Patents by Inventor Christopher D. Jones

Christopher D. Jones 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: 12365620
    Abstract: A glass sheet having asymmetric chemical strengthening is disclosed and described. The examples described herein are directed to a cover glass for an electronic device and other glass components that may be used as enclosure elements or may form an enclosure. Within the glass component, localized compressive stress regions may be formed on opposite sides of the glass component, which may help arrest or redirect propagating cracks or defects in the glass. The opposing compressive stress regions may also help maintain the overall flatness of the component while increasing strength and/or impact resistance of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Christopher C. Bartlow, Aidan R. Doan
  • Publication number: 20250110298
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, and an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the housing. An optical component can be disposed in the aperture and can include a first region of a first material having a first index of refraction, the first region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation emitter, a second region of the first material, the second region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation detector, and a bulk region surrounding a periphery of the first region and a periphery of the second region, the bulk region including a second material having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
  • Publication number: 20250110529
    Abstract: Electronic devices including a display layer and a cover layer including a foldable region are disclosed herein. The display layer and the cover layer are configured to be moved between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration by bending the cover layer along the foldable region. Methods of making a cover layer for an electronic device are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Dale N. Memering, Christopher C. Bartlow
  • Patent number: 12257763
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an annular or semi-annular composite component having a circumferentially-extending base and a flange, the apparatus including: a loom for weaving a woven preform of fibre reinforcement material for the composite component; a rotatable mandrel configured to receive and draw the woven preform through the loom for weaving; and a guide disposed between the loom and the rotatable mandrel, configured so that a woven preform drawn by the rotatable mandrel along a guide path under tension engages the guide to transition to a flanged profile at a lip of the guide before being received on the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Christopher D Jones, Robert C Backhouse, Ian Buck, Sarvesh Dhiman
  • Patent number: 12253728
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, and an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the housing. An optical component can be disposed in the aperture and can include a first region of a first material having a first index of refraction, the first region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation emitter, a second region of the first material, the second region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation detector, and a bulk region surrounding a periphery of the first region and a periphery of the second region, the bulk region including a second material having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 12174671
    Abstract: Electronic devices including a display layer and a cover layer including a foldable region are disclosed herein. The display layer and the cover layer are configured to be moved between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration by bending the cover layer along the foldable region. Methods of making a cover layer for an electronic device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Dale N. Memering, Christopher C. Bartlow
  • Patent number: 12162331
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Publication number: 20240370058
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display and may be configured to fold about a bend axis that overlaps the display. The display may have a display cover layer having first, second, and third portions that are joined side-by-side. The second portion may have a strip shape that extends along the bend axis and may be configured to bend as the first and third portions are folded towards each other. The second portion may be formed from a different material than the first and third portions to facilitate bending. The second portion may also be characterized by a compressive stress layer that is shallower than compressive stress layers on the first and third portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Que Anh S. Nguyen, Matthew S. Rogers, Christopher C. Bartlow
  • Patent number: 12134308
    Abstract: A window may have a structural window layers such as an inner glass layer and an outer glass layer. The inner glass layer may be a layer of tempered glass. The outer glass layer may be a laminated glass layer. The inner and outer glass layers may be separated by an air gap. One or more reflection suppression layers such as antireflection layers and/or circular polarizers may be incorporated into the window to suppress reflections of light from within the interior region off of the window back towards the interior region. The antireflection layers may be formed on one or both surfaces of the inner glass and one or both surfaces of the outer glass. An electrically adjustable layer such as a guest-host liquid crystal light modulator layer or other electrically adjustable optical component layer may be interposed between the outer glass layer and the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, Derek C. Scott, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240351311
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display and may be configured to fold about a bend axis that overlaps the display. The display may have a display cover layer formed from three layers of glass fused together. The display cover layer may have outer glass layers that have lower coefficients of thermal expansion than a core inner layer that is formed between the outer glass layers. This places the outer glass layers into deep compressive stress relative to the inner layer, which is under tensile stress. A notch may be formed in one of the outer glass layers to enhance flexibility of the display cover layer in a strip-shaped notch region that extends along the bend axis. An exposed portion of the inner glass layer in the notch may be chemically strengthened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher D Jones, Que Anh S Nguyen, Matthew S Rogers, Christopher C Bartlow
  • Patent number: 12084987
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing an integral thermoset infused fibre reinforced composite, structural stator vane ring for a core inlet, a bypass duct, or an air intake of a gas turbine engine. The method comprises winding fibre reinforcement material around a mandrel to form an inner annulus preform; providing a plurality of vane preforms comprising fibre reinforcement material, arranging the plurality of vane preforms around the inner annulus preform, and connecting each of the plurality of vane preforms to the inner annulus preform using a fibre jointing method; winding fibre reinforcement material around the plurality of vane preforms to form an outer annulus preform and connecting the outer annulus preform to each of the plurality of vane preforms using a fibre jointing method to produce a stator vane ring preform; and infusing a thermoset resin into the stator vane ring preform and curing the resin to form the integral stator vane ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Inventors: Robert C. Backhouse, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 12044875
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes a first glazing layer, a second glazing layer, a third glazing layer, and a fourth glazing layer, a first switchable component extending between the first glazing layer and the second glazing layer, a thermal coating extending between the first glazing layer and the first switchable component, and a second switchable component extending between the third glazing layer and the fourth glazing layer. The second glazing layer and the third glazing layer have an air gap therebetween, such that the air gap forms a space between the second glazing layer and the third glazing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240061466
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have an inner layer with a pixel array for displaying images and an outer layer with an array of light modulator cells operable in transparent and light-blocking modes. Force sensor and touch sensor circuitry may be used to gather user input such as information on finger pressure or stylus input applied to a location on the display. A block of the cells may be placed into a transparent mode to form a transparent window based on information from the sensor circuitry. Images on the pixel array may be viewed through the window. In another mode of operation, images can be displayed by adjusting the cells of the light modulator layer and backlight illumination may be provided by the pixel array. A camera and a flash or other optical components may be overlapped by an adjustable shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Harry K. Ng, Alvin K. Ng, Katherine E. Tong, Tyler S. Bushnell, Amin M. Younes, Benjamin S. Bustle, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11905205
    Abstract: Methods for chemically strengthening a cover for an electronic are disclosed. The methods include removing material from a mounting surface of the cover to counteract warping of the mounting surface due to ion exchange. The chemically strengthened covers have a high bend strength and allow a strong seal to be formed between the cover and an enclosure component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Davis, Christopher D. Jones
  • Publication number: 20240053799
    Abstract: Electronic devices including a display layer and a cover layer including a foldable region are disclosed herein. The display layer and the cover layer are configured to be moved between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration by bending the cover layer along the foldable region. Methods of making a cover layer for an electronic device are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Dale N. Memering, Christopher C. Bartlow
  • Patent number: 11851030
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to sensing defects associated with a window. Furthermore, various embodiments relate to performing image processing to produce a corrected image of a scene based at least partly on data corresponding to the detected defects. In some examples, one or more lighting modules may be used to illuminate the window to facilitate detection of the defects by one or more sensor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Malcolm J. Northcott, Jack E. Graves, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 11846984
    Abstract: Protective cover layers for electronic devices are described. In an embodiment, an electronic device includes a display panel and a protective cover layer over the display panel. The protective cover layer includes a transparent support substrate and a hardcoat layer covering an exterior facing surface of the transparent support substrate. The display panel may be a flexible display panel and the protective cover layer may flex with the flexible display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hoon Sik Kim, Chang-Chia Huang, Christopher D. Jones, Masato Kuwabara, Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Terry C. Shyu, Yasmin F. Afsar, Paul S. Drzaic
  • Patent number: 11822390
    Abstract: Electronic devices including a display layer and a cover layer including a foldable region are disclosed herein. The display layer and the cover layer are configured to be moved between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration by bending the cover layer along the foldable region. Methods of making a cover layer for an electronic device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Dale N. Memering, Christopher C. Bartlow
  • Patent number: 11820310
    Abstract: An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a panel. The apparatus includes a weakened portion that extends laterally across a width dimension of the panel. The apparatus includes a stop structure spaced from the weakened portion that extends laterally across the width dimension of the panel to limit deformation. A bottom edge of the panel is configured to rotate about an axis extending along the weakened portion to abut the stop structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alexander M. Zoellner, Arturo Llamazares Domper, Christopher D. Jones, David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Jesse T. Buehler, Rikard Fredriksson, Stephen B. Lynch
  • Patent number: 11772354
    Abstract: A glass fastening system includes a glass portion, a support structure defining a recess, a first adhesive layer disposed on an exterior surface of the glass portion facing the recess in the support structure, a second adhesive layer disposed within the recess of the support structure, and a fastener having a first portion secured to the first adhesive layer and a second portion extending away from the first portion and into the second adhesive layer to secure the glass portion to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Donald R. Monroe, Phil M. Hobson, Juan A. Lazaro, Ibuki Kamei, John Raff, Stephen B. Lynch, Albert J. Golko, Christopher D. Prest, Dale N. Memering, James A. Yurko, Christopher D. Jones