公开(公告)号：US11821115B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US16985042

申请日：2020-08-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Benjamin J. Grena ,  Didio V. Gomes ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Seul Bi Kim ,  David M. Kindlon ,  Kevin T. Pham ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Robert J. Rose ,  Andrew L. Rosenberg ,  Miikka O. Tikander

IPC: D03D7/00 ,  D03D1/00 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B3/08 ,  D03D11/00 ,  D03D17/00 ,  H01B7/06 ,  D03D15/56

CPC classification number: D03D1/0088 ,  B32B3/08 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B5/024 ,  D03D7/00 ,  D03D11/00 ,  D03D15/56 ,  D03D17/00 ,  H01B7/06 ,  B32B2250/02 ,  B32B2250/03 ,  B32B2250/04 ,  B32B2262/02 ,  B32B2262/0276 ,  B32B2262/103 ,  B32B2307/202 ,  B32B2457/00 ,  D10B2331/04 ,  D10B2331/06 ,  D10B2331/12

Abstract: A stretchable fabric signal path may include a conductive strand located between first and second outer fabric layers. The outer fabric layers may be formed from intertwined strands of elastic material. The conductive strand may have a wavy shape to accommodate stretching of the stretchable fabric signal path. First and second inner fabric layers may be located between the outer stretchable fabric layers. The inner fabric layers may be formed from intertwined strands of non-elastic material. The inner fabric layers may have strands that are intertwined with the outer fabric layers to serve as anchor points for maintaining the shape of the conductive strand as the stretchable fabric signal path expands and contracts. The outer fabric layers and inner fabric layers may be woven. The conductive strand may convey electrical signals such as audio signals, power signals, data signals, or other suitable signals.

公开(公告)号：US10725595B2

公开(公告)日：2020-07-28

申请号：US15961742

申请日：2018-04-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Stephen T. Schooley ,  Kendall L. Helbert ,  Ari Y. Benbasat ,  Clayton J. McCoy ,  Devon J. Rosner ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Sean M. Cole ,  Yufei Zhao ,  Zhao Liu ,  Judd Reed

IPC: G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041 ,  H05K5/03

Abstract: An electronic device such as a portable electronic device may have display with a capacitive touch sensor. A cover may have a front portion and a rear portion that bend along a bend axis. The front portion may overlap the display when the cover is closed. Conductive structures such as a patterned conductive layer having elongated strips of conductive material separated by gaps or another predetermined pattern may be formed in the front portion of a cover or other portion of a cover that overlaps the display and capacitive touch sensor when the cover is closed. Control circuitry in the device can gather capacitance images with the touch sensor and can detect when the cover has transitioned from open to closed or from closed to open from whether the predetermined pattern becomes present or becomes absent in the capacitance images.

公开(公告)号：US12093468B1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-17

申请号：US18115571

申请日：2023-02-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Joshua A. Hoover

IPC: G06F3/02 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H04M1/02

CPC classification number: G06F3/02 ,  G06F1/1628 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H04M1/026 ,  G06F2200/1633

Abstract: Input mechanisms can employ a case for an electronic device that provides input capabilities to enhance the user experience when using the case in concert with the electronic device. For example, a case can provide an electromechanical touch sensor to provide the user with an input mechanism that does not require actuation of the button of the electronic device. The electronic device, upon detecting the presence of the case, can disable one or more buttons and perform actions corresponding to the buttons when signals are received from the case.

公开(公告)号：US11979721B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-07

申请号：US18208217

申请日：2023-06-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Nicholas R. Trincia ,  Yue Chen ,  Seul Bi Kim ,  Chad J. Miller ,  Kristen L. Cretella ,  Yi Zou ,  William Leith

IPC: H04R3/12 ,  G10L25/78 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/40 ,  H04R3/00

CPC classification number: H04R3/12 ,  G10L25/78 ,  H04R1/023 ,  H04R1/403 ,  H04R1/406 ,  H04R3/005 ,  H04R2201/025 ,  H04R2201/401 ,  H04R2420/07

Abstract: A wearable device can provide an audio module that is operable to provide audio output from a distance away from the ears of the user. For example, the wearable device can be worn on clothing of the user and direct audio waves to the ears of the user. Such audio waves can be focused by a parametric array of speakers that limit audibility by others. Thus, the privacy of the audio directed to the user can be maintained without requiring the user to wear audio headsets on, over, or in the ears of the user. The wearable device can further include microphones and/or connections to other devices that facilitate calibration of the audio module of the wearable device. The wearable device can further include user sensors that are configured to detect, measure, and/or track one or more properties of the user.

公开(公告)号：US11818528B1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-14

申请号：US17407691

申请日：2021-08-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi Zou ,  Chad J. Miller ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Kristen L. Cretella ,  Nicholas R. Trincia ,  Seul Bi Kim ,  William Leith ,  Yue Chen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  H04R31/00 ,  H04R1/04 ,  H04R1/02 ,  F21V33/00

CPC classification number: H04R1/1016 ,  H04R1/04 ,  H04R1/1041 ,  H04R31/00 ,  F21V33/0056 ,  H04R1/028 ,  H04R2420/07

Abstract: Wireless earbuds may be provided with adjustable-shape housings. The housings may have bendable portions. Bendable metal members, hinges, or other flexible structures may be used in forming bendable structures for the earbuds. Electrical components may be covered by a layer of molded foam. A cover such as a fabric cover may be used to cover the molded foam. Spacer fabric or other soft material may be interposed between the fabric cover and the foam. The housing may be bent or otherwise adjusted between two or more states such as a normal, non-sleep, walking state in which the housing is expanded for normal operation while a user is sitting or walking and a sleep state in which the housing is bent to enhance comfort while sleeping. The wireless earbuds may have illumination systems, sensors, and other components.

公开(公告)号：US20220079521A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-17

申请号：US17398185

申请日：2021-08-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Benjamin J. Grena ,  Lauren D. Gerardi ,  Didio V. Gomes ,  Camille I. Henrot ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Jennifer N. Husted ,  Gregory Wilson Rice ,  Lia M. Uesato

IPC: A61B5/00 ,  A61B5/11 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F1/16

Abstract: A system may include an electronic device that communicates with one or more wearable tags. The wearable tags may be placed on different parts of a user's body or clothing and may be used for one or more health-related functions such as posture monitoring, sun exposure monitoring, physical therapy, running assistance, fall detection, and other functions. The wearable tag may have different types of sensors that gather different types of sensor data depending on the health-related function that the wearable tag is being used for. A user may configure, control, and receive data from the wearable tag using an electronic device. The electronic device may be used to determine the location of the wearable tag on the user's body and to determine the desired health-related function for the wearable tag based on user input or based on sensor data gathered from the wearable tag.

公开(公告)号：US11112915B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-07

申请号：US16905178

申请日：2020-06-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Stephen T. Schooley ,  Kendall L. Helbert ,  Ari Y. Benbasat ,  Clayton J. McCoy ,  Devon J. Rosner ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Sean M. Cole ,  Yufei Zhao ,  Zhao Liu ,  Judd Reed

IPC: G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041 ,  H05K5/03

Abstract: An electronic device such as a portable electronic device may have display with a capacitive touch sensor. A cover may have a front portion and a rear portion that bend along a bend axis. The front portion may overlap the display when the cover is closed. Conductive structures such as a patterned conductive layer having elongated strips of conductive material separated by gaps or another predetermined pattern may be formed in the front portion of a cover or other portion of a cover that overlaps the display and capacitive touch sensor when the cover is closed. Control circuitry in the device can gather capacitance images with the touch sensor and can detect when the cover has transitioned from open to closed or from closed to open from whether the predetermined pattern becomes present or becomes absent in the capacitance images.

公开(公告)号：US20250063304A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-20

申请号：US18937399

申请日：2024-11-05

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Andrea L. Blakemore ,  Amit S. Barve ,  Donald L. Olmstead ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Samuel G. Smith ,  Seulbi Kim ,  James G. Griffin, II ,  Linda D. Benavente-Notaro

IPC: H04R5/033 ,  A61B5/24 ,  A61F9/04 ,  H04W4/38

Abstract: A wearable electronic device may be formed from a layer of fabric having opposing first and second ends. The ends may have first and second respective ear openings that receive a user's ears and may have speakers for playing audio. A soft central portion of the fabric between the ends may overlap the user's eyes. The wearable electronic device may have control circuitry that receives power from a power source. Sensors may be used to gather sensor information such as biometric sensor information. The sensors, control circuitry, and power source may be mounted in a stiff edge portion of the fabric. The stiff edge portion of the fabric may have an elongated strip shape and may extend along an upper edge of the central and the electronic device. Stiffener structures sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the fabric may be used to support speakers.

公开(公告)号：US20240192511A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-13

申请号：US18584146

申请日：2024-02-22

Applicant: APPLE INC.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Dustin A. Hatfield ,  Liam R. Martinez ,  Kristine S. Atom ,  Adam Y. Kollgaard ,  Benjamin A. Shaffer ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Jenna L. Withrow ,  Robert V. Tang ,  Kendall L. Helbert ,  Geng Luo

IPC: G02B27/01

CPC classification number: G02B27/0176

Abstract: A wearable device includes a support and a cushion that is coupled to the support, the cushion including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first stiffness, the second portion having a second stiffness, and the first stiffness is at least four times greater than the second stiffness.

公开(公告)号：US11716560B1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-01

申请号：US17219180

申请日：2021-03-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Kristen L. Cretella ,  Chad J. Miller ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Nicholas R. Trincia ,  Seul Bi Kim ,  William Leith ,  Yi Zou ,  Yue Chen

IPC: H04R1/10

CPC classification number: H04R1/1025 ,  H04R1/1016 ,  H04R2420/07

Abstract: An accessory for wireless earbuds can include a first receiving portion defining a first cavity sized to receive and retain a first earbud and a second receiving portion defining a second cavity sized to receive and retain a second earbud. Each receiving portion can include a charging component to electrically couple with the respective earbud. The accessory can include a flexible portion connected to the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion, the flexible portion at least partially defining an internal volume, and a battery disposed in the internal volume and electrically coupled with the charging components.