Apple Granted Patent for Self-Adapting Haptic Device

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to haptic devices in electronic systems, and more particularly to a self-adapting haptic device. Specifically, Apple's patent covers methods and apparatuses that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts of a particular electronic device.

Apple's granted patent covers iPhone alerts, haptics for games and two distinct user experience scenarios covering classroom/board meetings and an iDevice alert in a purse.

Apple credits X as the inventors of this granted patent which was originally filed in Q and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. More information can be obtained from our original report that was posted in March 2011.

Apple Granted Patent for Virtual Drafting Application

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to a computer-aided design and drafting application.

In early July 2011, we posted a report titled "Apple's Wild New 3D Gesturing is aimed at CAD, Avatar Creation & More," and weeks later Apple's new drafting patent with virtual tools came to light. You could review the latter report for more details and patent figures.

The new application, according to Apple, will be able to work with multitouch chording and other interactions which include a next generation stylus. The app covers a virtual ruler, protractor, compass, stencil tools and hints of using iCloud.

Apple credits Nicholas King as the sole inventor of this granted patent which was originally filed in Q1 2010 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review today's granted patent claims and details, see US Number 8,487,889.

Apple Granted a Camera Patent for Scene Adaptive Auto Exposure

Apple has been granted a camera patent today for their invention relating to scene adaptive auto exposure. Specifically, the patent covers systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for an improved automatic exposure algorithm attempt to classify an image into a particular "scene category," and, based on the determined scene category, meter the scene according to a generated metering weighting matrix.

In one embodiment, the average luminance is calculated for a central exposure metering region of the image and a plurality of peripheral exposure metering regions surrounding the central exposure metering region. Based on comparisons of the average luminance values of the peripheral exposure regions to the average luminance of the central exposure region, a target metering weighting matrix may be generated.

In another embodiment, the scene category corresponds to a predetermined metering weighting matrix. In video applications, it may be desirable to reduce oscillations in metering parameter values to limit any visually jarring effects on the camera's preview screen by only adjusting metering parameter values when predetermined criteria are met.

Apple credits Ralph Brunner and Frank Doepke; Frank as the inventors of this granted patent which was originally filed in Q2 2010 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Patently Apple originally covered this patent back in December 2011 and you could review that report for extra patent figures and additional detailing. To review today's granted 24 patent claims, see US patent number 8,488,958.

The Remaining Patents that were granted to Apple Today

Also see our first granted patent report of the day: "Apple Granted Five Design Patents plus One for Pico-Like Projectors for Future iDevices & MacBook Pro."

Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.

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