Patents by Inventor Sean S. Corbin

Sean S. Corbin 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).

  • Patent number: 8665160
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing formed from a radio opaque material with a cover formed from a radio transparent material. To implement a wireless interface, an antenna stack-up can be provided that allows an antenna to be mounted to a bottom of the cover. Methods and apparatus are provided for improving wireless performance. For instance, in one embodiment, a metal housing can be thinned to improve antenna performance. As another example, a faraday cage can be formed around speaker drivers to improve antenna performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo
  • Publication number: 20140049911
    Abstract: A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Corbin, Andrew D. Lauder
  • Publication number: 20130342492
    Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 8587939
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl Peterson
  • Patent number: 8570736
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing with a cavity having a substantially flat bottom wall. A battery assembly and main logic board can be mounted directly to the substantially flat bottom wall with a plurality of additional components arranged around a peripheral edge of the battery assembly and main logic board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Robert McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis Mwenda Kibiti, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Erik Andrew Uttermann, Alex Chun Lap Yeung, John Raff, Carl Peterson, Brianna C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8537128
    Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 8460018
    Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting a flat object from a casing of a mobile device is disclosed. The apparatus is arranged to receive an ejection tool along a first axis and to eject the flat object along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are not parallel. In one embodiment, the first axis is parallel to a top surface of the mobile device and the second axis is perpendicular to a curved edge surface of the mobile device. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first pivot element to receive the ejection tool and rotate thereby displacing a lever section of a second pivot element. The second pivot element includes a tabular element that contacts and ejects the flat object upon rotation of the second pivot element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jules B. Henry, Sean S. Corbin, Stephen R. McClure
  • Publication number: 20120194998
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl Peterson
  • Publication number: 20120196462
    Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting a flat object from a casing of a mobile device is disclosed. The apparatus is arranged to receive an ejection tool along a first axis and to eject the flat object along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are not parallel. In one embodiment, the first axis is parallel to a top surface of the mobile device and the second axis is perpendicular to a curved edge surface of the mobile device. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first pivot element to receive the ejection tool and rotate thereby displacing a lever section of a second pivot element. The second pivot element includes a tabular element that contacts and ejects the flat object upon rotation of the second pivot element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jules B. Henry, Sean S. Corbin, Stephen R. McClure
  • Publication number: 20120194393
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing formed from a radio opaque material with a cover formed from a radio transparent material. To implement a wireless interface, an antenna stack-up can be provided that allows an antenna to be mounted to a bottom of the cover. Methods and apparatus are provided for improving wireless performance. For instance, in one embodiment, a metal housing can be thinned to improve antenna performance. As another example, a faraday cage can be formed around speaker drivers to improve antenna performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo
  • Publication number: 20120194997
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing with a cavity having a substantially flat bottom wall. A battery assembly and main logic board can be mounted directly to the substantially flat bottom wall with a plurality of additional components arranged around a peripheral edge of the battery assembly and main logic board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Robert MCCLURE, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis Mwenda Kibiti, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Erik Andrew Uttermann, Alex Chun Lap Yeung, John Raff, Carl Peterson, Brianna C. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110310029
    Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 7984716
    Abstract: A self-conforming sound attenuation earplug, including: a stem, at least one support joined with the stem and extending radially outward from the stem, and a shell engaging the support and encircling the stem to form a space between the shell and the stem. At least one of the support material and the shell material is a deformable-resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky Wayne Purcell, Steven Craig Gehling, Waihong Leong, Anne Clare Moser, Sean S. Corbin, Scott Madison Belliveau
  • Patent number: 7708110
    Abstract: A hearing protection device and method for a human ear. A plug member caps or enters ear canal, and may be shaped to conform to the external auditory meatus. The device is biased at least in part by a pressure pad to provide some force against the plug member. An optional handle may be provided to assist with temporarily pulling the plug member away from the ear canal or providing adjustment. An optional bow member clips about the pinna. The device may be adapted for use as an ear phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Waihong Leong, Steven Craig Gehling, Scott M. Belliveau, Sean S. Corbin, Keith Grider, Anne Clare Moser, Aleksey Pirkhalo, Abby Elizabeth Sturges, James Wolford
  • Patent number: 7648005
    Abstract: A hearing protection device for a human ear. The device has an arm that clips about the pinna. A plug member caps or enters ear canal. The device is biased to provide some force against the plug member so that is stays in position during use. An optional handle may be provided to assist with temporarily pulling the plug member away from the ear canal or providing adjustment. The device may be adapted for use as an ear phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Waihong Leong, Scott Madison Belliveau, Sean S. Corbin, Ryan Hall, Ki Bok Song, James Wolford
  • Publication number: 20080314393
    Abstract: A self-conforming sound attenuation earplug, including: a stem, at least one support joined with the stem and extending radially outward from the stem, and a shell engaging the support and encircling the stem to form a space between the shell and the stem. At least one of the support material and the shell material is a deformable-resilient material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Ricky Wayne Purcell, Steven Craig Gehling, Waihong Leong, Anne Clare Moser, Sean S. Corbin, Scott Madison Belliveau
  • Publication number: 20080264715
    Abstract: A hearing protection device and method for a human ear. A plug member caps or enters ear canal, and may be shaped to conform to the external auditory meatus. The device is biased at least in part by a pressure pad to provide some force against the plug member. An optional handle may be provided to assist with temporarily pulling the plug member away from the ear canal or providing adjustment. An optional bow member clips about the pinna. The device may be adapted for use as an ear phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Waihong Leong, Steven Craig Gehling, Scott M. Belliveau, Sean S. Corbin, Keith Grider, Anne Clare Moser, Aleksey Pirkhalo, Abby Elizabeth Sturges, James Wolford
  • Publication number: 20080264429
    Abstract: A hearing protection device for a human ear. The device has an arm that clips about the pinna. A plug member caps or enters ear canal. The device is biased to provide some force against the plug member so that is stays in position during use. An optional handle may be provided to assist with temporarily pulling the plug member away from the ear canal or providing adjustment. The device may be adapted for use as an ear phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Waihong Leong, Scott Madison Belliveau, Sean S. Corbin, Ryan Hall, Ki Bok Song, James Wolford
  • Publication number: 20080263749
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to devices for covering an ear, and more particularly to such devices that are self-attaching and used for sound optimization, such as noise reduction. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to hearing protection muffs that comprise a sound attenuating cap, a self-attachment member for engaging the sound attenuating cap to the ear of a user, and optionally a sealing member. Advantageously, the muffs of the present disclosure have good sound attenuating properties and do not require a band or other external attachment device to secure the muffs to the ear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Waihong Leong, Rick Purcell, James Blaine Wolford, Scott Madison Belliveau, Aleksey Pirkhalo, Sean S. Corbin, Ki Bok Song