Patents by Inventor Riley E. Brandt
Riley E. Brandt 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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Patent number: 11896136Abstract: An in-bed haptic device may include an array of actuation cells. Actuation cells of the array of actuation cells may be configured to actuate (e.g., expand, contract, or otherwise change shape) in a predetermined sequence to provide haptic outputs. The in-bed haptic device may be configured to be placed beneath a user during use, for example between a user and a mattress. The haptic outputs may be provided to help a user relax, to move and/or wake a user, to indicate outputs, alerts, or notifications at the in-bed haptic device or another electronic device, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Riley E. Brandt, Linda Benavente-Notaro, Antonio Herrera, Denis Lin, Zijing Zeng, Erno H. Klaassen, Zhipeng Zhang
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Patent number: 11744476Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device may include one or more piezoelectric sensors (e.g., differential piezoelectric sensors) for detecting blood flow through a limb of a user as part of determining blood pressure measurements. The piezoelectric sensor(s) may additionally or alternatively be used to determine one or more biological parameters of users (e.g., a ballistocardiogram, a heart rate, a heart rate variability, and a pulse wave velocity). The blood pressure measurement device may additionally or alternatively include a capacitive sensor for determining a pressure applied to the limb of the user by the blood pressure measurement device and/or operational states of the blood pressure measurement devices (off-arm, on-arm, inflating, deflating, tightness, and the like).Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wegene H. Tadele, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Riley E. Brandt, Siddharth Nangia
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Publication number: 20230068455Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure and a keyboard positioned within the enclosure. The keyboard includes a substrate and a key mechanism. The key mechanism includes a keycap support mechanism, a keycap supported by the keycap support mechanism and movable relative to the substrate, a ferromagnetic component attached to the keycap support mechanism, and a selectively magnetizable magnet. The selectively magnetizable magnet system may include a magnetizable material and a coil configured to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the magnetizable material. The key mechanism may include a collapsible dome biasing the keycap toward the extended position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Riley E. Brandt, Richard H. Koch, Zhipeng Zhang, John C. DiFonzo, Michael B. Wittenberg
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Publication number: 20230064273Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a wearable device having a housing, a display, and a sensor system. The display is at least partially surrounded by the housing. The sensor system is housed at least partially in the housing. The sensor system includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor is configured to contact a body part of a user and generate a first signal. The second sensor is configured to sense a mechanical wave in an ambient environment of the wearable device and generate a second signal. The controller is configured to generate a resultant signal by removing noise from the first signal using the second signal, and determine a health parameter of the user from the resultant signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Wegene H. Tadele, Meagan K. Spencer, Riley E. Brandt, Siddharth Nangia
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Patent number: 11527372Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure and a keyboard positioned within the enclosure. The keyboard includes a substrate and a key mechanism. The key mechanism includes a keycap support mechanism, a keycap supported by the keycap support mechanism and movable relative to the substrate, a ferromagnetic component attached to the keycap support mechanism, and a selectively magnetizable magnet. The selectively magnetizable magnet system may include a magnetizable material and a coil configured to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the magnetizable material. The key mechanism may include a collapsible dome biasing the keycap toward the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Riley E. Brandt, Richard H. Koch, Zhipeng Zhang, John C. DiFonzo, Michael B. Wittenberg
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Publication number: 20220061699Abstract: Disclosed herein are capacitive sensors, and methods for their operation, that determine the presence of a user by detecting input forces and/or pressures. Capacitive sensors may be in the form of a flexible capacitive sensing mat. An electronic device incorporating a flexible capacitive sensing mat may include spacer fabric disposed between conductive layers. The spacer fabric may have a first thickness and may be configured to compress to at least a second thickness when a threshold pressure is applied to the layered sensor and revert to the first thickness when the threshold pressure is no longer applied to the flexible mat. A capacitive sense circuit electrically coupled to the second conductive layer and configured to generate a presence detection signal when the spacer fabric layer compresses to the second thickness may additionally be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Daniel W. LaBove, Chin San Han, Ali M. Amin, Henry Rimminen, Riley E. Brandt, Timothy L. Weadon, Yindar Chuo, Zijing Zeng
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Publication number: 20220054020Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device may include one or more piezoelectric sensors (e.g., differential piezoelectric sensors) for detecting blood flow through a limb of a user as part of determining blood pressure measurements. The piezoelectric sensor(s) may additionally or alternatively be used to determine one or more biological parameters of users (e.g., a ballistocardiogram, a heart rate, a heart rate variability, and a pulse wave velocity). The blood pressure measurement device may additionally or alternatively include a capacitive sensor for determining a pressure applied to the limb of the user by the blood pressure measurement device and/or operational states of the blood pressure measurement devices (off-arm, on-arm, inflating, deflating, tightness, and the like).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2020Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Wegene H. Tadele, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Riley E. Brandt, Siddharth Nangia
