Patents by Inventor David E. Kingman

David E. Kingman 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: 20240092056
    Abstract: A panel of a structure includes an outer layer and an inner layer that is positioned closer to an interior surface of the structure than the outer layer. An intermediate layer is positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer, and a mask layer is positioned between the outer layer and the intermediate layer. The mask layer includes an outer portion and an inner portion, where the outer portion is positioned between the outer layer and the intermediate layer, and the inner portion is positioned between the outer portion and the intermediate layer. The outer portion and the inner portion include different visual attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Peter F. Masschelein, Paul M. Connolly, Albert J. Golko
  • Publication number: 20240085734
    Abstract: A panel includes an outer layer and an inner layer. A mask layer is positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer. An active layer is positioned between the mask layer and the inner layer and adjacent to an outer edge of the panel. The active layer extends from the outer edge of the panel toward a central portion of the panel and includes an independently controllable active element configured to limit viewing of the mask layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Paul M. Connolly, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240025154
    Abstract: A window in a system may have inner and outer window layers. The inner and outer window layers may be formed from molded glass plates. The inner window layer may have a molded convex surface formed by molding a first glass plate against a mold with a concave surface. The inner window layer may have an opposing non-molded surface that does not contact the mold during molding operations and is smoother than the molded convex surface. The outer window layer may have a molded concave surface formed by molding a second glass plate against a mold with a convex surface. The outer window layer may have an opposing non-molded surface that is not contacted by the mold during molding operations and is smoother than molded convex surface. A layer of polymer may join the inner and outer window layers with their molded surfaces facing each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Albert J. Golko, Dale N. Memering, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240010054
    Abstract: A system may have windows. Each window may have inner and outer glass layers laminated together with polymer. Optical component layers may be incorporated into the polymer or the polymer may be free of embedded components. To avoid mismatch between adjacent window edges in systems with multiple adjacent windows, adjacent windows may be formed from shared-cut-edge-matched window panel sections that are cut from a common window panel. Windows may be formed from a single portion of laminated glass or may be formed by joining multiple smaller pieces of laminated glass together along a seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Albert J. Golko, Peter F Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240009971
    Abstract: A light guide may be embedded in a window. The light guide may have cladding and a light guide core layer embedded in the cladding. The light guide core layer may include a polymer layer configured to receive light from a light source. A selective area adjustable haze layer in the light guide core layer may have segmented transparent electrodes that can be controlled to cause one or more selected areas of the adjustable haze layer to become hazy. Light from the light source may be guided across the window within the light guide core layer in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. When a dynamically adjusted hazy portion of the selective area adjustable haze layer is reached by the guided light, the guided light will be scattered out of the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Albert J. Golko, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240004125
    Abstract: A system may have windows. A window in the system may have first and second window layers such as structural layers of glass. The window may have a light guide layer between the first and second window layers. The light guide layer may have cladding layers and a core layer between the cladding layers. The core and cladding refractive index values may be selected so that the refractive index of the core is greater than the refractive index of the structural layers of glass while the refractive index of the claddings is less than the refractive index of the structural layer of glass. Light-scattering structures may be formed on the light guide to extract some of the light within the light guide and thereby provide illumination for the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: David E Kingman, Clarisse Mazuir, Lai Wang, Se Hyun Ahn, Yongxing Hu, Yuan Chen
  • Publication number: 20240004121
    Abstract: A system may have windows. Each window may have light guide structures. The light guide structures may be formed between inner and outer glass layers. Light sources may emit light into the light guide structures. The light guide structures may include light guide core layers that guide light from the light sources across the window. Light-scattering structures may be provided to extract light from the light guide core layers. Some of the guided light may be extracted inwardly to serve as interior illumination for the system. Some of the guided light may be extracted outwardly. The outwardly extracted light visually obscures the interior region from the outside of the system, thereby providing system occupants with privacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: David E Kingman, Albert J Golko, Peter F Masschelein
  • Patent number: 11833891
    Abstract: A laminated glazing includes a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and a third layer between the first glass layer and the second glass layer. The third layer has an optical property that differs in a first region as compared to a second region, the first region being within five inches of one side of the laminated glazing and the second region extending from the first region toward another side of the laminated glazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Christopher L. Porritt, Marcelo B. da Silveira Magalhaes, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein, Donald R. Monroe
  • Patent number: 11820310
    Abstract: An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a panel. The apparatus includes a weakened portion that extends laterally across a width dimension of the panel. The apparatus includes a stop structure spaced from the weakened portion that extends laterally across the width dimension of the panel to limit deformation. A bottom edge of the panel is configured to rotate about an axis extending along the weakened portion to abut the stop structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alexander M. Zoellner, Arturo Llamazares Domper, Christopher D. Jones, David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Jesse T. Buehler, Rikard Fredriksson, Stephen B. Lynch
  • Publication number: 20230333308
    Abstract: A system may have windows. A window may have a structural window layer such as a structural window layer formed from laminated glass layers. The window may separate an exterior region from an interior region within the vehicle. A light guide illuminator in the window may provide illumination for the interior region. The light guide illuminator may have a light guide that receives light from a light source. The light guide may have a density of light scattering structures that increases as a function of increasing distance from the light source so that the interior illumination is uniform across the light guide illuminator. An adjustable optical component layer such as a light modulator and/or a haze compensation layer with a density of light scattering structures that decreases as a function of distance from the light source may be interposed between the light guide and the structural window layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Clarisse Mazuir, James R. Wilson, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Patent number: 11773642
    Abstract: A light transmitting panel assembly includes a first panel, a second panel, a frame, a gap between the first panel and the second panel, and a first active component located between the first panel and the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Marcelo B. da Silveira Magalhaes, Peter F. Masschelein, Gregory A. Cohoon, Derek C. Scott, David E. Kingman
  • Patent number: 11772354
    Abstract: A glass fastening system includes a glass portion, a support structure defining a recess, a first adhesive layer disposed on an exterior surface of the glass portion facing the recess in the support structure, a second adhesive layer disposed within the recess of the support structure, and a fastener having a first portion secured to the first adhesive layer and a second portion extending away from the first portion and into the second adhesive layer to secure the glass portion to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Donald R. Monroe, Phil M. Hobson, Juan A. Lazaro, Ibuki Kamei, John Raff, Stephen B. Lynch, Albert J. Golko, Christopher D. Prest, Dale N. Memering, James A. Yurko, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 11772466
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof opening, a front window that is located forward from the roof opening, and a rear window that is located rearward from the roof opening. The vehicle also includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel and the second panel obstruct the roof opening in a closed position and are movable to an open position in which the first panel is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the front window and the second panel is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the rear window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Philipp J. Wolf, John Raff, Donald R. Monroe, Samuel G. Fowle, Antonio B. Martinez, Albert J. Golko, Ali Tavakoli Targhi, David J. Donohue, David E. Kingman, Ibuki Kamei, Christopher L. Porritt
  • Patent number: 11747539
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers and first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers. The light-control panel also includes a thermal coating extending between the first switchable component and the first glazing layer and a filter extending between the first and second switchable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Patent number: 11731555
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof panel, an opening defined by the roof panel and a movable panel assembly that is configured to move between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening. A first track is located above the roof panel at a first lateral side of the movable panel, and a second track located above the roof panel at a second lateral side of the movable panel, wherein the movable panel is supported by the first track and the second track for movement between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Philipp J. Wolf, Samuel G. Fowle, Donald R. Monroe, John Raff, Antonio B. Martinez, Albert J. Golko, Ali Tavakoli Targhi, David J. Donohue, David E. Kingman, Ibuki Kamei
  • Publication number: 20230256711
    Abstract: A system may have structure. The structures may include laminated structures formed by attaching inner and outer layers together with a layer of adhesive. The inner and outer layers in a structure may be formed from polymer such as polycarbonate. Forming the structure layers from polymer may allow the structure to have desired curvature. To improve safety and/or acoustic performance of the structure, the inner and outer structure layers may be formed from different materials. The outer polymer layer may be formed from polycarbonate and the inner polymer layer may be formed from a more brittle polymer such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Paul M Connolly, Albert J Golko, Arturo Llamazares Domper, David E Kingman, Derek C Krass, Martin Gross, Olivier C Barthomeuf, Peter F Masschelein, Yogesh Upreti
  • Patent number: 11691581
    Abstract: An attenuation system is connected to a structural portion and includes a first portion, a second portion, and an actuator. The actuator is configured to move the attenuation system between a retracted position and an extended position. The first portion is moved outward relative to the second portion during movement of the attenuation system from the retracted position to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Juan A. Lazaro, Erik Mikael Fermer, Alice C. Watts, Tommaso P. Rivellini, Christian Schermaier, John Raff, Derek C. Scott, David E. Kingman, Bryce A. Woollard, Samuel G. Fowle, Mark B. Rober, Ibuki Kamei, Donald R. Monroe, Jesse T. Buehler, Paul D. Yeomans
  • Publication number: 20230075801
    Abstract: A vehicle or other system may have windows. The windows may be formed by laminating together glass layers. The glass layers may include a curved inner glass layer with a convex outer surface and a curved outer glass layer with a concave inner surface. A polymer adhesive film such as a polyvinyl butyral film may be adhered to the convex outer surface. An additional polymer layer formed from a different material than the polymer film may be interposed between the polymer film and the second glass layer. The additional polymer layer may be formed from a gap-filling liquid polymer adhesive layer. The layer of gap-filling liquid polymer adhesive may have a first surface adhered to the polymer film and a second surface adhered to the concave inner surface. An optical layer may be embedded in the additional polymer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: David E Kingman, Albert J Golko, Dale N Memering, Peter F Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20230060365
    Abstract: A system may have a window. The system may be a vehicle having a vehicle body. The window may serve as a front window in the vehicle body, a rear window in the vehicle body, a side or roof window, or other window. A window may include one or more structural glass layers. A layer of polymer may be used to attach glass layers together. An electrically adjustable component such as a light modulator layer may be included between structural glass layers. The glass layers may be characterized by regions of compound curvature. To ensure satisfactory optical performance, the window layers may be formed from molded sheets of glass that are shaped in a molding tool with draw beads of various strengths. The molded glass layers may exhibit low amounts of thickness variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: David E Kingman, Albert J Golko, Dale N Memering, Zhiyong C Xia
  • Publication number: 20230046757
    Abstract: A vehicle or other system may have windows. The windows may be formed by laminating together molded sheets of polished float glass. Sheets of float glass may be polished on one side, leaving an opposing side unpolished. Following polishing, the sheets may be placed in a molding tool. The molding tool may mold the polished sheets into a desired shape such as a shape characterized by curved surfaces. The curved surfaces may include surfaces of compound curvature. Lamination equipment may use polymer to laminate first and second molded sheets of polished glass together with their polished sides facing outwardly away from each other. Light modulators and/or other electrically adjustable layers may be incorporated into the windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: David E Kingman, Albert J Golko, Peter F Masschelein