Patents by Inventor Erik G. DE JONG
Erik G. DE JONG 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: 11344258Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
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Patent number: 11337654Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
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Patent number: 11334164Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure having a transparent cover defining a touch-sensitive surface, a display positioned within the enclosure and below the transparent cover, and a haptic device configured to produce a haptic output along the touch-sensitive surface. The haptic device may include a battery element electrically coupled to the display, a magnetic element, and a coil assembly fixed with respect to the enclosure and configured to induce an oscillatory movement of the battery element parallel to the display to produce the haptic output. In other examples, the coil assembly may be coupled to the battery element and the first and second magnetic elements may be fixed with respect to the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jody C. Fu, Erik G. de Jong, Christopher R. Pasma, Katharine R. Chemelewski, Rex T. Ehman, Brad W. Simeral
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Publication number: 20220113834Abstract: An electronic device may have light-emitting devices. A light-emitting device may include light-emitting diodes, a display, or other components that emit visual output. One or more image transport layers may be included in the electronic device. An image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image and an output surface to which the image transport layer transports the image for viewing by a user. The image transport layers may have areas with compound curvature and other shapes. Deformed image transport layer structures such as deformed fibers in a coherent fiber bundle may be configured to hide gaps in displays and other structures. Displays may include light detectors that serve as a two-dimensional touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect touch input on an output surface of an image transport layer. Image transport layer material may be incorporated into buttons, elongated housings, wearable devices, and other equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Michael B. Wittenberg, Daniel J. Barrett, Erik G. de Jong, Lucy E. Browning, Marwan Rammah, Rasamy Phouthavong, Sameer Pandya
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Publication number: 20220077565Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. A display cover layer and a transparent inner display member may overlap a display pixel layer. The display pixel layer may have an array of display pixels for displaying images for a user. A touch sensor layer may be interposed between the display pixel layer and the transparent display member. A ferromagnetic shielding layer may be mounted below the display pixel layer. A flexible printed circuit containing coils of metal signal lines that form a near-field communications loop antenna may be interposed between the ferromagnetic shielding layer and the display pixel layer. A non-near-field antenna such as an inverted-F antenna may have a resonating element mounted on an inner surface of the display cover layer. The resonating element may be interposed between the transparent display member and the display cover layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Miroslav Samardzija, Yiren Wang, Yuehui Ouyang, Joseph Hakim, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero, Siwen Yong, Erik G. de Jong
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Publication number: 20220051622Abstract: An electronic device may have a display mounted in a housing. The display may have a pixel array that produces images. A display cover layer may overlap the pixel array. The display cover layer may have a planar central area surrounded by a peripheral edge area with a curved cross-sectional profile. From an on-axis viewing angle, an image on the pixel array is fully viewable through the planar central area and the peripheral edge area. From an off-axis viewing angle, the image is partly viewable through the peripheral edge area and not through the central area. To avoid an undesired color cast in the partly viewable image seen through the peripheral edge area of the display cover layer, the display may be provided with color cast compensation structures such as a guest-host liquid crystal layer that exhibits an anisotropic colored light absorption characteristic, a diffuser layer, and/or other optical structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Daniel J. Barrett, Erik G. de Jong, James P. Landry, David A. Doyle, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Jung Yun Seuh, Yi Qiao
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Publication number: 20220043402Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing defining a side wall having a through-hole and a crown assembly including an actuation member. The actuation member may include a crown shaft extending through the through-hole and having an exterior portion defining an input surface and a crown ring coupled to the exterior portion of the crown shaft and electrically isolated from the crown shaft. The crown assembly may further include an optical encoder component attached to the actuation member and defining a group of optical features. The electronic watch may further include an optical detector configured to detect rotation of the crown assembly by detecting motion of the group of optical features and an electrocardiograph sensor comprising a sensing component. The sensing component may be conductively coupled to the actuation member via a conductive path at least partially defined by the crown shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Steven C. Roach, Sameer Pandya, Erik G. de Jong, Erik L. Wang, Peter J. Kardassakis, Steven P. Cardinali
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Publication number: 20220038190Abstract: Methods and devices may be used to perform underwater communication using one or more electronic devices. The one or more electronic devices include a first wireless transceiver configured to transmit first wireless signals through an air medium with the first wireless signals not being conducive for transmission through a water medium. The one or more electronic devices also include a second wireless transceiver configured to transmit second wireless signals through water. The electronic devices detect whether at least one electronic device has been submerged, and in response to submersion, transmits at least some communication types from the second wireless transceiver rather than the second wireless transceiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Ross L. Jackson, Colin M. Ely, Jody Cintone Fu, Erik G. de Jong, Jayesh Nath
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Patent number: 11231814Abstract: An electronic device may have light-emitting devices. A light-emitting device may include light-emitting diodes, a display, or other components that emit visual output. One or more image transport layers may be included in the electronic device. An image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image and an output surface to which the image transport layer transports the image for viewing by a user. The image transport layers may have areas with compound curvature and other shapes. Deformed image transport layer structures such as deformed fibers in a coherent fiber bundle may be configured to hide gaps in displays and other structures. Displays may include light detectors that serve as a two-dimensional touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect touch input on an output surface of an image transport layer. Image transport layer material may be incorporated into buttons, elongated housings, wearable devices, and other equipment.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael B. Wittenberg, Daniel J. Barrett, Erik G. de Jong, Lucy E. Browning, Marwan Rammah, Rasamy Phouthavong, Sameer Pandya
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Publication number: 20220004725Abstract: A holder for a wirelessly locatable tag may be used with a wirelessly locatable tag comprising a housing member defining a region of an exterior surface of the wirelessly locatable tag configured to act as a speaker diaphragm. The holder may include a receptacle portion configured to at least partially surround the wirelessly locatable tag, the receptacle portion defining a first opening configured to allow the wirelessly locatable tag to be positioned in the receptacle portion, a second opening configured to at least partially surround an outer periphery of a battery door of the wirelessly locatable tag, and a third opening aligned with the region of the exterior surface configured to act as the speaker diaphragm. The holder may further include a fastener coupled to the receptacle portion and configured to releasably secure the first opening in a closed configuration to retain the wirelessly locatable tag in the receptacle portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Anthony M. Ashcroft, Erik G. de Jong, Tirshathah A. Hunter, Seul Bi Kim, Erik L. Wang, Christopher M. Werner
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Publication number: 20220006892Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a watch body including a touch-sensitive display configured to receive a first input and a first wireless circuit configured to receive a wireless input signal. The wearable electronic device further includes a band coupled to the watch body and configured to attach the watch body to a user and a wireless module coupled to the band and including an input device configured to receive a second input and a second wireless circuit configured to transmit the wireless input signal to the first wireless circuit in response to receiving the second input.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Devon K. Copeland, Erik G. de Jong
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Publication number: 20220003831Abstract: A posture-monitoring system for monitoring a body posture of a user includes an array of wirelessly locatable tags, including a first tag configured to be positioned along a first shoulder region of the user and having a first battery and a first wireless circuit configured to transmit a first locating signal, a second tag configured to be positioned along a second shoulder region of the user and having a second battery and a second wireless circuit configured to transmit a second locating signal, and a third tag configured to be positioned along a back region of the user and having a third battery and a third wireless circuit configured to transmit a third locating signal. The posture-monitoring system further includes a portable electronic device including a processing unit and a wireless circuit operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the first, second, and third locating signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Colin M. Ely, Erik L. Wang
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Publication number: 20220000251Abstract: A holder for a wirelessly locatable tag may include a snap assembly coupling a first element of the holder to a second element of the holder thereby securing the wirelessly locatable tag within a recess of the holder, the snap assembly including a male assembly having a protrusion component, a female assembly defining an opening that is configured to receive the protrusion component, a groove defined in one of either the male assembly or the female assembly, a compression ring positioned in the groove and configured to retain the male assembly to the female assembly, and a compliant member positioned in the groove and providing a biasing force on the compression ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Erik G. de Jong, Tirshathah A. Hunter
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Publication number: 20210405688Abstract: An electronic device may have a display mounted in a housing. The display may have a display panel with an array of pixels on a flexible substrate. A display cover layer may overlap the display panel. The flexible substrate may have a protruding portion that forms a tail. The tail may be coupled to a printed circuit on which a display driver integrated circuit and/or other circuitry is mounted. When the display is mounted in the housing, the tail may be bent back on itself to create a bend. The bend may be embedded in a molded polymer member. The molded polymer member may be attached to the housing with adhesive and may directly contact an inner surface of the display cover layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Daniel J. Barrett, Dakota A. Bass, Sameer Pandya, Shang L. Tsuei, Elizabeth C. Porter, Erik G. de Jong, Jingjing Xu, Jacquelynn M. Pok, Kiran S. Pillai, Xuan Liu, Adam J. Brinkman
