Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Weber

Douglas J. Weber 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: 20170127163
    Abstract: A screen having a hydrophobic portion to resist the entry of liquid into an acoustic module and a hydrophilic portion to aid in the removal of liquid from an acoustic chamber is described. The screen is placed in an orifice in the acoustic module between the external environment and the internal acoustic chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
  • Patent number: 9625944
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure may take the form of an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing defining a port and a cavity, a processing element contained within the cavity of the housing, an input/output device (such as, but not limited to, a sound wave transducer) in selective communication with the port, and a flow-blocking member movably connected to the housing. The flow-blocking member selectively prevents fluid-flow, such as the flow of air, through the port. The electronic device also includes a fluid repelling member connected to the housing and positioned in a flow path between the port and the input/output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20170095043
    Abstract: A woven fabric includes light transmissive fibers woven into the fabric to provide a visual display. The fabric may be used as a tether to releasably connect a portable electronic device to a user. The light transmissive fibers may transmit light to convey information to the user. The fabric may also be used as part of the housing of an electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas J. WEBER, Teodor DABOV
  • Patent number: 9602914
    Abstract: An integrated audible sound output system incorporated in a personal media device is described. The integrated audible sound output system includes a first audio output port, the first audio output port acoustically coupled with the audible sound generator unit by way of a first air path and a second audio output port. In the described embodiments, the second audio output port is acoustically coupled with the audible sound generator unit by way of a second air path. The first and the second air paths cooperate to pass the audible sound generated by the audible sound generator unit to the external environment by way of the first audio port and the second audio port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Adam D. Mittleman, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Phillip M. Hobson, Eric S. Jol, Stephen Brian Lynch, Douglas J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20170066108
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a smooth matte surface of a ceramic component using a double abrasive blasting process. A surface region of a surface of the ceramic component may be blasted in a first abrasive blasting process, using, for example, a first abrasive media comprised of a first abrasive material having a hardness that is greater than that of the ceramic component. The surface may be blasted another time in a second abrasive blasting process, using, for example, a second abrasive media comprised of a second abrasive material coupled to an elastic element. In the second abrasive blasting process, the second abrasive material may be harder than the ceramic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Naoto Matsuyuki, Douglas J. Weber
  • Patent number: 9573165
    Abstract: A screen having a hydrophobic portion to resist the entry of liquid into an acoustic module and a hydrophilic portion to aid in the removal of liquid from an acoustic chamber is described. The screen is placed in an orifice in the acoustic module between the external environment and the internal acoustic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
  • Patent number: 9575382
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may be a liquid crystal display having a thin-film transistor layer and a color filter layer. The thin-film transistor layer may have diagonally opposed recesses in its edges that form diagonally opposed display driver ledges that protrude outwardly from under the color filter layer. Display driver circuitry may be mounted on the display driver ledges. Gate driver circuitry may be formed on the thin-film transistor layer. Recesses may be formed along the left and right edges of the display to form left and right display driver ledges to support the gate driver circuitry. A single display drive integrated circuit or multiple display driver integrated circuits may be mounted on each display driver ledge. The recesses may accommodate components in the electronic device such as a camera and audio jack or other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Kenneth A. Jenks
  • Patent number: 9553625
    Abstract: A wearable device is coupled to a band including multiple modular functional band links that are each electrically and mechanically connected to one or more other of the band links and/or the wearable device and include one or more electronic components. In various implementations, the wearable device may receive identifiers from each of the band links, determine functionality available using the identifiers, and communicate with the band links to utilize the determine functionality. In some implementations, the band links may include multiple different output devices and the wearable device may determine to provide an output pattern and signal the respective output devices according to the output pattern. In various implementations, the band links may include multiple different input devices and the wearable device may receive input indications from the input devices and perform an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Douglas J. Weber, Brian Shadle, Alex M. Lee, David S. Herman, Patrick S. Wieler, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
  • Patent number: 9521885
    Abstract: A woven fabric includes light transmissive fibers woven into the fabric to provide a visual display. The fabric may be used as a tether to releasably connect a portable electronic device to a user. The light transmissive fibers may transmit light to convey information to the user. The fabric may also be used as part of the housing of an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Teodor Dabov
  • Patent number: 9497872
    Abstract: Forming a 3D topology by forming a monolayer of nano-particles on a stainless steel surface, masking the stainless steel surface forming at least one unmasked regions, the unmasked region having an average density of nano-particles less than a critical average density, and introducing a plurality of exogenous atoms into the stainless steel surface only in the unmasked regions, the exogenous atoms causing the associated metal lattice to expand and harden and have an increase corrosion resistance, thereby selectively forming a 3D topology on the stainless steel surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
  • Publication number: 20160255922
    Abstract: An expandable band includes one or more expandable links and one or more expansion mechanisms. The expandable link is movable between expanded and contracted positions. The expandable link is biased toward the contracted position. The expansion mechanism can be manipulated to transition the expandable link between the expanded and contracted positions, thus expanding and/or contracting the expandable band. The expandable links may be X links, pantographs, and/or other linkages. The expansion mechanism may include one or more restrictors operable to restrict expansion of the expandable band. The expansion mechanism may also include one or more lock mechanisms operable to prevent and/or resist contracting of the expandable band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Douglas J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20160255921
    Abstract: A wearable band includes a woven material having two or more stretch regions. The different stretch regions can be formed by varying the tension on subsets of the warp threads, the weft threads, or both the warp and weft threads. A system for producing the woven material can include two or more tension control devices operably connected to a processing device. Each tension control device is configured to adjust the amount of tension in a respective subset of threads (e.g., warp threads) in the woven material during a weaving operation. The processing device is configured to select thread tension patterns for the subsets of threads used during the weaving operation. Each thread tension pattern includes tension settings for the subsets of threads, where at least one tension setting in one thread tension pattern differs from the tension settings in the other tension patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Yoji Hamada, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Daniel A. Podhajny, Ying-Liang Su, Douglas J. Weber, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Motohide Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20160255924
    Abstract: Clasp assemblies for bands (e.g., for watches) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a clasp assembly may include a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, where respective links are releasably coupled to one another, and spring assemblies disposed between respective links impart biasing forces between the respective links. In some embodiments, a clasp assembly may include a clasp body, a clasp cover, and a connecting arm pivotally coupled to the clasp body at a first end of the connecting arm, and pivotally coupled to the clasp cover at a second end of the connecting arm. The clasp assembly may include springs, magnets, elastomer members, and/or other mechanisms, components, or assemblies that impart a biasing force between the clasp body, the connecting arm, and/or the clasp cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Hsiang Hung Chen, Erik L. Wang, Michael J. Webb, Douglas J. Weber, Daniele De luliis, Kah Sim Quah
  • Publication number: 20160250782
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing a composite material that is bendable but substantially resists stretching under tension. One embodiment may take the form of a composite material formed by over-molding a woven glass fiber with silicone. The woven glass fiber may be rolled out with a silicon polymer melted into the woven fabric as the rolling process continues. The composite of the two materials may provide a material that bends easily but does not substantially stretch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Derek C. Krass, Douglas J. Weber, Jen-Chun Hsu, Osamu Yabe
  • Publication number: 20160239047
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure may take the form of an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing defining a port and a cavity, a processing element contained within the cavity of the housing, an input/output device (such as, but not limited to, a sound wave transducer) in selective communication with the port, and a flow-blocking member movably connected to the housing. The flow-blocking member selectively prevents fluid-flow, such as the flow of air, through the port. The electronic device also includes a fluid repelling member connected to the housing and positioned in a flow path between the port and the input/output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas J. Weber
  • Patent number: 9408571
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for surgeon-assisted rapid surgical implantation of devices into soft tissue. The apparatus comprises several subsystems that enable the referencing of the spatial position and orientation of the device being implanted with respect to the soft tissue into which it is being implanted and then the controlled implantation of the device at a predefined speed with higher positional accuracy and precision and a reduction in soft tissue damage, provided by ultrasonic assisted motion, compared to current state-of-the-art implantation methods and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilgunn, O. Burak Ozdoganlar, Takashi Daniel Yoshida Kozai, Gary Fedder, Xinyan Cui, Douglas J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20160094259
    Abstract: A wearable device is coupled to a band including multiple modular functional band links that are each electrically and mechanically connected to one or more other of the band links and/or the wearable device and include one or more electronic components. In various implementations, the wearable device may receive identifiers from each of the band links, determine functionality available using the identifiers, and communicate with the band links to utilize the determine functionality. In some implementations, the band links may include multiple different output devices and the wearable device may determine to provide an output pattern and signal the respective output devices according to the output pattern. In various implementations, the band links may include multiple different input devices and the wearable device may receive input indications from the input devices and perform an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective input devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Douglas J. Weber, Brian Shadle, Alex M. Lee, David S. Herman, Patrick S. Wieler, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
  • Publication number: 20160088692
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display. The display may be an organic light-emitting diode display. The organic light-emitting diode display may have a substrate layer, a layer of organic light-emitting diode structures, and a layer of sealant. Vias may be formed in the substrate layer. The vias may be formed before completion of the display or after completion of the display. The vias may be filled with metal using electroplating or other metal deposition techniques. The vias may be connected to contacts on the rear surface of the display. The vias may be located in active regions of the display or inactive regions of the display. The display may include a top surface emission portion and a bottom surface emission portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Paul S. Drzaic, Teodor Dabov, Derek W. Wright, Scott A. Myers
  • Publication number: 20160082537
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of refinishing surface features in bulk metallic glass articles by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weber, Kazuya Takagi
  • Patent number: 9293863
    Abstract: An article is disclosed. The article is an open connector that includes a base and first and second sides. The base and the first and second sides together define a receptacle channel. The receptacle channel is sized and shaped to receive a connector insert. The open connector includes one or several electrical contacts that can be located proximate to the base of the open connector. The electrical contact electrically connects with the connector insert. The open connector includes a retainer that can interact with a portion of the connector insert to retain the connector insert within the receptacle channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Teodor Dabov, Douglas J. Weber