Patents by Inventor John J. Baker

John J. Baker 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: 9450446
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging an electronic device include rotating a magnetically attractable element, or element, within the electronic device. Rotating a magnet external to the electronic device simultaneously rotates the element. Rotating the element causes an electrically generating device, such as a generator, to create an electric charge in the electronic device. The electric charge may be used to power the electrically generating device, or the electric charge may be transmitted to an internal power supply in order to charge another component or components. In another embodiment, the external magnet may wind a spring inside a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20160058146
    Abstract: A case for an electronic device is disclosed. The case may include several layers. An inner layer may be made from a rigid material such as plastic. An outer layer is molded to an exterior portion of the inner layer. A fabric layer formed from a material such as microfiber is adhesively secured to an interior layer of the inner layer, the inner layer opposite the exterior layer. The inner layer may further include a recessed portion that receives a camera trim made from an opaque material. In this regard, when the electronic device is positioned within the case, the camera trim improves image capturing of a camera of the electronic device by blocking reflected light from a camera flash emitted by the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Edward L. Siahaan
  • Publication number: 20160028173
    Abstract: A mesh network of printed circuit boards (PCBs) including a first PCB coupled to a second rigid PCB by way of an interlocking connection is provided. The interlocking connection has a degree of freedom that allows the first and second PCBs to form a twist angle between each other; the interlocking connector configured to provide electrical coupling between active components disposed in each of the first and second PCBs. A method of forming a substrate fabric including a mesh network as above is also provided. Further provided is a method of activating the mesh network of printed circuit boards as above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Nathan P. Bosscher, Craig M. Stanley, Trent K. Do, John J. Baker, Phillip M. Hobson, Brad G. Boozer
  • Publication number: 20150311741
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging an electronic device include rotating a magnetically attractable element, or element, within the electronic device. Rotating a magnet external to the electronic device simultaneously rotates the element. Rotating the element causes an electrically generating device, such as a generator, to create an electric charge in the electronic device. The electric charge may be used to power the electrically generating device, or the electric charge may be transmitted to an internal power supply in order to charge another component or components. In another embodiment, the external magnet may wind a spring inside a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20150282329
    Abstract: An electronic device may have housing structures, electrical components, and other electronic device structures. Adhesive may be used to join electronic device structures. Adhesive may be dispensed as liquid adhesive and cured to form adhesive joints. Adhesive joints may be debonded. Chain reactions may be initiated by applying a localized initiator such as a chemical or localized energy to the adhesive. Once initiated, the chain reaction may spread throughout the adhesive to cure the adhesive, to globally change adhesive viscosity, or to weaken the adhesive to facilitate debonding. Local changes to adhesive may also be made such as local increases and decreases to adhesive viscosity. Chain reaction curing may be used to cure adhesive or debond adhesive that is hidden from view within gaps in the electronic device structures. Viscosity changes may be used to control where adhesive flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Baker
  • Publication number: 20150078611
    Abstract: A joint speaker surround and gasket. The speaker surround of the joint speaker surround and gasket is formed of a surround material and has an inner edge defining a speaker cone aperture shaped to match a speaker cone and an outer edge portion shaped to match a housing. The gasket of the joint speaker surround and gasket is formed of a gasket material. The gasket is integrally bonded to the outer edge portion of the speaker surround.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brad G. Boozer, Craig M. Stanley, John J. Baker, Nathan P. Bosscher, Phillip Hobson
  • Patent number: 8946566
    Abstract: An improved method for producing a PCB assembly requiring at least two different encapsulants is disclosed. The PCB assembly may have two or more separate regions in which electronic devices are attached. In each region, a unique encapsulant with different mechanical, electrical, physical and or chemical properties is used according to the particular requirements of the electronic devices in that region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Baker
  • Publication number: 20140272209
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile product having one or more regions of reduced density. These reduced density volumes may form one or more features in the product. For example, the reduced density volumes may have better acoustic transmission properties, optical transmission properties, flexibility, and the like. Sound transmission may be enhanced not only in terms of clarity, but also overall range. That is, certain audio frequencies that the textile may normally block when in an unaltered state may pass through a textile having reduced density or reduced density regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Michael B. Howes, Michael S. Nashner, Yoji Hamada
  • Publication number: 20140255663
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile fabric, including: a first region defined by a first plurality of textile fibers; a second region adjacent the first region and being formed from a second plurality of textile fibers and a hot melt material adjacent the second plurality of textile fibers; wherein the first region is free of hot melt material. Other embodiments may take the form of a method for fabricating a textile product, including the operations of: applying heat to a textile having associated hot melt fibers, thereby melting the hot melt fibers; modifying a mechanical property of a portion of the textile by introducing a solvent to the textile; and stopping an action of the solvent on the textile when the mechanical property reaches a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: James C. Whitley, John J. Baker, Kathryn P. Crews, Yoji Hamada
  • Publication number: 20140098505
    Abstract: An improved method for producing a PCB assembly requiring at least two different encapsulants is disclosed. The PCB assembly may have two or more separate regions in which electronic devices are attached. In each region, a unique encapsulant with different mechanical, electrical, physical and or chemical properties is used according to the particular requirements of the electronic devices in that region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Baker
  • Patent number: 6014049
    Abstract: A modulator has an FET output driver for applying repetitive pulses to an inductive load. A predriver comprises a resistor and capacitor in parallel across the FET source and gate for shaping the control voltage. A constant current source, turned on and off by an input signal, couples the shaping circuit to ground. The resistor and capacitor values determine the rate of control voltage change which is the same for turn-on and turn-off, to control the driver current slew rate for minimizing RFI emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: James Carter Bach, John J. Baker, Robert Joseph Stock, Richard J. Szep, Gerlad A. Kilgour