Patents by Inventor Scott J. Krahn
Scott J. Krahn 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: 20240147644Abstract: A foldable display device may have housing portions coupled by a hinge. A flexible display may overlap the hinge. The hinge may have portions that rotate relative to each other about rotational axes that lie above the hinge to help reduce stress to the display. The hinge may have gear plates with interlocked teeth that synchronize rotational movement between left and right halves of the hinge. The hinge may also have asymmetric friction clips that impose different amounts of rotational friction to the hinge depending on the direction of rotation of the hinge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Scott J Krahn, Robert Y Cao, Lei Wang, Ke Ye, Zhouying Chen
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Patent number: 11953952Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
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Publication number: 20230049811Abstract: A foldable display device may have housing portions coupled by a hinge. The hinge may have a series of interconnected links. The links may be formed from interdigitated fingers in a friction clutch. The fingers or other portions of the links may be provided with crescent-shaped slots that receive pins. During folding of the device, the pins may slide along the crescent-shaped slots, thereby ensuring that adjacent links rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis that lies outside of the hinge and within a flexible display panel. Links may also be formed from link members with curved mating bearing surfaces that slide relative to each other as adjacent links are rotated relative to each other. A housing rotation synchronization mechanism may be formed using a set of gears that extends between the first and second housing portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Scott J Krahn, Adam T Garelli, Bradley J Hamel, Dinesh C Mathew, Hoon Sik Kim, Keith J Hendren, Robert Y Cao, Terry C Lam, Kevin M Robinson, Houtan R Farahani, Tatsuya Sano
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Publication number: 20220365558Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
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Patent number: 11429157Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
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Patent number: 11360587Abstract: A system may include a finger device that is worn on a user's finger. The finger device may serve as a controller for a head-mounted device or other devices in the system. The finger device may have a foldable housing with hinge structures that allow portions of the housing to fold with respect to each other. Magnets or other bistability structures may be used to provide the folding housing with folding bistability. This allows the housing to be placed in a stable unfolded state that releases the finger or a stable folded state in which the housing snaps over the finger and holds the finger device in place. A base may be used to store the finger device for charging. The base may have deployment structures that help place the finger device on the user's finger for use.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Alex J. Lehmann, Bradley J. Hamel, Dinesh C. Mathew, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John C. DiFonzo, Keith J. Hendren, Navpreet S. Kaloty, Nicholas L. Qu, Scott J. Krahn, Aidan N. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 11106249Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a first and a second set of friction elements engaged each other by an applied force perpendicular to the friction elements. The first and the second set of friction elements are capable of rotational movement about a cylindrical element that passes through each of the friction elements. Also, the first set of friction elements is capable of movement relative to the second set of friction elements. However, the first set friction elements can remain in a fixed position based upon the applied force, until an external force overcomes the applied. During rotation of the first set of friction elements about the cylindrical element, the frictional engagement that controls the position of the first set of friction elements is based primarily on engagement between the friction elements, as opposed to engagement, if any, between the friction elements and the cylindrical element.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aidan N. Zimmerman, Kevin M. Robinson, Scott J. Krahn, Chien-Tsun Chen, Bradley J. Hamel, Arthur Stanley Brigham
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Publication number: 20210263556Abstract: An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Thomas R. Matzinger, Bradley J. Hamel, Ryan P. Brooks, Scott J. Krahn, Arka P. Roy
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Patent number: 10324501Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a first and a second set of friction elements engaged each other by an applied force perpendicular to the friction elements. The first and the second set of friction elements are capable of rotational movement about a cylindrical element that passes through each of the friction elements. Also, the first set of friction elements is capable of movement relative to the second set of friction elements. However, the first set friction elements can remain in a fixed position based upon the applied force, until an external force overcomes the applied. During rotation of the first set of friction elements about the cylindrical element, the frictional engagement that controls the position of the first set of friction elements is based primarily on engagement between the friction elements, as opposed to engagement, if any, between the friction elements and the cylindrical element.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2018Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aidan N. Zimmerman, Kevin M. Robinson, Scott J. Krahn, Chien-Tsun Chen, Bradley J. Hamel, Arthur Stanley Brigham
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Publication number: 20180080598Abstract: A counterbalanced display stand can be used with a tablet or other suitable portable electronic device. The display stand can allow for tilt, rotation, and lateral movement in multiple directions to arrive at a desired display position. A 4-bar linkage arrangement can allow for such movements, which can be manual from a user and/or motorized through other device components. The display stand can be counterbalanced such that minimal friction is required to hold the device at a desired display position. A magnetic connector can detachably connect the device to the display stand. A feedback component can facilitate an automated repositioning of the display stand in response to changing conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Christiaan A. LIGTENBERG, Bradley J. HAMEL, Brett W. DEGNER, Scott J. KRAHN, Kristopher P. LAURENT, Robert J. LOCKWOOD
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Publication number: 20170023984Abstract: A torsion bar assembly including a number of torsion bars is disclosed. The torsion bar assembly is configured to provide an assistive biasing force to hinged components of an electronic device. The loading of the torsion bar assembly can include combined bending and torsional loading of the individual torsion bars. The torsion bar assembly can be used in conjunction with a hinge assembly, such that the torsion bars add and/or subtract a desired amount of resistance to the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly can include a hollow bore region, through which the torsion bar assembly can pass.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2015Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventor: Scott J. Krahn
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Publication number: 20140059805Abstract: One aspect is a friction hinge system including a housing having an inner surface, an outer surface and defining a substantially cylindrical opening and a longitudinal slot. A torque element assembly is configured within the housing and configured to extend through the slot thereby securing the torque element assembly relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: REELL PRECISION MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONInventors: Scott J. Krahn, Brian L. Johnson, Steven B. Romslo, Steve Krueger