Patents by Inventor Bryan W. Posner

Bryan W. Posner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11960334
    Abstract: Cable assemblies for providing electrical communication between hinged sections of an electronic device are described. The cable assemblies can include a cover that covers one or more cables that run through a hinge region of the electronic device. The cable and cover can be drawn over a mandrel of the hinge region. The cover and the portions of the mandrel can be visible to a user at the hinge region of the electronic device. The cover can be sufficiently rigid to guide a path of the cable and protect the cable from bending beyond a prescribed angle during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cover can also be sufficiently rigid to prevent ceasing or folding of the cover and the cable during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Bartley K. Andre, Adam T. Garelli, Simon Regis Louis Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jacob S. Kononiuk, Robert J. Lockwood, Bryan W. Posner, Kevin M. Keeler, Bruce E. Berg, Yi-Chen Kuo, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Publication number: 20230400892
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a base portion and a display portion rotatably mounted to the base portion. The display portion can have a display housing including a trim that at least partially defines an orifice and a portion of the exterior surface of the electronic device. A display call can be positioned at the orifice in contact with the trim and can be secured to the display housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Dinesh C. Mathew, Bryan W. Posner, Adam T. Garelli
  • Publication number: 20230350457
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs
  • Publication number: 20230333658
    Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 11775031
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a base portion and a display portion rotatably mounted to the base portion. The display portion can have a display housing including a trim that at least partially defines an orifice and a portion of the exterior surface of the electronic device. A display call can be positioned at the orifice in contact with the trim and can be secured to the display housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Dinesh C. Mathew, Bryan W. Posner, Adam T. Garelli
  • Publication number: 20230290897
    Abstract: A display may include a color filter layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may be formed in the display to accommodate a camera. The camera window may be formed by creating a notch in the thin-film transistor layer that extends inwardly from the edge of the thin-film transistor layer. The notch may be formed by scribing the thin-film transistor layer around the notch location and breaking away a portion of the thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may also be formed by grinding a hole in the display. The hole may penetrate partway into the thin-film transistor layer, may penetrate through the transistor layer but not into the color filter layer, or may pass through the thin-film transistor layer and partly into the color filter layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Eric L. Benson, Bryan W. Posner, Christopher L. Boitnott, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jun Qi, Robert Y. Cao, Victor H. Yin
  • Patent number: 11740658
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs
  • Publication number: 20230251693
    Abstract: Cable assemblies for providing electrical communication between hinged sections of an electronic device are described. The cable assemblies can include a cover that covers one or more cables that run through a hinge region of the electronic device. The cable and cover can be drawn over a mandrel of the hinge region. The cover and the portions of the mandrel can be visible to a user at the hinge region of the electronic device. The cover can be sufficiently rigid to guide a path of the cable and protect the cable from bending beyond a prescribed angle during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cover can also be sufficiently rigid to prevent ceasing or folding of the cover and the cable during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Mikael M. SILVANTO, Bartley K. ANDRE, Adam T. GARELLI, Simon Regis Louis LANCASTER-LAROCQUE, Robert Y. CAO, Dinesh C. MATHEW, Jacob S. KONONIUK, Robert J. LOCKWOOD, Bryan W. POSNER, Kevin M. KEELER, Bruce E. BERG, Yi-Chen KUO, Kevin M. ROBINSON, Houtan R. FARAHANI
  • Patent number: 11720176
    Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 11715810
    Abstract: A display may include a color filter layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may be formed in the display to accommodate a camera. The camera window may be formed by creating a notch in the thin-film transistor layer that extends inwardly from the edge of the thin-film transistor layer. The notch may be formed by scribing the thin-film transistor layer around the notch location and breaking away a portion of the thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may also be formed by grinding a hole in the display. The hole may penetrate partway into the thin-film transistor layer, may penetrate through the transistor layer but not into the color filter layer, or may pass through the thin-film transistor layer and partly into the color filter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Benson, Bryan W. Posner, Christopher L. Boitnott, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jun Qi, Robert Y. Cao, Victor H. Yin
  • Patent number: 11698663
    Abstract: A computing device can include a housing including a peripheral housing defining an aperture, the peripheral housing having a constant cross-sectional area. The computing device can also include a display having a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, the display disposed within the aperture defined by the peripheral housing and attached to the housing at one or more locations such that the first major surface and the second major surface of the display are substantially unobstructed by any other portion of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Adam T. Garelli, Bryan W. Posner, Denis H. Endisch, Dinesh C. Mathew, Paul X. Wang
