficient testing and increased user customization and feedback modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John A. Poncella, Daniel A. Greenberg, Thomas R. Matzinger
  • Patent number: 10955875
    Abstract: Electronic devices and accessory devices for electronic devices are described. In some instances, an accessory device includes a keyboard and a cover rotatable with respect to the keyboard. In some instances, an accessory device includes a back panel and a foldable cover rotatable with respect to the back panel. These accessory devices may include several magnetic elements designed to magnetically couple with, and retain, an electronic device without any additional mechanical or other interlocking devices. In this regard, the magnetic elements in the accessory devices provide an external magnetic field sufficiently strong enough to retain the electronic device, and can counter gravitational forces and/or the weight of the electronic device. However, some accessory devices include additional magnetic elements that provide an external magnetic field that repels magnetic elements in the electronic device. Also, the magnetic elements may also be used to hold different sections of the accessory device together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, Yang Zhou, Thomas R. Matzinger, Guangtao Zhang, Ming Yu, Jaime G. Chavez Ruiz Garza, Florence W. Ow, James A. Stryker, Travis C. Pedley, Melody L. Kuna, Taylor Harrison Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20200303140
    Abstract: Keyboards, input devices, and related systems include key mechanisms with keycaps and actuators that provide adjustable feedback in response to user input. The actuators are controllable to provide variable tactile force or audible feedback that is dependent upon the user input. Encoders are able to transduce a location or relative position of a keycap as it is being pressed over time, and a signal is provided to actuators to cause them to provide feedback corresponding to the position of the keycap as it moves. The feedback can change the feel or sound of the keycap based on the keycap positions, time of operation, velocity, user identity, and other factors. Thus, the feel or sound of a keyboard or related input device can be adjusted electronically for efficient testing and increased user customization and feedback modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: John A. Porcella, Daniel A. Greenberg, Thomas R. Matzinger
  • Patent number: 10739825
    Abstract: An accessory device for an electronic device is described. The accessory device may include a cover section and a keyboard section. The cover section may include a receiving surface that engages the electronic device. The cover section may include electrical contacts designed to electrically couple with contacts on the electronic device. The cover section may include several magnets designed to magnetically couple with magnets within the electronic device. The keyboard section may include a keyboard and one or more channels designed to receive and position the electronic device in a usable configuration with the keyboard. Several magnets may surround each channel, and may magnetically couple with magnets within (and along an edge of) the electronic device. The magnetic circuits formed between the channel magnets and the device magnets may counter, or offset, forces that otherwise remove the electronic device from the channel in an undesired manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Harrison Gilbert, Kristine S. Tom, Elvis M. Kibiti, Jaime G. Chavez Ruiz Garza, Thomas R. Matzinger, Zhengyu Li, Charles A. Bates, III, Shih-Hsiang Hsiao, Johan E. Lyon
  • Publication number: 20200241598
    Abstract: Electronic devices and accessory devices for electronic devices are described. In some instances, an accessory device includes a keyboard and a cover rotatable with respect to the keyboard. In some instances, an accessory device includes a back panel and a foldable cover rotatable with respect to the back panel. These accessory devices may include several magnetic elements designed to magnetically couple with, and retain, an electronic device without any additional mechanical or other interlocking devices. In this regard, the magnetic elements in the accessory devices provide an external magnetic field sufficiently strong enough to retain the electronic device, and can counter gravitational forces and/or the weight of the electronic device. However, some accessory devices include additional magnetic elements that provide an external magnetic field that repels magnetic elements in the electronic device. Also, the magnetic elements may also be used to hold different sections of the accessory device together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hao ZHU, Yang ZHOU, Thomas R. MATZINGER, Guangtao ZHANG, Ming YU, Jaime G. CHAVEZ RUIZ GARZA, Florence W. OW, James A. STRYKER, Travis C. PEDLEY, Melody L. KUNA, Taylor Harrison GILBERT
  • Patent number: 10671121
    Abstract: Electronic devices and accessory devices for electronic devices are described. In some instances, an accessory device includes a keyboard and a cover rotatable with respect to the keyboard. In some instances, an accessory device includes a back panel and a foldable cover rotatable with respect to the back panel. These accessory devices may include several magnetic elements designed to magnetically couple with, and retain, an electronic device without any additional mechanical or other interlocking devices. In this regard, the magnetic elements in the accessory devices provide an external magnetic field sufficiently strong enough to retain the electronic device, and can counter gravitational forces and/or the weight of the electronic device. However, some accessory devices include additional magnetic elements that provide an external magnetic field that repels magnetic elements in the electronic device. Also, the magnetic elements may also be used to hold different sections of the accessory device together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, Yang Zhou, Thomas R. Matzinger, Guangtao Zhang, Ming Yu, Jaime G. Chavez Ruiz Garza, Florence W. Ow, James A. Stryker, Travis C. Pedley, Melody L. Kuna, Taylor Harrison Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20200089276
    Abstract: Electronic devices and accessory devices for electronic devices are described. In some instances, an accessory device includes a keyboard and a cover rotatable with respect to the keyboard. In some instances, an accessory device includes a back panel and a foldable cover rotatable with respect to the back panel. These accessory devices may include several magnetic elements designed to magnetically couple with, and retain, an electronic device without any additional mechanical or other interlocking devices. In this regard, the magnetic elements in the accessory devices provide an external magnetic field sufficiently strong enough to retain the electronic device, and can counter gravitational forces and/or the weight of the electronic device. However, some accessory devices include additional magnetic elements that provide an external magnetic field that repels magnetic elements in the electronic device. Also, the magnetic elements may also be used to hold different sections of the accessory device together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Hao ZHU, Yang ZHOU, Thomas R. MATZINGER, Guangtao ZHANG, Ming YU, Jaime G. CHAVEZ RUIZ GARZA, Florence W. OW, James A. STRYKER, Travis C. PEDLEY, Melody L. KUNA, Taylor Harrison GILBERT
  • Publication number: 20200089285
    Abstract: An accessory device for an electronic device is described. The accessory device may include a cover section and a keyboard section. The cover section may include a receiving surface that engages the electronic device. The cover section may include electrical contacts designed to electrically couple with contacts on the electronic device. The cover section may include several magnets designed to magnetically couple with magnets within the electronic device. The keyboard section may include a keyboard and one or more channels designed to receive and position the electronic device in a usable configuration with the keyboard. Several magnets may surround each channel, and may magnetically couple with magnets within (and along an edge of) the electronic device. The magnetic circuits formed between the channel magnets and the device magnets may counter, or offset, forces that otherwise remove the electronic device from the channel in an undesired manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Taylor Harrison GILBERT, Kristine S. TOM, Elvis M. KIBITI, Jaime G. CHAVEZ RUIZ GARZA, Thomas R. MATZINGER, Zhengyu LI, Charles A. BATES, III, Shih-Hsiang HSIAO, Johan E. LYON
  • Patent number: 10296093
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device can include a processor and a sensor coupled with the processor, the sensor capable of detecting a stimulus, and responding to the stimulus by providing a detection signal to the processor. The portable electronic device can further include an interface unit capable of interacting with a user. The portable electronic device can further include a feedback unit in communication with the interface unit and the processor, the feedback unit providing a feedback response that is perceptible to the user during the interaction, where when the sensor detects the stimulus, the detection signal provided to the processor by the sensor causes the processor to respond by instructing the feedback unit to alter the feedback response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Christensen, Daniel A. Greenberg, Thomas R. Matzinger