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).

  • Publication number: 20200260971
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wearable device may have an optical sensor. The optical sensor may have a light source such as one or more visible-light light-emitting diodes or other light-emitting devices and may have a light detector formed from one or more photodetectors. The wearable device may have a wearable housing in which the optical sensor is mounted. During operation, light from the light source may pass through a transparent portion of the housing, may reflect from an external object such as a wrist or other body part of a user, and may be received by the photodetectors after passing through light control members. The light control members may be arranged in a ring with a center and may have curved shapes with concave surfaces that face the center. Each light control member may be formed from a stack of laminated bent light control films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: Tyler S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 10734997
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Sameer Pandya, Sherry Tang
  • Publication number: 20200244262
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Tyler S. BUSHNELL, Adam T. CLAVELLE, Sameer PANDYA, Sherry TANG
  • Publication number: 20200233495
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 10707032
    Abstract: Electronic devices having input structures that are operative to translate a relatively small travel of an input surface to a larger travel elsewhere. For example, force exerted on an input surface of an input body may cause a corresponding input body to move a first distance. An arm, lever mechanism, or the like may have an end or other portion that moves a second distance in response to the input body's motion. The second distance may be greater than the first; in some embodiments, the second distance may be an order of magnitude or more than the first distance. The travel may close or open a switch in response to the force exerted on the input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Daniel William Jarvis, Benjamin J. Pope, Erik G. de Jong, Tyler S. Bushnell, Christopher T. Cheng, Trevor J. Ness, William C. Lukens, Steven P. Cardinali, Robert D. Turner
  • Publication number: 20200186179
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: James G. Horiuchi, Tyler S. Bushnell, Brad G. Boozer, Mario Martinis, YoungHoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20200159172
    Abstract: A compact crown for an electronic device such as an electronic watch, including a set of wipers capable of determining a rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed, is disclosed. The set of wipers is in contact with at least one resistance member at different angular positions around a rotation axis. The crown may have a group of ground taps disposed along the resistance member and a measured signal may vary based on the position of each wiper as it contacts the at least one resistance member. A compact crown may also include capacitive members and capacitive sensors in order to similarly determine rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Christopher M. Werner, Colin M. Ely, Stephen N. Sweet, Sriram Moorthy, Huan Peng
  • Publication number: 20200110473
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
  • Patent number: 10613666
    Abstract: Content can be using an input device without a touch-sensitive surface. In some examples, touch-down and lift-off on a non-touch-sensitive surface can be monitored by a force sensor of the input device. The position and/or motion of the input device can be tracked according to various methods including one or more of a motion and orientation sensor, a camera, or an electromagnetic- or sound-based triangulation scheme. The force data and position/motion data can be processed to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the content can be generated based on tracking position and/or motion of the input device without requiring contact with a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven Cardinali, Katherine E. Tong
  • Publication number: 20200097086
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is described in this disclosure. The portable electronic device can take many forms including for example a smart watch, a smart phone, or a tablet computing device. The portable electronic device can include a device housing component; and a display assembly coupled to the device housing component. The display assembly includes a protective cover that shields a display component from damage. The portable electronic device also includes an actuator configured to apply a vibratory input to the display assembly. In some embodiments, the actuator contacts both the device housing component and the protective cover of the display assembly. In some embodiments, the actuator is affixed only to an interior-facing surface of the display component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Justin D. Crosby, Kevin Truong, Nikolas T. Vitt, Daniel Corona
  • Patent number: 10599181
    Abstract: An auxiliary electronic device attachable to a wearable electronic device. The auxiliary device includes a housing, electronic circuitry within the housing, and an attachment mechanism configured to attach the auxiliary electronic device to the wearable device while the device is being worn by a user. In some embodiments the electronic circuitry includes a power transmitting unit that can wirelessly transmit power to charge a rechargeable battery within the wearable electronic device. In some embodiments the attachment mechanism includes a pair of lugs that extend, from opposite ends of the housing, above the housing towards a center of the auxiliary device and are adapted to fit within corresponding recesses of the wearable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David I. Nazzaro, Tyler S. Bushnell, Javier Mendez
  • Patent number: 10585480
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 10548529
    Abstract: An assembly for a consumer product, such as a wristwatch or other wearable electronic device, can securely retain a cover member against a housing of the product. A retaining member from within the housing can engage and secure the cover member to provide a fluid barrier. The cover member can include a window or other components of a sensor device. The parts can be easily disassembled without causing permanent damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Trevor J. Ness, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan, William H. Greenbaum, Tyler S. Bushnell, Guocheng Shao, Guanyi Gao, Christopher M. Werner, Phil M. Hobson
  • Patent number: 10551798
    Abstract: A compact crown for an electronic device such as an electronic watch, including a set of wipers capable of determining a rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed, is disclosed. The set of wipers is in contact with at least one resistance member at different angular positions around a rotation axis. The crown may have a group of ground taps disposed along the resistance member and a measured signal may vary based on the position of each wiper as it contacts the at least one resistance member. A compact crown may also include capacitive members and capacitive sensors in order to similarly determine rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Christopher M. Werner, Colin M. Ely, Stephen N. Sweet, Sriram Moorthy, Huan Peng
  • Publication number: 20200033815
    Abstract: A watch can include a user input component that employs an optical sensor to receive input from a user. The input components provide an ability for a user to interact with the watch in a manner similar to how a user would interact with a crown that is rotatable and/or translatable. The user can provide motions and gestures near the input component that the input component can detect and interpret and user inputs to control an aspect of the watch. The motions and gestures provided by the user can be directly detected with optical systems of the input component, so that the number of moving parts are reduced and space within the watch is more efficiently utilized. While providing these benefits, the input component provides a user experience that simulates user interactions with a crown that is rotatable and/or translatable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Tyler S. BUSHNELL, Sameer PANDYA, Steven P. CARDINALI
  • Patent number: 10509486
    Abstract: An input mechanism for an electronic watch 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: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
  • Patent number: 10510492
    Abstract: Monolithic capacitor structures having a main capacitor and a vise capacitor are discussed. The vise capacitor provides to the monolithic capacitor structure reduced vibrations and/or acoustic noise due to piezoelectric effects. To that end, vise capacitor may cause piezoelectric deformations that compensate the deformations that are caused by the electrical signals in the main capacitor. Embodiments of these capacitor structures may have the main capacitor and the vise capacitor sharing portions of a rigid dielectric. Electrical circuitry that employs the vise capacitor to reduce noise and/or vibration in the monolithic capacitor structures is also described. Methods for fabrication of these capacitors are discussed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ming Y. Tsai, Albert Wang, Curtis C. Mead, Tyler S. Bushnell, Paul A. Martinez
  • Publication number: 20190377385
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Tyler S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 10498159
    Abstract: This application relates to inductive charging coil configurations. In particular, the wireless charging coil configurations are arranged in a shape and size suitable for utilizing available space within a device housing. In some embodiments, wires making up the charging coil have varying diameters configured to optimize the size and shape of the charging coil so that available space can be fully utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher S. Graham, Stephen E. Yao
  • Publication number: 20190302902
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle