Patents by Inventor William Matthew VIETA

William Matthew 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: 10402624
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device to provide presence based functionality. The method may include operating the computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from a first sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines if an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if the object is within the threshold distance, the device activates a secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If the object is a person, the device determines a position of the person relative to the computing device and executes a change of state in the computing device based on the position of the person relative to the computing device. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matthew C. Waldon, Rudolph Van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra M. Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10372191
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from at least one sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines a probability that an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if so, the device activates at least one secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If it is a person, a position of the person relative to the computing device is determined and the computing device changes its state based on the position of the person. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matt Waldon, Rudolph van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson, Karen Louise Jenkins, Scott Thomas Smith, Jan Erik Solem
  • Patent number: 10209778
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for gesture classification and recognition are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a system can determine multiple motion patterns for a same user action (e.g., picking up a mobile device from a table) from empirical training data. The system can collect the training data from one or more mobile devices. The training data can include multiple series of motion sensor readings for a specified gesture. Each series of motion sensor readings can correspond to a particular way a user performs the gesture. Using clustering techniques, the system can extract one or more motion patterns from the training data. The system can send the motion patterns to mobile devices as prototypes for gesture recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Moore, Xiaoyuan Tu, William Matthew Vieta
  • Patent number: 9874975
    Abstract: Reconstruction of an original touch image from a differential touch image is disclosed. Reconstruction can include aligning columns of the differential touch image relative to each other and aligning the image to a baseline DC value. The column and baseline alignment can be based on the differential image data indicative of no touch or hover, because such data can more clearly show the amount of alignment needed to reconstruct the original image. The reconstruction can be performed using the differential image data alone. The reconstruction can also be performed using the differential image data and common mode data indicative of the missing image column average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ari Y. Benbasat, William Matthew Vieta, Wayne Carl Westerman, Steven P. Hotelling
  • Publication number: 20170193282
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of operating a computing device to provide presence based functionality. The method may include operating the computing device in a reduced power state and collecting a first set of data from a first sensor. Based on the first set of data, the computing device determines if an object is within a threshold distance of the computing device and, if the object is within the threshold distance, the device activates a secondary sensor to collect a second set of data. Based on the second set of data, the device determines if the object is a person. If the object is a person, the device determines a position of the person relative to the computing device and executes a change of state in the computing device based on the position of the person relative to the computing device. If the object is not a person, the computing device remains in a reduced power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Edward Allen Valko, Matthew C. Waldon, Rudolph Van der Merwe, William Matthew Vieta, Myra M. Haggerty, Alex T. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20170090608
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes a proximity sensor may be provided. The proximity sensor may be a time-of-flight-based proximity sensor that is capable of separately outputting near-field measurements and far-field measurements. The near-field and far-field measurements may be placed in separate bins according to their time-of-flight values. The discrimination between near-field and far-field results may allow the electronic device to filter out false positive events where the presence of smudge or other surface contaminants can otherwise produce skewed readings and also to filter out false negative events where the presence of a user with dark hair or skin can otherwise produce misleading sensor results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: William Matthew Vieta, Alex Bijamov
  • Publication number: 20160357344
    Abstract: Reconstruction of an original touch image from a differential touch image is disclosed. Reconstruction can include aligning columns of the differential touch image relative to each other and aligning the image to a baseline DC value. The column and baseline alignment can be based on the differential image data indicative of no touch or hover, because such data can more clearly show the amount of alignment needed to reconstruct the original image. The reconstruction can be performed using the differential image data alone. The reconstruction can also be performed using the differential image data and common mode data indicative of the missing image column average.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ari Y. BENBASAT, William Matthew VIETA, Wayne Carl WESTERMAN, Steven P. HOTELLING
  • Patent number: 9411048
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with electronic components such as a touch screen display. The touch screen display may be controlled based on information from a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor may have a light source that emits infrared light and a light detector that detects reflected infrared light. When the electronic device is in the vicinity of a user's head, the proximity sensor may produce data indicative of the presence of the user's head. Variations in proximity sensor output due to user hair color and smudges on the proximity sensor can be accommodated by using a dynamically adjustable proximity sensor data threshold in processing proximity sensor data. Proximity sensor data may be analyzed in real time to detect signal strength fluctuations that are indicative of the presence of low-reflectively dark hair on the user's head. Threshold adjustments may be based on the presence of dark hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: William Matthew Vieta
  • Patent number: 9329723
    Abstract: Reconstruction of an original touch image from a differential touch image is disclosed. Reconstruction can include aligning columns of the differential touch image relative to each other and aligning the image to a baseline DC value. The column and baseline alignment can be based on the differential image data indicative of no touch or hover, because such data can more clearly show the amount of alignment needed to reconstruct the original image. The reconstruction can be performed using the differential image data alone. The reconstruction can also be performed using the differential image data and common mode data indicative of the missing image column average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ari Y. Benbasat, William Matthew Vieta, Wayne Carl Westerman, Steven Porter Hotelling
  • Publication number: 20150355721
