Patents by Inventor Benjamin M. Rappoport

Benjamin M. Rappoport 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).

  • Patent number: 9825103
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an active region in which display pixels are used to display images. The display may have one or more openings and may be mounted in a housing associated with the electronic device. An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the openings in the display. The electronic component may include a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, status indicator lights, a light-based touch sensor array, a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings, antenna structures, a speaker, a microphone, or other acoustic, electromagnetic, or light-based component. One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object. Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Scott A. Myers, Richard P. Howarth, Julian Hoenig, Christopher J. Stringer, John P. Ternus, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 9756733
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display and a multi-layer printed circuit. Integrated circuits and other components may be mounted to the multi-layer printed circuit. The display and multi-layer printed circuit may share a common layer formed from a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may have portions that are integrated into the display and portions that are integrated into the multi-layer printed circuit board. The flexible substrate may contain patterned conductive traces that are used to route signals from components in the multi-layer printed circuit to display circuitry such as a display driver integrated circuit. An array of thin-film transistors may be used to control the emission of light from the display and may be formed on portions of the flexible substrate that are integrated into the display. The display may be a flexible display that includes an array of organic light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Drzaic, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen Brian Lynch, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus
  • Patent number: 9713295
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may have conductive walls and planar metal internal housing structures. A display in the electronic device may have a touch sensor layer such as an array of capacitive touch sensor electrodes. The display may have display layers in a plastic chassis structure and a metal chassis structure. A display layer may have a conductive surface. Conductive tape may be used to couple the touch sensor to the metal chassis structure and a metal radio-frequency shielding structure. Conductive tape may also be used to short the conductive surface of the display layer to the internal metal housing structure. Segments of conductive tape may run along each of the four edges of a display and may overlap at display corners. Conductive foam structures may be used to short the segments to adjacent portions of the conductive housing walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Amy Qian, Jiang Ai, Jeremy C. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20170192458
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing including a plurality of steps. The plurality of mounting steps are formed by at least removing a preselected amount of housing material at predetermined locations on the interior surface. At least some of the mounting steps are used to mount at least some of the plurality of internal operating components housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen R. McCLURE, Joshua D. BANKO, Kevin D. GIBBS, Benjamin M. RAPPOPORT, John P. TERNUS
  • Patent number: 9679513
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided in which photodetectors disposed throughout a display are used to control the display brightness. The photodetectors are to be used for ambient light sensing, proximity sensing, or to compensate for aging OLEDs. In some embodiments, photodiodes are fabricated with OLEDs during the TFT fabrication process. In some embodiments, the photodetectors may be disposed throughout the display in zones containing OLEDs. The photodetectors are used to control the display brightness and color for the OLEDs in areas around each photodetector based on ambient light, aging, and/or nearby objects. A controller makes driving strength adjustments to the OLEDs in each zone independent of other zones. Photodetectors disposed throughout the display may improve proximity sensing and provide additional functionality to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Brian Lynch, Paul S. Drzaic, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus, Scott A. Myers
  • Patent number: 9658648
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a signal cable formed from a flexible printed circuit. A service loop may be formed in the signal cable. The bend may be formed in a desired location on the flexible printed circuit by contraction of an elastic member having ends attached to the flexible printed circuit. The elastic member may be conductive to carry signals and provide shielding. Structures may be attached to the flexible printed circuit to promote bending in a desired location and direction. A crease or other bending promotion feature may be applied to the flexible printed circuit at a desired bend location. Overbending prevention structures such as overmolded elastomeric structures may be applied to the flexible printed circuit at the bend. Integral strain relief features may prevent overbending of the flexible printed circuit upon exiting the elastomeric structures. Overmolded structures may serve as protective bumpers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Justin R. Wodrich, Santhana Balaji, Shayan Malek
  • Publication number: 20170139532
    Abstract: Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Stephen Brian Lynch, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich
  • Publication number: 20170117336
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an active region in which display pixels are used to display images. The display may have one or more openings and may be mounted in a housing associated with the electronic device. An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the openings in the display. The electronic component may include a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, status indicator lights, a light-based touch sensor array, a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings, antenna structures, a speaker, a microphone, or other acoustic, electromagnetic, or light-based component. One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object. Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Scott A. Myers, Richard P. Howarth, Julian Hoenig, Christopher J. Stringer, John P. Ternus, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20170048365
    Abstract: Transparent structures for portions of electronic device housings are disclosed. The transparent structures are formed from multiple layers of transparent (optically clear) materials. The multiple layers can include at least an outer glass layer and one or more other transparent layers that can be either glass or polymer layers. The multiple layers can be bonded together with one or more lamination layers. Accordingly, multi-layer transparent structures that are formed from multiple layers bonded together are able to be not only thin but also sufficiently strong and resistant to damage. The multi-layer transparent structures are well suited for use in consumer products, such as consumer electronic devices (e.g., portable electronic devices).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Derek W. Wright, Justin R. Wodrich, Benjamin M. Rappoport
  • Patent number: 9557874
    Abstract: Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Stephen Brian Lynch, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 9547050
    Abstract: An integrated system of sensors that can be used to detect a direction of an externally applied magnetic field is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system can be incorporated into a compact package that can be used within an electronic device. A processor can use signals provided by the sensor system to provide an indication of the direction of the externally applied magnetic field. In one embodiment, the sensors can take the form of analog sensors such as Hall Effect sensors configured in such a way that the direction of the externally applied magnetic field can be deduced based in part upon detection signals provided by the Hall Effect sensors. In one embodiment, the Hall Effect sensors can be stacked one atop the other in such a way that relative signal strength of the detection signals from the sensors can indicate the direction of the externally applied magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared A. Sartee, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Samuel Gilkison Smith
  • Patent number: 9543364
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an active region in which display pixels are used to display images. The display may have one or more openings and may be mounted in a housing associated with the electronic device. An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the openings in the display. The electronic component may include a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, status indicator lights, a light-based touch sensor array, a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings, antenna structures, a speaker, a microphone, or other acoustic, electromagnetic, or light-based component. One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object. Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Scott A. Myers, Richard P. Howarth, Julian Hoenig, Christopher J. Stringer, John P. Ternus, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20160363961
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing including a plurality of steps. The plurality of mounting steps are formed by at least removing a preselected amount of housing material at predetermined locations on the interior surface. At least some of the mounting steps are used to mount at least some of the plurality of internal operating components housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. McCLURE, Joshua D. BANKO, Kevin D. GIBBS, Benjamin M. RAPPOPORT, John P. TERNUS
  • Patent number: 9516149
    Abstract: Transparent structures for portions of electronic device housings are disclosed. The transparent structures are formed from multiple layers of transparent (optically clear) materials. The multiple layers can include at least an outer glass layer and one or more other transparent layers that can be either glass or polymer layers. The multiple layers can be bonded together with one or more lamination layers. Accordingly, multi-layer transparent structures that are formed from multiple layers bonded together are able to be not only thin but also sufficiently strong and resistant to damage. The multi-layer transparent structures are well suited for use in consumer products, such as consumer electronic devices (e.g., portable electronic devices).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Derek W. Wright, Justin R. Wodrich, Benjamin M. Rappoport
  • Patent number: 9431190
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing including a plurality of steps. The plurality of mounting steps are formed by at least removing a preselected amount of housing material at predetermined locations on the interior surface. At least some of the mounting steps are used to mount at least some of the plurality of internal operating components to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Joshua D. Banko, Kevin D. Gibbs, Benjamin M. Rappoport, John P. Ternus
  • Patent number: 9406999
    Abstract: Antenna structures may be customized to compensate for manufacturing variations in electronic device antennas. The antenna structures may include an antenna resonating element and a ground. Customizations may be made to the antenna structures by performing customization operations such as adding material, removing material, deforming material, and making electrical adjustments. Customizations may be performed to a conductive antenna resonating element structure, to a ground structure, or to associated antenna structures such as parasitic antenna elements. During manufacturing operations, antenna structures may be characterized by making radio-frequency antenna performance measurements. Antenna performance can be compared to desired performance levels and compensating customizations for the antenna structures can be identified. Customized antenna structures can be installed in electronic devices during manufacturing to produce devices that meet desired specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Bruce E. Berg, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure
  • Publication number: 20160179253
    Abstract: Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Stephen Brian Lynch, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 9304338
    Abstract: Electronic devices may include displays. A display may include a display unit that includes an array of display pixels and a backlight unit that provides backlight illumination for the display pixels. An automated alignment system may be used to align the display unit to the backlight unit. The alignment system may include a camera, a control unit, and computer-controlled positioners. The control unit may gather alignment feature location information from the display unit and the backlight unit using the camera. The control unit may determine a centroid of the backlight unit based on the alignment feature location information. The alignment feature location information may include the respective locations of openings in the backlight unit. The control unit may operate computer-controlled positioners to align the display unit with respect to the backlight unit using the centroid and to subsequently attach the display unit to the backlight unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jiang Ai, Amy Qian, Bruce E. Berg, Eva J. Dixon, Ateet Piplani
  • Publication number: 20160087329
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with antenna structures that are embedded in a dielectric such as plastic. The plastic may be molded over the antenna structures using molding equipment. Antenna structures may be embedded in molded plastic structures such as plastic electronic device housing structures. The plastic electronic device housing structures may form housing structures such as housing wall structures. The antenna structures may be embedded within the housing wall structures in the vicinity of an exterior surface of the housing wall structures. Embedded antenna structures may also be mounted under other dielectric structures such portions of a display cover layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Bruce E. Berg, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure
  • Patent number: 9274359
    Abstract: An electronic device display may include display layers mounted in a display chassis. The display chassis may have a plastic chassis structure and a metal chassis structure. Backlight structures may include a rectangular light guide plate. Light-emitting diodes within the backlight structures may emit light that is coupled into the light guide plate. The display chassis may have four edges that surround a rectangular opening. The rectangular opening may be configured to receive display layers such as the light guide plate. The metal chassis may have a C-shaped cross-section that forms a cavity in which the light-emitting diodes are mounted. The metal chassis structure may have engagement features such as holes and bent tabs. The plastic chassis structure may be overmolded on the metal chassis structure in engagement with the engagement features. Mounting structures may be formed from protruding portions of the plastic chassis structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Qian, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jeremy C. Franklin, Jiang Ai, Jivan K Khosla