Patents by Inventor Brian A. Lynch

Brian A. Lynch 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: 10735569
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with convex displays. A convex display may be used to maximize the internal volume of a device. Convex displays may be formed from one or more flexible layers. A flexible display layer may be mounted to a rigid support structure or a rigid cover layer. Flexible display layers that conform to the curved shape of a rigid structure may provide additional internal volume in which internal components of the device may be positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 10713998
    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: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Brian Lynch, Paul Stephen Drzaic, Benjamin Mark Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John Patrick Ternus, Scott A. Myers
  • Publication number: 20200201102
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display having a thin-film transistor layer. One or more holes in the thin-film transistor layer may be used to form pathways from display circuitry to other circuitry underneath the display. One or more conductive bridges may pass through holes in the thin-film transistor layer and may have one end that couples to the display circuitry and a second end that couples to a printed circuit underneath the display. These conductive bridges may be formed from wire bonding. Wire bond connections may be encapsulated with potting material to improve the reliability of the wire bond and increase the resiliency of the display. Display signal lines may be routed through holes in a thin-film transistor layer to run along a backside of the display thereby reducing the need for space in the border region for display circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Paul S. Drzaic, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen Brian Lynch, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus
  • Patent number: 10671176
    Abstract: This relates to a device that detects a user's motion and gesture input through the movement of one or more of the user's hand, arm, wrist, and fingers, for example, to provide commands to the device or to other devices. The device can include a plurality of myoelectric sensors configured to detect one or more electrical signals from a body part of a user indicative of one or more movements. A plurality of signals indicative of the detected one or more electrical signals may be generated. The device may also include a wireless communication transmitter configured to communicate with a peripheral device and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive the plurality of signals from the plurality of myoelectric sensors, use the plurality of signals together to determine a gesture, and communicate one or more of: the plurality of signals and the gesture to the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrzej Baranski, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Kuldeep P. Lonkar, Serhan Isikman, Stephen Brian Lynch, Colin M. Ely, Christopher Werner, Erik De Jong, Samuel B. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10656674
    Abstract: An electronic device having a housing structure that is configured to receive at least one glass cover is disclosed. The glass cover serves to cover a display assembly provided within the electronic device. The glass cover can be secured to the housing structure so as to facilitate providing a narrow border between an active display area and an outer edge of the housing structure. The enclosure for the electronic device can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Werner, Emery A. Sanford, Stephen Brian Lynch, Teodor Dabov, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20200152714
    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 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Scott A. Myers, Richard P. Howarth, Julian Hoenig, Christopher Stringer, John P. Ternus, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20200154586
    Abstract: An electronic device having an enclosure formed from at least one glass cover and a peripheral structure formed adjacent the periphery of the glass cover is disclosed. The peripheral structure can be secured adjacent to the glass cover with an adhesive. The peripheral structure can be molded adjacent the glass cover so that a gapless interface is formed between the peripheral structure and the periphery of the glass cover. In one embodiment, the peripheral structure includes at least an inner peripheral structure and an outer peripheral structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: David Pakula, Stephen Brian Lynch, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Lee Hua Tan
  • Publication number: 20200125193
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays that are bent to form displays on multiple surfaces of the devices. Bent flexible displays may be bent to form front side displays and edge displays. Edge displays may be separated from front side displays or from other edge displays using patterned housing members, printed or painted masks, or by selectively activating and inactivating display pixels associated with the flexible display. Edge displays may alternately function as virtual buttons, virtual switches, or informational displays that are supplemental to front side displays. Virtual buttons may include transparent button members, lenses, haptic feedback components, audio feedback components, or other components for providing feedback to a user when virtual buttons are activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Stephen Brian Lynch, Anthony S. Montevirgen
  • Patent number: 10620490
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display having a thin-film transistor layer. One or more holes in the thin-film transistor layer may be used to form pathways from display circuitry to other circuitry underneath the display. One or more conductive bridges may pass through holes in the thin-film transistor layer and may have one end that couples to the display circuitry and a second end that couples to a printed circuit underneath the display. These conductive bridges may be formed from wire bonding. Wire bond connections may be encapsulated with potting material to improve the reliability of the wire bond and increase the resiliency of the display. Display signal lines may be routed through holes in a thin-film transistor layer to run along a backside of the display thereby reducing the need for space in the border region for display circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    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
  • Publication number: 20200071517
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising: a polyester base polymer; an oxidizable polyether-based additive; and a transition metal catalyst, wherein the polyester base polymer is substantially free of antimony. Containers made include a wall made of the composition. The polyester base polymer may preferably include polyethylene terephthalate and include less than about 100 ppm of antimony, less than about 50 ppm, less than about 10 ppm, or between about 0 and about 2 ppm. Containers made from the composition are substantially clear and exhibit excellent oxygen scavenging properties with little to no induction period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Murali K. Akkapeddi, Brian A. Lynch
  • Patent number: 10575421
    Abstract: An electronic device having an enclosure formed from at least one glass cover and a peripheral structure formed adjacent the periphery of the glass cover is disclosed. The peripheral structure can be secured adjacent to the glass cover with an adhesive. The peripheral structure can be molded adjacent the glass cover so that a gapless interface is formed between the peripheral structure and the periphery of the glass cover. In one embodiment, the peripheral structure includes at least an inner peripheral structure and an outer peripheral structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David Pakula, Stephen Brian Lynch, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Lee Hua Tan
  • Patent number: 10546901
    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: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    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: 10521034
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays that are bent to form displays on multiple surfaces of the devices. Bent flexible displays may be bent to form front side displays and edge displays. Edge displays may be separated from front side displays or from other edge displays using patterned housing members, printed or painted masks, or by selectively activating and inactivating display pixels associated with the flexible display. Edge displays may alternately function as virtual buttons, virtual switches, or informational displays that are supplemental to front side displays. Virtual buttons may include transparent button members, lenses, haptic feedback components, audio feedback components, or other components for providing feedback to a user when virtual buttons are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Stephen Brian Lynch, Anthony S. Montevirgen
  • Publication number: 20190361496
    Abstract: An electronic device having a housing structure that is configured to receive at least one glass cover is disclosed. The glass cover serves to cover a display assembly provided within the electronic device. The glass cover can be secured to the housing structure so as to facilitate providing a narrow border between an active display area and an outer edge of the housing structure. The enclosure for the electronic device can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher M. Werner, Emery A. Sanford, Stephen Brian Lynch, Teodor Dabov, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 10488936
    Abstract: This relates to a device that detects a user's motion and gesture input through the movement of one or more of the user's hand, arm, wrist, and fingers, for example, to provide commands to the device or to other devices. The device can be attached to, resting on, or touching the user's wrist, ankle or other body part. One or more optical sensors, inertial sensors, mechanical contact sensors, and myoelectric sensors can detect movements of the user's body. Based on the detected movements, a user gesture can be determined. The device can interpret the gesture as an input command, and the device can perform an operation based on the input command. By detecting movements of the user's body and associating the movements with input commands, the device can receive user input commands through another means in addition to, or instead of, voice and touch input, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrzej Baranski, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Kuldeep P. Lonkar, Serhan Isikman, Stephen Brian Lynch, Colin M. Ely, Christopher Werner, Erik De Jong, Samuel B. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10431636
    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: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    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: 20190278394
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays that are bent to form displays on multiple surfaces of the devices. Bent flexible displays may be bent to form front side displays and edge displays. Edge displays may be separated from front side displays or from other edge displays using patterned housing members, printed or painted masks, or by selectively activating and inactivating display pixels associated with the flexible display. Edge displays may alternately function as virtual buttons, virtual switches, or informational displays that are supplemental to front side displays. Virtual buttons may include transparent button members, lenses, haptic feedback components, audio feedback components, or other components for providing feedback to a user when virtual buttons are activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Stephen Brian Lynch, Anthony S. Montevirgen
  • Publication number: 20190278422
    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: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Stephen Brian Lynch, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 10401904
    Abstract: An electronic device having a housing structure that is configured to receive at least one glass cover is disclosed. The glass cover serves to cover a display assembly provided within the electronic device. The glass cover can be secured to the housing structure so as to facilitate providing a narrow border between an active display area and an outer edge of the housing structure. The enclosure for the electronic device can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Werner, Emery A. Sanford, Stephen Brian Lynch, Teodor Dabov, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 10400916
    Abstract: A T-piece preformer for forming a T-piece in a pipe-in-pipe (PIP) pipeline for a marine environment, the PIP pipeline has at least inner and outer pipes having an annular space thereinbetween, and one or more cables extending along the annular space. The T-piece preformer includes at least: (a) inner and outer longitudinal collars; (b) annular walls between the inner and outer collars; (c) cable apertures through each annular wall; and (d) one or more guide points on the outer collar radially offset from the or each cable apertures, to guidance for a hole into the T-piece performer. The T-piece preformer can be assembled into a PIP pipeline, and requires a final hole during laying. The T-piece preformer has cable apertures through each annular wall, for allowing continuation of cables in the annular space through the PIP pipeline and T-piece preformer, and the T-piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Brian Lynch, Dominique-Louis Delaporte, Dominique Popineau, Henri Marie Louis Robert Romazzotti