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for gesture classification and recognition are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a system can determine multiple motion patterns for a same user action (e.g., picking up a mobile device from a table) from empirical training data. The system can collect the training data from one or more mobile devices. The training data can include multiple series of motion sensor readings for a specified gesture. Each series of motion sensor readings can correspond to a particular way a user performs the gesture. Using clustering techniques, the system can extract one or more motion patterns from the training data. The system can send the motion patterns to mobile devices as prototypes for gesture recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Moore, Xiaoyuan Tu, William Matthew Vieta
  • Patent number: 9110510
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for gesture classification and recognition are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a system can determine multiple motion patterns for a same user action (e.g., picking up a mobile device from a table) from empirical training data. The system can collect the training data from one or more mobile devices. The training data can include multiple series of motion sensor readings for a specified gesture. Each series of motion sensor readings can correspond to a particular way a user performs the gesture. Using clustering techniques, the system can extract one or more motion patterns from the training data. The system can send the motion patterns to mobile devices as prototypes for gesture recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Moore, Xiaoyuan Tu, William Matthew Vieta
  • Patent number: 8952895
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems of motion-based device operations are described. A mobile device can coordinate operations of a motion sensor and a proximity sensor. The mobile device can determine a gesture event using the motion sensor. The mobile device can determine a proximity event using the proximity sensor. The mobile device can use the gesture event and proximity event to confirm one another, and determine that the mobile device has moved in proximity to a target object following a specified gesture. Upon confirmation, the mobile device can perform a specified task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Moore, Christopher T. Mullens, Gregory Novick, Ronald K. Huang, William Matthew Vieta, Xiaoyuan Tu
  • Patent number: 8754874
    Abstract: Negative pixel compensation in a touch sensor panel is disclosed. A method can compensate for a negative pixel effect in touch signal outputs due to poor grounding of an object touching the panel. To do so, the method can include determining at least one bound for a negative pixel compensation factor based on touch signal values, estimating the compensation factor within the determined bound based on the touch signal values that are negative, where the negative values indicate the presence of the negative pixel effect, and applying the estimated compensation factor to the touch signal outputs to compensate the touch signal values for the negative pixel effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: William Matthew Vieta
  • Publication number: 20140062896
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with electronic components such as a touch screen display. The touch screen display may be controlled based on information from a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor may have a light source that emits infrared light and a light detector that detects reflected infrared light. When the electronic device is in the vicinity of a user's head, the proximity sensor may produce data indicative of the presence of the user's head. Variations in proximity sensor output due to user hair color and smudges on the proximity sensor can be accommodated by using a dynamically adjustable proximity sensor data threshold in processing proximity sensor data. Proximity sensor data may be analyzed in real time to detect signal strength fluctuations that are indicative of the presence of low-reflectively dark hair on the user's head. Threshold adjustments may be based on the presence of dark hair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: William Matthew Vieta
  • Publication number: 20140035854
    Abstract: Negative pixel compensation in a touch sensor panel is disclosed. A method can compensate for a negative pixel effect in touch signal outputs due to poor grounding of an object touching the panel. To do so, the method can include determining at least one bound for a negative pixel compensation factor based on touch signal values, estimating the compensation factor within the determined bound based on the touch signal values that are negative, where the negative values indicate the presence of the negative pixel effect, and applying the estimated compensation factor to the touch signal outputs to compensate the touch signal values for the negative pixel effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: William Matthew VIETA
  • Patent number: 8626465
    Abstract: Sensor measurements are used to detect when a device incorporating the sensor is stationary. While the device is stationary, sensor measurements at a current device temperature are used to estimate model parameters. The model parameters can be used in a state estimator to provide an estimated attitude that can be provided to other applications. In some implementations, the estimated attitude can be used to mitigate interference in other sensor measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Moore, Brian Michael King, William Matthew Vieta, Xiaoyuan Tu, Patrick Piemonte
  • Patent number: 8581879
    Abstract: Negative pixel compensation in a touch sensor panel is disclosed. A method can compensate for a negative pixel effect in touch signal outputs due to poor grounding of an object touching the panel. To do so, the method can include determining at least one bound for a negative pixel compensation factor based on touch signal values, estimating the compensation factor within the determined bound based on the touch signal values that are negative, where the negative values indicate the presence of the negative pixel effect, and applying the estimated compensation factor to the touch signal outputs to compensate the touch signal values for the negative pixel effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: William Matthew Vieta
  • Publication number: 20130271427
    Abstract: Reconstruction of an original touch image from a differential touch image is disclosed. Reconstruction can include aligning columns of the differential touch image relative to each other and aligning the image to a baseline DC value. The column and baseline alignment can be based on the differential image data indicative of no touch or hover, because such data can more clearly show the amount of alignment needed to reconstruct the original image. The reconstruction can be performed using the differential image data alone. The reconstruction can also be performed using the differential image data and common mode data indicative of the missing image column average.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Ari Y. BENBASAT, William Matthew Vieta, Wayne Carl Westerman, Steven Porter Hotelling
  • Patent number: 8531180
    Abstract: A device coupled with a magnetometer and an angular rate sensor can determine a heading of the device using magnetometer data. When the device receives a notification that the magnetometer data may be inaccurate, the device can determine the heading of the device using angular rate data. When the device determines that the magnetometer data are accurate, the device can resume determining the heading of the device using the magnetometer data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Piemonte, Christopher Moore, Brian Michael King, William Matthew Vieta, Xiaoyuan Tu
  • Publication number: 20120306745
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for gesture classification and recognition are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a system can determine multiple motion patterns for a same user action (e.g., picking up a mobile device from a table) from empirical training data. The system can collect the training data from one or more mobile devices. The training data can include multiple series of motion sensor readings for a specified gesture. Each series of motion sensor readings can correspond to a particular way a user performs the gesture. Using clustering techniques, the system can extract one or more motion patterns from the training data. The system can send the motion patterns to mobile devices as prototypes for gesture recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER MOORE, Xiaoyuan Tu, William Matthew Vieta