Patents by Inventor Tyler S. Bushnell
Tyler S. Bushnell 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: 11134141Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing, a battery, a conductive coil, near-field communications circuitry, amplifier circuitry, and wireless charging circuitry. The housing may have a housing wall. The conductive coil may be adhered to the housing wall. The conductive coil may be coiled around a magnet. The amplifier circuitry may drive audio signals and/or haptic signals onto the conductive coil that cause the conductive coil to vibrate the housing wall. The near-field communications circuitry may convey near-field communications signals through the housing wall using the conductive coil. The wireless charging circuitry may receive wireless power for charging the battery through the housing wall using the conductive coil. If desired, the conductive coil may include a first set of windings that lie within a surface extending along the housing wall and/or a second set of vertically-stacked windings that extend away from the housing wall.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Tyler S. Bushnell
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Patent number: 11121709Abstract: A touch and force sensitive rocker switch or button array for a portable electronic device can include multiple dome switches or force sensors, as well as a capacitive sensing surface that can detect finger location and swipes. A cosmetic surface can cover the entire elongated switch/button and portions of device housing proximate the button, and can be configured to transfer each of multiple types of input there through to the button and also provide a seal to the device housing interior. The cosmetic surface can be a flexible polymer to allow local deformation, and/or the entire surface can tilt or bend to permit inputs to transfer there through. The elongated button/switch can be raised from a surface of the device, and can be located along a side of the device, with a front face of the device being a touchscreen, such as for a smart phone or watch.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Sameer Pandya, Sherry Tang
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Publication number: 20210273671Abstract: An electronic device housing may be formed from housing members. A first housing member may form a display cover layer that overlaps pixels. During operation, the pixels may display an image that is viewable through the display cover layer. The second housing member may have a rear wall portion and a sidewall. A band may be coupled to the sidewall or other portion of the second housing member. The first and second housing members may be attached together using a housing member attachment structure. The housing member attachment structure may have layers of adhesive and printed circuit structures. The printed circuit structures may include metal traces that form an antenna and that form capacitive force sensor electrodes on opposing sides of a compressible member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: James G. Horiuchi, Tyler S. Bushnell, Brad G. Boozer, Mario Martinis, YoungHoon Kim
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Patent number: 11079812Abstract: A modular button assembly includes a button housing that may be disposed in an opening of an enclosure of an electronic device. The modular button assembly may include an input member that forms an exterior surface of the button housing and is configured to receive inputs, for example from a user of the electronic device. The modular button assembly may further include a sensor for detecting the received inputs and transmitting a signal to a processor of the electronic device. The modular button assembly may be configured such that disposing the button housing in the opening of the enclosure forms a seal that prevents contaminants from entering the button housing and the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Colin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Trevor J. Ness, James G. Horiuchi, Steven P. Cardinali
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Patent number: 11054861Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may have a flexible display layer covered by a protective display cover layer. The flexible display layer may be an organic light-emitting diode display layer or other layer with a flexible substrate. The flexible display layer may have a central region with peripheral edges. The central region may be rectangular, may be octagonal, or may have other shapes. Strip-shaped protrusions may extend along each of the peripheral edges of the central region. The strip-shaped protrusions may be bent to provide the protrusions with curved surface profiles. The display cover layer may have a cushion shape with bowed edges that overlap parts of the strip-shaped protrusions, may have curved inner and outer surfaces and/or planar surfaces, may have rounded corners with compound curvature, may have edges with curved surface profiles, and/or may have other configurations.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Tyler S. Bushnell
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Patent number: 11050452Abstract: An electronic device housing may be formed from housing members. A first housing member may form a display cover layer that overlaps pixels. During operation, the pixels may display an image that is viewable through the display cover layer. The second housing member may have a rear wall portion and a sidewall. A band may be coupled to the sidewall or other portion of the second housing member. The first and second housing members may be attached together using a housing member attachment structure. The housing member attachment structure may have layers of adhesive and printed circuit structures. The printed circuit structures may include metal traces that form an antenna and that form capacitive force sensor electrodes on opposing sides of a compressible member.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James G. Horiuchi, Tyler S. Bushnell, Brad G. Boozer, Mario Martinis, YoungHoon Kim
