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).
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Patent number: 10838461Abstract: A case for an electronic device is disclosed. The case includes a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the electronic device therein. The body includes a user input region formed from a deformable material having an electrical resistance that decreases in response to a touch force on the deformable material, and an electrode pair in contact with the deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to a sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the deformable material due to the touch force. The body also includes a connector configured to operatively couple the electrode pair to the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Eric S. Jol, Timothy J. Rasmussen
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Patent number: 10785870Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin J. Verhoeve, Jason C. Sauers, Benjamin J. Kallman
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Publication number: 20200233495Abstract: 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: February 25, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
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Publication number: 20200187351Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2019Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin J. Verhoeve, Jason C. Sauers, Benjamin J. Kallman
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Patent number: 10585480Abstract: 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: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
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Patent number: 10542338Abstract: An electronic device includes a concealed electrical connector positioned within a speaker opening defined by an enclosure of the electronic device. A mating connector is configured to fit through the speaker opening and couple to the concealed electrical connector to form a bidirectional communications path with circuitry within the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Brad G. Boozer, Benjamin J. Kallman
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Patent number: 10506713Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin J. Verhoeve, Jason C. Sauers, Benjamin J. Kallman
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Patent number: 10448711Abstract: A first connector assembly may be connectable to a second connector assembly using a sliding attachment process, in which a front portion of the first connector assembly is inserted into an end of a slot in the second connector assembly and slides laterally along the slot until electrical contacts on the two connector assemblies are aligned. Electrical contacts of the first connector assembly may be biased proud to make contact with recessed electrical contacts in the second connector assembly. A retraction mechanism may be provided to retract the electrical contacts of the first connector assembly during lateral sliding. An interlock mechanism may be provided to prevent unwanted operation of the retraction mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Eric S. Jol, Michael B. Wittenberg, Stephen E. Dey
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Patent number: 10411379Abstract: Contacts that may be highly corrosion resistant, may be readily manufactured, and may conserve precious materials. One example may provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer may be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact may be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Benjamin J. Kallman, Hani Esmaeili, Stefan A. Kowalski, Daniel T. McDonald, Eric S. Jol, Raymund W. M. Kwok, Michael W. Barnstead
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Publication number: 20190235569Abstract: A case for an electronic device is disclosed. The case includes a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the electronic device therein. The body includes a user input region formed from a deformable material having an electrical resistance that decreases in response to a touch force on the deformable material, and an electrode pair in contact with the deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to a sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the deformable material due to the touch force. The body also includes a connector configured to operatively couple the electrode pair to the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Benjamin J. KALLMAN, Eric S. JOL, Timothy J. RASMUSSEN
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Publication number: 20190195654Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Daniel C. Wagman
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Patent number: 10298075Abstract: Connector assemblies may be space efficient, have a high corrosion resistance, are difficult to damage, reduce or prevent moisture leakage into an electronic device housing the connector assembly, are readily assembled, and are reliable. One example may provide an inductive charging port for transferring electrical energy from a first electric device to a second electronic device. As compared to conventional connector inserts and connector receptacles, these inductive charging ports may have a smaller form factor and consume a reduced volume in an electronic device. Corrosion resistance may be provided by including a protective layer or cover portion over what would otherwise be exposed surfaces of a transformer core. O-rings, gaskets, or other structures may be included to reduce moisture leakage into a device. The inductive charging port may include a low number of parts for a simplified assembly, and thermal management of various types may be used to improve reliability.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Michael B. Wittenberg, Christopher S. Graham
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Patent number: 10296047Abstract: A case for an electronic device is disclosed. The case includes a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the electronic device therein. The body includes a user input region formed from a deformable material having an electrical resistance that decreases in response to a touch force on the deformable material, and an electrode pair in contact with the deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to a sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the deformable material due to the touch force. The body also includes a connector configured to operatively couple the electrode pair to the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Eric S. Jol, Timothy J. Rasmussen
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Patent number: 10263381Abstract: Contacts and connector assemblies that may be space efficient, provide direct connections to flexible circuit boards, provide corrosion resistance, prevent moisture leakage into an electronic device housing the connector assembly, are readily assembled, and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Michael B. Wittenberg, Eric S. Jol
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Patent number: 10263353Abstract: Contacts that may be highly corrosion resistant, may be readily manufactured, and may conserve precious materials. One example may provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer may be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact may be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Benjamin J. Kallman, Hani Esmaeili, Stefan A. Kowalski, Daniel T. McDonald, Eric S. Jol, Raymund W. M. Kwok
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Publication number: 20190110362Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin J. Verhoeve, Jason C. Sauers, Benjamin J. Kallman
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Publication number: 20190103693Abstract: Electrical contacts having good corrosion resistance. These contacts may include a set of three layers. The three layers may include a first or top layer and two layers below the top layer. The second or middle layer may be more electrochemically active than either the first layer or the third layer. The first layer may include cracks, pores, or other discontinuities. Corrosive substances may pass through these cracks, pores, and other discontinuities and corrode the second, more electrochemically active layer below the first layer. The cracks, pores, and other discontinuities may spread the corrosion homogenously and laterally across the surface of the contact, thereby protecting the remainder of the contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnstead, Christoph Werner, Christoph Bitterlich, Kenneth Michael Bagwell, Benjamin J. Kallman
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Publication number: 20190098383Abstract: An electronic device includes a concealed electrical connector positioned within a speaker opening defined by an enclosure of the electronic device. A mating connector is configured to fit through the speaker opening and couple to the concealed electrical connector to form a bidirectional communications path with circuitry within the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Brad G. Boozer, Benjamin J. Kallman
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Patent number: 10240947Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Daniel C. Wagman
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Patent number: 10058149Abstract: A watch band can provide both a physical connection and an electrical connection with a watch body of a watch. The watch band is fixed relative to the watch body and an electrical connection is either performed either simultaneously or shortly thereafter. The electrical connection enables data and power transfer between the watch body and the watch band. The electrical connection can also be performed by a secondary user interaction. Secondary user inactions can involve the user sliding, pulling, pushing, or rotating a portion of the watch band or watch body.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Michael B. Wittenberg, Benjamin J. Kallman, Ryan C. Perkins, Tatsuya Sano, Zhipeng Zhang, Richard H. Koch, Jeffrey C. Olson