Patents by Inventor Clark E. WATERFALL
Clark E. WATERFALL 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: 11972083Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
-
Publication number: 20230205383Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
-
Patent number: 11625131Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
-
Publication number: 20220291778Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2021Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
-
Patent number: 11297732Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
-
Publication number: 20210059071Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
-
Patent number: 10653034Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
-
Publication number: 20180324977Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. PRATHER, Clark E. WATERFALL, Reuben J. WILLIAMS, Vinh H. DIEP
-
Patent number: 10034411Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
-
Publication number: 20170094835Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Eric R. PRATHER, Clark E. WATERFALL, Reuben J. WILLIAMS, Vinh H. DIEP