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Patent number: 11205832Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. A display cover layer and a transparent inner display member may overlap a display pixel layer. The display pixel layer may have an array of display pixels for displaying images for a user. A touch sensor layer may be interposed between the display pixel layer and the transparent display member. A ferromagnetic shielding layer may be mounted below the display pixel layer. A flexible printed circuit containing coils of metal signal lines that form a near-field communications loop antenna may be interposed between the ferromagnetic shielding layer and the display pixel layer. A non-near-field antenna such as an inverted-F antenna may have a resonating element mounted on an inner surface of the display cover layer. The resonating element may be interposed between the transparent display member and the display cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Miroslav Samardzija, Yiren Wang, Yuehui Ouyang, Joseph Hakim, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero, Siwen Yong, Erik G. de Jong
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Publication number: 20210383657Abstract: A connectible component is connected to a housing. A sensor of the housing is utilized to detect an identity element of the at connectible component. The connectible component is identified utilizing the at least one sensor. In some implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify whether or not a connectible component is connected to the housing. In other implementations, identification of the connectible component may identify the type of connectible component that is connected. In such implementations, the housing may house an electronic device and the electronic device may be configured based on the type of connectible component that is connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Trevor J. Ness
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Patent number: 11194298Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing defining a side wall having a through-hole and a crown assembly including an actuation member. The actuation member may include a crown shaft extending through the through-hole and having an exterior portion defining an input surface and a crown ring coupled to the exterior portion of the crown shaft and electrically isolated from the crown shaft. The crown assembly may further include an optical encoder component attached to the actuation member and defining a group of optical features. The electronic watch may further include an optical detector configured to detect rotation of the crown assembly by detecting motion of the group of optical features and an electrocardiograph sensor comprising a sensing component. The sensing component may be conductively coupled to the actuation member via a conductive path at least partially defined by the crown shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Steven C. Roach, Sameer Pandya, Erik G. de Jong, Erik L. Wang, Peter J. Kardassakis, Steven P. Cardinali
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Patent number: 11196148Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may have a housing with metal portions such as metal sidewalls. The housing may form an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from a stack of capacitively coupled component layers such as a display layer, touch sensor layer, and near-field communications antenna layer at a front face of the device. An additional antenna may be formed from a peripheral resonating element that runs along a peripheral edge of the device and the antenna ground. A rear face antenna may be formed using a wireless power receiving coil as a radio-frequency antenna resonating element or may be formed from metal antenna traces on a plastic support for light-based components.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Rex T. Ehman, Jayesh Nath, Carlo Di Nallo, James G. Horiuchi, Erik G. de Jong, Jason C. Sauers, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Siwen Yong, Lijun Zhang, Yi Jiang, Zheyu Wang, Mario Martinis, Eduardo Da costa Bras Lima, Xu Han, Mattia Pascolini, Trevor J. Ness
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Publication number: 20210360100Abstract: Systems and methods for performing damping analyses on a device are disclosed. The damping analyses may be used by a device in numerous ways. For example, in some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine whether a device is being worn or held by a user. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine which user of multiple users is wearing a device. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine the body composition of a user who is holding or wearing the device. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine how much force a user is applying to a device via a touch input. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine whether and to what extent a sensor is in contact with a body of a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: David I. Nazzaro, Erik G. De Jong, Steven J. Martisauskas, Tyler S. Bushnell
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Publication number: 20210353226Abstract: A wearable electronic device may include a display and a housing. The housing may include a chassis defining a first portion of a rear exterior surface of the wearable electronic device, a first portion of a side exterior surface of the wearable electronic device, and an internal wall. The housing may also include a glass shell defining a front wall positioned over the display and defining a front exterior surface of the wearable electronic device and a side wall extending from the front wall and overlapping the internal wall, the side wall defining a second portion of the side exterior surface of the wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device may also include a touch sensing system within the housing and configured to detect a touch input applied to the front exterior surface of the wearable electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Daniel J. Hiemstra, Erik G. de Jong, Sameer Pandya