Patents by Inventor Travis J. McQueen

Travis J. McQueen 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).

  • Publication number: 20240127011
    Abstract: This Application sets forth techniques for managing (e.g., tracking or detecting the presence or absence of) physical cards stored in a physical wallet. In particular, the techniques set forth a smart wallet configured to detect the physical cards stored therein, as well as a smart card configured to be inserted into a traditional wallet and to detect the physical cards stored therein. The smart wallet/smart card can be configured to, upon detecting a change to physical cards stored in the smart wallet/traditional wallet, gather information associated with the physical cards and store the information into a memory of the smart wallet/smart card. The smart wallet/smart card can, upon being communicably coupled to a wireless device, transmit the information to the wireless device. Subsequently, the wireless device can output a notification indicating any missing physical cards as well as provide remedial options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Joel N. RUSCHER, Amrith V. RAM, James E. ORR, Travis J. MCQUEEN, Jack ERDOZAIN, JR.
  • Publication number: 20240070409
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wearable electronic device may have a coil. The device may have a finger-ring housing that surrounds a finger-shaped opening to allow the device to be worn on a finger of a user. The coil may be formed from metal traces on a printed circuit that wrap around the finger-shaped opening. Near-field communications circuitry in the device may be used to gather near-field communications tag information. The tag information may be gathered in response to user input. Wireless communications circuitry that uses a non-near-field communications antenna may wirelessly transmit the tag information and/or other information such as user input to a companion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Michael J. Ershov, Joel N. Ruscher, Stefan Hafeneger, Travis J. McQueen
  • Patent number: 11829831
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wearable electronic device may have a coil. The device may have a finger-ring housing that surrounds a finger-shaped opening to allow the device to be worn on a finger of a user. The coil may be formed from metal traces on a printed circuit that wrap around the finger-shaped opening. Near-field communications circuitry in the device may be used to gather near-field communications tag information. The tag information may be gathered in response to user input. Wireless communications circuitry that uses a non-near-field communications antenna may wirelessly transmit the tag information and/or other information such as user input to a companion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J Ershov, Joel N Ruscher, Stefan Hafeneger, Travis J McQueen
  • Patent number: 11722985
    Abstract: A system may include one or more processors and a host unit installed in a support structure of a building, the host unit including a communication module configured to send or receive communication data with at least one or more additional host units installed in the building, where the one or more processors are configured to measure an attribute of the sent or received communication data and detect a presence of an object based on a threshold change in the measured attribute of the sent or received communication data between the host unit and the one or more additional host units. The attribute can be an angle-of-signal (AoS) arrival of the communication between the host unit and each of the one or more additional host units, where the threshold change in the measured attribute is a threshold change in the measured AoS arrival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Travis J. McQueen, Clark Della Silva, Scott G. Johnston, Wade R. Barnett, Christopher Merrill, Jay C. Couch
  • Publication number: 20230247341
    Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen
  • Patent number: 11711643
    Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen
  • Publication number: 20230004129
    Abstract: Wearable electronic devices, such as watches, can include a watch body and a band device that can be used together or independently of one another. The band device can provide continual operation of its functions even in the absence of the watch body. The assembly of the watch body and the band device can provide secure engagement, communication, and power sharing. Accordingly, neither the watch body nor the band device need to independently include components that provide every function that will be desired by the user. Instead, functions that are desired on a continual or long-term basis can be provided by the band device, and functions that are desired on an intermittent or short-term basis can be provided by the watch body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. ERSHOV, Travis J. MCQUEEN
  • Publication number: 20210281941
    Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen
  • Patent number: 11109136
    Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen
  • Publication number: 20200053689
    Abstract: A system may include one or more processors and a host unit installed in a support structure of a building, the host unit including a communication module configured to send or receive communication data with at least one or more additional host units installed in the building, where the one or more processors are configured to measure an attribute of the sent or received communication data and detect a presence of an object based on a threshold change in the measured attribute of the sent or received communication data between the host unit and the one or more additional host units. The attribute can be an angle-of-signal (AoS) arrival of the communication between the host unit and each of the one or more additional host units, where the threshold change in the measured attribute is a threshold change in the measured AoS arrival.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. McQueen, Clark Della Silva, Scott G. Johnston, Wade R. Barnett, Christopher Merrill, Jay C. Couch
  • Publication number: 20190058937
    Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen
  • Patent number: 10117012
    Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen
  • Publication number: 20170094389
    Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Ashley N. Saulsbury, Travis J. McQueen