Apple Inc.

Romain A Teil

Sawyer Isaac Cohen

Jack J Wanderman

Michael Benjamin Wittenberg

Peter W Richards

Martin Paul Grunthaner

Sinan Filiz

Steven Porter Hotelling

Scott M Herz

Storrs Townsend Hoen

Steven James Martisauskas

Miguel C Christophy

Kristina A Babiarz

Charley T Ogata

Vivek Katiyar

Justin Derry Crosby

Kuo-Hua Sung

Robert Denton Silfvast

Philipp J Wolf

Kirill Kalinichev

Jorge C Fialho

James J Dowle

Mikael P Sedlacek

Alyssa J Garver

Michael C Wharton

Brooks G Marquette

Jens M Elfwing

Stephen Brian Lynch

Matthew Emanuel Last

Kurt R Stiehl

Henry Hung Yang

Joshua G Wurzel

Christopher J Butler

Silvio Grespan

Christopher P Child

Andrew J Sutton

Erik Mikael Fermer

Dominic P Cincione

Brian Shadle

Ehsan Farkhondeh

Richard M Comer

A method includes receiving, by sensors inside an enclosure of a vehicle, signals generated by signal generators in the enclosure of the vehicle. One of the sensors or signal generators may be part of a mobile device inside the enclosure. The method also includes determining a location and orientation of the mobile device from the signals. The method further includes determining, based on the location and orientation of the mobile device, an object in the enclosure that the mobile device is pointing to. The mobile device further includes transmitting a message to the mobile device in response to determining that the mobile device is pointing to the object, so as to cause the mobile device to display a user interface to allow the mobile device to control the object.

Systems and methods for locating mobile devices within a vehicle

A vehicle may have a vehicle body and one or more movable sensors mounted to the body. A movable sensor may be rotated, linearly translated, or otherwise moved between multiple positions in response to location information, driving mode information, vehicle speed, and/or other information. The movable sensor may be moved to track objects, to provide pedestrians and others with visual feedback, to allow the sensor to gather desired sensor information to support driver assistance and autonomous driving operations, to place the sensor in a stowed position, and to perform other functions. The movable sensor may be protected with a movable cover. A cleaner may clean the sensor. The sensor may be a radar sensor, lidar sensor, camera, or other sensor. Information from the sensor may be used to detect roadway obstructions, to detect objects near the vehicle, to monitor pedestrians, and to monitor other conditions.

Systems with sensor deployment mechanisms

A sensor mounting assembly includes a sensor that is operable to detect conditions, and a body structure having an inner wall and an outer wall located opposite the inner wall. A sensor mount is coupled to the outer wall with at least one fastener extending through the outer wall, inner wall, and sensor mount. The sensor mount defines an internal space in which the sensor is coupled.

Sensor mounting assembly

A system for securing a user device to a body includes a magnet and an attraction plate. One of the magnet or the attraction plate is mechanically coupled to the body, and the other of the magnet or the attraction plate is mechanically coupled to the user device. The magnet is selectively activated to hold the attraction plate and, thereby, secure the user device to the body.

System for holding devices

A sensor mounting assembly for a vehicle includes a sensor that is operable to detect conditions outside of the vehicle, and a vehicle body structure having an inner wall and an outer wall located opposite the inner wall. A sensor mount is coupled to the outer wall with at least one fastener extending through the outer wall, inner wall, and sensor mount. The sensor mount defines an internal space in which the sensor is coupled.

Sensing apparatus includes a transparent window and a LiDAR assembly, including a beam source, which is configured to emit one or more beams of optical radiation along a beam axis, and which is configured to scan the one or more beams over an angular range about the beam axis. A diffractive structure is mounted approximately parallel to the transparent window and positioned to intercept the one or more beams emitted by the LiDAR assembly and turn the beam axis to pass through the transparent window at an angle greater than 30&#xb0; relative to a normal to a surface of the transparent window.

Compact optical packaging of LiDAR systems using diffractive structures behind angled interfaces

A force-sensitive device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors.

Force sensor incorporated into display

A system for securing a user device in a vehicle includes a magnet and an attraction plate. One of the magnet or the attraction plate is mechanically coupled to the vehicle, and the other of the magnet or the attraction plate is mechanically coupled to the user device. The magnet is selectively activated to hold the attraction plate and, thereby, secure the user device to the vehicle.

System for holding devices in a passenger vehicle

A light-based output device may be used to display images, symbols, and other information for a user of a system such as a vehicle. A display may be formed from a display layer, a covering layer that covers the display layer, and components such as force and touch sensors and electronic shutters. Haptic feedback may be provided using actuators that are coupled to the covering layer. A movable button member may be used to press the covering layer outwardly within an opening, thereby creating a portion of the covering layer that protrudes from other portions of the covering layer. The button member may also be placed in a position in which the covering layer on the button member is flush with other portions of the covering layer. A touch sensor may be incorporated into the covering layer and may overlap a display and areas outside the display.

Cosmetic integration of displays

Although embodiments have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The foregoing description has broad application. Accordingly, the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these examples.

Force sensing of inputs through strain analysis

An electronic device has a force sensor that determines a measure of applied force from a user contacting a cover glass of the device. In one embodiment, a frame at least partially encloses an interior of the electronic device and has an open end. A cover glass covers the open end of the frame and is movably connected to the frame to allow movement of the cover glass in response to one or more forces applied to an external surface of the cover glass. A plurality of strain probes is positioned under the cover glass, between the cover glass and the frame, and is arranged to output a plurality of strain signals response to the one or more forces applied to the cover glass. A force processing module is configured to at least calculate an amount of force applied to the cover glass based on the plurality of strain signals.

A force sensing device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors.

Force sensing based on capacitance changes

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Romain A Teil