Patents by Inventor Fletcher Rothkopf

Fletcher Rothkopf 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).

  • FLEXIBLE BATTERY PACK
    Publication number: 20160260945
    Abstract: Flexible battery packs for use in electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible battery pack may include a plurality of cells, such as galvanic or photovoltaic cells. The battery pack also may include a plurality of laminate layers coupled to the cells that include a top laminate layer and a bottom laminate layer. An adhesive may be used to couple the top and bottom laminate layers together such that each of the plurality of cells is isolated from each other. This arrangement may allow the battery to be shaped to fit a form factor of the electronic device. This arrangement also may allow one or more of the cells to be selectively removed from the plurality, which may be desirable from a manufacturing perspective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, David A. Pakula, Daniel W. Jarvis, John Raff, Jeremy C. Franklin
  • Handheld device assembly
    Patent number: 9386705
    Abstract: This is directed to several handheld device components to be placed in a handheld device, as well as methods or systems for mounting or retaining components within the device. In particular, this is directed to a rigid shield used in an SMT process and securing connected flex connectors by adhering the flexes together. This is also directed to using foam in combination with a hard material to create an acoustic seal, or several layers of foam to create an acoustic and mechanical seal. This is also directed to selectively folding a sheet of material placed around a battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Stephen B. Lynch, Wey-Jiun Lin, Kyle Yeates
  • Handheld device assembly
    Patent number: 9386704
    Abstract: This is directed to several handheld device components to be placed in a handheld device, as well as methods or systems for mounting or retaining components within the device. In particular, this is directed to a rigid shield used in an SMT process and securing connected flex connectors by adhering the flexes together. This is also directed to using foam in combination with a hard material to create an acoustic seal, or several layers of foam to create an acoustic and mechanical seal. This is also directed to selectively folding a sheet of material placed around a battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Stephen B. Lynch, Wey-Jiun Lin, Kyle Yeates
  • PROTECTING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
    Publication number: 20160154439
    Abstract: An electronic device including a processor, at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the device and drop event based on input from the at least one sensor. The electronic device further includes a motor in communication with the processor and a mass operably connected to the motor. The processor is configured to drive the motor when a drop event is determined and the mass is configured to rotate with respect to the motor to alter the orientation of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Colin M. Ely, Stephen B. Lynch
  • Flexible battery pack
    Patent number: 9343716
    Abstract: Flexible battery packs for use in electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible battery pack may include a plurality of cells, such as galvanic or photovoltaic cells. The battery pack also may include a plurality of laminate layers coupled to the cells that include a top laminate layer and a bottom laminate layer. An adhesive may be used to couple the top and bottom laminate layers together such that each of the plurality of cells is isolated from each other. This arrangement may allow the battery to be shaped to fit a form factor of the electronic device. This arrangement also may allow one or more of the cells to be selectively removed from the plurality, which may be desirable from a manufacturing perspective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, David A. Pakula, Daniel W. Jarvis, John Raff, Jeremy C. Franklin
  • Protecting an electronic device
    Patent number: 9342108
    Abstract: An electronic device including a processor, at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the device and drop event based on input from the at least one sensor. The electronic device further includes a motor in communication with the processor and a mass operably connected to the motor. The processor is configured to drive the motor when a drop event is determined and the mass is configured to rotate with respect to the motor to alter the orientation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Colin M. Ely, Stephen B. Lynch
  • ROTARY INPUT MECHANISM FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
    Publication number: 20160098016
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Vibration in portable devices
    Patent number: 9218727
    Abstract: One embodiment may take the form of a method of reducing noise from vibration of a device on a hard surface. The method includes activating a haptic device to indicate an alert and sensing an audible level during activation of the haptic device. Additionally, the method includes determining if the audible level exceeds a threshold and initiating mitigation routines to reduce the audible level to a level below the threshold if the threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Teodor Dabov, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • DUAL ORIENTATION CONNECTOR WITH EXTERNAL CONTACTS
    Publication number: 20150155657
    Abstract: A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Mathias Schmidt, Eric Jol, Jahan Minoo, Ian Spraggs, Cameron Frazier, Fletcher Rothkopf, Jonathan Aase, Wendell Sander, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Receptacle connector with circuitry for determining the configuration of a corresponding plug connector mated therewith
    Patent number: 9011183
    Abstract: An electronic device having a housing and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes an opening at an exterior surface of the housing. A plurality of contacts are arranged in a two dimensional array positioned within the opening of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector is configured to concurrently mate with multiple plug connectors where each mated plug connector electrically connects to different and mutually exclusive subsets of contacts in the plurality of contacts. Switching circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts and configured to detect when one or more plug connectors are mated with the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to contacts in the one or more plug connectors via subsets of contacts from the plurality of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Mathias Schmidt
  • Dual orientation connector with external contacts
    Patent number: 8998632
    Abstract: A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Mathias W. Schmidt, Eric S. Jol, Jahan Minoo, Ian Spraggs, Cameron Frazier, Fletcher Rothkopf, Jonathan Aase, Wendell Sander, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Customized Content for Electronic Devices
    Publication number: 20150022324
    Abstract: A method for providing customized content to an electronic device. The method may include activating the electronic device through a packaging that substantially surrounds the electronic device, without substantially damaging or removing the packaging. Once the device is activating, connecting the electronic device to a content and providing the content to the electronic device without substantially damaging or removing the packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Teodor Davov
  • Protective mechanism for an electronic device
    Patent number: 8903519
    Abstract: An electronic device including a processor, a sensor in communication with the processor and a protective mechanism. The protective mechanism is in communication with the processor and is configured to selectively alter a center of mass of the electronic device. Additionally, the electronic device also includes an enclosure configured to at least partially enclose the processor and the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas V. King, Fletcher Rothkopf
  • Multi-dimensional scroll wheel
    Patent number: 8866780
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lakshman Rathnam, Louis Bokma, Fletcher Rothkopf, Andrea Mucignat, Erturk Kocalar, Benjamin Lyon, Joseph Fisher
  • Electrical connector assembly including hoops and hooks
    Patent number: 8814575
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for forming a connector assembly that includes hoops and hooks designed to engage each other are disclosed. According to one aspect, a connector assembly includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a plurality of hooks arranged in a hook area. The hooks include at least one hook that is arranged to form an electrical contact. The second substrate includes a plurality of hoops arranged in a hoop area. The hoops include at least one hoop that is arranged to form the electrical contact. The hook interfaces with the hoop to form the electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Brian Lynch, Fletcher Rothkopf
  • RECPTACLE CONNECTOR WITH CIRCUITRY FOR DETERMINING THE CONFIGURATION OF A CORRESPONDING PLUG CONNECTOR MATED THEREWITH
    Publication number: 20140220824
    Abstract: An electronic device having a housing and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes an opening at an exterior surface of the housing. A plurality of contacts are arranged in a two dimensional array positioned within the opening of the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector is configured to concurrently mate with multiple plug connectors where each mated plug connector electrically connects to different and mutually exclusive subsets of contacts in the plurality of contacts. Switching circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts and configured to detect when one or more plug connectors are mated with the receptacle connector and electrically connect circuitry within the electronic device to contacts in the one or more plug connectors via subsets of contacts from the plurality of contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Mathias Schmidt
  • MLB module for electronic device
    Patent number: D742338
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Julian Hoenig, Trevor Jordan Ness, Fletcher Rothkopf, Jason Christopher Sauers, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Component for an electronic device
    Patent number: D742883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Julian Hoenig, Fletcher Rothkopf, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Christopher M. Werner, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Housing for an electronic device
    Patent number: D752044
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Brad G. Boozer, Makiko Kawamura Brzezinski, Tyler Scott Bushnell, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Colin Ely, M. Evans Hankey, Phillip M. Hobson, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Eric Steven Jol, Benjamin Jordan Kallman, Duncan Robert Kerr, David Nazzaro, Trevor Jordan Ness, Marc A. Newson, David Pelletier, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Jason Christopher Sauers, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Christopher M. Werner, Eugene Antony Whang, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Stephen Paul Zadesky, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Display for electronic device
    Patent number: D758363
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Erik Geddes Pieter De Jong, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Peter Kardassakis, Duncan Robert Kerr, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Katherine E. Tong, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer