Patents by Inventor Douglas G. FOURNIER

Douglas G. FOURNIER 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: 11889647
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing that defines an aperture, and a display assembly positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a display layer having a first portion, and a second portion bending at least partially below the first portion. The first portion and the second portion can define a bend volume, and a potting material can be disposed in the bend volume, such that the potting material contacts the first portion and the second portion. An internal enclosure can be contoured to the display assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Izhar Z. Ahmed, John J. Baker, Bulong Wu, Daniel W. Jarvis, Douglas G. Fournier, Eric W. Bates, Hao Dong, Isabel S Gueble, Jason C. Law, Jingjing Xu, Kikue S. Burnham, Paul U. Leutheuser, Sarah Trabia, Sawyer I. Cohen, Shaorui Yang, Shaowei Qin, Siddharth Avachat, Yaocheng Zhang, Ying-Chih Wang, Zhen Zhang, Benjamin R. Pope
  • Publication number: 20230239558
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may include an enclosure including a front cover defining a front exterior surface of the portable electronic device and a rear cover defining a rear exterior surface of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may further include a rear-facing camera and a rear-facing flash including a light emitting component defining a plurality of illuminable regions. The light emitting component may be configured to illuminate a first subset of the plurality of illuminable regions to illuminate a first field of view and illuminate a second subset of the plurality of illuminable regions, the second subset different from the first subset, to illuminate a second field of view different from the first field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew D. Hill, Michael W. Firka, Nicholas D. Rath, Douglas G. Fournier, Matthew P. Rao, Benjamin J. Pope, James A. Bertin, David A. Hurrell, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, Blake M. Coughenour, Angelo M. Alaimo, Jeremy D. Bataillou
  • Publication number: 20230224388
    Abstract: A mobile phone may include a display, wireless communication circuitry, a battery, and an enclosure enclosing the display, the wireless communication circuitry, and the battery. The enclosure may include a front cover formed from a transparent material and defining a front exterior surface of the mobile phone, a rear cover formed from a glass material and defining a rear exterior surface of the mobile phone, and a first housing component including a first wall section defining a first side exterior surface of the mobile phone, a second wall section defining a second side exterior surface opposite to the first side exterior surface, and a mid-chassis section extending between the first wall section and the second wall section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Eric W. Bates, Arun R. Varma, Benjamin J. Pope, Griffin L. Schmitt, Zonghao Liu, Michael W. Firka, Christopher J. Durning, Douglas G. Fournier, Yaocheng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230221802
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may include an enclosure defining an interior cavity and having a front cover, and a haptic engine positioned in the interior cavity. The haptic engine may include a first body component defining a first side of the haptic engine and including a first spring flexure and a first end element molded over a portion of the first spring flexure, a second body component defining a second side of the haptic engine opposite the first side and including a second spring flexure and a second end element molded over a portion of the second spring flexure, a movable mass component coupled to the first spring flexure and the second spring flexure, and a coil configured to induce a linear movement of the movable mass component in response to the actuation signal thereby producing a haptic output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Ava Iranmanesh, Yaocheng Zhang, Douglas G. Fournier, Benjamin J. Pope, Richard Dinh
  • Publication number: 20230224387
    Abstract: A mobile phone may include a display, an enclosure enclosing the display and including a front cover positioned over the display and defining a front exterior surface, and a housing component coupled to the front cover and defining a chassis section below the front cover. The chassis section may define a first side facing the front cover, a second side opposite the first side and defining a battery mounting region, a first recess formed along the second side in the battery mounting region, and a second recess formed along the second side in the battery mounting region. The mobile phone may further include a battery coupled to the chassis section in the battery mounting region, a first adhesive positioned in the first recess and adhering the battery to the chassis section, and a second adhesive positioned in the second recess and adhering the battery to the chassis section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Devon A. Monaco, Benjamin J. Pope, Douglas G. Fournier, Michael W. Firka, Yaocheng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230221782
    Abstract: A mobile phone may include an enclosure defining an internal volume, the enclosure including a front cover formed from a transparent material and defining a front exterior surface, a rear cover formed from a glass material and defining a rear exterior surface, and a housing component defining a side exterior surface. The mobile phone may include a circuit board assembly within the internal volume. The circuit board assembly may include a circuit board, a circuit component coupled to an exterior surface of the circuit board, and a cowling coupled to the circuit board and covering the circuit component, the cowling having a thickness less than about 0.5 mm and including a base structure formed from an aluminum alloy having a thickness less than about 0.4 mm and a thermally conductive structure positioned over the base structure and configured to dissipate heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: David A. Hurrell, Gregory N. Stephens, Isabel Yang, John J. Baker, Sherry Lee, Matthew D. Hill, Obinna Onyemepu, Douglas G. Fournier, Benjamin J. Pope, Michael W. Firka, Griffin L. Schmitt, Arun R. Varma, Robert Hrabchak
  • Patent number: 11662772
    Abstract: An electronic disclosed herein may include a band formed from metal that combines with a bottom wall formed from a non-metal to form an enclosure that carries internal components. The electronic device may include a transparent cover and a display assembly partially covered by a border having a uniform dimension. The electronic device may include a vision system designed for facial recognition of a user of the electronic device. A bracket assembly may hold the vision system. The bracket assembly may not be affixed to the enclosure and may move relative to the enclosure. The electronic device may include a battery assembly having multiple battery components coupled together. The electronic device may further include a receiver coil for wireless charging of the battery assembly. The electronic device may include a circuit board assembly having stacked circuit boards. The electronic device may further include a dual camera assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Pakula, Daniel W. Jarvis, Shimon Elkayam, Brandon R. Garbus, Christopher S. Graham, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Ashley E. Fletcher, Jared M. Kole, Eric S. Jol, Aaron A. Oro, Michael D. Quinones, Gregory N. Stephens, Ian A. Spraggs, James A. Bertin, Simon C. Helmore, Melissa A. Wah, Matthew D. Hill, Jon F. Housour, Douglas G. Fournier, Christopher S. Tomasetta
  • Publication number: 20220317728
    Abstract: An electronic device having a display assembly is disclosed. Several layers may combine to form the display assembly. For example, the display assembly may include a touch sensitive layer (or touch detection layer), a display layer that present visual information, and a force sensitive layer (or force detection layer). The display layer may include a bend or curve that allows a portion of the display layer to bend around the force sensitive layer. Also, the connectors (that provide electrical and mechanical connections) may be positioned at different locations of the layers. For example, the display layer may include a connector on a first edge region, and the force sensitive layer may include a connector on a second edge region that is perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the first edge region. By positioning the connectors on perpendicular edge regions, the display assembly may reduce its footprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas G. FOURNIER, James R. KROGDAHL, Daniel W. JARVIS, Edward S. HUO, Lee E. HOOTON, Srikanth V. THIRUPPUKUZHI, Garrett R. OWOC, Michael NGO, David A. PAKULA, Robert F. MEYER
  • Patent number: 11392175
    Abstract: An electronic device having a display assembly is disclosed. Several layers may combine to form the display assembly. For example, the display assembly may include a touch sensitive layer (or touch detection layer), a display layer that present visual information, and a force sensitive layer (or force detection layer). The display layer may include a bend or curve that allows a portion of the display layer to bend around the force sensitive layer. Also, the connectors (that provide electrical and mechanical connections) may be positioned at different locations of the layers. For example, the display layer may include a connector on a first edge region, and the force sensitive layer may include a connector on a second edge region that is perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the first edge region. By positioning the connectors on perpendicular edge regions, the display assembly may reduce its footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Fournier, James R. Krogdahl, Daniel W. Jarvis, Edward S. Huo, Lee E. Hooton, Srikanth V. Thiruppukuzhi, Garrett R. Owoc, Michael Ngo, David A. Pakula, Robert F. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220061179
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing that defines an aperture, and a display assembly positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a display layer having a first portion, and a second portion bending at least partially below the first portion. The first portion and the second portion can define a bend volume, and a potting material can be disposed in the bend volume, such that the potting material contacts the first portion and the second portion. An internal enclosure can be contoured to the display assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Izhar Z. Ahmed, John J. Baker, Bulong Wu, Daniel W. Jarvis, Douglas G. Fournier, Eric W. Bates, Hao Dong, Isabel S. Gueble, Jason C. Law, Jingjing Xu, Kikue S. Burnham, Paul U. Leutheuser, Sarah Trabia, Sawyer I. Cohen, Shaorui Yang, Shaowei Qin, Siddharth Avachat, Yaocheng Zhang, Ying-Chih Wang, Zhen Zhang, Benjamin R. Pope
  • Patent number: 11240595
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining a first aperture and at least partially defining an internal volume. An air permeable component can be disposed at the first aperture and the device can include a support component defining a second aperture within the first aperture and engaging the air permeable component. The support component can include a sidewall disposed in the first aperture and defining at least one notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jaden A. Barney, Benjamin M. Russo, Brandon R. Collins-Smoot, Douglas G. Fournier, Hongsheng Lin, Jared P. Ostdiek, Jason B. Neevel, Joseph F. Maldonado, Justin D. Crosby, Michael A. Fisher, Per K. Larsson, Teemu P. Sipila, Ville R. Riikonen, Hengxin Ni, Tiffany Hu
  • Patent number: 11132024
    Abstract: An electronic device having a battery assembly is disclosed. Unlike traditional battery assemblies that include rectilinear electrodes with two sides of equal length, the battery assemblies described herein may include electrodes having a shape/configuration resembling an L-shape electrode used to form chemical reactions in order to generate electrical energy. However, other shapes/configurations are possible. The shape/configuration of the housing of the battery assembly confirms to the shape/configuration of the electrodes. Further, in order to accommodate an internal component (such as a circuit board assembly), the shape of the battery assembly provides additional space in the electronic device. In order to form the electrodes, the electrodes may undergo a die cutting operation. Also, the housing may include a channel, or reduced dimension, that accommodates a flexible circuit in the electronic device that passes over the battery assembly at the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David A. Pakula, Daniel W. Jarvis, Gregory N. Stephens, Ian A. Spraggs, James A. Bertin, Eric M. Bennett, Simon C. Helmore, Melissa A. Wah, Matthew D. Hill, Jon F. Housour, Douglas G. Fournier, Christopher S. Tomasetta
  • Publication number: 20210232180
    Abstract: An electronic disclosed herein may include a band formed from metal that combines with a bottom wall formed from a non-metal to form an enclosure that carries internal components. The electronic device may include a transparent cover and a display assembly partially covered by a border having a uniform dimension. The electronic device may include a vision system designed for facial recognition of a user of the electronic device. A bracket assembly may hold the vision system. The bracket assembly may not be affixed to the enclosure and may move relative to the enclosure. The electronic device may include a battery assembly having multiple battery components coupled together. The electronic device may further include a receiver coil for wireless charging of the battery assembly. The electronic device may include a circuit board assembly having stacked circuit boards. The electronic device may further include a dual camera assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: David A. PAKULA, Daniel W. JARVIS, Shimon ELKAYAM, Brandon R. GARBUS, Christopher S. GRAHAM, Karl Ruben F. LARSSON, Ashley E. FLETCHER, Jared M. KOLE, Eric S. JOL, Aaron A. ORO, Michael D. QUINONES, Gregory N. STEPHENS, Ian A. SPRAGGS, James A. BERTIN, Simon C. HELMORE, Melissa A. WAH, Matthew D. HILL, Jon F. HOUSOUR, Douglas G. FOURNIER, Christopher S. TOMASETTA
  • Patent number: 10996713
    Abstract: An electronic disclosed herein may include a band formed from metal that combines with a bottom wall formed from a non-metal to form an enclosure that carries internal components. The electronic device may include a transparent cover and a display assembly partially covered by a border having a uniform dimension. The electronic device may include a vision system designed for facial recognition of a user of the electronic device. A bracket assembly may hold the vision system. The bracket assembly may not be affixed to the enclosure and may move relative to the enclosure. The electronic device may include a battery assembly having multiple battery components coupled together. The electronic device may further include a receiver coil for wireless charging of the battery assembly. The electronic device may include a circuit board assembly having stacked circuit boards. The electronic device may further include a dual camera assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Pakula, Daniel W. Jarvis, Shimon Elkayam, Brandon R. Garbus, Christopher S. Graham, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Ashley E. Fletcher, Jared M. Kole, Eric S. Jol, Aaron A. Oro, Michael D. Quinones, Gregory N. Stephens, Ian A. Spraggs, James A. Bertin, Simon C. Helmore, Melissa A. Wah, Matthew D. Hill, Jon F. Housour, Douglas G. Fournier, Christopher S. Tomasetta
  • Publication number: 20210076127
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining a first aperture and at least partially defining an internal volume. An air permeable component can be disposed at the first aperture and the device can include a support component defining a second aperture within the first aperture and engaging the air permeable component. The support component can include a sidewall disposed in the first aperture and defining at least one notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jaden A. Barney, Benjamin M. Russo, Brandon R. Collins-Smoot, Douglas G. Fournier, Hongsheng Lin, Jared P. Ostdiek, Jason B. Neevel, Joseph F. Maldonado, Justin D. Crosby, Michael A. Fisher, Per K. Larsson, Teemu P. Sipila, Ville R. Riikonen, Hengxin Ni, Tiffany Hu
  • Patent number: 10904370
    Abstract: A mobile phone may include a housing defining at least a portion of a back exterior surface of the mobile phone, a display stack at least partially within the housing, the display stack defining an active region configured to produce a graphical output, and a transparent cover positioned over the display stack. The transparent cover may define a first portion covering the active region of the display stack, a second portion adjacent the first portion, and a hole in the second portion and extending through the transparent cover. The mobile phone may also include a button element positioned in the hole of the transparent cover, a force-sensing system configured to detect an input applied to the button element, a circuit board coupled to the force-sensing system, and a shim positioned below the first portion of the transparent cover and having same thickness that as the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Fournier, Kurtis Mundell, Shayan Malek
  • Patent number: 10791207
    Abstract: An electronic device having a display assembly and housing is disclosed. Several layers may combine to form the display assembly including a display layer. The display assembly can also include a support structure. The display layer may have a planar portion configured to present visual information and a curved portion. The display assembly can additionally include a transverse support member that extends away from the curved portion. The transverse support member may have a central portion that is coupled to at least the curved portion and at least one end portion coupled to the support structure. The transverse support member can define at least one separate load path capable of transferring a corresponding load from the display layer to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Fournier, Daniel W. Jarvis
  • Publication number: 20200281097
    Abstract: An electronic device having a battery assembly is disclosed. Unlike traditional battery assemblies that include rectilinear electrodes with two sides of equal length, the battery assemblies described herein may include electrodes having a shape/configuration resembling an L-shape electrode used to form chemical reactions in order to generate electrical energy. However, other shapes/configurations are possible. The shape/configuration of the housing of the battery assembly confirms to the shape/configuration of the electrodes. Further, in order to accommodate an internal component (such as a circuit board assembly), the shape of the battery assembly provides additional space in the electronic device. In order to form the electrodes, the electrodes may undergo a die cutting operation. Also, the housing may include a channel, or reduced dimension, that accommodates a flexible circuit in the electronic device that passes over the battery assembly at the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: David A. PAKULA, Daniel W. JARVIS, Gregory N. STEPHENS, Ian A. SPRAGGS, James A. BERTIN, Eric M. BENNETT, Simon C. HELMORE, Melissa A. WAH, Matthew D. HILL, Jon F. HOUSOUR, Douglas G. FOURNIER, Christopher S. TOMASETTA
  • Patent number: D905695
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Markus Diebel, Douglas G. Fournier, Marta M. Giachino, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Jon F. Housour, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Sung-Ho Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Jiachen Xu, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D926765
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniele De Iuliis, Markus Diebel, Ashley E. Fletcher, Douglas G. Fournier, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Daniel W. Jarvis, Duncan Robert Kerr, Robert F. Meyer, David A. Pakula, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Joe Sung Ho Tan, Tang Yew Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer