Patents by Inventor Craig A. Horton

Craig A. Horton 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).

  • Rotation sensor for a crown of an electronic watch
    Patent number: 12189347
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing and a crown configured to receive a rotational input. The crown may include a knob external to the housing, a rotor coupled to the knob and configured to rotate in response to the rotational input, the rotor defining a recess extending about a circumference of the rotor, and a coating positioned in the recess and configured to reflect at least a portion of light incident on the coating. The electronic watch may further include an optical sensing system configured to detect the rotational input using the reflected portion of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Davis, Cole J. Bowden, Craig A. Horton, Ming Kun Shi
  • ROTATION SENSOR FOR A CROWN OF AN ELECTRONIC WATCH
    Publication number: 20230400818
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing and a crown configured to receive a rotational input. The crown may include a knob external to the housing, a rotor coupled to the knob and configured to rotate in response to the rotational input, the rotor defining a recess extending about a circumference of the rotor, and a coating positioned in the recess and configured to reflect at least a portion of light incident on the coating. The electronic watch may further include an optical sensing system configured to detect the rotational input using the reflected portion of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Richard A. Davis, Cole J. Bowden, Craig A. Horton, Ming Kun Shi
  • Coupling structures for electronic device housings
    Patent number: 10372166
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. The housing includes a first conductive component defining a first interface surface, a second conductive component defining a second interface surface facing the first interface surface, and a joint structure between the first and second interface surfaces. The joint structure includes a molded element forming a portion of an exterior surface of the housing, and a sealing member forming a watertight seal between the first and second conductive components. Methods of forming the electronic device housing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brian M. Gable, Carlo Di Nallo, Colin M. Ely, Craig A. Horton, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Henry B. Wettersten, Hoishun Li, Jason C. Sauers, Jayesh Nath, Mario Martinis, Mattia Pascolini, Michael P. Coleman, Rex T. Ehman, Zheyu Wang
  • COUPLING STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE HOUSINGS
    Publication number: 20180017995
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. The housing includes a first conductive component defining a first interface surface, a second conductive component defining a second interface surface facing the first interface surface, and a joint structure between the first and second interface surfaces. The joint structure includes a molded element forming a portion of an exterior surface of the housing, and a sealing member forming a watertight seal between the first and second conductive components. Methods of forming the electronic device housing are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Brian M. Gable, Carlo Di Nallo, Colin M. Ely, Craig A. Horton, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Henry B. Wettersten, Hoishun Li, Jason C. Sauers, Jayesh Nath, Mario Martinis, Mattia Pascolini, Michael P. Coleman, Rex T. Ehman, Zheyu Wang