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Publication number: 20210181865Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Publication number: 20210157411Abstract: An electronic device is configured to provide haptic feedback to a user based on an input action associated with an input device. The electronic device includes a haptic engine operably connected to a processing device. The haptic engine includes an electromagnetic actuator that detects an input action associated with the input device. The electromagnetic actuator also produces a haptic output in response to the detection of the input action.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
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Publication number: 20210088981Abstract: Embodiments include a wearable electronic device including a housing having an internal wall separating an internal chamber from an external chamber, an outer shell defining a port that connects the external chamber to an external environment, a membrane positioned at an opening in the internal wall and configured to equalize a pressure within the internal chamber with a pressure of the external environment, a first pressure-sensing device positioned in the internal chamber and configured to produce a first output, a second pressure-sensing device positioned in the external chamber and configured to produce a second output, and a processing unit configured to estimate the pressure of the external environment using the second output in accordance with a determination an accuracy condition satisfies a criteria and estimate the pressure of the external environment using the first output in accordance with a determination the accuracy condition does not satisfy the criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Tyler S. Bushnell, Sherry Tang, Shannon Yang
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Patent number: 10957969Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices with antennas. The antenna may be a display-integrated antenna. An antenna feed for the antenna may be located in a recess in a sidewall of a housing of the device. The antenna feed may be coupled to transceiver circuitry on a logic board of the device by a pair of flex circuits. A first one of the pair of flex circuits may form a portion of an antenna feed assembly. A second one of the pair of flex circuits may be an impedance-matching flex having an end that is soldered to the main logic board. The antenna may be coupled to a conductive portion of the housing of the device.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Mario Martinis, Baris Ozgen, Tyler S. Bushnell, Sherry Tang, Henry H. Yang, Christopher M. Werner, Jayesh Nath, Carlo Di Nallo, Andrea Ruaro
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Patent number: 10955937Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
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Publication number: 20210074958Abstract: This application relates to a battery system for reducing spacing between components in an electronic device. The battery system includes a housing surrounding an electrode assembly and a connection module. The housing is rigid or semi-rigid and connected to a common ground. The battery system can be positioned in the electronic device to contact components without damaging the components. In some embodiments, the battery system can be used as a structural element in the electronic component.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: David M. Pelletier, Brad G. Boozer, Christopher M. Werner, Tianren Xu, Brian K. Shiu, Simone M. Missirian, Haran Balaram, Abhishek P. Shiwalkar, Shravan Bharadwaj, Alexander Manosov, Matthew S. Theobald, Huan Huang, Tyler S. Bushnell, Katharine R. Chemelewski, Premanand Ramadass, Yanning Song, Christopher R. Pasma
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Publication number: 20210072335Abstract: A method for calibrating a magnetometer of an electronic device can include detecting a change in a magnetism of the electronic device, collecting a first magnetic field data from the magnetometer at sampling frequency of at least 1 hertz, generating an elliptical calibration model based at least partially on the collected first magnetic field data, collecting a second magnetic field data from the magnetometer, and fitting the collected second magnetic field data to a sphere using the elliptical calibration model.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Gunes Dervisoglu, Christopher D. Guichet, Adam S. Howell, Alexander J. Wiens, Christopher E. Balcells, Erik L. Wang, Jonathan M. Beard, Tang Y. Tan, Theodore Lao, Tyler S. Bushnell, Hung A. Pham
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Patent number: 10930915Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery cell with leads extending from the battery and a circuit including a substrate and contacts that extend from the substrate. The leads are coupled to the contacts by mechanical or adhesive bonds located on sections of the contacts extending from the substrate. In various implementations, the circuit may include a variety of different components coupled to the substrate. Such components may be operable to perform a variety of functions such as regulating, monitoring, controlling, and/or otherwise managing the battery cell. Such components may include one or more battery management units, safety circuits, capacity gauges, and/or other components.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Charles W. Werley, Richard M. Mank, Xiaoyun Hu, Thai T. Ton, George V. Anastas, Vijayasekaran Boovaragavan
