Patents by Inventor Chris Ligtenberg

Chris Ligtenberg 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).

  • PORTABLE COMPUTER SPEAKER GRILL STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20120212903
    Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include speaker grill structures. A speaker grill structure may be formed by creating an array of small holes (perforations) in a portable computer housing structure such as a planar housing wall. A speaker may be mounted adjacent to the array of holes. The planar housing wall may be formed in a block of milled aluminum and may have a thickness of less than 1 mm. The speaker holes may have with small diameters without overly attenuating sound from a speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Ron Hopkinson, John Raff, Bartley K. Andre, Chris Ligtenberg, Ruchi Goel
  • PORTABLE COMPUTER BATTERY STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20120214035
    Abstract: Portable computer battery structures are provided. The portable computer battery structures may include a battery with a metal enclosure and a battery cable with a floating end. The battery may have six cells. Three pairs of parallel-connected cells may be connected together in series. The six cells may be substantially planar in shape. The battery may have a connector with at least five conductive pins and six recesses. The battery cable may have a cable with at least five conductive pins that mate with the five pins of the battery's connector and with six support pins that slide into the six recesses of the battery's connector. The batter connector may be formed on a printed circuit board substrate that folds over on itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Bradley L. Spare, Michael D. Hillman, Robert L. Coish, Chris Ligtenberg
  • PORTABLE COMPUTER HARD DRIVE STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20120212891
    Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include hard drive mounting structures. The hard drive mounting structures may include elastomeric support members. Each elastomeric support member may have a relatively rigid inner portion. The inner portion may include a hole that receives a hard drive mounting pin. Each elastomeric support member may also have a relatively flexible outer portion. The relatively flexible outer portion may be mounted within an opening in a plastic support member. The rigid inner portion may have a square outline and may be mounted within a square opening in the flexible outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Gavin Reid, Ron Hopkinson, Cheng P. Tan, John Brock, Chris Ligtenberg, Bartley K. Andre
  • CIRCULAR INTERPOSERS
    Publication number: 20120206892
    Abstract: Non-rectangular interposers for space efficient, reliable to manufacture, high speed interconnections between two printed circuit boards, such as a motherboard and a mating board. One example provides space efficiency with a non-rectangular interposer, where the interposer may be at least approximately circular. Reliable manufacturing may be provided by the inclusion of one or more openings to accept one or more alignment features. In one example, a first opening is provided to accept a threaded boss, which may be used to fasten the two printed circuit boards and interposer together. In another example, a second opening may be provided to accept an alignment pin, wherein the pin aligns the interposer to the two printed circuit boards. Contacts may be provided on each side to mate with contacts on each of the two printed circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik James Shahoian, Chris Ligtenberg
  • KEYBOARD DESIGN
    Publication number: 20120199455
    Abstract: Embodiments of a backlit keyboard assembly are described. A keycap assembly is mounted into a case web having intersecting ribs. A flange, which can be angled, is on the bottom perimeter of the keycap and a correspondingly shaped flange is on each rib of the case web. An overlap of the keycap flange and the case web flanges prevents direct sighting of the backlight light source and also provides a more evenly distributed halo around the keycap, thereby improving both aesthetics and functionality by providing better light control and contrast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James J. NIU, Harold J. Welch, Chad A. Bronstein, Patrick Kessler, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Portable Computer Structures
    Publication number: 20120170213
    Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include connector structures. The portable computer may have a case. A portion of the connector structure may be formed by the case of the portable computer. The portable computer may have a circuit board with grounding spring-loaded pins which electrically ground the circuit board to the case of the portable computer. The portable computer may have an optical disk drive that is form fitted to mount to the portable computer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: John Raff, Stewart Shannon Fields, Ron Hopkinson, Bartley K. Andre, Chris Ligtenberg, Mi Zhou, Paul J. Wehrenberg, Brett W. Degner, John Brock, Michelle Rae Goldberg
  • ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH TWO IMAGE SENSORS
    Publication number: 20120162465
