Patents by Inventor Erik D. Gillow

Erik D. Gillow 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: 20230092789
    Abstract: Battery systems according to embodiments of the present technology may include a battery including a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal accessible along a first surface of the battery. The battery may define a recessed portion of the battery along the first surface of the battery between the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal. The battery systems may include a module electrically coupled with the battery. The module may include a circuit board. The module may include a first conductive tab extending from a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface of the circuit board. The first conductive tab may be electrically coupling the module with the first electrode terminal. The module may include a second conductive tab extending from the second surface of the circuit board. The second conductive tab may be electrically coupling the module with the second electrode terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Oba, Brian K. Shiu, Michael P. Zhang, Xiao Liu, Christopher R. Pasma, Steven M. Labovitz, Katharine R. Chemelewski, Erik D. Gillow, Joshua Walter, Junhua Liu, Michael H. Tsai, Stephan P. Abdo
  • Patent number: 9138814
    Abstract: A method for machining may include providing a workpiece with a major (e.g., top) surface and an edge at a perimeter thereof. The method may also include providing a machining tool including an outer rotary cutter and an inner rotary cutter. The workpiece may be machined in a single pass of the machining tool around the perimeter thereof. Machining the workpiece may include simultaneously machining the edge with the inner rotary cutter and machining at least a portion of the major surface with the outer rotary cutter. Accordingly, the edge and at least a portion of the major surface of the workpiece may be simultaneously machined in a single pass. The inner rotary cutter may also simultaneously machine an undercut at the edge of the workpiece. A related machining apparatus including the machining tool is provided. Further, a computer readable medium may include program code for performing the above-described operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Piotr S. Trzaskos, Donald Q. Ross, III, William S. Masek, Brian K. Copeland, John P. Ternus, Erik D. Gillow, Napthaneal Y. Tan
  • Patent number: 8911280
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for machining an exterior surface of a metal alloy casing of a portable electronic device to form a combination of a flat edge surface, a curved edge surface and a flat bottom surface is disclosed. The flat edge surface is abraded by contacting a first flat section of a rotating cutting tool along a first circuit of a pre-determined continuous spiral path. The curved edge surface is abraded by contacting a convex section of the rotating cutting tool along additional circuits of the first pre-determined continuous spiral path. The pitch of vertical movement of the cutting tool is adjusted for each circuit of the continuous spiral path based on a resulting curvature of the metal alloy casing. The bottom surface is abraded by contacting a flat section of the cutting tool along a second pre-determined alternating direction linear path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Kevin Gibbs, Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Donald Q. Ross, III, David Kim, Chuan You Su, Max A. Maloney, Erik D. Gillow
  • Patent number: 8849437
    Abstract: Methods and structures for manufacturing and assembling matching parts in a manufacturing line are described. In some embodiments, the parts are portions of a consumer product, such as an electronic device. The matching parts are manufactured and assembled in a way such that the interface between the matching parts is substantially seamless. In some embodiments, the interface has a feature with curved portions. Methods involve measuring the dimensions of a primary part and custom machining a secondary part to seamlessly fit with the primary part. In this way, the secondary part is made to uniquely fit the primary part. The primary and secondary parts can be marked to identify them as matching parts in a manufacturing environment where numerous pairs of parts are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Norman Chow, Brian K. Copeland, Erik D. Gillow, Daniel A. Green, David Kim, William S. Masek, Donald Q. Ross, III, Chuan You Su, Mark E. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20140083731
    Abstract: Methods and structures for manufacturing and assembling matching parts in a manufacturing line are described. In some embodiments, the parts are portions of a consumer product, such as an electronic device. The matching parts are manufactured and assembled in a way such that the interface between the matching parts is substantially seamless. In some embodiments, the interface has a feature with curved portions. Methods involve measuring the dimensions of a primary part and custom machining a secondary part to seamlessly fit with the primary part. In this way, the secondary part is made to uniquely fit the primary part. The primary and secondary parts can be marked to identify them as matching parts in a manufacturing environment where numerous pairs of parts are made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Norman CHOW, Brian K. COPELAND, Erik D. GILLOW, Daniel A. GREEN, David KIM, William S. MASEK, Donald Q. ROSS, III, Chuan You SU, Mark E. WILCOX
  • Publication number: 20140010609
    Abstract: A method for machining may include providing a workpiece with a major (e.g., top) surface and an edge at a perimeter thereof. The method may also include providing a machining tool including an outer rotary cutter and an inner rotary cutter. The workpiece may be machined in a single pass of the machining tool around the perimeter thereof. Machining the workpiece may include simultaneously machining the edge with the inner rotary cutter and machining at least a portion of the major surface with the outer rotary cutter. Accordingly, the edge and at least a portion of the major surface of the workpiece may be simultaneously machined in a single pass. The inner rotary cutter may also simultaneously machine an undercut at the edge of the workpiece. A related machining apparatus including the machining tool is provided. Further, a computer readable medium may include program code for performing the above-described operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Piotr S. Trzaskos, Donald Q. Ross, III, William S. Masek, Brian K. Copeland, John P. Ternus, Erik D. Gillow, Napthaneal Y. Tan
  • Publication number: 20120196510
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for machining an exterior surface of a metal alloy casing of a portable electronic device to form a combination of a flat edge surface, a curved edge surface and a flat bottom surface is disclosed. The flat edge surface is abraded by contacting a first flat section of a rotating cutting tool along a first circuit of a pre-determined continuous spiral path. The curved edge surface is abraded by contacting a convex section of the rotating cutting tool along additional circuits of the first pre-determined continuous spiral path. The pitch of vertical movement of the cutting tool is adjusted for each circuit of the continuous spiral path based on a resulting curvature of the metal alloy casing. The bottom surface is abraded by contacting a flat section of the cutting tool along a second pre-determined alternating direction linear path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Kevin Gibbs, Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Donald Q. Ross, III, David Kim, Chuan You Su, Max A. Maloney, Erik D. Gillow