Patents by Inventor Michael J. Brown

Michael J. Brown 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: 20230042067
    Abstract: The disclosed system includes a user-mountable electronic device, an output interface, and at least one processor. The electronic device includes a housing and at least one sensor device located within the housing and configured to generate sensor output that indicates orientation or motion of the user-mountable electronic device. The at least one processor is operated to: receive the sensor output; identify, based on the received sensor output, a body part on which the user intends to deploy the user-mountable electronic device; determine a preferred orientation of the user-mountable electronic device relative to the identified body part; and cause the output interface to provide deployment guidance that indicates the preferred orientation of the user-mountable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jesse Hefner, Ellis Garai, Claire F. Ferraro, Justin L. Snesrud, Michael J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11516908
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with pixels configured to display an image. The pixels may be overlapped by a cover layer. An image transport layer may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle or Anderson localization material. The image transport layer may overlap the pixels and may have an input surface that receives the image from the pixels and a corresponding output surface on which the received image is viewable through the cover layer. Circuitry may be embedded within the image transport layer. The circuitry that is embedded within the image transport layer may include capacitive touch sensor circuitry, antenna resonating element structures, input-output components, signal lines, and other circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ying-Chih Wang, Michael J. Brown, Michael B. Wittenberg, Paul C. Kelley, Rasamy Phouthavong, Tyler R. Kakuda, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Marwan Rammah
  • Patent number: 11478268
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a support frame defining first and second non-circular apertures each defining at least one stop surface, and a jaw member having a structural body including a proximal flange portion and an elongated distal portion extending distally from the proximal flange portion. A jaw liner is engaged with the elongated distal portion and defines a tissue-contacting surface. A first and a second pivot boss protrude from opposite sides of the proximal flange portion and at least partially into the first and second non-circular apertures, respectively. Each pivot boss is non-circular and defines at least one stop surface configured to mate with the at least one stop surface of the respective non-circular aperture to stop rotation of the jaw member before the jaw liner is forced into contact with a blade from the surgical instrument. A surgical instrument including such a jaw member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael J. Brown, Jason L. Craig, Matthias Lester, Matthew S. Cowley
  • Publication number: 20220309980
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with pixels configured to display an image. The pixels may be overlapped by a cover layer. The display may have peripheral edges with curved cross-sectional profiles. An inactive area in the display may be formed along a peripheral edge of the display or may be surrounded by the pixels. Electrical components such as optical components may be located in the inactive area. An image transport layer may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle or Anderson localization material. The image transport layer may overlap the pixels, may have an opening that overlaps portions of the inactive area, may have an output surface that overlap portions of the inactive area, and/or may convey light associated with optical components in the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ying-Chih Wang, Michael J. Brown, Michael B. Wittenberg, Paul C. Kelley, Rasamy Phouthavong, Tyler R. Kakuda, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Marwan Rammah
  • Patent number: 11442503
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wearable electronic device may have a band. The band may form a stand-alone device or a strap for a wristwatch unit or other device. Electrical components may be mounted on flexible printed circuit substrates. A substrate may be encapsulated by elastomeric polymer material or other material forming the band. The elastomeric polymer material may form cavities that receive the electrical components. Components such as light-emitting diodes may be mounted to the flexible printed circuit substrates so that the light-emitting diodes are located in the cavities. Reflective sidewalls in the cavities may reflect light from the light-emitting diodes outwardly through a thinned portion of the band. Light-diffusing material in the cavities may be formed from clear polymer with light-scattering particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Yu Hsu, Shubham A. Gandhi, Mingjing Ha, Paul S. Drzaic, Chang-Chia Huang, Han-Chieh Chang, Bryce T. Bradford, David W. Lum, Bhaskar Banerjee, Adam Adjiwibawa, David A. Doyle, Hong Luo, Michael J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11436964
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with pixels configured to display an image. The pixels may be overlapped by a cover layer. The display may have peripheral edges with curved cross-sectional profiles. An inactive area in the display may be formed along a peripheral edge of the display or may be surrounded by the pixels. Electrical components such as optical components may be located in the inactive area. An image transport layer may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle or Anderson localization material. The image transport layer may overlap the pixels, may have an opening that overlaps portions of the inactive area, may have an output surface that overlap portions of the inactive area, and/or may convey light associated with optical components in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ying-Chih Wang, Michael J. Brown, Michael B. Wittenberg, Paul C. Kelley, Rasamy Phouthavong, Tyler R. Kakuda, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Marwan Rammah
  • Patent number: 11402869
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing with a display. The display may be overlapped by an image transport layer such as a coherent fiber bundle or layer of Anderson localization material. The image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image from the display and a corresponding output surface to which the image is transported. The input surface and output surface may have different shapes. During fabrication of the image transport layer, molding techniques, grinding and polishing techniques, and other processes are used to deform the image transport layer and the shape of the output surface. The area of peripheral portions of the output surface may expand relative to central portions. Optical uniformity across the output surface can be enhanced by maintaining uniformity in fiber core diameters and other attributes of the image transport layer across deformed and undeformed portions of the output surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth C. Porter, Yi Qiao, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Tyler R. Kakuda, Di Liu, Shawn R. Gettemy, Wei Lin, Shenglin Ye, Shubhaditya Majumdar, Christopher E. Glazowski, Paul C. Kelley, Michael J. Brown, Ian T. Clark, Salman Karbasi
  • Patent number: 11388329
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display panel for displaying images. A display cover layer having curved portions may overlap the display panel. An image transport layer having an input surface that receives light from the display panel may convey the light from the input surface to an output surface adjacent to an inner surface of the display cover layer. The image transport layer may include fibers with different lengths to form a region of the output surface with a curved profile. Each fiber in the coherent fiber bundle may have a respective output face. The output face of each fiber in the curved edge region of the image transport layer may be parallel to the display panel or may be angled towards the center of the image transport layer. Image distortion control circuitry may modify image data to control the perceived distortion of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Qiao, Michael J. Brown, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Tyler R. Kakuda, Hao Dong, Ying-Chih Wang
  • Publication number: 20220192696
    Abstract: A waveguide configured for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an elongated body having a first engagement member at a proximal end thereof. The first engagement member engages the elongated body with an ultrasonic transducer to enable transmission of ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic transducer along the elongated body. The elongated body being formed from titanium or a titanium alloy. A blade is fixedly engaged to a distal end of the elongated body, and distally extends from the distal end of the elongated body in order to receive ultrasonic energy from the elongated body for treating tissue in contact with the blade. The blade being formed from an amorphous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew S. Cowley, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy
  • Patent number: 11353652
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display overlapped by a cover layer. Portions of the surface of the display and cover layer may have curved profiles. The display may include a flexible substrate and may have bent edge portions protruding from a central region. Gaps may be formed between regions of pixels on a common substrate or between separate display panels. An image transport layer formed from a coherent fiber bundle or a layer of Anderson localization material configured to exhibit two-dimensional transverse Anderson localization of light may have an input surface that receives an image from adjacent display pixels and an output surface on which the image is displayed. The output surface may have a curved profile and may exhibit compound curvature. The input surface may have a profile with curved portions or other shapes. Image transport layers can be used to cover gaps between sets of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Wittenberg, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Tyler R. Kakuda, Christopher D. Prest, Marwan Rammah, Rasamy Phouthavong, Richard H. Dinh, Steven P. Hotelling, Yi Qiao, Michael J. Brown, Hao Dong, David A. Pakula
  • Publication number: 20220117622
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an end effector including a clamp jaw, a drive member extending distally from the housing, and a clamp lever pivotably coupled to the housing. The drive member is operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that translation of the drive member pivots the clamp jaw from an open position towards a clamping position. The clamp lever is operably coupled to the drive member via a rigid slider. The clamp jaw is configured to provide a jaw force to clamped tissue, measured at about 0.192 inches from a distal end of the clamp jaw, of from about 1 lbf to about 8 lbf in response to a full actuation of the clamp lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy, Weng-Kai Lee
  • Publication number: 20220117623
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing, a waveguide extending from the housing to a blade, a clamp jaw pivotable relative to the blade to clamp tissue, a drive member extending from the housing to the end effector and operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that translation of the drive member pivots the clamp jaw to exert a jaw force on the clamped tissue, a rigid slider operably coupled to the drive member such that translation of the rigid slider results in corresponding translation of the drive member, and a clamp lever. The clamp lever is actuatably coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the rigid slider such that a full actuation of the clamp lever translates the rigid slider and the drive member to thereby pivot the clamp jaw from the open position towards the clamping position with substantially no dampening of the jaw force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jason L. Craig, Kenneth E. Netzel, Michael J. Brown, Christopher T. Tschudy, Weng-Kai Lee
  • Patent number: 11309370
    Abstract: A plurality of fibers may be included in an electronic device display to allow the display to have a curved output surface. Each fiber may guide light from one or more display pixels on the display panel to a display output surface. The fibers may be bent, allowing light from the display pixels to be displayed on a three-dimensional display output surface of any desired shape. The fibers may be formed from a high refractive index core surrounded by a cladding. The fibers may be formed from an activated photoactive material. The fibers may cover the entire display panel, the periphery of the display panel, or the corners of the display panel. The display panel may have one or more bends. Polarizing fibers may be used to both guide light from the display panel and serve as a linear polarizer for the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Brown, Yi Qiao, Tyler R. Kakuda, Alexis G. Soyseven, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou
  • Patent number: 11266432
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an elongated assembly releasably engagable with an ultrasonic transducer and including a waveguide having a blade at a distal end and a torque adapter towards a proximal end. Fixed and movable sleeves are disposed about the waveguide and support and operably couple to a jaw member at the respective distal ends thereof. A drive tube is fixed to the movable sleeve such that translation of the drive tube pivots the jaw member relative to the blade. A torque housing is slidably disposed about the drive tube, longitudinally fixed about the fixed sleeve, and fixedly about the torque adapter. A rotation knob is longitudinally fixed about the torque housing and operably coupled to the torque housing such that the torque housing and the rotation knob cooperate to define a torque wrench inhibit application of additional torque to the waveguide above a torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael J. Brown, Jason L. Craig
  • Publication number: 20220050003
    Abstract: Methods and systems include a universal, device-agnostic calibration process in which measured indications output by a device under test (DUT) (or corrected or converted indications derived therefrom) may be compared with calibration thresholds for any type of DUT to be calibrated. A complete, universal, and extensible calibration process is thus achieved that is capable of accommodating routine and complex calibration scenarios alike. A common set of statistics may be generated for all devices to be calibrated, without regard to the particular device under test, and statistics of the common set of statistics may be evaluated to determine the calibration state of the DUT. Additionally, the methods and systems disclosed herein provide for generating a comprehensive set of measurement records that may include some or all original observations, calculations, corrections, conversions, environmental factors, and measurement results, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventor: Michael J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11219433
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a switch base, a power bus coupled to the switch base, an electrical lead coupled to the power bus, an actuator operatively engaged with the power bus, an actuator operatively engaged with the power bus, a membrane, and a housing. The switch base has top, bottom, and side surfaces. The membrane is disposed over the top surface of the switch base and over the power bus to seal the top surface of the switch base. The housing defines proximal and distal ends and a switch base cavity between the proximal and distal ends. The housing includes bulkheads that form a plurality of fluid impermeable seals that are disposed adjacent one of the proximal and distal ends. The fluid impermeable seals are configured to deter fluid from penetrating a proximal portion of the switch base cavity within which the electrical lead is coupled to the power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Robert B. Stoddard, Ian C. McEachern, Michael J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20210177451
    Abstract: An assembly tool for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body portion, a neck, and a head portion. The body portion includes a base and first and second legs extending from the base to define a receiving area therebetween. The neck is attached to the body portion and the head portion is attached to the neck. The head portion defines a central opening. The first and second legs of the body portion are configured to engage a portion of a housing of an ultrasonic surgical instrument received within the receiving area, and the head portion is configured to engage a rotation knob of the ultrasonic surgical instrument received within the central opening to rotationally fix the rotation knob relative to the housing. Kits including the assembly tool and methods of assembling an ultrasonic surgical instrument using the assembly tool are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Michael J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11003015
    Abstract: A light guiding layer may be incorporated into an electronic device with multiple displays to create a seamless display surface between the adjacent displays. The light guiding layer may have a first portion that overlaps the active area of a first display panel, a second portion that overlaps the active area of a second, adjacent display panel, and a third portion that overlaps the inactive areas of the first and second display panels. The light guiding layer may redirect light from the active area of each display panel to the region above the inactive areas of the display panels where it is emitted towards the viewer. The light guiding layer therefore effectively hides the border between the two display panels by emitting light in that region. The light guiding layer may include light leakage promotion structures to ensure light is emitted in the border region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Qiao, Jean-Pierre S Guillou, Michael J. Brown, Ming Xu, Tyler R. Kakuda
  • Patent number: 10932807
    Abstract: An assembly tool for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body portion, a neck, and a head portion. The body portion includes a base and first and second legs extending from the base to define a receiving area therebetween. The neck is attached to the body portion and the head portion is attached to the neck. The head portion defines a central opening. The first and second legs of the body portion are configured to engage a portion of a housing of an ultrasonic surgical instrument received within the receiving area, and the head portion is configured to engage a rotation knob of the ultrasonic surgical instrument received within the central opening to rotationally fix the rotation knob relative to the housing. Kits including the assembly tool and methods of assembling an ultrasonic surgical instrument using the assembly tool are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Michael J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20210045768
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a support frame defining first and second non-circular apertures each defining at least one stop surface, and a jaw member having a structural body including a proximal flange portion and an elongated distal portion extending distally from the proximal flange portion. A jaw liner is engaged with the elongated distal portion and defines a tissue-contacting surface. A first and a second pivot boss protrude from opposite sides of the proximal flange portion and at least partially into the first and second non-circular apertures, respectively. Each pivot boss is non-circular and defines at least one stop surface configured to mate with the at least one stop surface of the respective non-circular aperture to stop rotation of the jaw member before the jaw liner is forced into contact with a blade from the surgical instrument. A surgical instrument including such a jaw member is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Brown, Jason L. Craig, Matthias Lester, Matthew S. Cowley