Patents by Inventor Eric N. Nyland

Eric N. Nyland 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: 10021800
    Abstract: An electronic device having openings covered by a vent assembly is disclosed. The vent assembly may include multiple adhesive layers surrounding an air-permeable, liquid resistant membrane that allow air to flow into and/or out of the electronic device, while also preventing liquid ingress into the electronic device. The membrane may be supported by several structural elements. For example, the vent assembly includes an adhesive layer secured with the membrane, with the adhesive layer including a web region having multiple ribs that engage the membrane. Also, the vent assembly includes a mesh material that includes a porous region that receives a portion of the adhesive layer. Also, an additional vent assembly may cover an additional opening of the electronic device and provide protection for an operational component in the electronic device. The additional vent assembly may allow air into the additional opening for the operational component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yaocheng Zhang, Kevin M. Froese, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin J. Pope, David A. Hurrell, Salome Bavetta, Eric N. Nyland
  • Patent number: 10021808
    Abstract: A vent assembly in an electronic device is described. The vent assembly may regulate air into and out of the electronic device. The vent assembly may include multiple layers of material bonded together, with each layer having a flap (or flaps) that combines with another flap to form a valve. The vent assembly may include a first layer bonded with a second layer. The first layer includes a first flap, and the second layer includes a second flap that combines with the first flap to form a first valve that regulates air out of the electronic device. The vent assembly can include a third layer. Then, the second layer includes a third flap, and the third layer includes a fourth flap that combines with the third flap to form a second valve that regulates air into the electronic device. In some instances, each valve may permit airflow in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric N. Nyland, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Timothy Y. Lee
  • Patent number: 9759988
    Abstract: An electronic device having a securing member for a camera module is disclosed. The securing member may include several flexible spring elements extending around the camera module to maintain the position of the camera module during an assembly process of the electronic device. The securing member and the housing may be made from an electrically conductive material or materials. In this manner, the securing member may further provide the camera module with an electrical ground to prevent excessive electric charge within the camera module. In some embodiments, an alignment member is positioned on the housing and aligns the camera module and/or securing member with an aperture of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marwan Rammah, Eric N. Nyland, Matthew D. Hill, Sawyer I. Cohen, Scott A. Myers, David A. Pakula, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Ashutosh Y. Shukla
  • Patent number: 9596397
    Abstract: An electronic device having a lens and a lens retaining member is disclosed. The lens and the lens retaining member may both be molded in a single mold cavity. However, the lens includes a first material that is clear and translucent, while the lens retaining member includes a second material that is opaque. The lens retaining member may include an alignment such that the lens and lens retaining member, when secured to a flexible circuit, may self-align with a window. The window allows a light source to emit light while the lens retaining member blocks or reflects light. In another embodiment, a container having a first member and a second member may be positioned around a camera module. The container may act as an EMI shield for the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marwan Rammah, Ashutosh Y. Shukla, David A. Pakula, Jared M. Kole, Eric N. Nyland
  • Publication number: 20170003575
    Abstract: An electronic device having a securing member for a camera module is disclosed. The securing member may include several flexible spring elements extending around the camera module to maintain the position of the camera module during an assembly process of the electronic device. The securing member and the housing may be made from an electrically conductive material or materials. In this manner, the securing member may further provide the camera module with an electrical ground to prevent excessive electric charge within the camera module. In some embodiments, an alignment member is positioned on the housing and aligns the camera module and/or securing member with an aperture of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Marwan RAMMAH, Eric N. NYLAND, Matthew D. HILL, Sawyer I. COHEN, Scott A. MYERS, David A. PAKULA, Michael Benjamin WITTENBERG, Ashutosh Y. SHUKLA
  • Patent number: 9494845
    Abstract: An electronic device having a securing member for a camera module is disclosed. The securing member may include several flexible spring elements extending around the camera module to maintain the position of the camera module during an assembly process of the electronic device. The securing member and the housing may be made from an electrically conductive material or materials. In this manner, the securing member may further provide the camera module with an electrical ground to prevent excessive electric charge within the camera module. In some embodiments, an alignment member is positioned on the housing and aligns the camera module and/or securing member with an aperture of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marwan Rammah, Eric N. Nyland, Matthew D. Hill, Sawyer I. Cohen, Scott A. Myers, David A. Pakula, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Ashutosh Y. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20160276757
    Abstract: The subject matter of the disclosure relates to connectors for antenna feed assemblies and display coupling components of a mobile device. The flexible connectors can be configured with a flexible spring connector component that couples a mobile device antenna to a main logic board of the mobile device within a housing of the mobile device such that the flexible connector can withstand a drop event, while at the same providing for an in-line inductance as part of an antenna-defined design requirement. The display of the mobile device can be coupled to a housing of the mobile device using a pin-screw arrangement that allows the display to controllably shift in the X-direction and the Y-direction, while only being purposefully constrained in the Z-direction (with reference to a 3-dimensional graph having X, Y, and Z axes). This configuration can prevent the display from being pulled out of alignment during a drop event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: James B. SMITH, Gregory N. STEPHENS, Boon W. SHIU, Shayan MALEK, Marwan RAMMAH, Scott A. MYERS, Ashutosh Y. SHUKLA, Eric N. NYLAND, Matthew D. HILL, Michael Benjamin WITTENBERG, Rasamy PHOUTHAVONG, Benjamin Shane BUSTLE
  • Patent number: 9318802
    Abstract: The subject matter of the disclosure relates to connectors for antenna feed assemblies and display coupling components of a mobile device. The flexible connectors can be configured with a flexible spring connector component that couples a mobile device antenna to a main logic board of the mobile device within a housing of the mobile device such that the flexible connector can withstand a drop event, while at the same providing for an in-line inductance as part of an antenna-defined design requirement. The display of the mobile device can be coupled to a housing of the mobile device using a pin-screw arrangement that allows the display to controllably shift in the X-direction and the Y-direction, while only being purposefully constrained in the Z-direction (with reference to a 3-dimensional graph having X, Y, and Z axes). This configuration can prevent the display from being pulled out of alignment during a drop event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Smith, Gregory N. Stephens, Boon W. Shiu, Shayan Malek, Marwan Rammah, Scott A. Myers, Ashutosh Y. Shukla, Eric N. Nyland, Matthew D. Hill, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Rasamy Phouthavong, Benjamin Shane Bustle
  • Publication number: 20160072996
    Abstract: An electronic device having a lens and a lens retaining member is disclosed. The lens and the lens retaining member may both be molded in a single mold cavity. However, the lens includes a first material that is clear and translucent, while the lens retaining member includes a second material that is opaque. The lens retaining member may include an alignment such that the lens and lens retaining member, when secured to a flexible circuit, may self-align with a window. The window allows a light source to emit light while the lens retaining member blocks or reflects light. In another embodiment, a container having a first member and a second member may be positioned around a camera module. The container may act as an EMI shield for the camera module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Marwan Rammah, Ashutosh Y. Shukla, David A. Pakula, Jared M. Kole, Eric N. Nyland
  • Publication number: 20160064810
    Abstract: The subject matter of the disclosure relates to connectors for antenna feed assemblies and display coupling components of a mobile device. The flexible connectors can be configured with a flexible spring connector component that couples a mobile device antenna to a main logic board of the mobile device within a housing of the mobile device such that the flexible connector can withstand a drop event, while at the same providing for an in-line inductance as part of an antenna-defined design requirement. The display of the mobile device can be coupled to a housing of the mobile device using a pin-screw arrangement that allows the display to controllably shift in the X-direction and the Y-direction, while only being purposefully constrained in the Z-direction (with reference to a 3-dimensional graph having X, Y, and Z axes). This configuration can prevent the display from being pulled out of alignment during a drop event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: James B. Smith, Gregory N. Stephens, Boon W. Shiu, Shayan Malek, Marwan Rammah, Scott A. Myers, Ashutosh Y. Shukla, Eric N. Nyland, Matthew D. Hill, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Rasamy Phouthavong, Benjamin Shane Bustle
  • Publication number: 20160062213
    Abstract: An electronic device having a securing member for a camera module is disclosed. The securing member may include several flexible spring elements extending around the camera module to maintain the position of the camera module during an assembly process of the electronic device. The securing member and the housing may be made from an electrically conductive material or materials. In this manner, the securing member may further provide the camera module with an electrical ground to prevent excessive electric charge within the camera module. In some embodiments, an alignment member is positioned on the housing and aligns the camera module and/or securing member with an aperture of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Marwan Rammah, Eric N. Nyland, Matthew D. Hill, Sawyer I. Cohen, Scott A. Myers, David A. Pakula, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Ashutosh Y. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20120268910
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a vibrator. The vibrator may vibrate to alert a user to an incoming cellular telephone call or other events. The vibrator may have a piezoelectric vibrator motor. The piezoelectric vibrator motor may rotate a shaft about a rotational axis. A weight may be attached to the shaft so that the vibrator vibrates when the shaft is rotated. The shaft may have opposing first and second ends. To help prevent damage to the vibrator during a drop event, the first and second ends of the shaft may be supported by support structures and end caps or other structures for retarding axial movement may be provided. The support structures may be formed from a bracket having vertical members with holes that respectively receive the first and second ends. The stop structures may prevent movement of the shaft along its rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Eric N. Nyland