Patents by Inventor Ari P. Miller
Ari P. Miller 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: 20240126120Abstract: A display may have a pixel array such as a liquid crystal pixel array. The pixel array may be illuminated with backlight illumination from a direct-lit backlight unit. The backlight unit may include an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on a printed circuit board. The display may have a notch to accommodate an input-output component. Reflective layers may be included in the notch. The backlight may include a color conversion layer with a property that varies as a function of position. The light-emitting diodes may be covered by a slab of encapsulant with recesses in an upper surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Meizi Jiao, Joshua A. Spechler, Jie Xiang, Zhenyue Luo, Chungjae Lee, Morteza Amoorezaei, Mengyang Liang, Xinyu Zhu, Mingxia Gu, Jun Qi, Eric L. Benson, Victor H. Yin, Youchul Jeong, Xiang Fang, Yanming Li, Michael J. Lee, Marianna C. Sbordone, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Michael C. Sulkis, Francesco Ferretti, Seth G. McFarland, Mary M. Morrison, Eric N. Vergo, Terence Chan, Ian A. Guy, Keith J. Hendren, Sunitha Chandra
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Patent number: 11907426Abstract: An electronic device has a housing that forms an exterior surface of the electronic device. An array of actuators is coupled to the housing and is operable to move the housing in order to produce sound waves and/or haptic output via the exterior surface. In this way, less space is consumed by acoustic and haptic devices as compared to similar conventional devices, thereby allowing for thinner electronic devices and/or room for other components within the housing. The actuators may be operable to move different regions of the housing to produce sound waves and/or haptic output within different frequency ranges.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ari P. Miller, Justin D. Crosby, Daniel K. Boothe, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson, Ryan J. Mihelich, Robert J. Lockwood
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Patent number: 11874559Abstract: A display may have a pixel array such as a liquid crystal pixel array. The pixel array may be illuminated with backlight illumination from a direct-lit backlight unit. The backlight unit may include an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on a printed circuit board. The display may have a notch to accommodate an input-output component. Reflective layers may be included in the notch. The backlight may include a color conversion layer with a property that varies as a function of position. The light-emitting diodes may be covered by a slab of encapsulant with recesses in an upper surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Meizi Jiao, Joshua A. Spechler, Jie Xiang, Zhenyue Luo, Chungjae Lee, Morteza Amoorezaei, Mengyang Liang, Xinyu Zhu, Mingxia Gu, Jun Qi, Eric L. Benson, Victor H. Yin, Youchul Jeong, Xiang Fang, Yanming Li, Michael J. Lee, Marianna C. Sbordone, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Michael C. Sulkis, Francesco Ferretti, Seth G. McFarland, Mary M. Morrison, Eric N. Vergo, Terence Chan, Ian A. Guy, Keith J. Hendren, Sunitha Chandra
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Publication number: 20230247349Abstract: In at least one example, an electronic device can include a lower base portion including a housing. The housing can define an internal volume of the lower portion and a rear side defining an aperture. The device can also include an upper portion rotatably connected to the lower portion at the rear side, an audio component disposed in the internal volume, and a channel extending from the audio component to the aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2022Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Houtan R. Farahani, Richard D. Kosoglow, Trevor J. Edmonds, Vanessa M. Wijaya, Keith J. Hendren, Zachary Sorscher, Ron A. Hopkinson, Chi Xu, Ari P. Miller, Rodrigo Dutervil Mubarak
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Publication number: 20230091389Abstract: A display may have a pixel array such as a liquid crystal pixel array. The pixel array may be illuminated with backlight illumination from a direct-lit backlight unit. The backlight unit may include an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on a printed circuit board. The display may have a notch to accommodate an input-output component. Reflective layers may be included in the notch. The backlight may include a color conversion layer with a property that varies as a function of position. The light-emitting diodes may be covered by a slab of encapsulant with recesses in an upper surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2021Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Meizi Jiao, Joshua A. Spechler, Jie Xiang, Zhenyue Luo, Chungjae Lee, Morteza Amoorezaei, Mengyang Liang, Xinyu Zhu, Mingxia Gu, Jun Qi, Eric L. Benson, Victor H. Yin, Youchul Jeong, Xiang Fang, Yanming Li, Michael J. Lee, Marianna C. Sbordone, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Michael C. Sulkis, Francesco Ferretti, Seth G. McFarland, Mary M. Morrison, Eric N. Vergo, Terence Chan, Ian A. Guy, Keith J. Hendren
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Patent number: 11567542Abstract: An accessory device for an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device includes multiple sections, with one section holding the electronic device, and another section having an input mechanism, such as a keyboard. The accessory device includes a hinge assembly that allows relative movement of the sections with respect each other. An additional hinge assembly is integrated with the section carrying the electronic device, and provides additional flexibility and range of motion of the section, thereby allowing a user to position the electronic device at multiple different angles relative to the section carrying the input mechanism. Also, each hinge assembly may include multiple roller and spacer elements, as well as a retention structure passing through each roller element and spacer element. The retention structure can provide tension to increase the frictional force between the roller and spacer elements, and/or provide counterbalance to offset the weight of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Chien-Tsun Chen
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Patent number: 11550369Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. 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
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Patent number: 11545317Abstract: Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ian A. Guy, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson
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Patent number: 11419231Abstract: A cover for an electronic device includes a glass cover defining a substantially planar first surface, a substantially planar second surface opposite the first surface, an opening extending through the glass cover, and a raised wall surrounding the opening and defining a portion of an interior surface of the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, A C Manjunath, Christopher D. Jones, Christopher D. Prest, Ari P. Miller, Karan Bir, Genie Kim
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Publication number: 20220214751Abstract: An electronic device has a housing that forms an exterior surface of the electronic device. An array of actuators is coupled to the housing and is operable to move the housing in order to produce sound waves and/or haptic output via the exterior surface. In this way, less space is consumed by acoustic and haptic devices as compared to similar conventional devices, thereby allowing for thinner electronic devices and/or room for other components within the housing. The actuators may be operable to move different regions of the housing to produce sound waves and/or haptic output within different frequency ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Ari P. Miller, Justin D. Crosby, Daniel K. Boothe, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson, Ryan J. Mihelich, Robert J. Lockwood
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Publication number: 20220181102Abstract: Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Ian A. Guy, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson
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Patent number: 11307661Abstract: An electronic device has a housing that forms an exterior surface of the electronic device. An array of actuators is coupled to the housing and is operable to move the housing in order to produce sound waves and/or haptic output via the exterior surface. In this way, less space is consumed by acoustic and haptic devices as compared to similar conventional devices, thereby allowing for thinner electronic devices and/or room for other components within the housing. The actuators may be operable to move different regions of the housing to produce sound waves and/or haptic output within different frequency ranges.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ari P. Miller, Justin D. Crosby, Daniel K. Boothe, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson, Ryan J. Mihelich, Robert J. Lockwood
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Patent number: 11282656Abstract: Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ian A. Guy, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson
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Patent number: 11181949Abstract: Keyboards are disclosed that are retractable. Movable magnetic or mechanical linkage elements are configured to reposition keycaps and stabilizers between different relative positions. Structures in a movable layer can act on the keycaps or stabilizers to move the keycaps and stabilizers into a retracted position for storage and for saving space in an electronic device. The stabilizers can be scissor mechanisms, butterfly mechanisms, and similar devices. The movable layer can be moved in response to rotation of a hinge or other mechanical element in the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ian A. Guy, Ari P. Miller, Edward J. Cooper, Houtan R. Farahani, Kevin M. Robinson, Riley E. Brandt
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Patent number: 11079807Abstract: A hinge assembly is disclosed. The hinge assembly may include roller elements and spacer elements positioned between adjacent roller elements. The hinge assembly couples with two housing parts, and allows movement of the housing parts with respect to one another. The roller elements synchronously rotate along surfaces of the spacer elements during rotation of one of the housing parts. Also, in order to maintain engagement between the roller elements and the spacer elements, a strap may extend through openings of the roller elements and the spacer elements. Further, the strap may provide the hinge assembly with a desired stiffness. For example, when the first housing part ceases rotational movement, the strap may cause the first housing part to maintain its position relative to the second housing part. Also, the hinge assembly may include a tensioning element coupled to the strap in order to provide tension to the strap.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Ari P. Miller
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Publication number: 20210149458Abstract: 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: January 26, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. 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
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Patent number: 10915151Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. 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
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Patent number: 10864686Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Ari P. Miller, Christopher I. Owen-Elia, Paul X. Wang, Robert Y. Cao
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Publication number: 20200301480Abstract: An accessory device for an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device includes multiple sections, with one section holding the electronic device, and another section having an input mechanism, such as a keyboard. The accessory device includes a hinge assembly that allows relative movement of the sections with respect each other. An additional hinge assembly is integrated with the section carrying the electronic device, and provides additional flexibility and range of motion of the section, thereby allowing a user to position the electronic device at multiple different angles relative to the section carrying the input mechanism. Also, each hinge assembly may include multiple roller and spacer elements, as well as a retention structure passing through each roller element and spacer element. The retention structure can provide tension to increase the frictional force between the roller and spacer elements, and/or provide counterbalance to offset the weight of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Ari P. MILLER, Kevin M. ROBINSON, Chien-Tsun CHEN
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Patent number: 10761571Abstract: This application relates to a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a housing including (i) a first case, and (ii) a second case that is capable of pivoting relative to the first case. The portable electronic device further includes a linkage assembly that includes a first joint that is joined to the first case, a second joint that is joined to the first case, a third joint that is joined to the second case, where the second and third joints define a first link, and a fourth joint that is joined to the second case, the first and fourth joints defining a second link, where when an input motion is applied at the second link, the second link oscillates to cause the first link to move such that the first and second cases pivot between a closed configuration and an open configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Cooper, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Ian A. Guy