Patents by Inventor Benjamin J. Kallman

Benjamin J. Kallman 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: 20250240515
    Abstract: An electronic device may include an input structure, the input structure including a button member and a touch-sensing element coupled to the button member. The input structure may further include a beam structure at least partially within the enclosure, the beam structure configured to be deflected as a result of the force input, a strain-sensing element coupled to the beam structure, and a dome switch configured to collapse in response to the force input satisfying a first force threshold. The electronic device may determine a location of the force input on the input structure, cause the electronic device to perform a first operation in response to detecting that the force input satisfies a second force threshold that is less than the first force threshold, and cause the electronic device to perform a second operation, different from the first operation, in response to detecting the collapse of the dome switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: John J. Baker, James A. Bertin, Sherry Cao, Matthew J. Cheung, Richard H. Dinh, Melissa Fung, Amith lyer, Benjamin J. Kallman, Benjamin J. Pope, Morgan M. Wagner, Syed Shayan Zahid, Yaocheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 12355907
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may include an enclosure including a front cover defining a front exterior surface, and a display positioned below the front cover and including a set of transparent conductive traces positioned in a graphically active region of the display and including a first plurality of transparent conductive traces and a second plurality of transparent conductive traces oriented perpendicular to the first plurality of transparent conductive traces. The portable electronic device may further include a proximity sensor including an optical emitter below the display and configured to emit light through the display and through the front cover. The optical emitter may be arranged relative to an optical receiver along a direction oblique to the first plurality of transparent conductive traces and to the second plurality of transparent conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Hill, Rasamy Phouthavong, Jun Sik Ham, James A Bertin, Benjamin J. Kallman, Sherry Cao
  • Publication number: 20250155981
    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: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 12009576
    Abstract: A mobile phone includes a housing structure, the housing structure defining a side surface of the mobile phone, a front cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a front surface of the mobile phone, a rear cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a rear surface of the mobile phone, a display positioned below the front cover, a first directional antenna defining a first radiation pattern extending through the front surface of the mobile phone, a second directional antenna defining a second radiation pattern extending through the rear surface of the mobile phone, and a third directional antenna defining a third radiation pattern extending through the side surface of the mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Arun R. Varma, David Hurrell, Eric N. Nyland, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Jennifer M. Edwards, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin J. Kallman, Trent Canales, Daniel C. Wagman, Bilgehan Avser, Elisabeth Lang
  • Patent number: 11860588
    Abstract: A watch can include a watch body and a band for securing the watch to the user. The watch body can detect an identification of the band or combination of band portions, which can serve as an input to initiate actions performed by the watch body. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the watch body. Identification of the band can be performed by components of the watch body that also serve other purposes. The watch body can respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the watch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Ryan C. Perkins, Benjamin J. Kallman, Daniel J. Hiemstra, Colin M. Ely, William C. Lukens, Osamu Yabe, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, David D. Dashevsky, Eugene C. Cheung, Prashanth S. Holenarsipur, Tyler S. Bushnell, Zaki Moustafa
  • Publication number: 20230384863
    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: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 11818281
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a display at least partially within the housing, and a front cover and rear cover coupled to the housing. The rear cover defines a first portion of a rear exterior surface of the portable electronic device, a protrusion defining a sensor array region of the rear cover and a second portion of the rear exterior surface, and an internal surface opposite the second portion of the rear exterior surface. The portable electronic device also includes a sensor array mounted within the housing along the sensor array region and comprising a frame member coupled to the rear cover, a camera module positioned in the first container region, and a depth sensor module positioned in the second container region and attached to the internal surface of the rear cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Luman Zhang, Hugh J. Jay, Trent Canales, Lindsay M. Alanen, Christopher B. Lyons, Brian A. Argyres, Sherry Cao, Jaden A. Barney, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Benjamin J. Pope
  • Patent number: 11762470
    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: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
  • Publication number: 20230224391
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may include an enclosure including a housing component and a front cover coupled to the housing component and defining a front exterior surface of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may also include a display positioned below the front cover, the display defining an active display region, a first hole surrounded by the active display region, and a second hole surrounded by the active display region. The portable electronic device may also include a first optical sensor positioned below the front cover and below the first hole, a second optical sensor positioned below the front cover and below the second hole, and a touch-sensing component configured to detect a first touch input applied to the front cover in the active display region of the display and a second touch input applied to the front cover over the first hole in the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew D. Hill, Rasamy Phouthavong, Jun Sik Ham, James A. Bertin, Benjamin J. Kallman, Sherry Cao
  • Publication number: 20230224392
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may include an enclosure including a front cover defining a front exterior surface, and a display positioned below the front cover and including a set of transparent conductive traces positioned in a graphically active region of the display and including a first plurality of transparent conductive traces and a second plurality of transparent conductive traces oriented perpendicular to the first plurality of transparent conductive traces. The portable electronic device may further include a proximity sensor including an optical emitter below the display and configured to emit light through the display and through the front cover. The optical emitter may be arranged relative to an optical receiver along a direction oblique to the first plurality of transparent conductive traces and to the second plurality of transparent conductive traces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew D. Hill, Rasamy Phouthavong, Jun Sik Ham, James A. Bertin, Benjamin J. Kallman, Sherry Cao
  • Patent number: 11637919
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing member defining a first portion of an exterior front surface of the portable electronic device, a first portion of an exterior rear surface of the portable electronic device, at least a portion of an exterior side surface of the portable electronic device, a recess along an interior side of the housing member, and a ledge feature along the interior side of the housing member. The device also includes a top module coupled to the housing member and including a front cover defining a second portion of the exterior front surface of the portable electronic device, a display stack attached to the front cover, and a frame member extending at least partially around a periphery of the display stack and set apart from a surface of the recess by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Eric W. Bates, Lucy E. Browning, Kodiak Burke, Benjamin S. Bustle, Trent Canales, Tyler B. Cater, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Michael Firka, Kevin M. Froese, Jun Sik Ham, Matthew D. Hill, Hugh J. Jay, Benjamin J. Kallman, Paul U. Leutheuser, Matthew W. Miller, Michael K. Mondry, Donald J. Parr, Benjamin J. Pope, Matthew P. Rao, Griffin Schmitt, Allegra Shum, Christopher R. Xydis, Luman Zhang, Yaocheng Zhang, Zhipeng Zhang, Xiao Ying Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230018308
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a display at least partially within the housing, and a front cover and rear cover coupled to the housing. The rear cover defines a first portion of a rear exterior surface of the portable electronic device, a protrusion defining a sensor array region of the rear cover and a second portion of the rear exterior surface, and an internal surface opposite the second portion of the rear exterior surface. The portable electronic device also includes a sensor array mounted within the housing along the sensor array region and comprising a frame member coupled to the rear cover, a camera module positioned in the first container region, and a depth sensor module positioned in the second container region and attached to the internal surface of the rear cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Luman Zhang, Hugh J. Jay, Trent Canales, Lindsay M. Alanen, Christopher B. Lyons, Brian A. Argyres, Sherry Cao, Jaden A. Barney, Lucy E. Brwning, Sawyer I. Cahen, Benjamin J. Pope
  • Patent number: 11522983
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a front cover, a rear cover, and a housing structure between and coupled to the front cover and the rear cover. The housing structure includes a first housing member defining and a first interlock feature formed along a first end surface. The portable electronic device also includes a second housing member defining a second interlock feature formed along a second end surface. The portable electronic device also includes a nonconductive joining element engaged with the first interlock feature and the second interlock feature, thereby structurally coupling the first housing member to the second housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Eric W. Bates, Xiao Ying Zhao, Luman Zhang, Christopher R. Xydis, Michael Firka, Benjamin J. Kallman, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Matthew D. Hill, Hugh J. Jay, Trent Canales, Lucy E. Browning
  • Patent number: 11503143
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a display at least partially within the housing, a front cover coupled to the housing and positioned over the display, a rear cover coupled to the housing and defining a first portion of a rear exterior surface of the portable electronic device, a protrusion defining a sensor array region of the rear cover and a second portion of the rear exterior surface, and an internal surface opposite the second portion of the rear exterior surface. The portable electronic device also includes a sensor array mounted within the housing along the sensor array region and comprising a frame member coupled to the rear cover along the internal surface and defining a wall structure defining a first container region and a second container region, a camera module positioned in the first container region, and a depth sensor module positioned in the second container region and attached to the internal surface of the rear cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Luman Zhang, Hugh J. Jay, Trent Canales, Lindsay M. Alanen, Christopher B. Lyons, Brian A. Argyres, Sherry Cao, Jaden A. Barney, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Benjamin J. Pope
