Patents by Inventor Simon R. LANCASTER-LAROCQUE
Simon R. LANCASTER-LAROCQUE 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: 20190101960Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon R. Trivett, Matthew S. Theobald, Dinesh C. Mathew, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Francesco Ferretti, John Raff, Robert J. Lockwood, Genie Kim, Karan Bir, Keith J. Hendren, Gurshan Deol, Antonio Clarke, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, William A. Counts
-
Publication number: 20190091946Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a keyboard or other input structure having a continuous fiber material. In one aspect, the continuous fiber material is disposed in a layered fiber pattern under tension. The continuous fiber material is continuous in that it is not broken or severed within the webbing. Heat and pressure are then applied to form a structural web. The resulting structural web may be stronger than a webbing of conventional materials yet with reduced relative weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Ari P. Miller, Christopher I. Owen-Elia, Paul X. Wang, Robert Y. Cao
-
Patent number: 10089512Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
-
Patent number: 9951425Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to methods for enhancing cosmetic surfaces of friction stir processed parts. More specifically a method for applying cold spray over a weld line generated by friction stir processing is disclosed. Methods are also disclosed for blending the cold spray applied over the weld line with a cosmetic surface portion of the friction stir processed parts. In some embodiments cold spray can be used to create a cosmetic joint between various parts. Structural joints between first and second substrates may also be formed via solid state deposition. Such joints may be strengthened through use of a hidden weld, mechanical interlocking between the substrates, and/or coupling via fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Collin D. Chan, Kenneth A. Ross, Lindsay D. Corbet, Ari P. Miller, Thomas G. Budd
-
Publication number: 20180085857Abstract: A hybrid laser modulation and acid etch process for the creation of a patterned substrate. According to some embodiments, a hole is formed in a glass substrate by first modulating a portion of the substrate in the desired shape. A mask is coated on the glass substrate and is patterned to expose the modulated portion. The glass substrate is then acid etched to remove the modulated portion. Once the modulated portion has been etched, the desired shape may be removed from the glass substrate and the mask may be stripped.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nathan K. Gupta, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Prithu Sharma, Weibo Cheng, Abhijit A. Kangude, Bryan W. Posner, Sudirukkuge T. Jinasundera, Karan Bir
-
Patent number: 9922229Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
-
Publication number: 20180077813Abstract: An electronic device may have polymer structures such as polymer electronic device structures, gaskets for forming seals between display cover layers and housing structures, polymer structures that fill gaps between housing walls, adhesive, adhesive tapes, and other structures with polymer. To prevent degradation of the polymer from exposure to fatty acids and other potentially harmful materials, a protective enzyme may be incorporated into one or more of the polymer structures. The protective enzyme may be a lipoxygenase enzyme or other enzyme that degrades harmful substances such as fatty acids and thereby neutralizes the harmful substances and prevents damage to the polymer structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Paul Choiniere, Dinesh C. Mathew, Patrick Magannig Boyle
-
Publication number: 20180068808Abstract: Keyboards include mechanisms that prevent and/or alleviate contaminant ingress. In some embodiments, a keyboard assembly includes a substrate, a key cap, a movement mechanism moveably coupling the key cap to the substrate, and a guard structure coupled to the key cap operable to direct contaminants away from the movement mechanism. In other embodiments, a keyboard includes a base; a web that defines apertures; keys moveably coupled to the base within the apertures; and a gasket coupled to the keys, the gasket fixed between the web and the base, operable to block passage of contaminants into the apertures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2016Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Zheng Gao, Craig C. Leong, Robert J. Lockwood, Bryan W. Posner, Robert Y. Cao, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Dinesh C. Mathew, Alex J. Lehmann, Denis Endisch, Karan Bir
-
Patent number: 9629271Abstract: A method for manufacturing an enclosure for an electronic device using laser texturing to create a first surface having different surface characteristics than a second surface adjacent to the first surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Sarah J. Montplaisir, Collin D. Chan
-
Publication number: 20170090593Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
-
Publication number: 20170091515Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
-
Publication number: 20170091436Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
-
Patent number: 9553625Abstract: A wearable device is coupled to a band including multiple modular functional band links that are each electrically and mechanically connected to one or more other of the band links and/or the wearable device and include one or more electronic components. In various implementations, the wearable device may receive identifiers from each of the band links, determine functionality available using the identifiers, and communicate with the band links to utilize the determine functionality. In some implementations, the band links may include multiple different output devices and the wearable device may determine to provide an output pattern and signal the respective output devices according to the output pattern. In various implementations, the band links may include multiple different input devices and the wearable device may receive input indications from the input devices and perform an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective input devices.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Douglas J. Weber, Brian Shadle, Alex M. Lee, David S. Herman, Patrick S. Wieler, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
