Patents by Inventor Eric S. Jol

Eric S. Jol 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: 10591430
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a connector including a plurality of contacts and a liquid detection module coupled to at least one contact in the plurality of contacts. The liquid detection module can be configured to generate and apply a time varying voltage or current to the at least one contact over a range of frequencies, measure complex impedance including phase and magnitude at the at least one contact, and determine whether liquid intrusion has occurred on the contacts based on previously measured signatures of phase and magnitude versus frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Jol, Jason S. Sloey, Craig C. Birrell, Samuel B. Schaevitz, Ching Yu John Tam, Nagendra Bage Jayaraj
  • Publication number: 20200083501
    Abstract: A low profile plug connector assembly is adapted for use in an accessory for an electronic device and includes a plug connector coupled to a thin and resilient flange. The flange is formed to match a curvature of a portion of the accessory and provides a resilient yet flexible structure for the plug connector that allows the plug connector to move during mating and demating. The low profile structure consumes minimal space and enables the accessory to have an aesthetically appealing appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Eric S. Jol, Sean T. McIntosh
  • Patent number: 10587074
    Abstract: An electronic receptacle connector includes a hybrid contact assembly that includes a contact plate that has multiple fingers, a contact positioned at a distal end of each finger and a conductor that runs along each finger and electrically couples each contact to an interconnect region positioned outside of the housing. The fingers are made from a first material and the contacts are made from a second material such that each of the first and the second materials can be independently optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Appple Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Daniel T. McDonald, Aaron A. Oro, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10579097
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a device enclosure having an exterior surface; a contact area positioned at the exterior surface and having first and second ends, the contact area having a plurality of contacts arranged between the first and second ends and substantially flush with the exterior surface; and an alignment feature within the enclosure comprising first and second magnets positioned on opposing sides of the contact area, the first magnet positioned adjacent to the first end of the contact area and the second magnet positioned adjacent to the second end of the contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Wagman, Oliver Ross, Eric S. Jol, Hani Esmaeili, Brett Degner, Ibuki Kamei
  • Publication number: 20200006880
    Abstract: Contacts that can be highly corrosion resistant, can be readily manufactured, and can conserve precious materials . One example can provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer can be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact can be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Kenneth Michael Bagwell, Holly Ubellacker, Judy Hsien-Chih Liu, Eric S. Jol, Christoph Bitterlich, Michael W. Barnstead, Christoph Werner
  • Publication number: 20190386507
    Abstract: An electronic device and methods for inductively charging an electronic device using another external electronic device. The electronic device may include an enclosure, a battery positioned within the enclosure, and an inductive coil coupled to the battery. The inductive coil may have two or more operational modes, including a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power and a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power. The electronic device may also have a controller coupled to the inductive coil for selecting one of the operational modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10505386
    Abstract: An electronic device and methods for inductively charging an electronic device using another external electronic device. The electronic device may include an enclosure, a battery positioned within the enclosure, and an inductive coil coupled to the battery. The inductive coil may have two or more operational modes, including a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power and a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power. The electronic device may also have a controller coupled to the inductive coil for selecting one of the operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10476214
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes a plug connector having a tab adapted to be inserted into a receptacle connector of a second device during a mating event, the tab including first and second opposing surfaces and a contact region formed at the first surface of the tab, the contact region including a plurality of contacts spaced apart along a first row, the plurality of contacts including a first contact, a power contact and a ground contact; a computer-readable memory having identification, configuration and authentication information relevant to the electronic device that can be communicated to the second device during a mating event stored therein; circuitry coupled to the first contact and configured to, after a mating event in which the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, participate in a handshaking algorithm that includes receiving a command over the first contact from the second device and sending a response to the command that includes contact configuration information for the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Eric S. Jol, Mathias W. Schmidt, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Publication number: 20190335868
    Abstract: A case a portable listening device. The case includes a housing having an interior space to receive the portable listening device; a lid attached to the housing; a rechargeable battery and first and second wireless power receiving elements configured to receive electric charge from a wireless power transmitter during a charging event. The case further includes switching circuitry that is configured to disable one of the first or second wireless power receiving elements during a charging event when the disabled element is receiving power less efficiently than the other element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10448711
    Abstract: A first connector assembly may be connectable to a second connector assembly using a sliding attachment process, in which a front portion of the first connector assembly is inserted into an end of a slot in the second connector assembly and slides laterally along the slot until electrical contacts on the two connector assemblies are aligned. Electrical contacts of the first connector assembly may be biased proud to make contact with recessed electrical contacts in the second connector assembly. A retraction mechanism may be provided to retract the electrical contacts of the first connector assembly during lateral sliding. An interlock mechanism may be provided to prevent unwanted operation of the retraction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Eric S. Jol, Michael B. Wittenberg, Stephen E. Dey