  • Patent number: 11656660
    Abstract: Cable assemblies for providing electrical communication between hinged sections of an electronic device are described. The cable assemblies can include a cover that covers one or more cables that run through a hinge region of the electronic device. The cable and cover can be drawn over a mandrel of the hinge region. The cover and the portions of the mandrel can be visible to a user at the hinge region of the electronic device. The cover can be sufficiently rigid to guide a path of the cable and protect the cable from bending beyond a prescribed angle during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cover can also be sufficiently rigid to prevent ceasing or folding of the cover and the cable during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Bartley K. Andre, Adam T. Garelli, Simon Regis Louis Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jacob S. Kononiuk, Robert J. Lockwood, Bryan W. Posner, Kevin M. Keeler, Bruce E. Berg, Yi-Chen Kuo, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Patent number: 11656661
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems can mitigate the ingress of debris such as small foreign particles or fluids passing into a joint of an electronic device. Some aspects of the systems prevent particles from passing between a flexible cable and a mandrel surface used to limit bending of the cable. Other aspects provide particle relief features including gaps, grooves, or reduced-size sections of the mandrel so that particles can pass into them and thereby cause no damage or pass out of the electronic device. Another aspect provides a protective layer configured to limit pressure applied to the cable by particles or other contaminants. These apparatuses and systems can improve the life and durability of the mandrel and cable, thereby improving the reliability of operating the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Karan Bir, Adam T. Garelli, Bryan W. Posner, Denis H. Endisch, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
  • Publication number: 20220326777
    Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20220214724
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a base portion and a display portion rotatably mounted to the base portion. The display portion can have a display housing including a trim that at least partially defines an orifice and a portion of the exterior surface of the electronic device. A display call can be positioned at the orifice in contact with the trim and can be secured to the display housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Dinesh C. Mathew, Bryan W. Posner, Adam T. Garelli
  • Patent number: 11366523
    Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 11320868
    Abstract: Invasive material ingress mitigation and control features are positioned in a hinge that uses a flexible cable and cable cover at a gap between housings of a portable electronic device. The features include hydrophobic materials on the cover or a cover-facing surface of the device housing, a barrier between the cover and the device housing, channels or protrusions on the cover-facing surface of the top case, a series of different top case surface feature modifications, and a flex cover profile modification that controls and limits contacting surface area between the cover and the top case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Karan Bir, Adam T. Garelli, Bryan W. Posner, Denis H. Endisch, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
  • Publication number: 20220035414
    Abstract: A computing device can include a housing including a peripheral housing defining an aperture, the peripheral housing having a constant cross-sectional area. The computing device can also include a display having a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, the display disposed within the aperture defined by the peripheral housing and attached to the housing at one or more locations such that the first major surface and the second major surface of the display are substantially unobstructed by any other portion of the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Adam T. Garelli, Bryan W. Posner, Denis H. Endisch, Dinesh C. Mathew, Paul X. Wang
  • Patent number: 11169574
    Abstract: A computing device can include a housing including a peripheral housing defining an aperture, the peripheral housing having a constant cross-sectional area. The computing device can also include a display having a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, the display disposed within the aperture defined by the peripheral housing and attached to the housing at one or more locations such that the first major surface and the second major surface of the display are substantially unobstructed by any other portion of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Adam T. Garelli, Bryan W. Posner, Denis H. Endisch, Dinesh C. Mathew, Paul X. Wang
  • Publication number: 20210325942
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems can mitigate the ingress of debris such as small foreign particles or fluids passing into a joint of an electronic device. Some aspects of the systems prevent particles from passing between a flexible cable and a mandrel surface used to limit bending of the cable. Other aspects provide particle relief features including gaps, grooves, or reduced-size sections of the mandrel so that particles can pass into them and thereby cause no damage or pass out of the electronic device. Another aspect provides a protective layer configured to limit pressure applied to the cable by particles or other contaminants. These apparatuses and systems can improve the life and durability of the mandrel and cable, thereby improving the reliability of operating the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Karan Bir, Adam T. Garelli, Bryan W. Posner, Denis H. Endisch, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque