Patents by Inventor David E. Kingman

David E. Kingman 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).

  • Publication number: 20260044044
    Abstract: A panel includes a first layer that is exposed to an exterior. The panel further includes a second layer that is located inward from the first layer. The panel further includes an intermediate layer that is located between the first layer and the second layer. The panel further includes a mask layer that is located between the first layer and the second layer. The mask layer has an opening that extends therethrough. The panel further includes a conceal layer that is located between the first layer and the second layer. The conceal layer is configured to change states to obscure the opening relative to the exterior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: David E. KINGMAN, Paul M. CONNOLLY, Peter F. MASSCHELEIN
  • Patent number: 12246583
    Abstract: A laminated panel that includes a first glass layer, a second glass layer, a polymer layer, and a reinforcement. The polymer layer extends between the first glass layer and the second glass layer. The reinforcement is configured to hold the polymer layer in tension. Additionally, the reinforcement is coupled to the first glass layer and the second glass layer. The reinforcement also includes an internal member and an external member that surrounds the internal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Donald R. Monroe, Steven H. Klotz, Derek C. Scott
  • Patent number: 12247711
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers, first and second transitional layers extending between the first and second glazing layers that guide light emitted from a light source, and a third glazing layer extending between the first and second transitional layers through which light emitted from the light source is guided. The light-control panel also includes a light extraction layer extending between the third glazing layer and one of the first and second transitional layers that distributes light emitted from the light source. The first and second transitional layers have refractive indices that gradually decrease from a first value at surfaces proximate to the first and second glazing layers to a second value at surfaces proximate to the third glazing layer in the stack-up of the light-control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Clarisse Mazuir, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Patent number: 12162331
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 12134308
    Abstract: A window may have a structural window layers such as an inner glass layer and an outer glass layer. The inner glass layer may be a layer of tempered glass. The outer glass layer may be a laminated glass layer. The inner and outer glass layers may be separated by an air gap. One or more reflection suppression layers such as antireflection layers and/or circular polarizers may be incorporated into the window to suppress reflections of light from within the interior region off of the window back towards the interior region. The antireflection layers may be formed on one or both surfaces of the inner glass and one or both surfaces of the outer glass. An electrically adjustable layer such as a guest-host liquid crystal light modulator layer or other electrically adjustable optical component layer may be interposed between the outer glass layer and the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, Derek C. Scott, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240246851
    Abstract: A glass forming system includes a support that is configured to be installed in a glass bending furnace. The glass forming system further includes rods that are located adjacent to one another and spaced from each other to define a perimeter that encloses an open space. Each of the rods is coupled to the support. The glass forming system further includes actuators that are attached to the support. Each of the actuators is configured to move a corresponding one of the rods independently from the other rods. The glass forming system further includes a pad that is carried by the rods and that defines an engagement surface upon which a glass substrate is placed. A geometry of the engagement surface is reconfigurable based on movement of one or more of the rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Albert J. Golko, Dale N. Memering, William J. Skeen
  • Patent number: 12044875
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes a first glazing layer, a second glazing layer, a third glazing layer, and a fourth glazing layer, a first switchable component extending between the first glazing layer and the second glazing layer, a thermal coating extending between the first glazing layer and the first switchable component, and a second switchable component extending between the third glazing layer and the fourth glazing layer. The second glazing layer and the third glazing layer have an air gap therebetween, such that the air gap forms a space between the second glazing layer and the third glazing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Patent number: 12013605
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first, second, and third glazing layers, first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers, and a third switchable component extending between the second and third glazing layers. The switchable components include a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) device having a clear state and a hazy state, a guest-host liquid-crystal (GHLC) device having a clear state and a tinted state, and a light-guide device having a clear state and a bright state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Donald R. Monroe, Peter F. Masschelein, Clarisse Mazuir
  • Publication number: 20240092056
    Abstract: A panel of a structure includes an outer layer and an inner layer that is positioned closer to an interior surface of the structure than the outer layer. An intermediate layer is positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer, and a mask layer is positioned between the outer layer and the intermediate layer. The mask layer includes an outer portion and an inner portion, where the outer portion is positioned between the outer layer and the intermediate layer, and the inner portion is positioned between the outer portion and the intermediate layer. The outer portion and the inner portion include different visual attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Peter F. Masschelein, Paul M. Connolly, Albert J. Golko
  • Publication number: 20240085734
    Abstract: A panel includes an outer layer and an inner layer. A mask layer is positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer. An active layer is positioned between the mask layer and the inner layer and adjacent to an outer edge of the panel. The active layer extends from the outer edge of the panel toward a central portion of the panel and includes an independently controllable active element configured to limit viewing of the mask layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Paul M. Connolly, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240025154
    Abstract: A window in a system may have inner and outer window layers. The inner and outer window layers may be formed from molded glass plates. The inner window layer may have a molded convex surface formed by molding a first glass plate against a mold with a concave surface. The inner window layer may have an opposing non-molded surface that does not contact the mold during molding operations and is smoother than the molded convex surface. The outer window layer may have a molded concave surface formed by molding a second glass plate against a mold with a convex surface. The outer window layer may have an opposing non-molded surface that is not contacted by the mold during molding operations and is smoother than molded convex surface. A layer of polymer may join the inner and outer window layers with their molded surfaces facing each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Albert J. Golko, Dale N. Memering, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240009971
    Abstract: A light guide may be embedded in a window. The light guide may have cladding and a light guide core layer embedded in the cladding. The light guide core layer may include a polymer layer configured to receive light from a light source. A selective area adjustable haze layer in the light guide core layer may have segmented transparent electrodes that can be controlled to cause one or more selected areas of the adjustable haze layer to become hazy. Light from the light source may be guided across the window within the light guide core layer in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. When a dynamically adjusted hazy portion of the selective area adjustable haze layer is reached by the guided light, the guided light will be scattered out of the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Albert J. Golko, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Publication number: 20240010054
    Abstract: A system may have windows. Each window may have inner and outer glass layers laminated together with polymer. Optical component layers may be incorporated into the polymer or the polymer may be free of embedded components. To avoid mismatch between adjacent window edges in systems with multiple adjacent windows, adjacent windows may be formed from shared-cut-edge-matched window panel sections that are cut from a common window panel. Windows may be formed from a single portion of laminated glass or may be formed by joining multiple smaller pieces of laminated glass together along a seam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Albert J. Golko, Peter F Masschelein
  • Patent number: 11833891
    Abstract: A laminated glazing includes a first glass layer, a second glass layer, and a third layer between the first glass layer and the second glass layer. The third layer has an optical property that differs in a first region as compared to a second region, the first region being within five inches of one side of the laminated glazing and the second region extending from the first region toward another side of the laminated glazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Christopher L. Porritt, Marcelo B. da Silveira Magalhaes, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein, Donald R. Monroe
  • Patent number: 11820310
    Abstract: An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a panel. The apparatus includes a weakened portion that extends laterally across a width dimension of the panel. The apparatus includes a stop structure spaced from the weakened portion that extends laterally across the width dimension of the panel to limit deformation. A bottom edge of the panel is configured to rotate about an axis extending along the weakened portion to abut the stop structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alexander M. Zoellner, Arturo Llamazares Domper, Christopher D. Jones, David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Jesse T. Buehler, Rikard Fredriksson, Stephen B. Lynch
  • Publication number: 20230333308
    Abstract: A system may have windows. A window may have a structural window layer such as a structural window layer formed from laminated glass layers. The window may separate an exterior region from an interior region within the vehicle. A light guide illuminator in the window may provide illumination for the interior region. The light guide illuminator may have a light guide that receives light from a light source. The light guide may have a density of light scattering structures that increases as a function of increasing distance from the light source so that the interior illumination is uniform across the light guide illuminator. An adjustable optical component layer such as a light modulator and/or a haze compensation layer with a density of light scattering structures that decreases as a function of distance from the light source may be interposed between the light guide and the structural window layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Clarisse Mazuir, James R. Wilson, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Patent number: 11772354
    Abstract: A glass fastening system includes a glass portion, a support structure defining a recess, a first adhesive layer disposed on an exterior surface of the glass portion facing the recess in the support structure, a second adhesive layer disposed within the recess of the support structure, and a fastener having a first portion secured to the first adhesive layer and a second portion extending away from the first portion and into the second adhesive layer to secure the glass portion to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Donald R. Monroe, Phil M. Hobson, Juan A. Lazaro, Ibuki Kamei, John Raff, Stephen B. Lynch, Albert J. Golko, Christopher D. Prest, Dale N. Memering, James A. Yurko, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 11772466
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof opening, a front window that is located forward from the roof opening, and a rear window that is located rearward from the roof opening. The vehicle also includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel and the second panel obstruct the roof opening in a closed position and are movable to an open position in which the first panel is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the front window and the second panel is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the rear window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Philipp J. Wolf, John Raff, Donald R. Monroe, Samuel G. Fowle, Antonio B. Martinez, Albert J. Golko, Ali Tavakoli Targhi, David J. Donohue, David E. Kingman, Ibuki Kamei, Christopher L. Porritt
  • Patent number: 11773642
    Abstract: A light transmitting panel assembly includes a first panel, a second panel, a frame, a gap between the first panel and the second panel, and a first active component located between the first panel and the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Marcelo B. da Silveira Magalhaes, Peter F. Masschelein, Gregory A. Cohoon, Derek C. Scott, David E. Kingman
  • Patent number: 11747539
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers and first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers. The light-control panel also includes a thermal coating extending between the first switchable component and the first glazing layer and a filter extending between the first and second switchable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein