公开(公告)号：US11360558B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-14

申请号：US16395806

申请日：2019-04-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Nicolai Georg ,  Benjamin R. Blachnitzky ,  Alhad A. Palkar ,  Minhazul Islam ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Madeleine S. Cordier ,  Joon-Sup Han ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Sang E. Lee ,  Kevin Z. Lo ,  Lilli Ing-Marie Jonsson ,  Luis Deliz Centeno ,  Yuhao Pan ,  Stephen E. Dey ,  Paul N. DuMontelle ,  Jonathan C. Atler ,  Tianjia Sun ,  Jian Li ,  Chang Zhang

IPC: G09G5/00 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06T19/00 ,  G06F3/04883 ,  G06F3/0482 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/038

Abstract: A system may include finger devices. A touch sensor may be mounted in a finger device housing to gather input from an external object as the object moves along an exterior surface of the housing. The touch sensor may include capacitive sensor electrodes. Sensors such as force sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inertial measurement units, optical sensors, and other components may be used in gathering finger input from a user. Finger input from a user may be used to manipulate virtual objects in a mixed reality or virtual reality environment while a haptic output device in a finger device provides associated haptic output. A user may interact with real-world objects while computer-generated content is overlaid over some or all of the objects. Object rotations and other movements may be converted into input for a mixed reality or virtual reality system using force measurements or other sensors measurements made with the finger devices.

公开(公告)号：US10592008B1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-17

申请号：US15837466

申请日：2017-12-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Alex J. Lehmann

IPC: G06F3/0354

Abstract: Systems and methods for changing the shape of a mouse or other input device are described. In one embodiment, a mouse includes an articulating member that defines a curvature of an exterior surface of the mouse. The mouse may include one or more actuators for manipulating the articulating member to change the contour of the exterior surface of the mouse. The curvature may be changed to optimize the ergonomics of the mouse and/or deliver tactile feedback to users.

公开(公告)号：US20220382376A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-01

申请号：US17886360

申请日：2022-08-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Michael J. Rockwell ,  Michael Y. Cheung ,  Ray L. Chang ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Ian M. Bullock ,  Kyle J. Nekimken ,  Madeleine S. Cordier ,  Seung Wook Kim ,  David H. Bloom ,  Scott G. Johnston

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/04886 ,  G06T19/00 ,  G01P15/00 ,  G02B27/01 ,  G06F3/0346

Abstract: A finger-mounted device may include finger-mounted units. The finger-mounted units may each have a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have sidewall portions coupled by a portion that rests adjacent to a user's fingernail. The body may be formed from deformable material such as metal or may be formed from adjustable structures such as sliding body portions that are coupled to each other using magnetic attraction, springs, or other structures. The body of each finger-mounted unit may have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that leaves the finger pad of each finger exposed when the body is coupled to a fingertip of a user's finger. Control circuitry may gather finger press input, lateral finger movement input, and finger tap input using the sensors and may provide haptic output using the haptic output device.

公开(公告)号：US20190004604A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-03

申请号：US16015043

申请日：2018-06-21

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Michael J. Rockwell ,  Michael Y. Cheung ,  Ray L. Chang ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Ian M. Bullock ,  Kyle J. Nekimken ,  Madeleine S. Cordier ,  Seung Wook Kim ,  David H. Bloom ,  Scott G. Johnston

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G01P15/00 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G02B27/01

Abstract: A finger-mounted device may include finger-mounted units. The finger-mounted units may each have a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have sidewall portions coupled by a portion that rests adjacent to a user's fingernail. The body may be formed from deformable material such as metal or may be formed from adjustable structures such as sliding body portions that are coupled to each other using magnetic attraction, springs, or other structures. The body of each finger-mounted unit may have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that leaves the finger pad of each finger exposed when the body is coupled to a fingertip of a user's finger. Control circuitry may gather finger press input, lateral finger movement input, and finger tap input using the sensors and may provide haptic output using the haptic output device.

公开(公告)号：US20200026352A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-23

申请号：US16395806

申请日：2019-04-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Nicolai Georg ,  Benjamin R. Blachnitzky ,  Alhad A. Palkar ,  Minhazul Islam ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Madeleine S. Cordier ,  Joon-Sup Han ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Sang E. Lee ,  Kevin Z. Lo ,  Lilli Ing-Marie Jonsson ,  Luis Deliz Centeno ,  Yuhao Pan ,  Stephen E. Dey ,  Paul N. DuMontelle ,  Jonathan C. Atler ,  Tianjia Sun ,  Jian Li ,  Chang Zhang

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  G06F3/0482 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06T19/00

Abstract: A system may include finger devices. A touch sensor may be mounted in a finger device housing to gather input from an external object as the object moves along an exterior surface of the housing. The touch sensor may include capacitive sensor electrodes. Sensors such as force sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inertial measurement units, optical sensors, and other components may be used in gathering finger input from a user. Finger input from a user may be used to manipulate virtual objects in a mixed reality or virtual reality environment while a haptic output device in a finger device provides associated haptic output. A user may interact with real-world objects while computer-generated content is overlaid over some or all of the objects. Object rotations and other movements may be converted into input for a mixed reality or virtual reality system using force measurements or other sensors measurements made with the finger devices.