-
Patent number: 9333704Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to ultrasonic welding and more particularly to performing an ultrasonic welding operation while rotating one part relative to a mating part. A non-uniform energy director can be disposed along a mating surface of a first part. The energy director can maintain a constant cross-sectional area while having a smaller height near a pivot point for the rotation and a larger height away from the pivot point. The varying height of the energy director can allow the tip of the energy director to come in contact with a second part rotating relative to the first part at approximately the same time during the ultrasonic welding process.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gerardo Salas Bolanos, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Dominic E. Dolci, Cesar Lozano, James G. Smeenge
-
Publication number: 20160094259Abstract: A wearable device is coupled to a band including multiple modular functional band links that are each electrically and mechanically connected to one or more other of the band links and/or the wearable device and include one or more electronic components. In various implementations, the wearable device may receive identifiers from each of the band links, determine functionality available using the identifiers, and communicate with the band links to utilize the determine functionality. In some implementations, the band links may include multiple different output devices and the wearable device may determine to provide an output pattern and signal the respective output devices according to the output pattern. In various implementations, the band links may include multiple different input devices and the wearable device may receive input indications from the input devices and perform an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective input devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Douglas J. Weber, Brian Shadle, Alex M. Lee, David S. Herman, Patrick S. Wieler, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
-
Publication number: 20150030379Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to methods to enhance cosmetic surfaces of friction stir processed parts. More specifically a method for applying cold spray over a weld line generated by the friction stir processing is disclosed. Methods are also disclosed for blending the cold spray applied over the weld line in with a cosmetic surface portion of friction stir processed parts. In some embodiments cold spray can be used to on its own to create a cosmetic joint between various parts. Structural joints between first and second substrates may also be formed via solid state deposition. Such joints may be strengthened through use of a hidden weld, mechanical interlocking between the substrates, and/or coupling via fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Collin D. Chan, Kenneth A. Ross, Lindsay D. Corbet, Ari P. Miller, Thomas G. Budd
-
Publication number: 20150001192Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to adjusting output or conditioning of an electron beam. More specifically various configurations are disclosed that relate to maintaining a footprint of the electron beam incident to a workpiece within a defined energy level. Such a configuration allows the electron beam to heat only specific portions of the workpiece to a superheated state in which intermetallic compounds are dissolved. In one embodiment a mask is disclosed that prevents low energy portions of an electron beam from contacting the workpiece. In another embodiment the electron beam can be focused in a way that maintains the electron beam at an energy level such that substantially all of the electron beam is above a threshold energy level.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Collin Chan, Kensuke Uemura, Purwadi Raharjo
-
Patent number: 8814632Abstract: The described embodiment relates generally to the polishing of a device housing. The device housing can be formed of a thermoplastic, or a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. More particularly, a method and an apparatus are described for calibrating a polishing process in which a precise amount of material can be removed. Accurate measurement of such a polishing process can be especially helpful in accurately determining material removal rates and pad wear occurring across curved surfaces and edges where such parameters tend to be difficult to predict.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Simon R Lancaster-Larocque
-
Patent number: 8798782Abstract: The described embodiment relates generally to the polishing of a device housing. The device housing can be formed of a thermoplastic, or a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. More particularly, a method and an apparatus are described for accurately measuring the amount of material removed during a polishing process. Accurate measurement of such a polishing process can be especially helpful in measuring material removal on curved surfaces and edges where material removal rates tend to be less predictable.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Lucas Allen Whipple
-
Publication number: 20140078711Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to ultrasonic welding and more particularly to performing an ultrasonic welding operation while rotating one part relative to a mating part. A non-uniform energy director can be disposed along a mating surface of a first part. The energy director can maintain a constant cross-sectional area while having a smaller height near a pivot point for the rotation and a larger height away from the pivot point. The varying height of the energy director can allow the tip of the energy director to come in contact with a second part rotating relative to the first part at approximately the same time during the ultrasonic welding process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gerardo Salas Bolanos, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Dominic E. Dolci, Cesar Lozano, James G. Smeenge