# Jonathan P. Ive — Patents explained on PatentBrief

Jonathan P. Ive has 6 landmark patents explained in plain English on PatentBrief.

- [How Devices Pair Automatically by Scanning Patterns with a Camera](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10579225/apple-fitness) — granted 2020
  A method for pairing two electronic devices by having one device use its camera to scan a visual pattern displayed on the other device's screen.
- [How the Apple Watch Uses the Digital Crown to Flip Objects](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10275117/apple-watch-heart-rate-sensor) — granted 2019
  A method for rotating virtual objects on a small wearable screen by spinning the physical dial on the side of the device based on how fast you turn it.
- [The Design of the Original Apple iPhone](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/D670286/iphone-4-4s-design) — granted 2012
  This is a design patent protecting the specific visual appearance and physical shape of a portable electronic device, commonly recognized as the iPhone.
- [The Design of the Original iPhone 3G](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/D618677/original-iphone-design) — granted 2010
  A design patent protecting the specific visual appearance and shape of the iPhone 3G as it appeared in 2008.
- [How Phones Sense Your Finger Hovering Without Touching the Screen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7653883/multi-touch-trackpad-gestures) — granted 2010
  This patent describes a system for electronic devices, like phones, to detect a finger hovering just above the screen, display a specific interactive element below it, and then let you control that element with gestures without ever making contact.
- [The Design Patent for the Original iPod Mini](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/D504889/ipod-click-wheel-design) — granted 2005
  This is a design patent protecting the specific physical appearance and shape of Apple's iPod Mini, which helped define the look of portable music players in the mid-2000s.

**Full profile:** https://patentbrief.org/inventor/jonathan-p-ive

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Plain-English explanations of US patents._