Patents by Inventor Christopher D. Jones

Christopher D. Jones 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).

  • Publication number: 20230221766
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a rollable display. The display may be moved between an unrolled state in which the display is planar and a rolled state in which a rollable portion of the display is rolled up for storage. The display may have a display panel with a pixel array that produces images and a transparent protective layer that overlaps the pixel array. The transparent protective layer may contain a layer of glass. The glass layer may be locally thinned in the rollable portion to facilitate rolling of the display. The display may be configured to apply compressive stress to the outwardly facing surface of the glass layer when the display is rolled up. Compressive stress in the outwardly facing glass surface may help prevent damage to the display when the display is bent during rolling operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Que Anh S Nguyen, Christopher D Jones
  • Patent number: 11666273
    Abstract: An electronic device including an optical component and an enclosure comprising a glass ceramic region is disclosed. The optical properties of the glass ceramic region and the positioning of the glass ceramic region with respect to the optical component can affect the performance of the optical component, the visual appearance of the optical component, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Tyler A. Marshall
  • Patent number: 11639307
    Abstract: A glass sheet having asymmetric chemical strengthening is disclosed and described. The examples described herein are directed to a cover glass for an electronic device and other glass components that may be used as enclosure elements or may form an enclosure. Within the glass component, localized compressive stress regions may be formed on opposite sides of the glass component, which may help arrest or redirect propagating cracks or defects in the glass. The opposing compressive stress regions may also help maintain the overall flatness of the component while increasing strength and/or impact resistance of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Christopher C. Bartlow, Aidan R. Doan
  • Publication number: 20230100047
    Abstract: An optical lens includes a first transparent portion, a second transparent portion, and an opaque metal barrier separating the first transparent portion from the second transparent portion. The opaque metal barrier is bonded directly to the first transparent portion and the second transparent portion via aluminum-oxide bonds. The optical lens can include a transition zone between the opaque metal barrier and adjacent transparent portions. The transition zone can include the aluminum-oxide bonds and have a thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher D. Jones
  • Publication number: 20230081222
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have windows with one or more conductive layers. The conductive layers may form part of an infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer. The infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer may be formed as a coating on a transparent structural window layer such as an outer or inner glass layer in a laminated window or may be embedded in a polymer layer between the outer and inner layers. Segmented terminals and elongated terminals that may extend past two or more segmented terminals may be coupled to the edges of the conductive layers. Using these terminals, control circuitry can apply localized ohmic heating currents and can make resistance measurements on the conductive layers to detect cracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Melcher, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11573450
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display and other optical components such as optical sensors. The display and other components may be overlapped by chemically strengthened glass coherent fiber bundles. The surfaces of a coherent fiber bundle may include ion-exchanged glass that places theses surfaces under compressive stress. In some configurations, the coherent fiber bundle is symmetrically stressed and has equal amounts of compressive stress on opposing surfaces. In other configurations, the coherent fiber bundle is asymmetrically stressed and has more compressive stress on one surface than the other. The coherent fiber bundle may have areas with curved cross-sectional profiles, planar areas, and/or areas with compound curvature. Sensor windows may be formed in the coherent fiber bundle that are surrounded by an opaque area. When overlapping a display, the coherent fiber bundle may serve as a display cover glass layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Dale N. Memering, Daniel J. Barrett, Erik G. de Jong, Sameer Pandya, Tyler A. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20230014610
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Publication number: 20230013056
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Publication number: 20230011092
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Publication number: 20230002273
    Abstract: Methods for chemically strengthening a cover for an electronic are disclosed. The methods include removing material from a mounting surface of the cover to counteract warping of the mounting surface due to ion exchange. The chemically strengthened covers have a high bend strength and allow a strong seal to be formed between the cover and an enclosure component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Richard A. Davis, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 11506623
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have windows with one or more conductive layers. The conductive layers may form part of an infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer. The infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer may be formed as a coating on a transparent structural window layer such as an outer or inner glass layer in a laminated window or may be embedded in a polymer layer between the outer and inner layers. Segmented terminals and elongated terminals that may extend past two or more segmented terminals may be coupled to the edges of the conductive layers. Using these terminals, control circuitry can apply localized ohmic heating currents and can make resistance measurements on the conductive layers to detect cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Melcher, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11498397
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Publication number: 20220359133
    Abstract: Keycaps for keyboards that have transparent top portions have a set of layered components to define a top surface that provides key definition by curvature, texture, ridges, or other external structural features. Other portions of the keycaps define a glyph or support structure for the top layer. Features such as angle filters and partially reflective materials are implemented to improve the visibility, contrast, and reflectivity of the keycaps. Multiple methods are used to bend or otherwise modify rigid transparent materials such as glass in order to add surface features and to improve aesthetics of the keycaps of a keyboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Christopher D. Jones, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Martin Melcher, Matthew S. Rogers, Naoto Matsuyuki, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Avianne Marie B. Tuano
  • Publication number: 20220342163
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, and an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the housing. An optical component can be disposed in the aperture and can include a first region of a first material having a first index of refraction, the first region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation emitter, a second region of the first material, the second region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation detector, and a bulk region surrounding a periphery of the first region and a periphery of the second region, the bulk region including a second material having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
  • Publication number: 20220342450
    Abstract: Electronic devices including a display layer and a cover layer including a foldable region are disclosed herein. The display layer and the cover layer are configured to be moved between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration by bending the cover layer along the foldable region. Methods of making a cover layer for an electronic device are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Dale N. Memering, Christopher C. Bartlow
  • Patent number: 11447416
    Abstract: Methods for chemically strengthening a cover for an electronic are disclosed. The methods include removing material from a mounting surface of the cover to counteract warping of the mounting surface due to ion exchange. The chemically strengthened covers have a high bend strength and allow a strong seal to be formed between the cover and an enclosure component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Davis, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 11448086
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a variable stator vane and a method of fabricating the variable stator vane of a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing at least one fibre sheet. The method further includes rolling the at least one fibre sheet around a mandrel to form a spindle section of the variable stator vane. An excess of material of the at least one fibre sheet remains after forming the spindle section. The method further includes using the excess of material of the at least one fibre sheet to form the at least one aerofoil section of the variable stator vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Robert C. Backhouse, Adam J. Bishop
  • Publication number: 20220284715
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to sensing defects associated with a window. Furthermore, various embodiments relate to performing image processing to produce a corrected image of a scene based at least partly on data corresponding to the detected defects. In some examples, one or more lighting modules may be used to illuminate the window to facilitate detection of the defects by one or more sensor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Malcolm J. Northcott, Jack E. Graves, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 11435520
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display that displays an image and a display cover layer that overlaps the display. The display cover layer may have an image transport layer with an input surface that receives the image and a corresponding output surface to which the image is transported. The image transport layer may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle layer or a layer of Anderson localization material. The display cover layer may have a protective layer such as a protective glass layer that overlaps the image transport layer. A ring-shaped region of the display cover layer may have one or more structures with locally modified properties for arresting crack propagation across the display cover layer. The ring-shaped region may have one or more structures with locally reduced elasticity values or other structures that help arrest cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Christopher C. Bartlow, Christopher D. Jones, Michael B. Wittenberg
  • Patent number: 11420900
    Abstract: Electronic device components that include a glass portion and a ceramic or a glass ceramic portion are disclosed. The ceramic or glass ceramic portions of the component may be located to provide desired performance characteristics to the component, which may be an enclosure component. In addition, regions of compressive stress may be formed within the glass portion, the glass ceramic portion, or both to further adjust the performance characteristics of the component. Electronic devices including the components and methods for making the components are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler A. Marshall, Christopher D. Jones