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: 20130292029Abstract: Fibers may be intertwined to form cables for headsets and other structures. The cables may include wires, The wires may be surrounded by a jacket formed. from intertwined fibers, The intertwined fibers may include fibers with different melting temperatures. The jacket may be heated to a temperature that is sufficient to melt some of the fibers in the jacket without melting other fibers in the jacket. The melted fibers may flow into spaces between the unmelted fibers and may serve as a binder that holds together the unmelted fibers. The intertwining process may be used to form a bifurcation for a headset. A dipping process may be used to cover the jacket with a coating. The coating may be formed over the entire length of the cable or may be formed in a particular portion of the cable such as the portion of the cable that includes the bifurcation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Jonathan S. Aase, Douglas Weber
-
Publication number: 20130290116Abstract: Disclosed is a system for a content wheel displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) for scrolling through a set of content. The content wheel can present various types of content for which the user can view and interact. The content wheel provides a circular scrolling path for which a user's gestures are tracked. As the content wheel is spun, the content is programmatically changed. This allows continual visual interaction with the associated content and creates a visibly stunning interaction for the user. Additionally, there can be any number of content items displayed on the content wheel, as the school wheel's display and functionality allows for scalability of the interactive and displayed content.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.Inventors: Guy Hepworth, Craig Douglas Weber, Peter Matthew Klein, Aparna Jain
-
Patent number: 8546702Abstract: Electronic devices and other apparatuses that include plastic parts ultrasonically bonded to metal parts are disclosed. A first component or part includes a metallic surface region having a surface roughness with one or more surface irregularities. A second component or part formed from a plastic material that can include an energy director is attached to the metallic surface region via an ultrasonic bond, such that a portion of the plastic material is melted or otherwise formed into the surface irregularities to attach the two components or parts together. The parts can be housings, internal components or other items. The surface irregularities can be formed as a result of a chemical etching process, a machining process, or a combination thereof, and can result in the creation of undercuts or cavities in the metallic surface region.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher David Prest, Douglas Weber
-
Patent number: 8493749Abstract: This is directed to an EMI shield constructed from a conformal coating. A circuit board can include electronic components for which EMI shielding is required. To provide such shielding in a space-efficient manner, a first non-conductive conformal coating can be placed over the circuit board and the electronic components. A second conductive conformal coating can then be placed over the first such that at least portions of the second coating around the periphery of the electronic components are electrically coupled to the circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Scott Myers, Douglas Weber
-
Patent number: 8487456Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Bionic Power Inc.Inventors: James Maxwell Donelan, Arthur D. Kuo, Joaquin Andres Hoffer, Qingguo Li, Douglas Weber
-
Patent number: 8467560Abstract: An electrical device such as a headset may have a cable. Wires in the cable may be used to connect speakers in the headset to a connector such as an audio jack. The cable may have a tubular intertwined cable cover that covers the wires. Computer-controlled servo motors in fiber intertwining equipment may be adjusted in real time so that intertwined attributes such as intertwining density and intertwining tension are varied as a function of length along the intertwined cable cover. The fiber intertwining equipment may make these variations to locally increase the strength of the intertwined cable cover and the cable in the vicinity of a bifurcation in the cable and in the vicinity of the portion of the cable that terminates at the audio jack.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Douglas Weber, Jonathan S. Aase
-
Patent number: 8442257Abstract: Fibers may be intertwined to form cables for headsets and other structures. The cables may include wires. The wires may be surrounded by a jacket formed from intertwined fibers. The intertwined fibers may include fibers with different melting temperatures. The jacket may be heated to a temperature that is sufficient to melt some of the fibers in the jacket without melting other fibers in the jacket. The melted fibers may flow into spaces between the unmelted fibers and may serve as a binder that holds together the unmelted fibers. The intertwining process may be used to form a bifurcation for a headset. A dipping process may be used to cover the jacket with a coating. The coating may be formed over the entire length of the cable or may be formed in a particular portion of the cable such as the portion of the cable that includes the bifurcation.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jonathan S. Aase, Douglas Weber
-
Patent number: 8417779Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Douglas Weber
-
Patent number: 8315043Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a housing, such as for an electronic device, from multi-layer materials are disclosed. The multi-layer materials include at least two layers. Typically, one or more of the layers are metal. However, different layers of the multi-layer materials can be different metals. In one embodiment, an inner layer of the multi-layer materials can be provided with or form internal features that can be for attaching parts or components to the multi-layer materials. In another embodiment, processing of an inner layer of the multi-layer materials can facilitate part formation with increased curvature and/or internal part clearance. In another embodiment, the multi-layer materials can include an intermediate layer that facilitates creation of internal features that can be for attaching parts or components to the multi-layer materials.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2008Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Stephen Brian Lynch, John Benjamin Filson, Stephen Paul Zadesky, Douglas Weber
-
Patent number: 8299634Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for harvesting energy from motion of one or more joints. Energy harvesters comprise: an energy converter 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 a controller 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: GrantFiled: August 10, 2006Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Bionic Power Inc.Inventors: James M. Donelan, Joaquin A. Hoffer, Douglas Weber, Arthur D. Kuo, Qingguo Li
-
Publication number: 20120234791Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Douglas Weber, Stephen P. Zadesky, Stephen Brian Lynch
-
Publication number: 20120224299Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Douglas Weber, Tang Yew Tan, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, David A. Pakula, Jason Sloey
-
Publication number: 20120206870Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Douglas WEBER, Naoto MATSUYUKI, David A. PAKULA, Evans HANKEY
-
Publication number: 20120194974Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for improving strength of a thin glass member for an electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the glass member can have improved strength characteristics in accordance with a predetermined stress profile. The predetermined stress profile can be formed through multiple stages of chemical strengthening. The stages can, for example, have a first ion exchange stage where larger ions are exchanged into the glass member, and a second ion exchange stage where some of the larger ions are exchanged out from the glass member. In one embodiment, the glass member can pertain to a glass cover for a housing for an electronic device. The glass cover can be provided over or integrated with a display.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2011Publication date: August 2, 2012Inventors: Douglas Weber, Christopher Prest, Stephen Paul Zadesky
-
Patent number: 8192815Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Douglas Weber, Stephen P. Zadesky, Stephen Brian Lynch
-
Patent number: 8185166Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Douglas Weber, Naoto Matsuyuki, David A. Pakula, Evans Hankey
-
Publication number: 20120085130Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for improving chemical strengthening behavior in glass members are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for processing a glass part formed using a fusion process or a float process includes annealing the glass part and then chemically strengthening the glass part. Annealing the glass part includes at least heating the glass part at a first temperature, maintaining the first temperature, and cooling the glass part to a second temperature using a controlled cooling process. Chemically strengthening the glass part includes facilitating an ion exchange between ions included in the glass part and ions included in a chemical strengthening bath.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Inventors: Matthew D. Hill, Michael Kane Pilliod, Christopher Prest, Douglas Weber, Spyros Michail, David Pakula
-
Publication number: 20120076318Abstract: Fibers may be intertwined to form cables for headsets and other structures. The cables may include wires. The wires may be surrounded by a jacket formed from intertwined fibers. The intertwined fibers may include fibers with different melting temperatures. The jacket may be heated to a temperature that is sufficient to melt some of the fibers in the jacket without melting other fibers in the jacket. The melted fibers may flow into spaces between the unmelted fibers and may serve as a binder that holds together the unmelted fibers. The intertwining process may be used to form a bifurcation for a headset. A dipping process may be used to cover the jacket with a coating. The coating may be formed over the entire length of the cable or may be formed in a particular portion of the cable such as the portion of the cable that includes the bifurcation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventors: Jonathan S. Aase, Douglas Weber
-
Publication number: 20120076342Abstract: An electrical device such as a headset may have a cable. Wires in the cable may be used to connect speakers in the headset to a connector such as an audio jack. The cable may have a tubular intertwined cable cover that covers the wires. Computer-controlled servo motors in fiber intertwining equipment may be adjusted in real time so that intertwined attributes such as intertwining density and intertwining tension are varied as a function of length along the intertwined cable cover. The fiber intertwining equipment may make these variations to locally increase the strength of the intertwined cable cover and the cable in the vicinity of a bifurcation in the cable and in the vicinity of the portion of the cable that terminates at the audio jack.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventors: Douglas Weber, Jonathan S. Aase
-
Publication number: 20120063115Abstract: Electronic devices and other apparatuses that include plastic parts ultrasonically bonded to metal parts are disclosed. A first component or part includes a metallic surface region having a surface roughness with one or more surface irregularities. A second component or part formed from a plastic material that can include an energy director is attached to the metallic surface region via an ultrasonic bond, such that a portion of the plastic material is melted or otherwise formed into the surface irregularities to attach the two components or parts together. The parts can be housings, internal components or other items. The surface irregularities can be formed as a result of a chemical etching process, a machining process, or a combination thereof, and can result in the creation of undercuts or cavities in the metallic surface region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher David Prest, Douglas Weber