Patents by Inventor Christiaan Ligtenberg

Christiaan 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).

  • Publication number: 20180241101
    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: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Keith J. Hendren, Bartley K. Andre, Duncan Robert Kerr, Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, John Brock, Thomas W. Wilson, Dinesh C. Mathew, Brett W. Degner, Tomas E. Ponce
  • Publication number: 20180217668
    Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: CHRISTIAAN A. LIGTENBERG, BRETT W. DEGNER, RON A. HOPKINSON, ASIF HUSSAIN, DINESH C. MATHEW, MIKAEL M. SILVANTO, CHANG ZHANG, ZHENG GAO, ROBERT Y. CAO
  • Publication number: 20180218859
    Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display, a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and including a glass top case. The glass top case defines an exterior surface and a keyboard opening through the glass top case from the exterior surface to an interior surface. The portable computer further includes a keyboard positioned at least partially within the keyboard opening and comprising a substrate, a key configured to move relative to the substrate, and a fabric cover disposed over the key and defining a user interface surface of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao
  • Publication number: 20180217669
    Abstract: A device includes a display portion that includes a display housing and a display within the display housing. The device also includes a base portion flexibly coupled to the display portion and comprising a glass member defining a keyboard region configured to receive user input, a first haptic actuator configured to produce a first haptic output at a first area of the keyboard region, and a second haptic actuator configured to produce a second haptic output at a second area of the keyboard region that is different from the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao
  • Patent number: 10031559
    Abstract: An electronic device (such as a laptop) may selectively latch a base to a lid using a switchable magnet array. In particular, a drive circuit in the electronic device may apply at least a current pulse to a conductor that generates a magnetic field to reverse a direction of a remnant magnetization in the switchable magnet array. By reversing the direction of the remnant magnetization, the electronic device may selectively increase or decrease a magnetic field generated by the switchable magnet array at an attraction plate in the electronic device. This magnetic field may, in turn, result in an attractive force between the switchable magnet array and the attraction plate, thereby selectively latching the base and the lid when the base and the lid are proximate to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Hamel, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, John C. Difonzo, Jean-Marc Gery
  • Patent number: 10031367
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display that has a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between a color filter layer and a thin-film-transistor layer. The thin-film-transistor layer may have a substrate with an upper surface and a lower surface. A circular polarizer may be formed on the upper surface. Thin-film transistor circuitry such as gate driver circuitry may be formed on the lower surface. A display driver circuit may be mounted on an inactive border region of the lower surface of the thin-film transistor substrate. Display pixels may form an array in a central active region of the display. A grid of metal gate and data lines may distribute signals from the display driver circuit and gate driver circuitry to the display pixels. A grid of non-reflecting lines may be interposed between the grid of metal lines and the lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Victor H. Yin, Jun Qi, Dinesh C. Mathew, Shih-Chang Chang, Cheng Chen, John Z. Zhong, Wei Chen, Adam T. Garelli, Bryan W. Posner, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg
  • Publication number: 20180184545
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments related to a component for use in a portable electronic device. The component includes a wall of the portable electronic device, containing an intake zone that includes a set of intake vents. The wall also includes an exhaust zone containing a set of exhaust vents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy D. Bataillou, Jay S. Nigen, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Ron A. Hopkinson, Charles A. Schwalbach, Matthew P. Casebolt, Nicholas A. Rundle, Frank F. Liang
  • Patent number: 9985323
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith J Hendren, Bartley K. Andre, Duncan Robert Kerr, Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, John Brock, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Dinesh C. Mathew, Brett W. Degner, Tomas E. Ponce
  • Publication number: 20180080598
    Abstract: A counterbalanced display stand can be used with a tablet or other suitable portable electronic device. The display stand can allow for tilt, rotation, and lateral movement in multiple directions to arrive at a desired display position. A 4-bar linkage arrangement can allow for such movements, which can be manual from a user and/or motorized through other device components. The display stand can be counterbalanced such that minimal friction is required to hold the device at a desired display position. A magnetic connector can detachably connect the device to the display stand. A feedback component can facilitate an automated repositioning of the display stand in response to changing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Christiaan A. LIGTENBERG, Bradley J. HAMEL, Brett W. DEGNER, Scott J. KRAHN, Kristopher P. LAURENT, Robert J. LOCKWOOD
  • Publication number: 20180068811
    Abstract: Embodiments of keyboards having variations of electrically connecting keys to an internal component of an electronic device are described. Some embodiments include positioning several rows of conductive layers below several rows of keys. The conductive layers may be configured to receive a signal indicating a key has been depressed. Also, the internal component may be configured to scan the conductive layers to determine whether a key or keys have been depressed. In some embodiments, the conductive layers lie outside a portion of the electronic device in which internal components are traditionally located. In some embodiments, a substrate may be integrally connected with the keyboard. The substrate may receive some internal components of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Christiaan A. LIGTENBERG, Mikael M. SILVANTO, Ron A. HOPKINSON, Nicholas Alan RUNDLE
  • Patent number: 9907201
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments related to a component for use in a portable electronic device. The component includes a wall of the portable electronic device, containing an intake zone that includes a set of intake vents directed at a first angle toward one or more heat-generating components of the portable electronic device. The wall also includes an exhaust zone containing a set of exhaust vents directed at a second angle out of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy D. Bataillou, Jay S. Nigen, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Ron A. Hopkinson, Charles A. Schwalbach, Matthew P. Casebolt, Nicholas A. Rundle, Frank F. Liang
  • Patent number: 9897744
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display including an array of display pixels and a backlight assembly that provides backlight for the array of pixels. The backlight assembly may include a light guide layer having first and second opposing sides. The first side of the light guide layer may receive light from a first light source and the second side of the light guide layer may receive light from a second light source. To avoid overheating the first light source, the light emitted by the first light source may be less bright than the light emitted by the second light source. To compensate for the reduced brightness of the first light source, light leakage promotion features on the light guide layer may have a peak density that is closer to the first side of the light guide layer than the second side of the light guide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Victor H. Yin
  • Patent number: 9886090
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a haptic input device, such as a haptic trackpad, that provides tactile feedback when receiving input. The electronic device may determine that one or more system level events occurs and utilize the haptic input device to provide one or more haptic notifications via one or more surfaces other than the haptic input device, such as a portion of a housing of the electronic device. In some cases, the electronic device may be configurable between a first position where the haptic input device is exposed and a second configuration where the haptic input device is covered but the surface via which the haptic notification may be provided is still exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg
  • Publication number: 20180013231
    Abstract: Magnetic connectors that may be readily manufactured and provide a high landed force and labels for magnetic connectors that may protect magnets or magnetic elements in the connectors, provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and improve the magnetic performance of the connectors. In various examples, power and signal paths may be formed using contacts that are separate from magnets or magnetic elements, paths may be formed using magnets or magnetic elements, or paths may be formed using a combination of contacts and magnets and magnetic elements. The magnets may have various arrangements. One or more magnets may be used in conjunction with magnetic elements. The interface surface of these magnets and magnetic elements may have various contours, such as flat, spline, or involute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John C. DiFonzo, George V. Anastas, David H. Narajowski, Bradley J. Hamel, Brett William Degner, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg
  • Patent number: 9853402
    Abstract: An interconnect device can be aligned in a first plane and can include a printed circuit board having a tongue portion and a pin portion. The pin portion can include a plurality of pins extending away from the printed circuit board. The interconnect device can be configured to electrically couple with a main logic board aligned in a second plane. In particular, the plurality of pins can be inserted into corresponding electrical contact locations within the main logic board to form a biplanar connection. The biplanar connection can be made in way that minimizes signal loss for high speed data transfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Talalayev, David H. Narajowski, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Mahmoud R. Amini, William F. Leggett, Mikael M. Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, George Tziviskos, Edward Cooper, Ron Alan Hopkinson, Ari Parsons Miller
  • Patent number: 9842711
    Abstract: Embodiments of keyboards having variations of electrically connecting keys to an internal component of an electronic device are described. Some embodiments include positioning several rows of conductive layers below several rows of keys. The conductive layers may be configured to receive a signal indicating a key has been depressed. Also, the internal component may be configured to scan the conductive layers to determine whether a key or keys have been depressed. In some embodiments, the conductive layers lie outside a portion of the electronic device in which internal components are traditionally located. In some embodiments, a substrate may be integrally connected with the keyboard. The substrate may receive some internal components of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Mikael M. Silvanto, Ron A. Hopkinson, Nicholas Alan Rundle
  • Patent number: 9804639
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing with a lid that rotates relative to a base. A display in the lid may have a thin-film transistor layer. Display driver circuitry may be mounted to the thin-film transistor layer. A display timing controller integrated circuit may be mounted in the base. A rigid flex printed circuit may have a rigid portion in the base to which the display timing controller integrated circuit is mounted and may have a rigid portion in the lid. A flexible printed circuit portion of the rigid flex printed circuit may be used to couple the rigid printed circuit portion in the lid to the thin-film transistor layer. A flexible printed circuit portion of the rigid flex printed circuit that extends between the lid and the base may be formed from a double-shield-layer single-signal-line-layer flexible printed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan W. Posner, Dinesh C. Mathew, Eric L. Benson, Jason N. Gomez, Jun Qi, Robert Y. Cao, Victor H. Yin, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Wey-Jiun Lin
  • Publication number: 20170285781
    Abstract: An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch-sensitive track pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a tracking control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the ovable track pad so as to generate one or more other control signals (e.g, button signals). The control signals can be used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Brett William Degner, Patrick Kessler, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Bartley K. Andre, Matthew P. Casebolt
  • Publication number: 20170279097
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is described. This portable electronic device includes an external housing with a cavity defined by an edge. A keyboard, having a front surface and a back surface, is disposed in the cavity with the front surface facing the external housing. Moreover, a tray is disposed over the back surface of the keyboard, and is mechanically coupled to the external housing adjacent to the edge. Furthermore, battery cells are mechanically coupled to an opposite side of the tray from the back surface of the keyboard. The tray may allow the battery cells to be removed from the portable electronic device without damaging the keyboard. In addition, the tray may increase the compression strength and/or the bending strength of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ron A. Hopkinson, Brett W. Degner, Robert S. Murphy, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Matthew P. Casebolt, Peter M. Arnold, Eric A. Knopf
  • Patent number: 9705115
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is described. This portable electronic device includes an external housing with a cavity defined by an edge. A keyboard, having a front surface and a back surface, is disposed in the cavity with the front surface facing the external housing. Moreover, a tray is disposed over the back surface of the keyboard, and is mechanically coupled to the external housing adjacent to the edge. Furthermore, battery cells are mechanically coupled to an opposite side of the tray from the back surface of the keyboard. The tray may allow the battery cells to be removed from the portable electronic device without damaging the keyboard. In addition, the tray may increase the compression strength and/or the bending strength of the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ron A. Hopkinson, Brett W. Degner, Robert S. Murphy, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Matthew P. Casebolt, Peter M. Arnold, Eric A. Knopf