  • Patent number: 11212917
    Abstract: Connector receptacles that may be space efficient and provide a direct connection to a flexible circuit board. One example may provide an electronic device having a receptacle including a recess formed in a housing of the electronic device. The recess may have a sidewall and a bottom surface portion, and the bottom surface portion may include one or more openings extending through the bottom surface portion from an external surface to an internal surface. One or more contacts formed on a flexible circuit board may be aligned with the one or more openings in the bottom surface portion. In this way, the receptacle may be space efficient and provide a direct connection to a flexible circuit board inside an electronic device. A cosmetic cap may be placed in the recess to obscure the existence of the connector receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin J. Verhoeve, Jason C. Sauers, Benjamin J. Kallman
  • Patent number: 11118939
    Abstract: A waveguide structure to allow device to determine its orientation are disclosed. The waveguide may be formed of a dielectric core and a cladding. The dielectric core may be formed of a solid dielectric material that conducts radio waves at millimeter wave frequencies and above. The cladding may encapsulate the core, and may include at least two conductive portions. Each conductive portion may be disposed around less than the entire core. The conductive portions allow electrical signals to flow between two devices to determine an orientation of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Daniel C. Wagman
  • Publication number: 20210168229
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a display at least partially within the housing, a front cover coupled to the housing and positioned over the display, a rear cover coupled to the housing and defining a first portion of a rear exterior surface of the portable electronic device, a protrusion defining a sensor array region of the rear cover and a second portion of the rear exterior surface, and an internal surface opposite the second portion of the rear exterior surface. The portable electronic device also includes a sensor array mounted within the housing along the sensor array region and comprising a frame member coupled to the rear cover along the internal surface and defining a wall structure defining a first container region and a second container region, a camera module positioned in the first container region, and a depth sensor module positioned in the second container region and attached to the internal surface of the rear cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Luman Zhang, Hugh J. Jay, Trent Canales, Lindsay M. Alanen, Christopher B. Lyons, Bryan A. Argyres, Sherry Cao, Jaden A. Barney, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Benjamin J. Pope
  • Publication number: 20210168230
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing member defining a first portion of an exterior front surface of the portable electronic device, a first portion of an exterior rear surface of the portable electronic device, at least a portion of an exterior side surface of the portable electronic device, a recess along an interior side of the housing member, and a ledge feature along the interior side of the housing member. The device also includes a top module coupled to the housing member and including a front cover defining a second portion of the exterior front surface of the portable electronic device, a display stack attached to the front cover, and a frame member extending at least partially around a periphery of the display stack and set apart from a surface of the recess by a gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Eric W. Bates, Lucy E. Browning, Kodiak Burke, Benjamin S. Bustle, Trent Canales, Tyler B. Cater, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Michael Firka, Kevin M. Froese, Jun Sik Ham, Matthew D. Hill, Hugh J. Jay, Benjamin J. Kallman, Paul U. Leutheuser, Matthew W. Miller, Michael K. Mondry, Donald J. Parr, Benjamin J. Pope, Matthew P. Rao, Griffin Schmitt, Allegra Shum, Christopher R. Xydis, Luman Zhang, Yaocheng Zhang, Zhipeng Zhang, Xiao Ying Zhao
  • Publication number: 20210167487
    Abstract: A mobile phone includes a housing structure, the housing structure defining a side surface of the mobile phone, a front cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a front surface of the mobile phone, a rear cover coupled to the housing structure and defining a rear surface of the mobile phone, a display positioned below the front cover, a first directional antenna defining a first radiation pattern extending through the front surface of the mobile phone, a second directional antenna defining a second radiation pattern extending through the rear surface of the mobile phone, and a third directional antenna defining a third radiation pattern extending through the side surface of the mobile phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Arun R. Varma, David Hurrell, Eric N. Nyland, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Jennifer M. Edwards, Matthew D. Hill, Benjamin J. Kallman, Trent Canales, Daniel C. Wagman, Bilgehan Avser, Elisabeth Lang
  • Publication number: 20210168225
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a front cover, a rear cover, and a housing structure between and coupled to the front cover and the rear cover. The housing structure includes a first housing member defining and a first interlock feature formed along a first end surface. The portable electronic device also includes a second housing member defining a second interlock feature formed along a second end surface. The portable electronic device also includes a nonconductive joining element engaged with the first interlock feature and the second interlock feature, thereby structurally coupling the first housing member to the second housing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Eric W. Bates, Xiao Ying Zhao, Luman Zhang, Christopher R. Xydis, Michael Firka, Benjamin J. Kallman, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Matthew D. Hill, Hugh J. Jay, Trent Canales, Lucy E. Browning