Patents by Inventor Carl R. Peterson

Carl R. Peterson 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: 11480998
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10664053
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing localized tactile output and systems and methods for obtaining localized physical characteristic information are disclosed. An electronic device can include a friction transducer configured to augment and/or detect friction between a surface of an electronic device and an object in contact with that electronic device. The electronic device may also include a force transducer configured to detect the force with which an object contacts a display. The force transducer may also provide mechanical output. The electronic device can also include a thermal transducer to augment and/or detect the temperature of various locations on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Derek W. Wright, Kevin D. Gibbs, Soyoung Kim, Stephen R. McClure
  • Publication number: 20200117235
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10474193
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10291279
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180167100
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9928762
    Abstract: Electronic devices may include displays. A display may include backlight structures that generate light and display layers that generate images using the generated light. An electronic device may include an opaque flexible printed circuit that is wrapped around one or more edges of the backlight structures. The opaque flexible printed circuit may prevent light from the backlight structures from reaching other electronic components or escaping from the device. The opaque flexible printed circuit may include signal lines that communicate signals between a printed circuit board and the display. The opaque flexible printed circuit may be a layer of the printed circuit board that extends from an edge of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may include an additional flexible extended printed circuit layer that wraps around a surface of the printed circuit board and forms a portion of a conductive shield over that surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Kevin D. Gibbs, Amy Qian, John Raff, Carl R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9929767
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170317707
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170308123
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Utterman, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9749000
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9710017
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Utterman, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20170090576
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing localized tactile output and systems and methods for obtaining localized physical characteristic information are disclosed. An electronic device can include a friction transducer configured to augment and/or detect friction between a surface of an electronic device and an object in contact with that electronic device. The electronic device may also include a force transducer configured to detect the force with which an object contacts a display. The force transducer may also provide mechanical output. The electronic device can also include a thermal transducer to augment and/or detect the temperature of various locations on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Derek W. Wright, Kevin D. Gibbs, Soyoung Kim, Stephen R. McClure
  • Publication number: 20160344440
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9432492
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9402303
    Abstract: An electronic device contains electrical circuits. The circuits may include circuitry on printed circuit boards and components such as a touch screen display and buttons. Signal paths for routing signals between the electrical circuits may be formed from metal traces on flexible printed circuit cables. The flexible printed circuit cables may be bent around one or more bend axes. A flexible printed circuit cable may be formed from a flexible polymer substrate having one or more layers of polymer. Upper and lower ground layers may be supported by the flexible polymer substrate. The metal traces for the signal paths may lie between the upper and lower ground layers. Longitudinal slits within the flexible printed circuit may be formed that pass through the ground layers and the polymer layers. Vias may be formed that couple the ground layers together. The vias may run along the edges of the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Qian, Carl R. Peterson, Jeremy C. Franklin, Joseph F. Alverson, Kevin D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 9335187
    Abstract: Pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive may contain microspheres that burst and release indicator when subjected to pressure and thereby produce a detectable indication of how much pressure has been applied when forming an adhesive joint between opposing structures. Electronic device structures can be assembled using the pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive. A camera or other sensor may monitor joint formation. The camera can gather infrared image data, visible light image data, or ultraviolet light image data. Sensor data such as magnetic or ultrasonic sensor data can also be collected on an adhesive joint. Joint inspection can be performed on test structures and production structures and corresponding adjustments made to the joint formation process. Positioners and other equipment that compresses the pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive can be adjusted in real time or calibrated using information about the condition of the pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Derek W. Wright, Carl R. Peterson, Kristina A. Babiarz
  • Patent number: 9137891
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a conductive housing. A dielectric structure may be mounted in the conductive housing to form an antenna window. An electrical component such as a camera, light sensor, or other device may press against a conductive foam structure. A printed circuit may have conductive traces that form an antenna ground and antenna resonating element. The printed circuit may be wrapped around a support structure. The electrical component, the conductive foam structure, and the printed circuit wrapped around the support structure may be compressed between a display cover layer and the antenna window. A camera window may be attached to a camera window trim using multiple adhesives. The trim may have a curved exterior surface that matches a curved housing surface. A flexible printed circuit cable may have a folded portion. A band structure may surround the folded portion to form a service loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Gibbs, Carl R. Peterson, Erik A. Uttermann, Conor P. Lenahan, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich, Elvis M. Kibiti, Derek Wright
  • Patent number: 9048597
    Abstract: Printed circuit substrates may be formed from rigid printed circuit material or flexible sheets of polymer. Printed circuit substrates may have conductive traces. Integrated circuits, touch sensor electrode structure, sensors, and other components may be mounted to the conductive traces. Connectors such as board-to-board connectors may be used to couple printed circuit substrates together. To hold the connectors together and to provide electromagnetic shielding, printed circuits and connectors may be surrounded by printed circuit connector securing structures. The printed circuit connector securing structures may have one or more strips of conductive fabric tape wrapped around the connectors. Metal stiffening members may be attached to opposing ends of the strip of conductive tape to facilitate removal of the tape for rework or repair. An additional strip of tape may be used to help secure the wrapped conductive tape. The additional strip may have a tab to facilitate removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Alex C. Yeung, Stephen R. McClure, Derek W. Wright
  • Patent number: D834579
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Kevin David Gibbs, Carl R. Peterson, John Raff, Christopher J. Stringer