Patents by Inventor Nils E. Larson
Nils E. Larson 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).
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Publication number: 20240079940Abstract: A haptic actuator includes a housing having a ferromagnetic wall. The ferromagnetic wall has a set of one or more half shear ferromagnetic features protruding from the ferromagnetic wall into the housing. A movable magnet is positioned within the housing. A pair of springs, respectively attached to opposite sides of the housing and opposite ends of the movable magnet, bias the movable magnet toward a position of rest between the pair of springs. An electric coil is attached to the set of one or more half shear ferromagnetic features and positioned between the movable magnet and the set of one or more half shear ferromagnetic features.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: David Hiemstra, Nils E. Larson, Robert R. Ingersoll, Eddy Sugyarto
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Publication number: 20240079941Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing. The housing includes a first plate defining a first wall; a cover defining a second wall opposite the first wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall; and a second plate and a third plate, respectively defining a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall opposite the third sidewall. The first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls extend between the first wall and the second wall. The electronic device further includes a movable mass disposed within the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls of the housing; a first spring and a second spring, respectively attached to first and second opposite ends of the movable mass; and a first material and a second material, respectively joining the first spring to the second plate and the second spring to the third plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: David Hiemstra, Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20230298794Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing that includes first and second shells. The first shell may define a first tab and the second shell may define a second tab. The housing may also include a plastic end portion positioned between the first and second shells. The plastic end portion may define recesses that receive the first and second tabs. At least one coil may be carried by the housing. A field member may be movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. A flexure may be coupled to the plastic end portion and the field member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventor: Nils E. Larson
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Patent number: 11694831Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing that includes first and second shells coupled together. The first shell may include a first body and first terminals extending outwardly therefrom. The second shell may include a second body and second terminals extending outwardly therefrom with each of the second terminals being secured with a respective one of the first terminals defining pairs of first and second secured-together terminals. The haptic actuator may also include at least one coil carried by the housing and a field member movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. A respective flexure may be between adjacent end portions of the housing and the field member.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20230168740Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses described herein correspond to non-linear spring assemblies of a haptic engine. An enclosure and/or lid of a haptics engine may include a number of non-linear spring assemblies to dampen or reduce peak forces between internal components of the haptics engine and the enclosure and/or the lid. By dampening or reducing peak forces, damage to internal components of the haptic engine and/or an associated electronic device may be reduced or eliminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Nils E. Larson, David Hiemstra
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Patent number: 11178226Abstract: A network device includes memory with permanent storage. A request for information is received from a user device. In response to determining that an erasure encoded version of the requested information is not stored in the memory of the network device, the requested information is requested to be transmitted from a storage external to the network device and partially received. In response to determining that an amount of the partially received requested information does not satisfy an erasure encoding threshold, it is determined whether the erasure encoding threshold can be satisfied within a time duration. If so, the partially received requested information is erasure encoded, stored in the permanent storage, and transmitted. If not, the requested information is requested to be retransmitted from the storage external to the network device.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jun Xu, Robert P. Ryan, Grant C. Mackey, James N. Malina, Robin O'Neill, Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20210090772Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing that includes first and second shells coupled together. The first shell may include a first body and first terminals extending outwardly therefrom. The second shell may include a second body and second terminals extending outwardly therefrom with each of the second terminals being secured with a respective one of the first terminals defining pairs of first and second secured-together terminals. The haptic actuator may also include at least one coil carried by the housing and a field member movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. A respective flexure may be between adjacent end portions of the housing and the field member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventor: Nils E. LARSON
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Patent number: 10886821Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing that includes a ferromagnetic material having a first heat conductance, and a coil carried by the housing in a medial portion thereof and generating waste heat when electrically powered. The haptic actuator may also include a field member movable within the housing responsive to the coil. The field member may include at least one permanent magnet establishing a magnetic path with the housing. A heat spreading layer may be thermally coupled to the housing adjacent the coil. The heat spreading layer may have a second heat conductance greater than the first heat conductance to spread the waste heat from the coil to adjacent portions of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Nils E. Larson, Jere C. Harrison, Vu A. Hong
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Patent number: 10877563Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, a coil carried by the housing, and a field member movable within the housing responsive to the coil. The field member may include a frame having opposing first and second ends, at least one magnet carried by the frame, and a first overmolded endcap coupled to the first end of the frame. The field member may also include a second overmolded endcap coupled to the second end of the frame. The haptic actuator may include a first flexure having an inner end coupled to the first overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a second flexure having an inner end coupled to the second overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventor: Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20200336540Abstract: A network device includes memory with permanent storage. A request for information is received from a user device. In response to determining that an erasure encoded version of the requested information is not stored in the memory of the network device, the requested information is requested to be transmitted from a storage external to the network device and partially received. In response to determining that an amount of the partially received requested information does not satisfy an erasure encoding threshold, it is determined whether the erasure encoding threshold can be satisfied within a time duration. If so, the partially received requested information is erasure encoded, stored in the permanent storage, and transmitted. If not, the requested information is requested to be retransmitted from the storage external to the network device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Jun Xu, Robert P. Ryan, Grant C. MacKey, James N. Malina, Robin O'Neill, Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20200257368Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, a coil carried by the housing, and a field member movable within the housing responsive to the coil. The field member may include a frame having opposing first and second ends, at least one magnet carried by the frame, and a first overmolded endcap coupled to the first end of the frame. The field member may also include a second overmolded endcap coupled to the second end of the frame. The haptic actuator may include a first flexure having an inner end coupled to the first overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a second flexure having an inner end coupled to the second overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventor: NILS E. LARSON
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Patent number: 10742736Abstract: Embodiments of network devices for content distribution are described. In some embodiments, an edge network device integrates network coding for content distribution with erasure coding for data storage. Embodiments of methods of integrating network coding and erasure coding are also disclosed. In some embodiments, an edge network device can determine content distribution and storage for content based on one or more penalty functions that assess storage capacity, computational power, user demand, and/or network bandwidth for optimal resource usage. In some embodiments, an edge network device creates fragments of content and transmits a subset of the fragments for early distribution. In response to a user request for the content, the edge network device can transmit the remaining fragments to the user device for the user device to reconstruct the original content.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jun Xu, Robert P. Ryan, Grant C. Mackey, James N. Malina, Robin O'Neill, Nils E. Larson
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Patent number: 10719130Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, a coil carried by the housing, and a field member movable within the housing responsive to the coil. The field member may include a frame having opposing first and second ends, at least one magnet carried by the frame, and a first overmolded endcap coupled to the first end of the frame. The field member may also include a second overmolded endcap coupled to the second end of the frame. The haptic actuator may include a first flexure having an inner end coupled to the first overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a second flexure having an inner end coupled to the second overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventor: Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20200212766Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing that includes a ferromagnetic material having a first heat conductance, and a coil carried by the housing in a medial portion thereof and generating waste heat when electrically powered. The haptic actuator may also include a field member movable within the housing responsive to the coil. The field member may include at least one permanent magnet establishing a magnetic path with the housing. A heat spreading layer may be thermally coupled to the housing adjacent the coil. The heat spreading layer may have a second heat conductance greater than the first heat conductance to spread the waste heat from the coil to adjacent portions of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Nils E. LARSON, Jere C. HARRISON, Vu A. Hong
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Publication number: 20200209968Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, a coil carried by the housing, and a field member movable within the housing responsive to the coil. The field member may include a frame having opposing first and second ends, at least one magnet carried by the frame, and a first overmolded endcap coupled to the first end of the frame. The field member may also include a second overmolded endcap coupled to the second end of the frame. The haptic actuator may include a first flexure having an inner end coupled to the first overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a second flexure having an inner end coupled to the second overmolded endcap, and an outer end coupled to adjacent portions of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventor: Nils E. Larson
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Patent number: 10599600Abstract: Described herein are enhancements for deploying a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) switch in a computing enclosure. In one implementation, a PCIe switch is coupled to a plurality of hosts and at least one network interface via PCIe lanes. The PCIe switch is configured to exchange communications between the plurality of hosts and the one or more physical network interfaces and emulate, to each host of the plurality of hosts, a physical network interface. The PCIe switch is further configured to receive a communication from a first host of the plurality of hosts directed at a second host in the plurality of hosts using an emulated physical network interface for the first host, and transfer the communication to the second host as though the communication were received at an emulated physical network interface for the second host.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James Risinger, Nils E. Larson, Eric C. Lee
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Publication number: 20190191191Abstract: Systems and methods to improve content distribution by reducing computational demand, optimizing network usage, and/or providing protection for content are disclosed. In some embodiments, the requested content can be encoded using scalable video coding with erasure coding and/or bit-level chunks coding. Scalable video coding can be used to create one or more base layers and/or one or more enhancement layers for a requested content. Bit-level chunk coding and/or erasure coding can be used to create fragments of the one or more layers. In some embodiments, the end point device, the edge network device, and/or the data center can select a policy for encoding the requested content based on a security level for the user device, a security level for an edge network device, a security level for a data center, a demand for the requested content, or a computational complexity for reconstructing the requested content.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Jun Xu, David Blankenbeckler, Robin O'Neill, Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20190190979Abstract: Embodiments of network devices for content distribution are described. In some embodiments, an edge network device integrates network coding for content distribution with erasure coding for data storage. Embodiments of methods of integrating network coding and erasure coding are also disclosed. In some embodiments, an edge network device can determine content distribution and storage for content based on one or more penalty functions that assess storage capacity, computational power, user demand, and/or network bandwidth for optimal resource usage. In some embodiments, an edge network device creates fragments of content and transmits a subset of the fragments for early distribution. In response to a user request for the content, the edge network device can transmit the remaining fragments to the user device for the user device to reconstruct the original content.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Jun Xu, Robert P. Ryan, Grant C. Mackey, James N. Malina, Robin O'Neill, Nils E. Larson
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Publication number: 20180365185Abstract: Described herein are enhancements for deploying a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) switch in a computing enclosure. In one implementation, a PCIe switch is coupled to a plurality of hosts and at least one network interface via PCIe lanes. The PCIe switch is configured to exchange communications between the plurality of hosts and the one or more physical network interfaces and emulate, to each host of the plurality of hosts, a physical network interface. The PCIe switch is further configured to receive a communication from a first host of the plurality of hosts directed at a second host in the plurality of hosts using an emulated physical network interface for the first host, and transfer the communication to the second host as though the communication were received at an emulated physical network interface for the second host.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: James Risinger, Nils E. Larson, Eric C. Lee
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Patent number: 8870507Abstract: A fastener comprises a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, and a sleeve wrapped partially around the shaft. The sleeve comprises an inner surface adjacent the shaft, an outer surface, an upper extent, a lower extent, a first circumferential extent, a second circumferential extent, and a gap extending longitudinally from the upper extent to the lower extent and separating the first circumferential extent from the second circumferential extent. The sleeve has a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent that is less than a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent. A cross-sectional centroid of the shaft between the upper extent and the lower extent is in substantially the same location, with the sleeve in different first and second rotational positions.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nils E. Larson, Michael K. Liebman, Jonathan M. Garbarino