Patents by Inventor Antonio F. Herrera
Antonio F. Herrera 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: 20250084282Abstract: An apparatus is designed to secure a component (e.g., battery) to a housing of an electronic device and to remove the power supply from the electronic device with minimal or no breaking. The apparatus may include an adhesive layer and a reinforcement layer (e.g., wire) that extends throughout the adhesive layer. When a force is applied to the adhesive layer, the reinforcement layer allows the adhesive layer to stretch and lengthen without breaking. The apparatus may further include an extension where the applied force can be initiated, and the reinforcement layer may extend into the extension. The reinforcement layer may also be used to sever the adhesive layer. For example, an applied force to the reinforcement layer can cut the adhesive layer. Alternatively, thermal energy may be applied to the reinforcement layer, causing the reinforcement layer to change shape and separate the adhesive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2024Publication date: March 13, 2025Inventors: Erik G. DE JONG, Antonio F. HERRERA, Daniela M. DESCHAMPS, Yi Lin CHEN
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Publication number: 20250004426Abstract: An electronic watch includes a housing and a crown assembly including a rotatable actuation member. The rotatable actuation member includes a knob external to the housing and configured to receive a rotational input and a shaft assembly coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the housing, the shaft assembly defining a sensing surface configured to rotate in response to the rotational input. The electronic watch further includes an optical sensing system configured to detect the rotational input, the detecting including directing light onto the sensing surface, receiving reflected light from the sensing surface, and producing a signal corresponding to a rotational motion of the sensing surface, the signal based at least in part on an interference between the light directed onto the sensing surface and the reflected light.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2024Publication date: January 2, 2025Inventors: Antonio F. Herrera, Erik G. de Jong, Jiahui Liang
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Patent number: 12127641Abstract: A watch can include a watch band having a first strap segment, a second strap segment, a nest portion secured between the first strap segment and the second strap segment, and an opening extending through the nest portion. The watch can further include a housing releasably mountable to the nest portion, and a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to align with the opening when the housing is mounted to the nest portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2022Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Antonio F. Herrera
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Patent number: 12092996Abstract: An electronic watch includes a housing and a crown assembly including a rotatable actuation member. The rotatable actuation member includes a knob external to the housing and configured to receive a rotational input and a shaft assembly coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the housing, the shaft assembly defining a sensing surface configured to rotate in response to the rotational input. The electronic watch further includes an optical sensing system configured to detect the rotational input, the detecting including directing light onto the sensing surface, receiving reflected light from the sensing surface, and producing a signal corresponding to a rotational motion of the sensing surface, the signal based at least in part on an interference between the light directed onto the sensing surface and the reflected light.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Antonio F. Herrera, Erik G. de Jong, Jiahui Liang
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Patent number: 12003019Abstract: A portable or wearable electronic device can include a device housing defining an internal volume, and an electronic component disposed in the internal volume. The electronic component can be an input component and can have a component housing. The electronic device can also include an antenna feed assembly disposed in the internal volume. The antenna feed assembly can include a conductive grounding component electrically connected to the component housing and the device housing, and an antenna feed component electrically connected to the grounding component and disposed adjacent to the component housing. The conductive grounding component can surround a first major surface and a second major surface of the component housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2021Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Junlin Mu, Sameer Pandya, Patrick J. Crowley, Antonio F. Herrera, James G. Horiuchi, Sherry Tang, Mario Martinis
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Publication number: 20230077241Abstract: A switch module for an electronic device detects translational inputs and defines at least portion of a conductive path from an input surface of the electronic device to a processing unit of the electronic device. The switch module may be a component of a crown assembly for detecting rotational inputs, translational inputs, touch inputs and/or biological signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The switch module may include a conductive dome and a friction guard that is positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member of the crown assembly. The conductive dome and/or the friction guard may define at least a portion of the conductive path from the input surface to the processing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Antonio F. Herrera, Colin M. Ely
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Patent number: 11571048Abstract: A watch can include a watch band having a first strap segment, a second strap segment, a nest portion secured between the first strap segment and the second strap segment, and an opening extending through the nest portion. The watch can further include a housing releasably mountable to the nest portion, and a sensor disposed within the housing and configured to align with the opening when the housing is mounted to the nest portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Antonio F. Herrera
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Publication number: 20230013283Abstract: An electronic watch includes a housing and a crown assembly including a rotatable actuation member. The rotatable actuation member includes a knob external to the housing and configured to receive a rotational input and a shaft assembly coupled to the knob and positioned at least partially within the housing, the shaft assembly defining a sensing surface configured to rotate in response to the rotational input. The electronic watch further includes an optical sensing system configured to detect the rotational input, the detecting including directing light onto the sensing surface, receiving reflected light from the sensing surface, and producing a signal corresponding to a rotational motion of the sensing surface, the signal based at least in part on an interference between the light directed onto the sensing surface and the reflected light.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Antonio F. Herrera, Erik G. de Jong, Jiahui Liang
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Publication number: 20220271419Abstract: A portable or wearable electronic device can include a device housing defining an internal volume, and an electronic component disposed in the internal volume. The electronic component can be an input component and can have a component housing. The electronic device can also include an antenna feed assembly disposed in the internal volume. The antenna feed assembly can include a conductive grounding component electrically connected to the component housing and the device housing, and an antenna feed component electrically connected to the grounding component and disposed adjacent to the component housing. The conductive grounding component can surround a first major surface and a second major surface of the component housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2021Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Junlin Mu, Sameer Pandya, Patrick J. Crowley, Antonio F. Herrera, James G. Horiuchi, Sherry Tang, Mario Martinis
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Patent number: 11347189Abstract: A watch having a camera is disclosed. The watch can include a housing having a front side, a back side, and an attachment interface configured to couple to a watch band. A camera can be mounted to the housing and configured to capture a picture of a scene through the back side of the housing. A display can be visible through the front side of the housing and configured to display the picture.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Antonio F. Herrera, Tyler S. Bushnell
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Publication number: 20210295661Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a pressure mapping system that includes a sensing pad configured for placement between a user and a bed. The sensing pad can include an array of actuation cells where each actuation cell in the array of actuation cells is configured to actuate in response to a fluid being introduced into the actuation cell. The sensing pad can also include an array of pressure sensors where each pressure sensor in the array of pressure sensors is configured to output pressure measurements. The pressure mapping system can also include a control system that is configured to receive the pressure measurements from the array of pressure sensors, generate a pressure map for the user based on the set of pressure measurements and a position of the pressure sensing cells on the sensing pad, and actuate a subset of the array of actuation cells based on the pressure map.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Wegene H. Tadele, Antonio F. Herrera, Riley E. Brandt, Yingjun Zhang, Jason Lor