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).

  • Publication number: 20130223836
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin D. Gibbs, Carl R. Peterson, Erik A. Uttermann, Conor P. Lenahan, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich, Elvis M. Kibiti, Derek Wright
  • Publication number: 20130107425
    Abstract: An electronic device may include housing structures, electronic components, and other structures. A gap may be formed between the structures. A membrane structure may be used to bridge the gap to form and environmental seal and electrical pathway between the structures. The membrane structure may be deployed using a temporary biasing member or may be installed by forming an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure may include an elastomeric balloon that may be pressurized. Adhesive such as conductive adhesive may be used in attaching the membrane structure to the structures in the electronic device. An inflatable structure may be depressurized following installation in an electronic device to minimize residual forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Derek Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20120243153
    Abstract: A moveable device foot for an electronic device is described. The device foot can include a rigid weight bearing member and a flexible sealing member that is integrally formed with the weight bearing member. The device foot can be formed using a double-shot injection molding process. The weight bearing member of the foot can be mounted to an interior portion of the electronic device such that it extends through an external casing of the electronic device. The flexible sealing member can be mounted to the external casing to seal the interior of the electronic device. During operation of the electronic device, the device foot can be configured to move relative to the external casing, such as in response to an external force applied to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder
  • Publication number: 20120223866
    Abstract: Antennas are provided for electronic devices such as portable computers. Multiple resonating elements may be formed on a flexible antenna resonating element substrate. The flexible antenna resonating element substrate may have a first antenna resonating element at one end and a second antenna resonating element at an opposing end. The flexible antenna resonating substrate may be wrapped around a dielectric carrier and mounted within an electronic device under an inactive display region and above a dielectric housing window. Conductive structures such as conductive housing structures may form antenna ground. The resonating elements and antenna ground may form first and second antennas. A parasitic antenna resonating element may form part of the first antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Erik A. Uttermann, Salih Yarga, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
  • Publication number: 20120194393
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo
  • Publication number: 20120194998
    Abstract: 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 at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl Peterson
  • Patent number: 8213177
    Abstract: A moveable device foot for an electronic device is described. The device foot can include a rigid weight bearing member and a flexible sealing member that is integrally formed with the weight bearing member. The device foot can be formed using a double-shot injection molding process. The weight bearing member of the foot can be mounted to an interior portion of the electronic device such that it extends through an external casing of the electronic device. The flexible sealing member can be mounted to the external casing to seal the interior of the electronic device. During operation of the electronic device, the device foot can be configured to move relative to the external casing, such as in response to an external force applied to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder
  • Publication number: 20110310029
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
  • Publication number: 20110310536
    Abstract: A moveable device foot for an electronic device is described. The device foot can include a rigid weight bearing member and a flexible sealing member that is integrally formed with the weight bearing member. The device foot can be formed using a double-shot injection molding process. The weight bearing member of the foot can be mounted to an interior portion of the electronic device such that it extends through an external casing of the electronic device. The flexible sealing member can be mounted to the external casing to seal the interior of the electronic device. During operation of the electronic device, the device foot can be configured to move relative to the external casing, such as in response to an external force applied to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder