Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Walker

Joseph M. Walker 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: 11963324
    Abstract: Electronic equipment may include structured fabric. Structured fabric may be used as a protective case or cosmetic cover for an electronic device, may be used to form a band that holds an electronic device against a user's body, or may be used to cover one or more openings in an electronic device. Structured fabrics may be soft and pliable while maintaining the ability to hold a given shape without added support. Structured fabric may be formed by laminating fabric such as warp-knit fabric with a stiffener such as polymer film. Structured fabrics may include openings through which signals such as optical or audio signals pass. To maintain the geometry and shape of the openings in the structured fabric without covering the openings, the stiffener and adhesive that are attached to the fabric may be cut to form a pattern of openings that align with the openings in the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yohji Hamada, John J. Baker, Peter F. Coxeter, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Joseph B. Walker
  • Publication number: 20240068135
    Abstract: Interlacing equipment may be used to form fabric and to create a gap in the fabric. The fabric may include one or more conductive strands. An insertion tool may be used to align an electrical component with the conductive strands during interlacing operations. A soldering tool may be used to remove insulation from the conductive strands to expose conductive segments on the conductive strands. The soldering tool may be used to solder the conductive segments to the electrical component. The solder connections may be located in grooves in the electrical component. An encapsulation tool may dispense encapsulation material in the grooves to encapsulate the solder connections. After the electrical component is electrically connected to the conductive strands, the insertion tool may position and release the electrical component in the gap. A component retention tool may temporarily be used to retain the electrical component in the gap as interlacing operations continue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle L. Chatham, Kathryn P. Crews, Didio V. Gomes, Benjamin J. Grena, Storrs T. Hoen, Steven J. Keating, David M. Kindlon, Daniel A. Podhajny, Andrew L. Rosenberg, Daniel D. Sunshine, Lia M. Uesato, Joseph B. Walker, Felix Binder, Bertram Wendisch, Martin Latta, Ulrich Schläpfer, Franck Robin, Michael Baumann, Helen Wächter Fischer
  • Patent number: 11913143
    Abstract: Interlacing equipment may be used to form fabric and to create a gap in the fabric. The fabric may include one or more conductive strands. An insertion tool may be used to align an electrical component with the conductive strands during interlacing operations. A soldering tool may be used to remove insulation from the conductive strands to expose conductive segments on the conductive strands. The soldering tool may be used to solder the conductive segments to the electrical component. The solder connections may be located in grooves in the electrical component. An encapsulation tool may dispense encapsulation material in the grooves to encapsulate the solder connections. After the electrical component is electrically connected to the conductive strands, the insertion tool may position and release the electrical component in the gap. A component retention tool may temporarily be used to retain the electrical component in the gap as interlacing operations continue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle L Chatham, Kathryn P. Crews, Didio V. Gomes, Benjamin J. Grena, Storrs T. Hoen, Steven J. Keating, David M. Kindlon, Daniel A. Podhajny, Andrew L. Rosenberg, Daniel D. Sunshine, Lia M. Uesato, Joseph B. Walker, Felix Binder, Bertram Wendisch, Martin Latta, Ulrich Schläpfer, Franck Robin, Michael Baumann, Helen Wächter Fischer
  • Patent number: 6455759
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of multiple proteins in transgenic plants. A DNA construct for introduction into plants includes a provision to express a fusion protein of two proteins of interest joined by a linking domain including plant ubiquitin. When the fusion protein is produced in the cells of a transgenic plant transformed with the DNA construction, native enzymes present in plant cells cleave the fusion protein to release both proteins of interest into the cells of the transgenic plant. Since the proteins are produced from the same fusion protein, the initial quantities of the proteins in the cells of the plant are approximately equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Richard D. Vierstra, Joseph M. Walker
  • Patent number: 5741176
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that completely cuts out and removes the vent, including its orbicular muscle, of a slaughtered animal, such as poultry, pigs or other such animals. A centering pin nests within a holding element that has a roughened face surface for capturing the skin of the animal around the vent. The holding element is coaxial with a generally cylindrical, rotary cutter. The pin inserts into the vent and the holding element is then extended to contact the skin of the animal near the vent. The pin, which terminates in a cone-shaped knob, is then moved slightly away from the animal and toward the holding element, thereby capturing the orbicular muscle of the vent between the shoulder of the pin and a recess within the holding element. The holding element has a roughened face surface, preferably beveled, which contacts the skin and may form it into folds for easier cutting. The holding element is nested within and coaxial to the cutter; only a very small gap separates the holding element from the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Stork Gamco Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Lapp, Marcus M. Moore, Joseph M. Walker, Raymond F. Strawn