公开(公告)号：US20190310713A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-10

申请号：US16136132

申请日：2018-09-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Tianjia Sun ,  Yoonhoo Jo ,  Hongcheng Sun

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/038

Abstract: A system may include one or more finger-mounted devices such as finger devices with U-shaped housings configured to be mounted on a user's fingers while gathering sensor input and supplying haptic output. The sensors may include strain gauge circuitry mounted on elongated arms of the housing. When the arms move due to finger forces, the strain gauge circuitry can measure the arm movement. The sensors may also include ultrasonic sensors. An ultrasonic sensor may have an ultrasonic signal emitter and a corresponding ultrasonic signal detector configured to detect the ultrasonic signals after passing through a user's finger. A two-dimensional ultrasonic sensor may capture ultrasonic images of a user's finger pad. Ultrasonic proximity sensors may be used to measure distances between finger devices and external surfaces. Optical sensors and other sensors may also be used in the finger devices.

公开(公告)号：US20240168558A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-23

申请号：US18425962

申请日：2024-01-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Michael J. Rockwell ,  Michael Y. Cheung ,  Ray L. Chang ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Ian M. Bullock ,  Kyle J. Nekimken ,  Madeleine S. Cordier ,  Seung Wook Kim ,  David H. Bloom ,  Scott G. Johnston

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G01P15/00 ,  G02B27/01 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/04886 ,  G06T19/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/016 ,  G01P15/003 ,  G02B27/017 ,  G06F3/014 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06F3/0426 ,  G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/04886 ,  G06T19/006 ,  G06F2203/0331

Abstract: A finger-mounted device may include finger-mounted units. The finger-mounted units may each have a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have sidewall portions coupled by a portion that rests adjacent to a user's fingernail. The body may be formed from deformable material such as metal or may be formed from adjustable structures such as sliding body portions that are coupled to each other using magnetic attraction, springs, or other structures. The body of each finger-mounted unit may have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that leaves the finger pad of each finger exposed when the body is coupled to a fingertip of a user's finger. Control circuitry may gather finger press input, lateral finger movement input, and finger tap input using the sensors and may provide haptic output using the haptic output device.

公开(公告)号：US20230004231A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-05

申请号：US17901722

申请日：2022-09-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Tianjia Sun ,  Yoonhoo Jo ,  Hongcheng Sun

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/038

Abstract: A system may include one or more finger-mounted devices such as finger devices with U-shaped housings configured to be mounted on a user's fingers while gathering sensor input and supplying haptic output. The sensors may include strain gauge circuitry mounted on elongated arms of the housing. When the arms move due to finger forces, the strain gauge circuitry can measure the arm movement. The sensors may also include ultrasonic sensors. An ultrasonic sensor may have an ultrasonic signal emitter and a corresponding ultrasonic signal detector configured to detect the ultrasonic signals after passing through a user's finger. A two-dimensional ultrasonic sensor may capture ultrasonic images of a user's finger pad. Ultrasonic proximity sensors may be used to measure distances between finger devices and external surfaces. Optical sensors and other sensors may also be used in the finger devices.

公开(公告)号：US11914780B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-27

申请号：US17886360

申请日：2022-08-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Michael J. Rockwell ,  Michael Y. Cheung ,  Ray L. Chang ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Ian M. Bullock ,  Kyle J. Nekimken ,  Madeleine S. Cordier ,  Seung Wook Kim ,  David H. Bloom ,  Scott G. Johnston

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/04886 ,  G06T19/00 ,  G01P15/00 ,  G02B27/01 ,  G06F3/0346

CPC classification number: G06F3/016 ,  G01P15/003 ,  G02B27/017 ,  G06F3/014 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06F3/0426 ,  G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/04886 ,  G06T19/006 ,  G06F2203/0331

Abstract: A finger-mounted device may include finger-mounted units. The finger-mounted units may each have a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have sidewall portions coupled by a portion that rests adjacent to a user's fingernail. The body may be formed from deformable material such as metal or may be formed from adjustable structures such as sliding body portions that are coupled to each other using magnetic attraction, springs, or other structures. The body of each finger-mounted unit may have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that leaves the finger pad of each finger exposed when the body is coupled to a fingertip of a user's finger. Control circuitry may gather finger press input, lateral finger movement input, and finger tap input using the sensors and may provide haptic output using the haptic output device.

公开(公告)号：US11416076B2

公开(公告)日：2022-08-16

申请号：US17094653

申请日：2020-11-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Michael J. Rockwell ,  Michael Y. Cheung ,  Ray L. Chang ,  Hongcheng Sun ,  Ian M. Bullock ,  Kyle J. Nekimken ,  Madeleine S. Cordier ,  Seung Wook Kim ,  David H. Bloom ,  Scott G. Johnston

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/04886 ,  G06T19/00 ,  G01P15/00 ,  G02B27/01 ,  G06F3/0346

Abstract: A finger-mounted device may include finger-mounted units. The finger-mounted units may each have a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have sidewall portions coupled by a portion that rests adjacent to a user's fingernail. The body may be formed from deformable material such as metal or may be formed from adjustable structures such as sliding body portions that are coupled to each other using magnetic attraction, springs, or other structures. The body of each finger-mounted unit may have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that leaves the finger pad of each finger exposed when the body is coupled to a fingertip of a user's finger. Control circuitry may gather finger press input, lateral finger movement input, and finger tap input using the sensors and may provide haptic output using the haptic output device.