Patents by Inventor Christopher S. Erickson

Christopher S. Erickson 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: 11375306
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Esge B. Andersen, Miikka O. Tikander, Jared M. Kole, Daniel R. Bloom, Onur I. Ilkorur, Eugene Antony Whang, Christopher S. Erickson, Rajesh Anantharaman, Edwin J. Corona Aparicio
  • Patent number: 11134328
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared M. Kole, Daniel R. Bloom, Audrey L. Sheng, Tian Shi Li, Eugene Antony Whang, Edward Siahaan, Phillip Qian, Alex C. Hellwig, Oliver M. Hewitt, Yuta Kuboyama, Christopher S. Erickson, Sneha Kadetotad, Edwin J. Corona Aparicio, Rajesh Anantharaman, Jacob E. Mattingley, Tsu-Hui Lin, Robert D. Zupke, Dustin A. Hatfield, Axit H. Patel
  • Publication number: 20200280786
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared M. Kole, Daniel R. Bloom, Audrey L. Sheng, Tian Shi Li, Eugene Antony Whang, Edward Siahaan, Phillip Qian, Alex C. Hellwig, Oliver M. Hewitt, Yuta Kuboyama, Christopher S. Erickson, Sneha Kadetotad, Edwin J. Corona Aparicio, Rajesh Anantharaman, Jacob E. Mattingley, Tsu-Hui Lin, Robert D. Zupke, Dustin A. Hatfield, Axit H. Patel
  • Publication number: 20200280801
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Esge B. Andersen, Miikka O. Tikander, Jared M. Kole, Daniel R. Bloom, Onur I. Ilkorur, Eugene Antony Whang, Christopher S. Erickson, Rajesh Anantharaman, Edwin J. Corona Aparicio
  • Patent number: 10593291
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a color sensing ambient light sensor. The color sensing ambient light sensor may measure the color of ambient light. Control circuitry in the electronic device may use information from the color sensing ambient light sensor in adjusting a display in the electronic device or taking other action. The color sensing ambient light sensor may have light detectors with different spectral responses. A test system may be used to calibrate the color sensing light sensor. The test system may have a tunable light source with light-emitting diodes that are turned on in sequence while gathering measured responses from the detectors. Numerical optimization techniques may be used to produce final versions of the spectral responses for the light detectors from the measured responses and corresponding calibration data that is stored in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Amy M. Winkler, Christopher S. Erickson, Zhen Zhang, David W. Ritter
  • Patent number: 10580341
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display mounted in a housing. A color sensing ambient light sensor may measure the color of ambient light. The color sensing ambient light sensor may be mounted in alignment with an ambient light sensor window formed in an inactive area of the display. The color sensing ambient light sensor may be formed from detectors on a semiconductor substrate. The detectors may include detectors that have spectral sensitivity profiles matching those of color matching functions. The color sensing ambient light sensor may include an infrared light detector. Light redirecting structures such as a diffuser, prism film, negative lens film, or privacy film may be used in directing light into the ambient light sensor. The color sensing ambient light sensor may be calibrated by exposing the sensor to light sources of different types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Christopher S. Erickson
  • Patent number: 10094708
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with light sensors. The electronic device may have an electronic device housing in which a display is mounted. The display may have a transparent layer such as a transparent display cover layer, a thin-film transistor layer, or a color filter layer. An opaque masking layer such as a layer of black ink may be used to cover an inner surface of the transparent layer in an inactive area of the display. Sensor window openings may be formed in the black ink layer. A layer of ink may be formed in each sensor window opening. Each layer of ink may have a diffuse reflectivity that is matched to that of the black ink. A diffuser layer such as a polymer coating layer with light-scattering particles may be coated on the inner surface of the layer of ink in a sensor window opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Christopher S. Erickson, James J. Dudley, Kenichi Nakajima, Chunji Li
  • Publication number: 20170211973
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with light sensors. The electronic device may have an electronic device housing in which a display is mounted. The display may have a transparent layer such as a transparent display cover layer, a thin-film transistor layer, or a color filter layer. An opaque masking layer such as a layer of black ink may be used to cover an inner surface of the transparent layer in an inactive area of the display. Sensor window openings may be formed in the black ink layer. A layer of ink may be formed in each sensor window opening. Each layer of ink may have a diffuse reflectivity that is matched to that of the black ink. A diffuser layer such as a polymer coating layer with light-scattering particles may be coated on the inner surface of the layer of ink in a sensor window opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Christopher S. Erickson, James J. Dudley, Kenichi Nakajima, Chunji Li
  • Patent number: 9645008
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with light sensors. The electronic device may have an electronic device housing in which a display is mounted. The display may have a transparent layer such as a transparent display cover layer, a thin-film transistor layer, or a color filter layer. An opaque masking layer such as a layer of black ink may be used to cover an inner surface of the transparent layer in an inactive area of the display. Sensor window openings may be formed in the black ink layer. A layer of ink may be formed in each sensor window opening. Each layer of ink may have a diffuse reflectivity that is matched to that of the black ink. A diffuser layer such as a polymer coating layer with light-scattering particles may be coated on the inner surface of the layer of ink in a sensor window opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Christopher S. Erickson, James J. Dudley, Kenichi Nakajima, Chunji Li
  • Publication number: 20170084250
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a color sensing ambient light sensor. The color sensing ambient light sensor may measure the color of ambient light. Control circuitry in the electronic device may use information from the color sensing ambient light sensor in adjusting a display in the electronic device or taking other action. The color sensing ambient light sensor may have light detectors with different spectral responses. A test system may be used to calibrate the color sensing light sensor. The test system may have a tunable light source with light-emitting diodes that are turned on in sequence while gathering measured responses from the detectors. Numerical optimization techniques may be used to produce final versions of the spectral responses for the light detectors from the measured responses and corresponding calibration data that is stored in the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Amy M. Winkler, Christopher S. Erickson, Zhen Zhang, David W. Ritter
  • Publication number: 20160232828
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display mounted in a housing. A color sensing ambient light sensor may measure the color of ambient light. The color sensing ambient light sensor may be mounted in alignment with an ambient light sensor window formed in an inactive area of the display. The color sensing ambient light sensor may be formed from detectors on a semiconductor substrate. The detectors may include detectors that have spectral sensitivity profiles matching those of color matching functions. The color sensing ambient light sensor may include an infrared light detector. Light redirecting structures such as a diffuser, prism film, negative lens film, or privacy film may be used in directing light into the ambient light sensor. The color sensing ambient light sensor may be calibrated by exposing the sensor to light sources of different types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Christopher S. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20160054175
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with light sensors. The electronic device may have an electronic device housing in which a display is mounted. The display may have a transparent layer such as a transparent display cover layer, a thin-film transistor layer, or a color filter layer. An opaque masking layer such as a layer of black ink may be used to cover an inner surface of the transparent layer in an inactive area of the display. Sensor window openings may be formed in the black ink layer. A layer of ink may be formed in each sensor window opening. Each layer of ink may have a diffuse reflectivity that is matched to that of the black ink. A diffuser layer such as a polymer coating layer with light-scattering particles may be coated on the inner surface of the layer of ink in a sensor window opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Zhang Jia, Christopher S. Erickson, James J. Dudley, Kenichi Nakajima, Chunji Li