Patents by Inventor Eric T. Chiang

Eric T. Chiang 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: 20260194864
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display assembly, a sidewall defining an internal volume including four corners, an elongate conductor extending between the display assembly and the sidewall the elongate conductor including a plurality of contact points spaced around a perimeter of the display assembly, each contact point of the plurality of contact points being welded to the housing, the plurality of contact points including a discrete welded contact point in each of the four corners. The electronic device can also include a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in the internal volume, and an electronical connector contacting the PCB. The electrical connector can contact the elongate member and forming an electrical contact between the sidewall and the PCB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Junlin Mu, Adam T. Clavelle, Antonio F. Herrera, Brad G. Boozer, Daniela M. Deschamps, Devon K. Copeland, Eric T. Chiang, Ryan Sellden, Sameer Pandya, Tyler S. Bushnell, Ian M. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20260194934
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a device housing defining an aperture, and a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly can include a seal defining a shared front volume in fluid communication with an ambient environment through the aperture, a microphone defining the shared front volume, and an environmental sensor defining the shared front volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Mohsin A. Haider, Daniela M. Deschamps, Eric T. Chiang, Tyler S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 12675134
    Abstract: In at least one example of the present disclosure, a portable electronic device includes a housing, an internal volume within the housing, a port having a perimeter defined by the housing, the port in fluid communication with the internal volume and an external environment, a water deflector disposed inside the housing adjacent to the port, the water deflector extending at least a length and a width of the port, and openings disposed in the water deflector. The openings in the water deflector are aligned outside of the perimeter of the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Crowley, Woojin Jung, Eric T. Chiang, Ross L Jackson
  • Patent number: 12590858
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to an apparatus having a housing including a port exposed to an environment. A pressure sensor is disposed within the housing to measure a pressure of the environment. A medium partially fills a sensor cavity or is coated over the pressure sensor, and a cap including multiple openings is disposed over the pressure sensor. The openings of the cap are arranged to be offset from the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Seow Yuen Yee, Ashwin Balasubramanian, Eric T. Chiang, Michael J. Glickman, Roberto M. Ribeiro
  • Patent number: 12556860
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing sidewall defining an opening and a display component, such as a display cover, disposed in the opening to form a gap between the housing sidewall and the display component. In at least one example, the cavity is defined by the sidewall and the display cover with the cavity in fluid communication with an external environment through the gap. In at least one example, an epoxy component at least partially defines the cavity and can be in direct contact with the housing sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: APPLE, INC
    Inventors: Eric T. Chiang, David W. Robison, Nikolas T. Vitt, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell
  • Publication number: 20260003393
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display assembly at least partially positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a substrate having a conductive portion, a display layer having pixels, a touch sensitive layer positioned on a first side of the substrate, an operational component positioned on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side, and a flexible electrical connector electrically coupled with the conductive portion and the operational component. The flexible electrical connector can include an electromagnetic antenna. A transparent cover can overlay the display assembly and can be secured to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2025
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Inventors: Eric T. Chiang, Steven C. Roach, Ross L. Jackson, Maegan K. Spencer, William C. Lukens, Michael R. Parker, YoungHoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20250351930
    Abstract: Watch bands can be provided with an ability to dynamically adjust the fit of a watch against a wrist of a user. One or more of a variety of tensioners can be provided with a shape-memory alloy that responds to a stimulus to adjust a fit of the band. Such stimulus can be from user or actively applied by the watch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Inventors: Cole MARIN, Sameer PANDYA, Daniela M. DESCHAMPS, Eric T. CHIANG, Erik G. DE JONG, Zaki MOUSTAFA
  • Publication number: 20250343346
    Abstract: An electronic device may have conductive sidewalls and a rear wall. A sensor board may be mounted within a cavity defined by the rear wall. The device may have an antenna with a resonating element that includes a first trace on the rear wall, a second trace on the sensor board, and a conductive interconnect between the first and second traces. A sensor flex may be coupled to the sensor board. The sensor flex may include signal traces that control sensors on the sensor board. The sensor flex may include ground traces coupled to the conductive sidewalls by a conductive interconnect. The ground traces may be coupled to a first grounding point on the first conductive trace and may be coupled to a second grounding point on the second conductive trace. A switch may be disposed on the ground traces for tuning a response of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2024
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Inventors: Mario Martinis, Bingzi Liu, Yuko N. Kanagy, Eric T. Chiang, Zhe Wang, Andrea Ruaro, Dimitrios Papantonis, Ahmed Atef Mostafa Mekawy
  • Patent number: 12436562
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display assembly at least partially positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a substrate having a conductive portion, a display layer having pixels, a touch sensitive layer positioned on a first side of the substrate, an operational component positioned on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side, and a flexible electrical connector electrically coupled with the conductive portion and the operational component. The flexible electrical connector can include an electromagnetic antenna. A transparent cover can overlay the display assembly and can be secured to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Eric T. Chiang, Steven C. Roach, Ross L. Jackson, Maegan K. Spencer, William C. Lukens, Michael R. Parker, YoungHoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20250310711
    Abstract: An apparatus of the subject technology includes a housing, an audio sensor configured to detect an acoustic pressure in a cavity of the housing, and a processor configured to determine a level of a leak of the housing based at least in part on the acoustic pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Vincenzo COSTANZA, Gautam NARASIMHAN, Roberto M. RIBEIRO, Ankur AGRAWAL, David W. ROBISON, Eric T. CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20250253548
    Abstract: Electronic devices including antennas disposed outside a device housing are disclosed. In an example, an electronic device includes a device housing defining an internal volume, a radio disposed in the internal volume, an antenna disposed outside the internal volume and coupled to the radio through the device housing, and a conductive element coupled to a ground of the radio. The conductive element can extend from the internal volume through the device housing to an exterior of the device housing. The conductive element can define at least a portion of an exterior surface of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Patrick J. Crowley, Collin J. Richardson, Nicholas S. Brodine, Eric T. Chiang, Mario Martinis, Zhe Wang
  • Publication number: 20240387984
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may be provided with a housing and an antenna. The housing may include conductive sidewalls, a conductive turret, and a conductive bridge. The turret may be separated from the sidewalls by a slot. The bridge may couple the turret to the sidewalls across the slot. A display may be mounted to the turret. A canted coil spring may be disposed in a recess of the conductive turret and may couple conductive structures from the display to the turret. The conductive structures, the turret, and the canted coil spring may collectively form a patch antenna resonating element for the antenna. Since the canted coil spring and conductive turret are not permanently affixed or welded to the display, the display may be easily removed from the device for repair or replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Cole Marin, Sameer Pandya, Eric T. Chiang, Daniela M. Deschamps
  • Patent number: 11990695
    Abstract: Electronic assemblies and methods of attaching retention structures are described. The electronic assemblies may include a receiving substrate and a retention structure bonded to the receiving substrate. The retention structure may be patterned to include openings such as slot openings or a fishbone pattern in order to receive a pair of solder joints to bond the retention structure to a top side of the receiving substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Mahin Shirazi, Eric T. Chiang, Matthew Burke, Tiexuan Wang, Yong Gang Li, Henry H. Yang
  • Publication number: 20240077911
    Abstract: In at least one example of the present disclosure, a portable electronic device includes a housing, an internal volume within the housing, a port having a perimeter defined by the housing, the port in fluid communication with the internal volume and an external environment, a water deflector disposed inside the housing adjacent to the port, the water deflector extending at least a length and a width of the port, and openings disposed in the water deflector. The openings in the water deflector are aligned outside of the perimeter of the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick J. Crowley, Woojin Jung, Eric T. Chiang, Ross L. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20240035912
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to an apparatus having a housing including a port exposed to an environment. A pressure sensor is disposed within the housing to measure a pressure of the environment. A medium partially fills a sensor cavity or is coated over the pressure sensor, and a cap including multiple openings is disposed over the pressure sensor. The openings of the cap are arranged to be offset from the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Seow Yuen YEE, Ashwin BALASUBRAMANIAN, Eric T. CHIANG, Michael J. GLICKMAN, Roberto M. RIBEIRO
  • Patent number: 11860585
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a smartwatch including a housing that at least partially defines an internal volume, and a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the internal volume. A front cover can be positioned over the touch-sensitive display and can define a front exterior surface. A seal can be positioned between the housing and the front cover and configured to transition between an uncompressed state and a compressed state in response to an increase from a first external pressure on the front cover to a second external pressure. In the uncompressed state, the seal has a first density and is air-permeable allowing an internal pressure of the internal volume to equalize with external air at the first pressure. In the compressed state, the seal has a second density, greater than the first density, and is configured to inhibit ingress of water at the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Crowley, Eric T. Chiang, Ross L Jackson
  • Publication number: 20230369790
    Abstract: Electronic assemblies and methods of attaching retention structures are described. The electronic assemblies may include a receiving substrate and a retention structure bonded to the receiving substrate. The retention structure may be patterned to include openings such as slot openings or a fishbone pattern in order to receive a pair of solder joints to bond the retention structure to a top side of the receiving substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Sam Mahin Shirazi, Eric T. Chiang, Matthew Burke, Tiexuan Wang, Yong Gang Li, Henry H. Yang
  • Publication number: 20230238683
    Abstract: A portable electronic device can include a housing defining an internal volume and an opening. The device can also include a rear cover disposed in the opening, with an inner surface of the rear cover defining the internal volume, and a conductive antenna component embedded within the rear cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Steven C. Roach, Eric T. Chiang, YoungHoon Kim, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael R. Parker, Christopher M. Werner, Ryan C. Perkins, Bora Inci, Sherry Tang, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell, Daniela Deschamps, Colin M. Ely, Devon K. Copeland, Ming Kun Shi
  • Publication number: 20230232151
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing sidewall defining an opening and a display component, such as a display cover, disposed in the opening to form a gap between the housing sidewall and the display component. In at least one example, the cavity is defined by the sidewall and the display cover with the cavity in fluid communication with an external environment through the gap. In at least one example, an epoxy component at least partially defines the cavity and can be in direct contact with the housing sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Eric T. Chiang, David W. Robison, Nikolas T. Vitt, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell
  • Publication number: 20230139537
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display assembly at least partially positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a substrate having a conductive portion, a display layer having pixels, a touch sensitive layer positioned on a first side of the substrate, an operational component positioned on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side, and a flexible electrical connector electrically coupled with the conductive portion and the operational component. The flexible electrical connector can include an electromagnetic antenna. A transparent cover can overlay the display assembly and can be secured to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Eric T. Chiang, Steven C. Roach, Ross L. Jackson, Maegan K. Spencer, William C. Lukens, Michael R. Parker, YoungHoon Kim