Patents by Inventor Christopher J. DURNING
Christopher J. DURNING 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).
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Patent number: 11955696Abstract: A device includes a display and a housing. The housing surrounds the display and has four corners defining portions of an exterior surface of the device. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least part of a first corner of the four corners and configured to operate as an antenna; a second housing segment defining at least part of a second corner of the four corners; and a third housing segment defining at least part of a third corner of the four corners. The third corner forms part of the housing diagonally opposite the second corner. The housing further includes a non-conductive housing component that structurally couples the first housing segment to another portion of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Kevin M. Froese, Paul U. Leutheuser, Martin J. Auclair, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Donald J. Parr
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Patent number: 11800649Abstract: An electronic device including a housing defining an aperture, a display component positioned in the aperture, and a filler material at least partially surrounding a periphery of the display component. The filler material can contact the display component and a portion of the housing defining the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Kodiak D. Burke, John J. Baker, Tyler B. Cater, Christopher J. Durning, Benjamin J. Pope, Richard H. Dinh
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Publication number: 20230224388Abstract: A mobile phone may include a display, wireless communication circuitry, a battery, and an enclosure enclosing the display, the wireless communication circuitry, and the battery. The enclosure may include a front cover formed from a transparent material and defining a front exterior surface of the mobile phone, a rear cover formed from a glass material and defining a rear exterior surface of the mobile phone, and a first housing component including a first wall section defining a first side exterior surface of the mobile phone, a second wall section defining a second side exterior surface opposite to the first side exterior surface, and a mid-chassis section extending between the first wall section and the second wall section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Eric W. Bates, Arun R. Varma, Benjamin J. Pope, Griffin L. Schmitt, Zonghao Liu, Michael W. Firka, Christopher J. Durning, Douglas G. Fournier, Yaocheng Zhang
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Publication number: 20220059928Abstract: A device includes a display and a housing. The housing at least partially surrounds the display. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least a first portion of an exterior surface of the device and a first interlock feature having an interlock surface that is offset with respect to an end surface of the first housing segment. The first interlock feature has a first opening formed in the interlock surface. The housing further includes a second housing segment defining at least a second portion of the exterior surface of the device and a second interlock feature having a second opening aligned with the first opening, and a non-conductive housing component defining a third portion of the exterior surface of the device and extending into the first opening and the second opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Paul U. Leutheuser, Martin J. Auclair, Kevin M. Froese, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Donald J. Parr
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Publication number: 20220061166Abstract: An electronic device including a housing defining an aperture, a display component positioned in the aperture, and a filler material at least partially surrounding a periphery of the display component. The filler material can contact the display component and a portion of the housing defining the aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2020Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Kodiak D. Burke, John J. Baker, Tyler B. Cater, Christopher J. Durning, Benjamin J. Pope, Richard H. Dinh
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Patent number: 11258163Abstract: A device includes a display and a housing. The housing surrounds the display and has four corners defining portions of an exterior surface of the device. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least part of a first corner of the four corners and configured to operate as an antenna; a second housing segment defining at least part of a second corner of the four corners; and a third housing segment defining at least part of a third corner of the four corners. The third corner forms part of the housing diagonally opposite the second corner. The housing further includes a non-conductive housing component that structurally couples the first housing segment to another portion of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Kevin M. Froese, Paul U. Leutheuser, Martin J. Auclair, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Donald J. Parr
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Publication number: 20220006176Abstract: A device includes a display and a housing. The housing surrounds the display and has four corners defining portions of an exterior surface of the device. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least part of a first corner of the four corners and configured to operate as an antenna; a second housing segment defining at least part of a second corner of the four corners; and a third housing segment defining at least part of a third corner of the four corners. The third corner forms part of the housing diagonally opposite the second corner. The housing further includes a non-conductive housing component that structurally couples the first housing segment to another portion of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Kevin M. Froese, Paul U. Leutheuser, Martin J. Auclair, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Donald J. Parr
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Patent number: 11189909Abstract: A device includes a display and a housing. The housing at least partially surrounds the display. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least a first portion of an exterior surface of the device and a first interlock feature having an interlock surface that is offset with respect to an end surface of the first housing segment. The first interlock feature has a first opening formed in the interlock surface. The housing further includes a second housing segment defining at least a second portion of the exterior surface of the device and a second interlock feature having a second opening aligned with the first opening, and a non-conductive housing component defining a third portion of the exterior surface of the device and extending into the first opening and the second opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Paul U. Leutheuser, Martin J. Auclair, Kevin M. Froese, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Donald J. Parr
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Patent number: 11133572Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a multi-segment housing for an electronic device that includes multiple conductive segments that are structurally coupled by one or more non-conductive housing segments or splits. One or more of the conductive segments may be configured to operate as an antenna and the non-conductive housing segments may provide electrical insulation between the conductive segment and one or more adjacent housing segments. The non-conductive housing segment may be formed from a polymer having an array of fibers dispersed within the polymer. The fibers may be aligned along one or more fiber directions, which may be substantially perpendicular to an exterior surface of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Yaocheng Zhang, John J. Baker, Martin J. Auclair, Paul U. Leutheuser, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham
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Patent number: 10877517Abstract: Electronic devices, such as mobile communication devices, may include several enhancements and modification not found on traditional electronic devices. Parts of the electronic device can be welded together to provide structural support and or functional connections between operating components of the electronic device. Within a band, a back plate can support multiple operable components of the electronic device. The band, the welds, and/or the back plate can provide electrical connections between components. Conductive pathways provided by the welds can be provided with adequate strength and durability to reduce and avoid breakage so that sensitive components, such as a compass module, can operate without alterations that would cause interference. The welds can be provided in a sequence that mitigates the effects of heating during the welding process.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: John J. Baker, Yaocheng Zhang, Robert T. Carson, Matthew D. Walker, Martin J. Auclair, Paul U. Leutheuser, Christopher J. Durning
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Publication number: 20200081488Abstract: Electronic devices, such as mobile communication devices, may include several enhancements and modification not found on traditional electronic devices. Parts of the electronic device can be welded together to provide structural support and or functional connections between operating components of the electronic device. Within a band, a back plate can support multiple operable components of the electronic device. The band, the welds, and/or the back plate can provide electrical connections between components. Conductive pathways provided by the welds can be provided with adequate strength and durability to reduce and avoid breakage so that sensitive components, such as a compass module, can operate without alterations that would cause interference. The welds can be provided in a sequence that mitigates the effects of heating during the welding process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: John J. BAKER, Yaocheng ZHANG, Robert T. CARSON, Matthew D. WALKER, Martin J. Auclair, Paul U. Leutheuser, Christopher J. Durning
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Publication number: 20200076058Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a multi-segment housing for an electronic device that includes multiple conductive segments that are structurally coupled by one or more non-conductive housing segments or splits. One or more of the conductive segments may be configured to operate as an antenna and the non-conductive housing segments may provide electrical insulation between the conductive segment and one or more adjacent housing segments. The non-conductive housing segment may be formed from a polymer having an array of fibers dispersed within the polymer. The fibers may be aligned along one or more fiber directions, which may be substantially perpendicular to an exterior surface of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Yaocheng Zhang, John J. Baker, Martin J. Auclair, Paul U. Leutheuser, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham
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Publication number: 20200076057Abstract: A device includes a display and a housing. The housing at least partially surrounds the display. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least a first portion of an exterior surface of the device and a first interlock feature having an interlock surface that is offset with respect to an end surface of the first housing segment. The first interlock feature has a first opening formed in the interlock surface. The housing further includes a second housing segment defining at least a second portion of the exterior surface of the device and a second interlock feature having a second opening aligned with the first opening, and a non-conductive housing component defining a third portion of the exterior surface of the device and extending into the first opening and the second opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Paul U. Leutheuser, Martin J. Auclair, Kevin M. Froese, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Donald J. Parr
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Publication number: 20200076056Abstract: A device includes a display and a housing. The housing surrounds the display and has four corners defining portions of an exterior surface of the device. The housing includes a first housing segment defining at least part of a first corner of the four corners and configured to operate as an antenna; a second housing segment defining at least part of a second corner of the four corners; and a third housing segment defining at least part of a third corner of the four corners. The third corner forms part of the housing diagonally opposite the second corner. The housing further includes a non-conductive housing component that structurally couples the first housing segment to another portion of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Kevin M. Froese, Paul U. Leutheuser, Martin J. Auclair, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Donald J. Parr
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Patent number: 10461429Abstract: A consumer electronic product includes a switchable inductor array coupled to the RF antenna, the switchable inductor array comprising inductive elements and a switch circuit coupled to the inductor array to select at least one of the inductive elements and couple the selected inductive element with the RF antenna. The product can further include an assembly having a mesh that is strengthened by a stiffener. A multi-layer adhesive have a conductive layer that can be used to shield the RF antenna and adhesive layers that can provide adhesion between the stiffener and the housing of the product. The assembly can be covered by a cowling that is made of metal to provide further shielding. To reduce potential coupling between the RF antenna and the cowling, the cowling can have a portion that is formed of plastic to distance its metal portion from the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Durning, Hongfei Hu, Erdinc Irci, Salih Yarga, Christopher T. Cheng, Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Nanbo Jin, Erica J. Tong, Mattia Pascolini, Denis J. Lin, Salome Bavetta, Sherry Lee
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Publication number: 20180069308Abstract: A consumer electronic product includes a switchable inductor array coupled to the RF antenna, the switchable inductor array comprising inductive elements and a switch circuit coupled to the inductor array to select at least one of the inductive elements and couple the selected inductive element with the RF antenna. The product can further include an assembly having a mesh that is strengthened by a stiffener. A multi-layer adhesive have a conductive layer that can be used to shield the RF antenna and adhesive layers that can provide adhesion between the stiffener and the housing of the product. The assembly can be covered by a cowling that is made of metal to provide further shielding. To reduce potential coupling between the RF antenna and the cowling, the cowling can have a portion that is formed of plastic to distance its metal portion from the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Christopher J. DURNING, Hongfei HU, Erdinc IRCI, Salih YARGA, Christopher T. CHENG, Enrique AYALA VAZQUEZ, Nanbo JIN, Erica J. TONG, Mattia PASCOLINI, Denis J. LIN, Salome BAVETTA, Sherry LEE
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Patent number: D933072Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Lucy E. Browning, Markus Diebel, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Christopher J. Durning, Kevin M. Froese, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Paul U. Leutheuser, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Sung-Ho Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer