Patents by Inventor Blake M Coughenour

Blake M Coughenour 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: 20230314891
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Publication number: 20230299564
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a camera and a light source module embedded in the mobile device. The light source module includes at least a laser-pumped phosphor light source that includes a photoluminescent phosphor and a laser diode to generate laser light within a first wavelength range to pump the photoluminescent phosphor. Exposure of the photoluminescent phosphor to the laser light results in emission of visible light within a second wavelength range according to a laser-pumped emission spectrum associated with the photoluminescent phosphor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Richard L. Baer, Garam Young, Florian R. Fournier, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang
  • Patent number: 11740527
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Publication number: 20230239558
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may include an enclosure including a front cover defining a front exterior surface of the portable electronic device and a rear cover defining a rear exterior surface of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may further include a rear-facing camera and a rear-facing flash including a light emitting component defining a plurality of illuminable regions. The light emitting component may be configured to illuminate a first subset of the plurality of illuminable regions to illuminate a first field of view and illuminate a second subset of the plurality of illuminable regions, the second subset different from the first subset, to illuminate a second field of view different from the first field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew D. Hill, Michael W. Firka, Nicholas D. Rath, Douglas G. Fournier, Matthew P. Rao, Benjamin J. Pope, James A. Bertin, David A. Hurrell, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, Blake M. Coughenour, Angelo M. Alaimo, Jeremy D. Bataillou
  • Patent number: 11658465
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a camera and a light source module embedded in the mobile device. The light source module includes at least a laser-pumped phosphor light source that includes a photoluminescent phosphor and a laser diode to generate laser light within a first wavelength range to pump the photoluminescent phosphor. Exposure of the photoluminescent phosphor to the laser light results in emission of visible light within a second wavelength range according to a laser-pumped emission spectrum associated with the photoluminescent phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Richard L. Baer, Garam Young, Florian R. Fournier, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang
  • Publication number: 20230086557
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include adaptive light source modules that can provide adaptive illumination to a scene. The adaptive light source modules may comprise a housing, an emitter array, and a lens. The emitter array comprises a plurality of emitters. The lens may redirect light emitted from the emitter array through a transparent window of the housing. The housing may further include a prismatic surface that distorts light emitted from the emitter array and/or one or more non-transparent portions that limits light travelling therethrough. The adaptive light source module may optionally comprise a light sensor, and a portion of the lens may be configured to direct light toward the light sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Angelo M. Alaimo, Blake M. Coughenour, Bryan Dang, Florian R. Fournier, Katherine J. Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20220404663
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Publication number: 20220381419
    Abstract: A strobe module can include a Fresnel lens that defines an external surface of the strobe module and a sidewall at least partially defining an internal volume and defining an external channel. A gasket can be disposed in the external channel. A substrate can be coupled to the sidewall to further define the internal volume and a light source can be disposed on the substrate in the internal volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Garrett R. Owoc, Stoyan P. Hristov, Jason B. Neevel, Ian A. Spraggs, Daniel W. Jarvis, David A. Pakula, Mikael S. Wagner, Blake M. Coughenour, Gikku J. George
  • Patent number: 11467472
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens includes multiple different zones. At least one of the zones may be an asymmetric zone that is radially asymmetric. The asymmetric zone may redirect light received from a light source located within a focal length of the Fresnel lens to a portion of a field of view of an image sensor. In some embodiments, multiple asymmetric zones may be implemented within the same Fresnel lens, which may have different radial asymmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Blake M. Coughenour
  • Patent number: 11460746
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Patent number: 11435044
    Abstract: A strobe module can include a Fresnel lens that defines an external surface of the strobe module and a sidewall at least partially defining an internal volume and defining an external channel. A gasket can be disposed in the external channel. A substrate can be coupled to the sidewall to further define the internal volume and a light source can be disposed on the substrate in the internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Garrett R. Owoc, Stoyan P. Hristov, Jason B. Neevel, Ian A. Spraggs, Daniel W. Jarvis, David A. Pakula, Mikael S. Wagner, Blake M. Coughenour, Gikku J. George
  • Publication number: 20210191233
    Abstract: A light source module includes an illumination element and an adjustable light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive or generate a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and accordingly adjust an amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. In some embodiments, an adjustable light diffusing material includes a polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT), a smectic phase liquid crystal, a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC), or other suitable material. A controller for a light source module may determine a level of diffusion based on a level of inclusion of a wide-angle field of view of a wide-angle lens system or a telephoto field of view of a telephoto lens system in a composite camera field of view that includes a combination of the wide angle field of view and the telephoto field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Blake M. Coughenour, Hossein Nemati, Florian R. Fournier
  • Publication number: 20210096417
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Publication number: 20210071837
    Abstract: A strobe module can include a Fresnel lens that defines an external surface of the strobe module and a sidewall at least partially defining an internal volume and defining an external channel. A gasket can be disposed in the external channel. A substrate can be coupled to the sidewall to further define the internal volume and a light source can be disposed on the substrate in the internal volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Garrett R. Owoc, Stoyan P. Hristov, Jason B. Neevel, Ian A. Spraggs, Daniel W. Jarvis, David A. Pakula, Mikael S. Wagner, Blake M. Coughenour, Gikku J. George
  • Patent number: 10942423
    Abstract: A light source module includes an illumination element and an adjustable light diffusing material. The light source module is configured to receive or generate a control signal for adjusting diffusion of light emitted from the light source module and accordingly adjust an amount of diffusion of light emitted from the light source module. In some embodiments, an adjustable light diffusing material includes a polymer stabilized cholesteric texture (PSCT), a smectic phase liquid crystal, a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC), or other suitable material. A controller for a light source module may determine a level of diffusion based on a level of inclusion of a wide-angle field of view of a wide-angle lens system or a telephoto field of view of a telephoto lens system in a composite camera field of view that includes a combination of the wide angle field of view and the telephoto field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Blake M. Coughenour, Hossein Nemati, Florian R. Fournier
  • Patent number: 10942412
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Publication number: 20200201103
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Patent number: 10690986
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
  • Publication number: 20200166824
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens includes multiple different zones. At least one of the zones may be an asymmetric zone that is radially asymmetric. The asymmetric zone may redirect light received from a light source located within a focal length of the Fresnel lens to a portion of a field of view of an image sensor. In some embodiments, multiple asymmetric zones may be implemented within the same Fresnel lens, which may have different radial asymmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Blake M. Coughenour
  • Patent number: 10578949
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens includes multiple different zones. At least one of the zones may be an asymmetric zone that is radially asymmetric. The asymmetric zone may redirect light received from a light source located within a focal length of the Fresnel lens to a portion of a field of view of an image sensor. In some embodiments, multiple asymmetric zones may be implemented within the same Fresnel lens, which may have different radial asymmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Blake M. Coughenour