    Abstract: An electronic device for producing an image of an object is disclosed. The electronic device may include a black-and-white camera having a first sensor area configured to receive luma data pertaining to the object. The first sensor area may correspond to a first pixel array, the luma data associated with the first pixel array. The electronic device may also include a color camera having a second sensor area configured to receive chroma data pertaining to the object. The second sensor area may correspond to a second pixel array. The chroma data may be associated with the second pixel array. The electronic device may also include first logic configured to correlate pixels in the first pixel array with locations on the second sensor area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Culbert, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Computer housing
    Patent number: 8199468
    Abstract: A multipart computer housing is described. The multipart computer housing includes at least a clutch barrel. The clutch barrel encloses a connector assembly, the connector assembly providing support for a lid. The clutch barrel is configured such that a junction formed by the clutch barrel and a top layer of the lid is not visible to a user when the computer housing is on a horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Raff, Bartley K. Andre, Laura DeForest, John C. DiFonzo, Zheng Gao, Michelle Goldberg, Bradley J. Hamel, Timothy S. Hibbard, Ron Hopkinson, William F. Leggett, Chris Ligtenberg, Gavin J. Reid, Charles A. Schwalbach
  • Battery
    Patent number: 8199469
    Abstract: By being embedded in a portable computing device, a battery pack is made essentially inaccessible to unauthorized users, thereby allowing for a battery pack that can be made smaller and of lighter construction material, thereby facilitating greater component density within the portable computing device, lower cost to manufacture, and more environmentally secure. In another embodiment, the battery pack can take the form of a battery assembly formed of a single piece housing having a cantilever portion to provide additional stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Coish, Ron Hopkinson, John Raff, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Portable Computer Clutch Structures
    Publication number: 20120140397
    Abstract: A portable computer is provided that has a housing. Upper and lower portions of the housing may be joined using a hinge. A clutch mechanism may be associated with the hinge. The clutch mechanism may exhibit asymmetrical friction during opening and closing of the portable computer housing portions. Additional closing force may help to prevent the computer from having a lid that is too easy to close, without overwhelming the clutch with unnecessary friction. The clutch may have a clutch spring that is attached to a clutch shaft using a slot in the shaft. A lobe may be provided in the spring in the vicinity of the slot. A protective cap may be provided over the tip of the shaft to prevent damage to nearby wires. A friction band in the clutch may be used to directly engage an end of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Patrick Kessler, Chris Ligtenberg
  • PORTABLE COMPUTER BATTERY INDICATOR
    Publication number: 20120139738
    Abstract: A portable computer may include battery indicator light structures. Battery status information in the portable computer may be presented to a user using an array of light-emitting diodes or other light emitters. Light-emitting diodes may be mounted on a printed circuit board. A stiffener may provide the printed circuit board with rigidity. The printed circuit board may include a connector that allows the board to be connected to a main logic board. A switch on the printed circuit board may be actuated by a power button on the portable computer. An opaque member with an array of holes may be used to reduce light bleed between adjacent light-emitting diodes. Diffusing plastic may be mounted within the array of holes. Bumps in the diffusing plastic may mate with corresponding holes on a portable computer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Bartley K. Andre, Duncan R. Kerr, Christopher Stringer, Daniel J. Costar, Chris Ligtenberg, John Brock, Tom Wilson, Dinesh Mathew, Brett W. Begner, Tomas E. Ponce
  • Portable computer hard drive structures
    Patent number: 8179673
    Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include hard drive mounting structures. The hard drive mounting structures may include elastomeric support members. Each elastomeric support member may have a relatively rigid inner portion. The inner portion may include a hole that receives a hard drive mounting pin. Each elastomeric support member may also have a relatively flexible outer portion. The relatively flexible outer portion may be mounted within an opening in a plastic support member. The rigid inner portion may have a square outline and may be mounted within a square opening in the flexible outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Reid, Ron Hopkinson, Cheng P. Tan, John Brock, Chris Ligtenberg, Bartley K. Andre
  • Wide Touchpad on a Portable Computer
    Publication number: 20120113009
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. Palm rest areas are formed by a touchpad disposed on the surface of the base assembly. In an alternative embodiment, a touchpad disposed on the base assembly has a width that extends substantially into the palm rests areas of the base assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Chris Ligtenberg, Duncan Kerr, Bartley K. Andre, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi, Imran Chaudhri, Greg Christle, Bas Ording
  • Portable computer battery structures
    Patent number: 8168319
    Abstract: Portable computer battery structures are provided. The portable computer battery structures may include a battery with a metal enclosure and a battery cable with a floating end. The battery may have six cells. Three pairs of parallel-connected cells may be connected together in series. The six cells may be substantially planar in shape. The battery may have a connector with at least five conductive pins and six recesses. The battery cable may have a cable with at least five conductive pins that mate with the five pins of the battery's connector and with six support pins that slide into the six recesses of the battery's connector. The batter connector may be formed on a printed circuit board substrate that folds over on itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Spare, Michael D. Hillman, Robert L. Coish, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Portable computer speaker grill structures
    Patent number: 8170266
    Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include speaker grill structures. A speaker grill structure may be formed by creating an array of small holes (perforations) in a portable computer housing structure such as a planar housing wall. A speaker may be mounted adjacent to the array of holes. The planar housing wall may be formed in a block of milled aluminum and may have a thickness of less than 1 mm. The speaker holes may have with small diameters without overly attenuating sound from a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Hopkinson, John Raff, Bartley K. Andre, Chris Ligtenberg, Ruchi Goel
  • PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120099264
    Abstract: A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Euan Abraham, John M. Brock, Matthew P. Casebolt, Robert L. Coish, Laura M. DeForest, Michelle Goldberg, Bradley Joseph Hamel, Ron Hopkinson, Jim Hwang, Caitlin E. Kalinowski, Steven Keiper, Patrick Kessler, Eugene Kim, Chris Ligtenberg, Jay K. Osborn, John Raff, Nicholas A. Rundle, David J. Yeh
  • COMPUTER HOUSING
    Publication number: 20120092821
    Abstract: A multipart computer housing is described. The multipart computer housing includes at least a structural support layer and a body. The body includes at least an outer layer formed of lightweight flexible material and an inner layer attached to the outer layer. The inner layer is connected to the support layer forming a load path between the inner layer and the structural support layer. A load applied to the multipart computer housing is transferred by way of the load path to the support layer without substantially affecting the outer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John RAFF, Bartley K. ANDRE, Laura DEFOREST, John C. DIFONZO, Zheng GAO, Michelle GOLDBERG, Bradley J. HAMEL, Timothy S. HIBBARD, Ron HOPKINSON, William F. LEGGETT, Chris LIGTENBERG, Gavin J. REID, Charles A. SCHWALBACH
  • Portable computer structures
    Patent number: 8144474
    Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include connector structures. The portable computer may have a case. A portion of the connector structure may be formed by the case of the portable computer. The portable computer may have a circuit board with grounding spring-loaded pins which electrically ground the circuit board to the case of the portable computer. The portable computer may have an optical disk drive that is form fitted to mount to the portable computer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Raff, Stewart Shannon Fields, Ron Hopkinson, Bartley K. Andre, Chris Ligtenberg, Mi Zhou, Paul J. Wehrenberg, Brett W. Degner, John Brock, Michelle Rae Goldberg
  • Portable computer clutch structures
    Patent number: 8132293
    Abstract: A portable computer is provided that has a housing. Upper and lower portions of the housing may be joined using a hinge. A clutch mechanism may be associated with the hinge. The clutch mechanism may exhibit asymmetrical friction during opening and closing of the portable computer housing portions. Additional closing force may help to prevent the computer from having a lid that is too easy to close, without overwhelming the clutch with unnecessary friction. The clutch may have a clutch spring that is attached to a clutch shaft using a slot in the shaft. A lobe may be provided in the spring in the vicinity of the slot. A protective cap may be provided over the tip of the shaft to prevent damage to nearby wires. A friction band in the clutch may be used to directly engage an end of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Patrick Kessler, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Electronic device
    Patent number: D658583
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Robert L. Coish, Brett William Degner, Ron Alan Hopkinson, Chris Ligtenberg, R. Sean Murphy, John Raff