Patents by Inventor Erik A. Uttermann
Erik A. Uttermann 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).
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Patent number: 10024689Abstract: This application relates to devices that utilize magnets and associated magnetic sensors. A magnetic sensor can be positioned and oriented with respect to a magnetic element such that the magnetic sensor is capable of detecting a horizontal magnetic field component in contrast to the conventional paradigm of detecting a vertical magnetic field component. This can be accomplished by orienting a magnetically sensitive surface of the magnetic sensor about ninety degrees with respect to a magnetic vector of the magnetic element.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Hao Zhu, John C. DiFonzo, Guangtao Zhang, Rizal Johari, Samuel Gilkison Smith, Sean S. Corbin, Erik A. Uttermann
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Patent number: 10021480Abstract: An enclosure for an electronic device is enclosed. The enclosure includes rib structures configured to improve structural support to prevent damage and to dissipate vibration throughout the enclosure. The rib structure can receive a speaker module and a cap member. The rib structure and the speaker module can combine to form a three-dimensional volume allowing the speaker module in which the speaker module may project sound, thereby enhancing acoustic performance. Also, the cap member may be adhesively attached to the rib structure to provide additional structural support against vibration and abuse caused by load forces associated with a drop event.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: G. Kyle Lobisser, Jason S. Keats, Ryan J. Mihelich, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Kevin M. Kenney, John Raff, Erik A. Uttermann, Melody L. Kuna, Oliver C. Ross
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Patent number: 10020462Abstract: An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis, the display may have layers such as a display cover layer with grooves or other recesses. The recesses form a flexible portion in the display layer. The display layer may be formed from glass or other materials that are transparent. Elastomeric material, fluids, and other materials may be placed in the recesses in the display layer. The material in the display layer may have an index of refraction that is matched to the index of refraction of the display layer. A hinge may be formed between rigid planar layers that are separated by a gap. Flexible layers that lie flush with opposing surfaces of the rigid planar layers may be used to span the gap.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jiang Ai, Erik A. Uttermann, Soyoung Kim
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Publication number: 20180101274Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
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Patent number: 9905964Abstract: An accessory to device coupling system can include a first magnet array adapted for assembly with respect to a surface of an electronic device and a second magnet array adapted for assembly with respect to a surface of an accessory device, the accessory device configured to interact electrically with the electronic device. The first magnet array can include a first plurality of magnets arranged in a first pattern of alternating polarities, and the second magnet array can include a second plurality of magnets arranged in a second pattern of alternating polarities that corresponds to the first pattern of alternating polarities. The corresponding alternating polarity patterns can cause the second magnet array to couple to the first magnet array with a normalized attraction force only at an intended orientation and alignment, and with less than half of the normalized attraction force at any other orientation and alignment.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brett W. Degner, David H. Narajowski, Oliver C. Ross, Hao Zhu, Erik A. Uttermann, Stephen R. McClure, Melody L. Kuna
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Patent number: 9857912Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
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Patent number: 9825410Abstract: Connector receptacles, examples of which comprise a housing having a first plurality of slots in a top side and a second plurality of slots in a bottom side, a top row of contacts positioned in the first plurality of slots in the housing, a bottom row of contacts positioned in the second plurality of slots in the housing, a top shell portion over the top of the housing, the top shell portion comprising first and second electromagnetic contacts extending from a front of the top shell and passing through openings in the top side of the housing, and a bottom shell portion under the bottom of the housing, the bottom shell portion comprising third and fourth electromagnetic contacts extending from a front of the bottom shell and passing through openings in the bottom side of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert Scritzky, John Raff, Cuneyt Bakan, Eric T. SooHoo, Erik A. Uttermann, Patrick J. Quinn
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Publication number: 20170133799Abstract: Connector receptacles that may have a desired form factor to fit in a stylized device enclosure. These stylized connector receptacles and corresponding connector inserts may also be capable of high-speed performance. Examples may also provide circuitry for these connector inserts and connector receptacles that support these high speeds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert Scritzky, John Raff, Cuneyt Bakan, Eric T. SooHoo, Erik A. Uttermann, Patrick J. Quinn
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Publication number: 20170082458Abstract: This application relates to devices that utilize magnets and associated magnetic sensors. A magnetic sensor can be positioned and oriented with respect to a magnetic element such that the magnetic sensor is capable of detecting a horizontal magnetic field component in contrast to the conventional paradigm of detecting a vertical magnetic field component. This can be accomplished by orienting a magnetically sensitive surface of the magnetic sensor about ninety degrees with respect to a magnetic vector of the magnetic element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Hao Zhu, John C. DiFonzo, Guangtao Zhang, Rizal Johari, Samuel Gilkison Smith, Sean S. Corbin, Erik A. Uttermann
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Publication number: 20170070001Abstract: An accessory to device coupling system can include a first magnet array adapted for assembly with respect to a surface of an electronic device and a second magnet array adapted for assembly with respect to a surface of an accessory device, the accessory device configured to interact electrically with the electronic device. The first magnet array can include a first plurality of magnets arranged in a first pattern of alternating polarities, and the second magnet array can include a second plurality of magnets arranged in a second pattern of alternating polarities that corresponds to the first pattern of alternating polarities. The corresponding alternating polarity patterns can cause the second magnet array to couple to the first magnet array with a normalized attraction force only at an intended orientation and alignment, and with less than half of the normalized attraction force at any other orientation and alignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Brett W. DEGNER, David H. NARAJOWSKI, Oliver C. ROSS, Hao ZHU, Erik A. UTTERMANN, Stephen R. MCCLURE, Melody L. KUNA
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Publication number: 20170068288Abstract: A portable electronic device, having a single piece housing to carry operational components having a front opening, an integral bottom and sidewalls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening. The operational components can include a display to present visual content disposed within the front opening and having an outermost protective layer, a main logic board that extends along a central portion of the cavity having a size and shape that bisects the cavity into a first portion and a second portion each having substantially the same size and shape, a power storage system supported at the bottom wall and comprising a first power storage unit located in the first portion and second power storage unit located in the second portion, each being coupled to the main logic board, and self-contained audio components positioned at each corner of the single piece housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Erik A. UTTERMANN, John RAFF, Melody L. KUNA, Jason S. KEATS, G. Kyle LOBISSER, John R. KAMOROWSKI, Oliver C. ROSS, Guangtao ZHANG, Santhana Krishnan BALAJI, Jiang AI, Robert SCRITZKY, Stephen R. MCCLURE
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Publication number: 20170046008Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to forming an area on a touchscreen which electrically isolates a portion of the viewable area of the touchscreen from a capacitive sensor associated with the touchscreen.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2014Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Cheng Chen, Erik A. Uttermann, Kevin D. Gibbs, Manu Agarwal, Martin P. Grunthaner
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Publication number: 20170003818Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
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Publication number: 20160380333Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and no on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing formed from a radio opaque material with a cover formed from a radio transparent material. To implement a wireless interface, an antenna stack-up can be provided that allows an antenna to be mounted to a bottom of the cover. Methods and apparatus are provided for improving wireless performance. For instance, in one embodiment, a metal housing can be thinned to improve antenna performance. As another example, a faraday cage can be formed around speaker drivers to improve antenna performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen C. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo
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Patent number: 9507455Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
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Publication number: 20160306423Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing haptic output on an electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes an actuator configured to move in a first direction. The electronic device also includes a substrate coupled to the actuator. When the actuator moves in the first direction, the substrate or a portion of the substrate, by virtue of being coupled to the actuator, moves in a second direction. In some implementations, the movement of the substrate is perpendicular to the movement of the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Kevin D. Gibbs, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Florence W. Ow, Derek W. Wright, Stephen R. McClure, Inna Lobel
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Patent number: 9444131Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing formed from a radio opaque material with a cover formed from a radio transparent material. To implement a wireless interface, an antenna stack-up can be provided that allows an antenna to be mounted to a bottom of the cover. Methods and apparatus are provided for improving wireless performance. For instance, in one embodiment, a metal housing can be thinned to improve antenna performance. As another example, a faraday cage can be formed around speaker drivers to improve antenna performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen C. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo
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Patent number: 9338832Abstract: The described embodiment relates generally to the field of inductive heating. More specifically an inductive heater designed for use in assembling electronics is disclosed. A number of methods for shaping a radio-frequency (RF) receiver structure are disclosed for the purpose of completing an inductive bonding process without causing harm to adjacent electrical components.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Stephen R. McClure
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Publication number: 20160088379Abstract: An enclosure for an electronic device is enclosed. The enclosure includes rib structures configured to improve structural support to prevent damage and to dissipate vibration throughout the enclosure. The rib structure can receive a speaker module and a cap member. The rib structure and the speaker module can combine to form a three-dimensional volume allowing the speaker module in which the speaker module may project sound, thereby enhancing acoustic performance. Also, the cap member may be adhesively attached to the rib structure to provide additional structural support against vibration and abuse caused by load forces associated with a drop event.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: G. Kyle Lobisser, Jason S. Keats, Ryan J. Mihelich, Pablo Seoane Vieites, Kevin M. Kenney, John Raff, Erik A. Uttermann, Melody L. Kuna, Oliver C. Ross
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Patent number: 9137891Abstract: An electronic device may have a conductive housing. A dielectric structure may be mounted in the conductive housing to form an antenna window. An electrical component such as a camera, light sensor, or other device may press against a conductive foam structure. A printed circuit may have conductive traces that form an antenna ground and antenna resonating element. The printed circuit may be wrapped around a support structure. The electrical component, the conductive foam structure, and the printed circuit wrapped around the support structure may be compressed between a display cover layer and the antenna window. A camera window may be attached to a camera window trim using multiple adhesives. The trim may have a curved exterior surface that matches a curved housing surface. A flexible printed circuit cable may have a folded portion. A band structure may surround the folded portion to form a service loop.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin D. Gibbs, Carl R. Peterson, Erik A. Uttermann, Conor P. Lenahan, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich, Elvis M. Kibiti, Derek Wright