  • Publication number: 20190319475
    Abstract: A wireless transmitter device is configurable and operable to transfer energy to multiple receiver devices at the same time. The transmitter device is configured to enable one or more sections of a charging surface to transfer energy by selectively choosing one or more conductive traces in the transmitter device based on the position of the receiver device on the charging surface. The size and shape of each section of the charging surface that is used to transfer energy to a receiver device can change dynamically based on each receiver device. Additionally, the process of transferring energy to each receiver device may be adjusted during energy transfer based on conditions specific to each receiver device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Brandon R. Garbus, Steven G. Herbst, Todd K. Moyer, Chad A. Bossetti, Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham
  • Patent number: 10447084
    Abstract: A wireless charging mat has a surface area for receiving an electronic device to be charged. The surface area of the charging mat includes an inner region having a rough surface texture and an outer region having s smooth surface texture, and the outer region is elevated relative to the inner region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Rasmussen, Eric S. Jol, Paul J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10447079
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improved efficiency of power transfer across an inductive charging interface by selectively activating, deactivating, or modifying one or more of a plurality of transmit coils associated with an inductive power transmitter are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol, Paul J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10418741
    Abstract: Contact structures that are readily manufactured, where contacts in the contact structures consume a minimal amount of surface area, depth, and volume in an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Oliver C. Ross, Eric S. Jol, Hani Esmaeili
  • Patent number: 10411379
    Abstract: Contacts that may be highly corrosion resistant, may be readily manufactured, and may conserve precious materials. One example may provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer may be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact may be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Benjamin J. Kallman, Hani Esmaeili, Stefan A. Kowalski, Daniel T. McDonald, Eric S. Jol, Raymund W. M. Kwok, Michael W. Barnstead
  • Patent number: 10404089
    Abstract: An electronic device and methods for inductively charging an electronic device using another external electronic device. The electronic device may include an enclosure, a battery positioned within the enclosure, and an inductive coil coupled to the battery. The inductive coil may have two or more operational modes, including a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power and a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power. The electronic device may also have a controller coupled to the inductive coil for selecting one of the operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10390594
    Abstract: A case a portable listening device. The case includes a housing having an interior space to receive the portable listening device; a lid attached to the housing; a rechargeable battery and first and second wireless power receiving elements configured to receive electric charge from a wireless power transmitter during a charging event. The case further includes switching circuitry that is configured to disable one of the first or second wireless power receiving elements during a charging event when the disabled element is receiving power less efficiently than the other element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Publication number: 20190235569
    Abstract: A case for an electronic device is disclosed. The case includes a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the electronic device therein. The body includes a user input region formed from a deformable material having an electrical resistance that decreases in response to a touch force on the deformable material, and an electrode pair in contact with the deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to a sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the deformable material due to the touch force. The body also includes a connector configured to operatively couple the electrode pair to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin J. KALLMAN, Eric S. JOL, Timothy J. RASMUSSEN
  • Patent number: 10348048
    Abstract: A method of applying a dielectric lubricant to an electrical connector of a consumer electronic device. The method includes inserting a dielectric lubricant delivery device apertures for delivering the dielectric lubricant to the electrical connector into a receptacle of the electronic device; applying pressure to a chamber including the dielectric lubricant, the chamber being fluidly coupled to the apertures of the lubricant delivery device such that the pressure causes the lubricant to enter the receptacle via the apertures and deposit on contacts of the electrical connector; and pulling vacuum using the lubricant delivery device to remove excess dielectric lubricant from the receptacle and the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Jason S. Sloey, Eric S. Jol, Daniel C. Wagman, John B. Ardisana, II
  • Patent number: 10340711
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging device including: a housing having a planar charging surface and one or more walls that define an interior cavity; a transmitter coil arrangement positioned within the interior cavity; and a faraday cage enclosing the transmitter coil arrangement. The faraday cage includes: an electromagnetic shield positioned between the transmitter coil arrangement and the first shell; an interconnection structure positioned within the interior cavity below the transmitter coil arrangement, the interconnection structure including a plurality of packaged electrical components mounted on the interconnection structure; a ferromagnetic shield positioned between the transmitter coil arrangement and the interconnection structure; and a conductive grounding fence disposed around a perimeter of the interconnection structure and between the electromagnetic shield and the interconnection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Demetrios B. Karanikos, Darshan R. Kasar, Paul J. Thompson, Eric S. Jol, Grant S. Haug, Karl Ruben F. Larsson