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Patent number: 11181949Abstract: Keyboards are disclosed that are retractable. Movable magnetic or mechanical linkage elements are configured to reposition keycaps and stabilizers between different relative positions. Structures in a movable layer can act on the keycaps or stabilizers to move the keycaps and stabilizers into a retracted position for storage and for saving space in an electronic device. The stabilizers can be scissor mechanisms, butterfly mechanisms, and similar devices. The movable layer can be moved in response to rotation of a hinge or other mechanical element in the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ian A. Guy, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson, Riley E. Brandt
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Publication number: 20210295661Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a pressure mapping system that includes a sensing pad configured for placement between a user and a bed. The sensing pad can include an array of actuation cells where each actuation cell in the array of actuation cells is configured to actuate in response to a fluid being introduced into the actuation cell. The sensing pad can also include an array of pressure sensors where each pressure sensor in the array of pressure sensors is configured to output pressure measurements. The pressure mapping system can also include a control system that is configured to receive the pressure measurements from the array of pressure sensors, generate a pressure map for the user based on the set of pressure measurements and a position of the pressure sensing cells on the sensing pad, and actuate a subset of the array of actuation cells based on the pressure map.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Wegene H. Tadele, Antonio F. Herrera, Riley E. Brandt, Yingjun Zhang, Jason Lor
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Publication number: 20210085091Abstract: An in-bed haptic device may include an array of actuation cells. Actuation cells of the array of actuation cells may be configured to actuate (e.g., expand, contract, or otherwise change shape) in a predetermined sequence to provide haptic outputs. The in-bed haptic device may be configured to be placed beneath a user during use, for example between a user and a mattress. The haptic outputs may be provided to help a user relax, to move and/or wake a user, to indicate outputs, alerts, or notifications at the in-bed haptic device or another electronic device, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Riley E. Brandt, Linda Benavente-Notaro, Antonio Herrera, Denis Lin, Zijing Zeng, Erno H. Klaassen, Zhipeng Zhang
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Patent number: 10957501Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure and a keyboard positioned within the enclosure. The keyboard includes a substrate and a key mechanism. The key mechanism includes a keycap support mechanism, a keycap supported by the keycap support mechanism and movable relative to the substrate, a ferromagnetic component attached to the keycap support mechanism, and a selectively magnetizable magnet. The selectively magnetizable magnet system may include a magnetizable material and a coil configured to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the magnetizable material. The key mechanism may include a collapsible dome biasing the keycap toward the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Riley E. Brandt, Richard H. Koch, Zhipeng Zhang, John C. DiFonzo, Michael B. Wittenberg
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Publication number: 20200201399Abstract: Keyboards are disclosed that are retractable. Movable magnetic or mechanical linkage elements are configured to reposition keycaps and stabilizers between different relative positions. Structures in a movable layer can act on the keycaps or stabilizers to move the keycaps and stabilizers into a retracted position for storage and for saving space in an electronic device. The stabilizers can be scissor mechanisms, butterfly mechanisms, and similar devices. The movable layer can be moved in response to rotation of a hinge or other mechanical element in the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Ian A. Guy, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson, Riley E. Brandt
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Patent number: 8969183Abstract: Method for making thin crystalline or polycrystalline layers. The method includes electrochemically etching a crystalline silicon template to form a porous double layer thereon, the double layer including a highly porous deeper layer and a less porous shallower layer. The shallower layer is irradiated with a short laser pulse selected to recrystallize the shallower layer resulting in a crystalline layer. Silicon is deposited on the recrystallized shallower layer and the silicon is irradiated with a short laser pulse selected to crystalize the silicon leaving a layer of crystallized silicon on the template. Thereafter, the layer of crystallized silicon is separated from the template. The process of the invention can be used to make optoelectronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Mark T. Winkler, Tonio Buonassisi, Riley E. Brandt, Michael J. Aziz, Austin Joseph Akey
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Publication number: 20130288463Abstract: Method for making thin crystalline or polycrystalline layers. The method includes electrochemically etching a crystalline silicon template to form a porous double layer thereon, the double layer including a highly porous deeper layer and a less porous shallower layer. The shallower layer is irradiated with a short laser pulse selected to recrystallize the shallower layer resulting in a crystalline layer. Silicon is deposited on the recrystallized shallower layer and the silicon is irradiated with a short laser pulse selected to crystalize the silicon leaving a layer of crystallized silicon on the template. Thereafter, the layer of crystallized silicon is separated from the template. The process of the invention can be used to make optoelectronic devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Mark T. Winkler, Tonio Buonassisi, Riley E. Brandt, Michael J. Aziz, Austin Joseph Akey