Patents by Inventor Douglas Weber

Douglas Weber 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: 20160361854
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying internal features or complex mechanical structures to a surface of a metal part are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for creating an assembly that includes a substrate and a molded piece involves obtaining the substrate, and forming at least one binding feature on a surface of the substrate. The method also includes molding on a surface of the binding feature and the surface of the substrate. Molding on the surface of the binding feature and the surface of the substrate mechanically binds the molded piece to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Stephen P. Zadesky, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20160328930
    Abstract: Electronic devices and methods for creating various haptic effects. In one example, an electronic device may include a first haptic module for creating a first haptic effect, the first haptic module having a first weight member that selectively moves in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the first haptic module; a second haptic module for creating a second haptic effect, the second haptic module having a second weight member that selectively moves in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the second haptic module; and a processor for controlling the first and second haptic modules. In one example, the processor selectively activates either the first haptic module or the second haptic module based on one or more events or conditions, such as the current orientation or position of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas Weber
  • Patent number: 9416442
    Abstract: Systems and methods for strengthening a sapphire part are described herein. One method may take the form of orienting a first surface of a sapphire member relative to an ion implantation device, selecting an ion implantation concentration and directing ions at the first surface of the sapphire member. The ions are embedded under the first surface to create compressive stress in the sapphire surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale N. Memering, Christopher D. Prest, Douglas Weber
  • Patent number: 9396629
    Abstract: Electronic devices and methods for creating various haptic effects. In one example, an electronic device may include a first haptic module for creating a first haptic effect, the first haptic module having a first weight member that selectively moves in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the first haptic module; a second haptic module for creating a second haptic effect, the second haptic module having a second weight member that selectively moves in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the second haptic module; and a processor for controlling the first and second haptic modules. In one example, the processor selectively activates either the first haptic module or the second haptic module based on one or more events or conditions, such as the current orientation or position of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Douglas Weber
  • Patent number: 9387612
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying internal features or complex mechanical structures to a surface of a metal part are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for creating an assembly that includes a substrate and a molded piece involves obtaining the substrate, and forming at least one binding feature on a surface of the substrate. The method also includes molding on a surface of the binding feature and the surface of the substrate. Molding on the surface of the binding feature and the surface of the substrate mechanically binds the molded piece to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Stephen P. Zadesky, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 9224364
    Abstract: Improved techniques for interacting with one or more handheld carriers hosting media content are disclosed. The handheld carrier hosting media content may be sensed, and at least a portion of the media content may be integrated into operation of a media activity provided by a computing device, upon recognizing the media activity and the media content. The media activity provided by the computing device may involve creating or editing an electronic document. The integration of the media content into operation of the media activity may involve insertion or importation of the media content into the electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Weber
  • Publication number: 20150217479
    Abstract: Methods for improved ceramics component casting. One such method may include vacuuming a ceramic-based slurry mixture and/or vacuuming a component mold. The vacuuming of the ceramic-based slurry mixture and the component mold may be to remove air bubbles from the respective elements. More specifically, the vacuuming may remove air bubbles from the ceramic-based slurry mixture and from a cavity of the component mold, respectively. The method may also include disposing the ceramic-based slurry mixture into the cavity of the component mold, and continuously vacuuming the cavity of the component mold including the ceramic-based slurry mixture for a predetermined time to remove any additional air bubbles included in the ceramic-based slurry mixture. Finally, the method may include forming a ceramic component within the continuously vacuumed cavity of the component mold over the duration of the predetermined time. The ceramic component formed from the ceramic-based slurry mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
  • Patent number: 9057361
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for harvesting energy from motion of one or more joints. Energy harvesters comprise: a generator for converting mechanical energy into corresponding electrical energy; one or more sensors for sensing one or more corresponding characteristics associated with motion of the one or more joints; and control circuitry connected to receive the one or more sensed characteristics and configured to assess, based at least in part on the one or more sensed characteristics, whether motion of the one or more joints is associated with mutualistic conditions or non-mutualistic conditions. If conditions are determined to be mutualistic, energy harvesting is engaged. If conditions are determined to be non-mutualistic, energy harvesting is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Bionic Power Inc.
    Inventors: James Maxwell Donelan, Arthur D. Kuo, Joaquin Andres Hoffer, Qingguo Li, Douglas Weber
  • Patent number: 8974924
    Abstract: A component comprises a substrate having an alumina base layer, a transition layer, and a surface coating. The transition layer comprises alumina and silica, and the surface coating preferentially bonds to the silica as compared to the alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
  • Patent number: 8830662
    Abstract: Electronic devices may have openings that serve as potential pathways for moisture intrusion into interior portions of the devices. An electronic device may be provided with moisture repelling coatings in the vicinity of these openings to help prevent moisture from reaching the interior of the device. The openings may be associated with gaps between adjacent housing structures, openings for buttons, openings for audio and connector ports or other openings in device structures. The moisture repelling coatings may be applied to housing surfaces, button members, structures associated with audio and connector ports, and other device structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Douglas Weber, Tang Yew Tan, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, David A. Pakula, Jason Sloey
  • Publication number: 20140248472
    Abstract: Systems and methods for strengthening a sapphire part are described herein. One method may take the form of orienting a first surface of a sapphire member relative to an ion implantation device, selecting an ion implantation concentration and directing ions at the first surface of the sapphire member. The ions are embedded under the first surface to create compressive stress in the sapphire surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dale N. Memering, Christopher D. Prest, Douglas Weber
  • Patent number: 8820133
    Abstract: Co-extruded materials and methods for forming co-extruded materials that include images are disclosed. The method may include co-extruding two materials together to form a co-extruded workpiece. The first material may be a base material and the second material may be a graphic material used to form one or more images in a cross-section of the workpiece. One or more cross sectional parts that include the one or more images may then be generated by cutting, slicing or otherwise forming cross-sectional parts from the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
  • Publication number: 20140225489
    Abstract: Electronic devices and other apparatuses adapted to receive electromagnetic wave communications are disclosed. An outer housing encloses various device components, including at least an internal antenna located fully therewithin and adapted to receive/send communications from/to an outside source via RF or other electromagnetic waves. A ceramic coating can be a thermal spray coating that covers at least a portion of the outer surface proximate to the internal antenna, and can be “RF transparent”—adapted to allow communications to/from the internal antenna via electromagnetic waves. The outer housing can be plastic, metal or a combination thereof. For metal or other non-RF transparent housings, an RF-transparent insert can be fitted into a window in the housing to permit communications to the internal antenna. The ceramic coating covers some or all of the metal, plastic and/or insert that comprise the outer housing and surface for a final aesthetic finish to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki, David A. Pakula, Evans Hankey
  • Publication number: 20140152008
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for harvesting energy from motion of one or more joints. Energy harvesters comprise: a generator for converting mechanical energy into corresponding electrical energy; one or more sensors for sensing one or more corresponding characteristics associated with motion of the one or more joints; and control circuitry connected to receive the one or more sensed characteristics and configured to assess, based at least in part on the one or more sensed characteristics, whether motion of the one or more joints is associated with mutualistic conditions or non-mutualistic conditions. If conditions are determined to be mutualistic, energy harvesting is engaged. If conditions are determined to be non-mutualistic, energy harvesting is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: James Maxwell DONELAN, Arthur D. KUO, Joaquin Andres HOFFER, Qingguo LI, Douglas WEBER
  • Patent number: 8738099
    Abstract: Electronic devices and other apparatuses adapted to receive electromagnetic wave communications are disclosed. An outer housing encloses various device components, including at least an internal antenna located fully therewithin and adapted to receive/send communications from/to an outside source via RF or other electromagnetic waves. A ceramic coating can be a thermal spray coating that covers at least a portion of the outer surface proximate to the internal antenna, and can be “RF transparent”—adapted to allow communications to/from the internal antenna via electromagnetic waves. The outer housing can be plastic, metal or a combination thereof. For metal or other non-RF transparent housings, an RF-transparent insert can be fitted into a window in the housing to permit communications to the internal antenna. The ceramic coating covers some or all of the metal, plastic and/or insert that comprise the outer housing and surface for a final aesthetic finish to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki, David A. Pakula, Evans Hankey
  • Publication number: 20140134429
    Abstract: Techniques, processes and structures are disclosed for providing markings on products, such as electronic devices. For example, the markings can be formed using physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes to deposit a layer of material. The markings or labels may be textual and/or graphic. The markings are deposited on a compliant layer that is disposed on a surface to be marked. The compliant layer is arranged to isolate the surface to be marked from the layer of material deposited using the PVD process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: DOUGLAS WEBER, Christopher Prest, David Pakula, Stephen Paul Zadesky
  • Publication number: 20140087197
    Abstract: A component comprises a substrate having an alumina base layer, a transition layer, and a surface coating. The transition layer comprises alumina and silica, and the surface coating preferentially bonds to the silica as compared to the alumina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki
  • Patent number: 8663806
    Abstract: Techniques, processes and structures are disclosed for providing markings on products, such as electronic devices. For example, the markings can be formed using physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes to deposit a layer of material. The markings or labels may be textual and/or graphic. The markings are deposited on a compliant layer that is disposed on a surface to be marked. The compliant layer is arranged to isolate the surface to be marked from the layer of material deposited using the PVD process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Christopher Prest, David Pakula, Stephen Paul Zadesky
  • Patent number: 8646637
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic device as well as methods for forming the housing are disclosed. The housing can be formed from a substrate having perforations to assist in adhering components internal to the housing. The substrate is typically a multi-layer substrate having at least two layers. In one embodiment, an inner layer of the multi-layer substrate can be provided with perforations. The perforations can them be used to adhere internal features to the multi-layer substrate. The internal features can be used for attaching parts or components to the multi-layer substrate, thereby securing the parts or components to the multi-layer substrate and thus the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Weber
  • Publication number: 20130293492
    Abstract: Improved techniques for interacting with one or more handheld carriers hosting media content are disclosed. The handheld carrier hosting media content may be sensed, and at least a portion of the media content may be integrated into operation of a media activity provided by a computing device, upon recognizing the media activity and the media content. The media activity provided by the computing device may involve creating or editing an electronic document. The integration of the media content into operation of the media activity may involve insertion or importation of the media content into the electronic document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas Weber