公开(公告)号：US10394575B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-27

申请号：US15499569

申请日：2017-04-27

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Fletcher R. Rothkopf

IPC: H01H47/00 ,  G06F9/445 ,  G06F1/16 ,  H01H35/00 ,  H01H9/00 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06N5/02 ,  G06F1/3231 ,  G06F1/3234

Abstract: An automatic hold switch is disclosed. The automatic hold switch provides a means for automatically switching a hold feature on and off. When the hold feature is on, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are disabled or prevented from providing input signals. When the hold feature is off, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are enabled or allowed to provide input signals. Because the user no longer has to manually control the hold feature, the number of actions that need to be taken by the user is reduced. In one example, the automatic hold switch is embodied with light sensors that detect when the device is in a dark environment and when the device is in a light environment. A dark environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes not to input and therefore the hold feature is turned on. A lighted environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes to input and therefore the hold feature is turned off.

公开(公告)号：US20190250754A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-15

申请号：US16391856

申请日：2019-04-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  Erik G. de JONG ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06F3/0362 ,  H03K17/975 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G04C3/00 ,  G04G21/00 ,  G01D5/241

CPC classification number: G06F3/0414 ,  G01D5/2412 ,  G04C3/007 ,  G04G21/00 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06F3/0362 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H03K17/975 ,  H03K2217/960755

Abstract: An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.

公开(公告)号：US10372166B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-06

申请号：US15212029

申请日：2016-07-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Brian M. Gable ,  Carlo Di Nallo ,  Colin M. Ely ,  Craig A. Horton ,  Erik G. de Jong ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  Henry B. Wettersten ,  Hoishun Li ,  Jason C. Sauers ,  Jayesh Nath ,  Mario Martinis ,  Mattia Pascolini ,  Michael P. Coleman ,  Rex T. Ehman ,  Zheyu Wang

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  H01Q1/22 ,  H04B1/3888 ,  H04M1/02 ,  H05K5/00 ,  H05K5/04 ,  B29C70/76 ,  H01Q1/24 ,  H01Q21/28 ,  H04M1/18 ,  B29L31/34

Abstract: A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. The housing includes a first conductive component defining a first interface surface, a second conductive component defining a second interface surface facing the first interface surface, and a joint structure between the first and second interface surfaces. The joint structure includes a molded element forming a portion of an exterior surface of the housing, and a sealing member forming a watertight seal between the first and second conductive components. Methods of forming the electronic device housing are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20190212603A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-11

申请号：US16355569

申请日：2019-03-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul S. Drzaic ,  Jeremy C. Franklin ,  Stephen Brian Lynch ,  Scott A. Myers ,  Benjamin M. Rappoport ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  John P. Ternus

IPC: G02F1/1345

CPC classification number: G02F1/13452 ,  G02F2201/42

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display having a thin-film transistor layer. One or more holes in the thin-film transistor layer may be used to form pathways from display circuitry to other circuitry underneath the display. One or more conductive bridges may pass through holes in the thin-film transistor layer and may have one end that couples to the display circuitry and a second end that couples to a printed circuit underneath the display. These conductive bridges may be formed from wire bonding. Wire bond connections may be encapsulated with potting material to improve the reliability of the wire bond and increase the resiliency of the display. Display signal lines may be routed through holes in a thin-film transistor layer to run along a backside of the display thereby reducing the need for space in the border region for display circuitry.

公开(公告)号：US10290440B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US14170051

申请日：2014-01-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Pierre M. Teplitxky ,  Colin M. Ely ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  Anna-Katrina Shedletsky ,  Samuel B. Weiss

IPC: H01H13/06 ,  H01H11/00

Abstract: A waterproof button assembly. The waterproof button assembly may include a housing including an opening and a button. The button may be positioned at least partially within the housing via the opening. The assembly may also include a plurality of engagement components positioned on opposite-distal ends of the button. The plurality of engagement components may be configured to retain the button within the housing. The engagement components may extend distally from the button, such that a portion of the engagement components may be positioned within apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing. The assembly may also include a plurality of supports, a tactile dome in contact with the button and at least one of the plurality of supports. A sensing component of the assembly may be positioned adjacent the housing and in alignment with the button and/or tactile dome for sensing actuation of the button within the assembly.

公开(公告)号：US10290202B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US15935914

申请日：2018-03-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Dave Pakula ,  Matthew Hill ,  Ethan Larry Huwe ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  Richard Hung Minh Dinh

IPC: G08B21/00 ,  G08B25/01 ,  H04M19/04 ,  G08B23/00

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts to the current operating environment of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method comprising providing a plurality of alert devices in an electronic device, determining an operating environment of the electronic device using a sensor of the electronic device, and actuating at least one of the plurality of alert devices that corresponds to the determined operating environment.

公开(公告)号：US20190096966A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-28

申请号：US16203410

申请日：2018-11-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Benjamin M. Rappoport ,  Jeremy C. Franklin ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  Scott A. Myers ,  Richard P. Howarth ,  Julian Hoenig ,  Christopher J. Stringer ,  John P. Ternus ,  Stephen Brian Lynch

IPC: H01L27/32 ,  H01L51/00 ,  G02B27/01 ,  G02B5/20 ,  G09G3/3208 ,  G06F1/16 ,  H04R1/02 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an active region in which display pixels are used to display images. The display may have one or more openings and may be mounted in a housing associated with the electronic device. An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the openings in the display. The electronic component may include a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, status indicator lights, a light-based touch sensor array, a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings, antenna structures, a speaker, a microphone, or other acoustic, electromagnetic, or light-based component. One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object. Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.

公开(公告)号：US10109232B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-23

申请号：US15150278

申请日：2016-05-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Benjamin Mark Rappoport ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  John Patrick Ternus ,  Paul Stephen Drzaic ,  Scott Andrew Myers ,  Stephen Brian Lynch

IPC: G09G5/10 ,  G09G3/3225 ,  G09G3/20 ,  G09G3/30 ,  H01L51/52 ,  H01L27/32

Abstract: A system and methods to extending the overall display area for a device. At or near the borders of a device, pixel pitch between adjacent pixels may be increased such that overall pixel placement may be provided closer to a border of a display of a device. In one embodiment, pixel drive circuitry may be located in the spacing between adjacent pixels. Additionally, various optical systems and techniques may be utilized to provide an appearance of a lack of a border around the display such as decreasing the size of border pixels, overdriving the border pixels, or utilizing a light pipe on a surface above the border pixels.

公开(公告)号：US20180299834A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-18

申请号：US16010502

申请日：2018-06-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  Maegan K. Spencer

IPC: G04C3/00 ,  G04B3/04 ,  G04G21/00

CPC classification number: G04C3/002 ,  G04B3/041 ,  G04B3/046 ,  G04G21/00

Abstract: A watch crown assembly is disclosed. The watch crown assembly comprises a body configured to receive rotary input. The body defines a recess and a retention feature. The watch crown assembly further comprises a ceramic member positioned at least partially in the recess and a mounting arm attached to the ceramic member. The mounting arm is engaged with the retention feature of the body, thereby retaining the ceramic member to the body.

公开(公告)号：US10088927B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-02

申请号：US14467657

申请日：2014-08-25

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  Scott A. Myers ,  Stephen Brian Lynch

IPC: G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F3/01

Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays and internal components. An internal component may be positioned under the flexible display. The internal component may be an output device such as a speaker that transmits sound through the flexible display or an actuator that deforms the display in a way that is sensed by a user. The internal component may also be a microphone or pressure sensor that receives sound or pressure information through the flexible display. Structural components may be used to permanently or temporarily deform the flexible display to provide tactile feedback to a user of the device.