Patents by Inventor Samuel G. Smith

Samuel G. Smith 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: 20180168027
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device may be provided with a body having hinge portions. The hinge portions may allow the body to bend about one or more bend axes. The cover may have electrical components such as a keyboard. A keyboard may be mounted at one end of the cover and a connector may be mounted at an opposing end of the cover. A flexible fabric signal path structure may be formed from metal traces on a flexible fabric substrate. At one end of the cover, the flexible fabric signal path structure may be coupled to a printed circuit in the keyboard using conductive adhesive. At the opposing end of the cover, the metal traces on the flexible fabric substrate may be coupled to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Cousins, Kurt R. Stiehl, Samuel G. Smith, Kirk M. Mayer, Siddhartha Hegde, Melody Kuna
  • Patent number: 9954571
    Abstract: A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments where the first segment includes a first plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a first edge of the flap and where a second segment includes a second plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a second edge of the flap opposite the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared A. Sartee, Samuel G. Smith, Santhana K. Balaji
  • Patent number: 9929767
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9883583
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device may be provided with a body having hinge portions. The hinge portions may allow the body to bend about one or more bend axes. The cover may have electrical components such as a keyboard. A keyboard may be mounted at one end of the cover and a connector may be mounted at an opposing end of the cover. A flexible fabric signal path structure may be formed from metal traces on a flexible fabric substrate. At one end of the cover, the flexible fabric signal path structure may be coupled to a printed circuit in the keyboard using conductive adhesive. At the opposing end of the cover, the metal traces on the flexible fabric substrate may be coupled to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Cousins, Kurt R. Stiehl, Samuel G. Smith, Kirk M. Mayer, Siddhartha Hegde, Melody Kuna
  • Publication number: 20170352459
    Abstract: An oblique angle polarized magnet includes a rectangular magnetized permanent magnet having a grain direction, an attraction surface, and a magnetic primary field line that is orthogonal to the grain direction but non-orthogonal to the attraction surface. The oblique angle polarized magnet may be used in a magnetically positioned apparatus, such as a tablet computing device cover operable as a stand for the tablet computing device. The magnetically positioned apparatus may be configured to assume a position where first and second magnets are oriented in a non-parallel orientation such that the first and second surfaces of the magnets oriented at an acute angle with respect to each other. The magnets may facilitate the position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy W. Scales, Hao Zhu, Samuel G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170317707
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9749000
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170178840
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas ma be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned, areas may tot labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Siddhartha Hegde, Benjamin A. Cousins, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Samuel G. Smith, Melody Kuna
  • Patent number: 9588551
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Siddhartha Hegde, Benjamin A. Cousins, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Samuel G. Smith, Melody Kuna
  • Publication number: 20170060190
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Siddhartha Hegde, Benjamin A. Cousins, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Samuel G. Smith, Melody Kuna
  • Publication number: 20170060192
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device may be provided with a body having hinge portions. The hinge portions may allow the body to bend about one or more bend axes. The cover may have electrical components such as a keyboard. A keyboard may be mounted at one end of the cover and a connector may be mounted at an opposing end of the cover. A flexible fabric signal path structure may be formed from metal traces on a flexible fabric substrate. At one end of the cover, the flexible fabric signal path structure may be coupled to a printed circuit in the keyboard using conductive adhesive. At the opposing end of the cover, the metal traces on the flexible fabric substrate may be coupled to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Cousins, Kurt R. Stiehl, Samuel G. Smith, Kirk M. Mayer, Siddhartha Hegde, Melody Kuna
  • Patent number: 9575555
    Abstract: A tablet device determines a spatial relationship between the tablet device and a protective cover. The tablet device operates in accordance with the spatial relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel G. Smith, Matthew I. Brown, Nicholas Zambetti, Rohan Goel, Laura Charlotte Shumaker, Jeremy C. Franklin, Michael A. Cretella, Jr., Paul Meade, Chris Mullens
  • Publication number: 20170012661
    Abstract: A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments. The cover includes a number of magnets formed into a number of magnetic arrangements that provide a number of useful features associated with the cover and the tablet device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Samuel G. SMITH, Taylor Harrison GILBERT
  • Publication number: 20160344440
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160323006
    Abstract: A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments where the first segment includes a first plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a first edge of the flap and where a second segment includes a second plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a second edge of the flap opposite the first edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Jared A. Sartee, Samuel G. Smith, Santhana K. Balaji
  • Patent number: 9474345
    Abstract: A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments. The cover includes a number of magnets formed into a number of magnetic arrangements that provide a number of useful features associated with the cover and the tablet device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel G. Smith, Taylor Harrison Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9432492
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Justin R. Wodrich, Kevin D. Gibbs, Samuel G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9326576
    Abstract: A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments where the first segment includes a first plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a first edge of the flap and where a second segment includes a second plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a second edge of the flap opposite the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared A. Sartee, Samuel G. Smith, Santhana K. Balaji
  • Patent number: 9072352
    Abstract: A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments where the first segment includes a first plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a first edge of the flap and where a second segment includes a second plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a second edge of the flap opposite the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared A. Sartee, Samuel G. Smith, Santhana K. Balaji, Florence W. Ow
  • Patent number: 9071672
    Abstract: A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments where the first segment includes a first plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a first edge of the flap and where a second segment includes a second plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a second edge of the flap opposite the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel G. Smith, Jared A. Sartee, Florence W. Ow, Andrew D. Lauder, Jeremy C. Franklin