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Publication number: 20210018799Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may be mounted in a housing. Electronic components may be mounted in an interior region of the device. The display may have an array of pixels configured to display an image. A border region such as a ring-shaped border may run along the outermost peripheral edge of the array of pixels. The display may be covered by a transparent display cover layer. The transparent display cover layer may have opposing inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface may face the interior region of the device. A laser-marked light-scattering structure may be embedded within an interior portion of the display cover layer between the inner and outer surfaces. The light-scattering structure may be located in the border region and may be illuminated by a light-emitting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Richard A. Davis, Christopher M. Werner
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Patent number: 10890978Abstract: An electronic device is configured to provide haptic feedback to a user based on an input action associated with an input device. The electronic device includes a haptic engine operably connected to a processing device. The haptic engine includes an electromagnetic actuator that detects an input action associated with the input device. The electromagnetic actuator also produces a haptic output in response to the detection of the input action.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
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Patent number: 10871860Abstract: A flexible sensor includes a compliant layer positioned between two substrate layers. The compliant layer includes a first compliant material and a second compliant material that is more deformable or compressible than the first compliant material. The flexible sensor can be bent, twisted, shaped, or otherwise manipulated at the section(s) of the flexible sensor that include the second compliant material.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Michael B. Wittenberg, Devon A. Monaco
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Patent number: 10866615Abstract: An electronic device display may have an inner layer with a pixel array for displaying images and an outer layer with an array of light modulator cells operable in transparent and light-blocking modes. Force sensor and touch sensor circuitry may be used to gather user input such as information on finger pressure or stylus input applied to a location on the display. A block of the cells may be placed into a transparent mode to form a transparent window based on information from the sensor circuitry. Images on the pixel array may be viewed through the window. In another mode of operation, images can be displayed by adjusting the cells of the light modulator layer and backlight illumination may be provided by the pixel array. A camera and a flash or other optical components may be overlapped by an adjustable shutter.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Harry K. Ng, Alvin K. Ng, Katherine E. Tong, Tyler S. Bushnell, Amin M. Younes, Benjamin S. Bustle, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
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Patent number: 10866619Abstract: A biometric button assembly may be disposed in an opening of an enclosure of an electronic device. The biometric button assembly may include an input member that forms an exterior surface of the button housing and is configured to receive inputs, for example from a user of the electronic device. The biometric button assembly may further include a biometric sensor for detecting the received inputs and transmitting a signal to a processor of the electronic device. The signal may correspond to a biometric characteristic, such as a fingerprint. A flexible conduit may transmit the signal to the processor. A portion of the flexible conduit and a seal may be positioned between the button assembly and the enclosure that prevents contaminants from entering the button housing and the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, James G. Horiuchi, Michael K. McCord, Trevor J. Ness
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Publication number: 20200356139Abstract: An electronic device display and a display cover layer may be coupled to a housing. The display may have an array of pixels that are configured to emit light. One or more light redirecting elements may be incorporated into the electronic device that redirect and thereby change the direction of light rays emitted from peripheral pixels in the display. The light redirecting elements may be used to enlarge the effective size of the display, to create images on sidewall surfaces of the display cover layer, and/or to create diffuse glowing areas around the periphery of the device. Light redirecting elements may be formed as integral portions of a display cover layer, as laminated optical films on a display cover layer, or as coating layers on a display cover layer. Afocal optical systems may be formed by placing first and second light redirecting elements on opposing first and second sides of a display cover layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, John N. Border, Victoria C. Chan