Patents by Inventor William M. Vieta

William M. Vieta 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: 9977500
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Patent number: 9977499
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least one of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Patent number: 9910494
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least one of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Patent number: 9727770
    Abstract: A processing channel is operatively connected to a biometric device. The processing channel includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to at least one of an amplifier and an offset circuit. Biometric signals representing captured biometric data, such as a fingerprint image, are controllably fitted into an input range of the ADC. The ADC input range can include one or more removed ranges and one or more adjustable allowed input ranges. One or more channel parameters are adjusted until a desired number of biometric signals are included in the one or more removed ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gozzini, Craig A. Marciniak, William M. Vieta, Pavel Mrazek, Ondrej Konopka
  • Patent number: 9576126
    Abstract: A template of a biometric attribute for use with a biometric recognition device includes a long term component and a short term component. The long term component can include a plurality of nodes that each represents at least a portion of the biometric attribute. The short term component may include one or more newly captured nodes that each represents at least a portion of the biometric attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, Pavel Mrazek, William M. Vieta
  • Patent number: 9576176
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a biometric sensing device connected to a processing channel that includes at least one amplifier having a gain. One or more processing devices is operatively connected to the biometric sensing device and adapted to compensate for signal fixed pattern noise in signals received from the processing channel. The signal fixed pattern noise can include signal measurement variation noise and gain variation noise. The biometric sensing device captures a new image or data, and at least one processing device compensates for the signal fixed pattern noise in the newly captured image or data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gozzini, Benjamin B. Lyon, William M. Vieta, Pavel Mrazek
  • Publication number: 20160180184
    Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more fingerprint image sensors capable of providing fingerprint image information from the finger of a user, and one or more separately disposed orientation sensors, capable of determining one or more orientations of the finger. One or more circuits are coupled to the one or more fingerprint image sensors and the one or more orientation sensors, configured for combining information from the one or more fingerprint image sensors and the one or more fingerprint orientation sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: William M. Vieta, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Publication number: 20160162031
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Patent number: 9342725
    Abstract: An error correction method and a mobile communication device incorporating the error correction method. The error correction method begins with receiving fingerprint image information that includes a set of swatches. A first one of the received swatches is matched to a second one of the swatches at an edge. A measure of fingerprint image manipulation is determined responsive to an amount of processing to perform and an amount of fingerprint image error. Then the fingerprint image information is manipulated in response to an optimum value of the measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Vieta, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 9292728
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor, a memory, and a processor capable of generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor. The processor may also be capable of allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. In addition, the processor may reallocate the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger, with the second number of finger biometric template nodes being different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, Craig A. Marciniak, William M. Vieta
  • Publication number: 20150347810
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor, a memory, and a processor capable of generating a respective finger biometric template node for each finger positioning adjacent the finger biometric sensor. The processor may also be capable of allocating a set space of the memory to store a total number of finger biometric template nodes based upon a first number of fingers and with each finger having a first number of finger biometric template nodes associated therewith. In addition, the processor may reallocate the set space of the memory to store the total number of finger biometric template nodes but with a second number of finger biometric template nodes associated with at least one finger, with the second number of finger biometric template nodes being different than the first number of finger biometric template nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, Craig A. Marciniak, William M. Vieta
  • Patent number: 9152842
    Abstract: An electronic device can include at least one fingerprint image sensor that obtains fingerprint image information, where the fingerprint information can include at least a first partial fingerprint image and a second partial fingerprint image. At least one fingerprint navigation sensor can be disposed to receive navigation information responsive to at least one of movement or orientation of a user's finger with respect to the at least one fingerprint image sensor. At least one processing unit can combine the first partial fingerprint image and the second partial fingerprint image into at least one combined fingerprint image utilizing the navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Vieta, Wayne C. Westerman, Steven P. Hotelling
  • Patent number: 9135494
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include an array of finger biometric sensing pixels, and processing circuitry coupled to the array of finger biometric sensing pixels. The processing circuitry may be capable of collecting initial enrollment finger biometric data sets and generating an initial enrollment criteria based thereon, collecting at least one additional enrollment finger biometric data set, and adapting the initial enrollment criteria based thereon to define an additional enrollment criteria. The processing circuitry may also be capable of flagging the initial enrollment finger data sets and the at least one additional enrollment finger data set as sufficient if the additional enrollment criteria meets an acceptance condition, and collecting further enrollment finger biometric data and adapting the additional enrollment criteria if the additional enrollment criteria fails to meet the acceptance condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, William M. Vieta
  • Publication number: 20150227740
    Abstract: A template of a biometric attribute for use with a biometric recognition device includes a long term component and a short term component. The long term component can include a plurality of nodes that each represents at least a portion of the biometric attribute. The short term component may include one or more newly captured nodes that each represents at least a portion of the biometric attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, Pavel Mrazek, William M. Vieta
  • Publication number: 20150227280
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least one of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Publication number: 20150116205
    Abstract: The present application is related to a computer for providing output to a user. The computer includes a processor and an input device in communication with the processor. The input device includes a feedback surface and at least one sensor in communication with the feedback surface, the at least one sensor configured to detect a user input to the feedback surface. The processor varies a down-stroke threshold based on a first factor and varies an up-stroke threshold based on a second factor. The down-stroke threshold determines a first output of the computing device, the up-stroke threshold determines a second output of the computing device, and at least one of the first factor or the second factor are determined based on the user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Duncan Kerr, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, William M. Vieta, Julian K. Missig
  • Publication number: 20150071506
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include an array of finger biometric sensing pixels, and processing circuitry coupled to the array of finger biometric sensing pixels. The processing circuitry may be capable of collecting initial enrollment finger biometric data sets and generating an initial enrollment criteria based thereon, collecting at least one additional enrollment finger biometric data set, and adapting the initial enrollment criteria based thereon to define an additional enrollment criteria. The processing circuitry may also be capable of flagging the initial enrollment finger data sets and the at least one additional enrollment finger data set as sufficient if the additional enrollment criteria meets an acceptance condition, and collecting further enrollment finger biometric data and adapting the additional enrollment criteria if the additional enrollment criteria fails to meet the acceptance condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, William M. Vieta
  • Publication number: 20150023571
    Abstract: A processing channel is operatively connected to a biometric device. The processing channel includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to at least one of an amplifier and an offset circuit. Biometric signals representing captured biometric data, such as a fingerprint image, are controllably fitted into an input range of the ADC. The ADC input range can include one or more removed ranges and one or more adjustable allowed input ranges. One or more channel parameters are adjusted until a desired number of biometric signals are included in the one or more removed ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gozzini, Craig A. Marciniak, William M. Vieta, Pavel Mrazek, Ondrej Konopka
  • Publication number: 20150022670
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a biometric sensing device connected to a processing channel that includes at least one amplifier having a gain. One or more processing devices is operatively connected to the biometric sensing device and adapted to compensate for signal fixed pattern noise in signals received from the processing channel. The signal fixed pattern noise can include signal measurement variation noise and gain variation noise. The biometric sensing device captures a new image or data, and at least one processing device compensates for the signal fixed pattern noise in the newly captured image or data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gozzini, Benjamin B. Lyon, William M. Vieta, Pavel Mrazek
  • Publication number: 20140003678
    Abstract: An electronic device can include at least one fingerprint image sensor that obtains fingerprint image information, where the fingerprint information can include at least a first partial fingerprint image and a second partial fingerprint image. At least one fingerprint navigation sensor can be disposed to receive navigation information responsive to at least one of movement or orientation of a user's finger with respect to the at least one fingerprint image sensor. At least one processing unit can combine the first partial fingerprint image and the second partial fingerprint image into at least one combined fingerprint image utilizing the navigation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Vieta, Wayne C. Westerman, Steven P. Hotelling