Patents by Inventor Christopher Wilk

Christopher Wilk 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: 12267641
    Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that defines a first chamber, a second chamber and an acoustic opening from the first chamber or the second chamber; and an electroosmotic flow valve operable to open and close the acoustic opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Scott C. Grinker, Esge B. Andersen, Onur I. Ilkorur, Peter C. Hrudey, Gokhan Hatipoglu
  • Publication number: 20250088791
    Abstract: A transducer assembly comprising: a frame positioned within an interior chamber defined by an enclosure comprising a port to an ambient environment; a surround comprising a fixed portion sealed to the frame and a movable portion dividing the interior chamber into a front volume chamber coupling a first side of the surround to the port and a back volume chamber coupled to a second side of the surround; and a barometric vent coupled to the fixed portion to vent a pressure between the front volume chamber and the back volume chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Anthony P. Grazian, Christopher Wilk, Onur I. Ilkorur, Catherine G. Waft, Daniel W. Corona
  • Patent number: 12167217
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer has an acoustic diaphragm and a voice-coil. The diaphragm defines a first major surface. A flange extends from the diaphragm in a direction opposite the first major surface. The voice-coil has a first plurality of windings positioned adjacent to the acoustic diaphragm and a second plurality of windings positioned distally from the acoustic diaphragm. The flange overlaps the first plurality of windings. The flange and the windings can be adhesively bonded with each other to form a lap joint. The lap joint can transfer force from the voice-coil to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Jiahui Liang, Rebecca J. Mikolajczyk
  • Publication number: 20240383349
    Abstract: A charger for an electric vehicle (EV) comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which power circuits defining respective phases of a multi-phase power conversion circuit are disposed along a first dimension, a conductive input bus bar mounted on a surface of the PCB and extending along the first dimension, a conductive output bus bar mounted on the surface of the PCB and extending along the first dimension parallel to the input bus bar, an input connector disposed at an end of the input bus bar, configured to receive input power for the plurality of power circuits; and an output connector disposed at an end of the output bus bar, configured to receive output power from the plurality of power circuits. The input bus bar and the output bus bar provide a substantially equal, low-resistance resistance path for current distribution to each of the plurality of power circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Aaron Rogers, Christopher Wilke, Nikola Milivojevic
  • Patent number: 12107472
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a shaker module for an electronic device. The shaker module may include a movable component that is resiliently suspended in relation to a voice coil by one or more gap-separated pairs of the flat springs. The flat springs reduce the z-height of the shaker module for implementation in, for example, compact electronic devices. The gap-separated pairs of flat springs facilitate adjustment of the resonance frequency of the shaker module substantially independently of adjustments to drop performance, while providing stability against unwanted rocking motions of the movable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Xin Luo, Christopher Wilk, Aneesh R. Kudekar
  • Patent number: 12096196
    Abstract: A moving magnet motor comprising: a stationary voice coil coupled to a frame; a moving magnet assembly movably coupled to the frame and operable to move relative to the stationary coil, the moving magnet assembly comprising a magnet and a flux concentrating member that define a gap within which the stationary coil is positioned; and an actuating surface coupled to the moving magnet assembly, and wherein a movement of the moving magnet assembly drives a movement of the actuating surface along an axis of translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Oliver Leonhardt, Matthew A. Donarski, Christopher Wilk
  • Publication number: 20240292157
    Abstract: A transducer assembly comprising: an air motion transformer having a magnet assembly operable to provide a magnetic field and a folded diaphragm having conductive traces and operable to expand or contract in a first direction and emit a sound in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a ferromagnetic assembly comprising a number of fixed members arranged within folds of the folded diaphragm to provide a closed loop magnetic circuit that drives the expansion or contraction of the folded diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Christopher Wilk, Martial A. Rousseau
  • Patent number: 12063494
    Abstract: A transducer assembly comprising: a magnet motor assembly comprising a first magnet plate and a second magnet plate arranged along an axis, a first support plate positioned between inward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate, a second support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the first magnet plate to form a first magnetic gap between the first support plate and the second support plate, and a third support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the second magnet plate to form a second magnetic gap between the first support plate and the third support plate; a voice coil coupled to the magnet motor assembly, wherein the voice coil is positioned around the first support plate and within the first magnetic gap and the second magnetic gap; and a piston coupled to the voice coil, wherein the piston is operable to vibrate in a direction parallel to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Russell, Onur I. Ilkorur, David S. Wilkes, Jr., Christopher Wilk, Michael J. Newman
  • Publication number: 20240171915
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include an electrostatically driven, corrugated MEMS structure to move air without a magnet, coil, or traditional speaker membrane, and thus provide a low-power, compact speaker with a large acoustically active area in a small volume. Neighboring folds in the corrugated MEMS structure may form pairs of MEMS electrodes that can be pushed together and/or pulled apart to deform the MEMS structure in a breathing motion that generates pressure differentials on opposing sides of the corrugated MEMS structure to generate sound. Additional modes of operation are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Gokhan HATIPOGLU, Onur I. ILKORUR, Pablo Seoane VIEITES, Christopher WILK, Peter C. HRUDEY
  • Publication number: 20240121559
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure. The cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure may include a contiguous MEMS structure with corrugations that run around an open cylindrical core that is defined, in part, by interior folds of the corrugations. The cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure may be deformed, responsive to an applied voltage, such that a portion of the cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure bends into and/or out of the open cylindrical core to push air out of and/or pull air into the open cylindrical core. In one or more implementations, a MEMS speaker may include an array of cylindrical corrugated MEMS structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Onur I. ILKORUR, Christopher WILK, Gokhan HATIPOGLU, Peter C. HRUDEY
  • Patent number: 11950036
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display positioned in the aperture. The display and the housing can define an internal volume in which a speaker assembly is positioned. The speaker assembly can include a speaker module and a speaker enclosure in fluid communication, with the speaker enclosure at least partially defining a speaker volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Chanjuan Feng, Christopher Wilk, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Stuart M. Nevill, Daniel K. Boothe, Nicholas A Rundle, Simon S. Lee, Xiang Zhang, Thomas H. Tsang, Rebecca J. Mikolajczyk
  • Patent number: 11917350
    Abstract: A loudspeaker having a compressible lead wire is described. The lead wire carries an electrical audio input signal to a voice coil. The electrical audio input signal drives the voice coil to oscillate in an axial direction. The compressible lead wire includes an elastic portion that stretches and compresses in the axial direction to allow the voice coil to oscillate freely. The elastic portion includes several compressible elements that are located within a cavity of the loudspeaker. The compressible elements extend through the cavity in the axial direction. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Logan A. Rotolo, Anthony P. Grazian, Onur I. Ilkorur
  • Patent number: 11917387
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include an electrostatically driven, corrugated MEMS structure to move air without a magnet, coil, or traditional speaker membrane, and thus provide a low-power, compact speaker with a large acoustically active area in a small volume. Neighboring folds in the corrugated MEMS structure may form pairs of MEMS electrodes that can be pushed together and/or pulled apart to deform the MEMS structure in a breathing motion that generates pressure differentials on opposing sides of the corrugated MEMS structure to generate sound. Additional modes of operation are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gokhan Hatipoglu, Onur I. Ilkorur, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Christopher Wilk, Peter C. Hrudey
  • Publication number: 20240064467
    Abstract: A moving magnet motor comprising: a stationary voice coil coupled to a frame; a moving magnet assembly movably coupled to the frame and operable to move relative to the stationary coil, the moving magnet assembly comprising a magnet and a flux concentrating member that define a gap within which the stationary coil is positioned; and an actuating surface coupled to the moving magnet assembly, and wherein a movement of the moving magnet assembly drives a movement of the actuating surface along an axis of translation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Oliver Leonhardt, Matthew A. Donarski, Christopher Wilk
  • Publication number: 20240007796
    Abstract: A transducer assembly comprising: a magnet motor assembly comprising a first magnet plate and a second magnet plate arranged along an axis, a first support plate positioned between inward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate, a second support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the first magnet plate to form a first magnetic gap between the first support plate and the second support plate, and a third support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the second magnet plate to form a second magnetic gap between the first support plate and the third support plate; a voice coil coupled to the magnet motor assembly, wherein the voice coil is positioned around the first support plate and within the first magnetic gap and the second magnetic gap; and a piston coupled to the voice coil, wherein the piston is operable to vibrate in a direction parallel to the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Mikolajczyk, Onur I. Ilkorur, David S. Wilkes, JR., Christopher Wilk, Michael J. Newman
  • Patent number: 11812248
    Abstract: A moving magnet motor comprising: a stationary voice coil coupled to a frame; a moving magnet assembly movably coupled to the frame and operable to move relative to the stationary coil, the moving magnet assembly comprising a magnet and a flux concentrating member that define a gap within which the stationary coil is positioned; and an actuating surface coupled to the moving magnet assembly, and wherein a movement of the moving magnet assembly drives a movement of the actuating surface along an axis of translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Oliver Leonhardt, Matthew A. Donarski, Christopher Wilk
  • Patent number: 11785392
    Abstract: A transducer assembly comprising: a magnet motor assembly comprising a first magnet plate and a second magnet plate arranged along an axis, a first support plate positioned between inward facing surfaces of the first magnet plate and the second magnet plate, a second support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the first magnet plate to form a first magnetic gap between the first support plate and the second support plate, and a third support plate positioned along an outward facing surface of the second magnet plate to form a second magnetic gap between the first support plate and the third support plate; a voice coil coupled to the magnet motor assembly, wherein the voice coil is positioned around the first support plate and within the first magnetic gap and the second magnetic gap; and a piston coupled to the voice coil, wherein the piston is operable to vibrate in a direction parallel to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Mikolajczyk, Onur I. Ilkorur, David S. Wilkes, Jr., Christopher Wilk, Michael J. Newman
  • Patent number: 11778367
    Abstract: A portable electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that forms an interior chamber and a sound output port to an ambient environment; a speaker positioned within the interior chamber, the speaker having a front volume chamber coupling a sound output surface of the speaker to the sound output port and a back volume chamber acoustically coupled to the interior chamber by an aperiodic vent; and a valve operable to open and close the aperiodic vent in response to a pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Onur I. Ilkorur, Christopher Wilk, Matthew A. Donarski, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Anthony P. Grazian
  • Publication number: 20230217204
    Abstract: Implementations of the subject technology provide user tracking headrest audio control. For example, a seat may have a headrest and one or more speakers mounted to the headrest for providing audio output to an occupant of the seat. Because the head of the occupant may be disposed in the near field of the headrest speakers when the occupant is seated in the seat, movements of the occupant's head and/or ears may affect the acoustic experience of the occupant. Aspects of the subject technology provide for modifications to audio output(s) from one or more speaker(s) mounted in a headrest, based on tracking of the location of the occupant's head and/or ears relative to the location(s) of the speaker(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel K. BOOTHE, Onur I. ILKORUR, Martin E. JOHNSON, Christopher WILK, Andrea Baldioceda OREAMUNO, Sanjana WADHWA
  • Publication number: 20230188877
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display positioned in the aperture. The display and the housing can define an internal volume in which a speaker assembly is positioned. The speaker assembly can include a speaker module and a speaker enclosure in fluid communication, with the speaker enclosure at least partially defining a speaker volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Chanjuan Feng, Christopher Wilk, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Stuart M. Nevill, Daniel K. Boothe, Nicholas A. Rundle, Simon S. Lee, Xiang Zhang, Thomas H. Tsang, Rebecca J. Mikolajczyk