Patents by Inventor Erik L. Wang

Erik L. Wang 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).

  • Patent number: 9488504
    Abstract: Electronic devices may have sensitive circuitry. To determine whether an electronic device has been exposed to excessive amounts of moisture, the electronic device may be provided with a moisture indicator. The moisture indicator may have a wicking layer of white paper and a red dye layer. If a portion of the moisture indicator is exposed to moisture, red dye may bleed into the white paper. The moisture indicator may be mounted in an input-output port opening or other portion of the electronic device where the state of the moisture indicator is visible. The moisture indicator may have sealed edges to reduce sensitivity to small amounts of moisture intrusion. Different regions of the moisture indicator may be provided with different sensitivities by forming structures that have altered moisture flow properties, by altering wicking layer thicknesses, or by otherwise spatially modifying moisture sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20160316285
    Abstract: An acoustic device such as a microphone or speaker is positioned with and coupled to a housing to connect an acoustic port of the acoustic device with an external opening of the housing. A reservoir is connected to the external opening via a bleed channel. The bleed channel may be less resistive to liquid ingress than the acoustic port. As such, the reservoir and bleed channel may redirect liquid from the external opening away from the acoustic port. In some implementations, the reservoir and/or the bleed channel may be defined by one or more acoustically permeable barriers such as meshes that cover the acoustic port, compressible materials such as foams that form a perimeter around the acoustic port, and/or adhesive layers that couple the acoustic device, the housing, and/or one or more other components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Phillip Qian, Edward Siahaan, Erik L. Wang, Esge B. Andersen
  • Publication number: 20160293996
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers forming a non-rectangular shape, wherein the set of layers comprises a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The layers are enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the non-rectangular shape is created by removing material from one or more of the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang
  • Publication number: 20160255924
    Abstract: Clasp assemblies for bands (e.g., for watches) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a clasp assembly may include a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, where respective links are releasably coupled to one another, and spring assemblies disposed between respective links impart biasing forces between the respective links. In some embodiments, a clasp assembly may include a clasp body, a clasp cover, and a connecting arm pivotally coupled to the clasp body at a first end of the connecting arm, and pivotally coupled to the clasp cover at a second end of the connecting arm. The clasp assembly may include springs, magnets, elastomer members, and/or other mechanisms, components, or assemblies that impart a biasing force between the clasp body, the connecting arm, and/or the clasp cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Hsiang Hung Chen, Erik L. Wang, Michael J. Webb, Douglas J. Weber, Daniele De luliis, Kah Sim Quah
  • Publication number: 20160233913
    Abstract: Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. During assembly, the first part may be rotated into place within the second part. Retention clips attached to the frame may be used to secure the two parts together. Assembly instructions and associated connector numbers may be provided within the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Phillip Michael Hobson, Kenneth A. Jenks, Adam D. Mittleman, Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Steven P. Jobs, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Douglas B. Satzger, Calvin Q. Seid, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Anthony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Patent number: 9344539
    Abstract: Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. During assembly, the first part may be rotated into place within the second part. Retention clips attached to the frame may be used to secure the two parts together. Assembly instructions and associated connector numbers may be provided within the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Phillip M. Hobson, Kenneth A. Jenks, Adam D. Mittleman
  • Patent number: 9300773
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may have a dock connector moisture infiltration indication structure for indicating whether moisture has infiltrated the device. The structure may be located within a dock connector port. The dock connector may have a viewing hole that enables viewing of the moisture indicator. The moisture indicator may have four layers: upper and lower moisture barriers, a wicking layer and a dyeing layer. After becoming wet, the moisture indicator may change from one color to another color. A menu button in the device may have a transparent and opaque member with a viewing aperture. A moisture indicator may be formed on the button and may be viewed through the viewing aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Mittleman, Erik L. Wang, Jason Sloey
  • Patent number: 9276287
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers forming a non-rectangular shape, wherein the set of layers comprises a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The layers are enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the non-rectangular shape is created by removing material from one or more of the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang
  • Publication number: 20160037874
    Abstract: A wrist band for attaching a portable electronic device to a user includes articulating segments which may be releasably connected so as to provide the user the capability of sizing the wristband by adding or removing links as desired. A clasp is also disclosed for securing the wristband to a user. A manufacturing device and method are disclosed for machining complex surfaces on the segments and clasp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Webb, Erik L. Wang, Daniele De luliis
  • Publication number: 20160012756
    Abstract: Electronic devices may have sensitive circuitry. To determine whether an electronic device has been exposed to excessive amounts of moisture, the electronic device may be provided with a moisture indicator. The moisture indicator may have a wicking layer of white paper and a red dye layer. If a portion of the moisture indicator is exposed to moisture, red dye may bleed into the white paper. The moisture indicator may be mounted in an input-output port opening or other portion of the electronic device where the state of the moisture indicator is visible. The moisture indicator may have sealed edges to reduce sensitivity to small amounts of moisture intrusion. Different regions of the moisture indicator may be provided with different sensitivities by forming structures that have altered moisture flow properties, by altering wicking layer thicknesses, or by otherwise spatially modifying moisture sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventor: Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20150264798
    Abstract: An electronic device may have circuitry mounted on a printed circuit board. The circuitry may include electronic components such as integrated circuits, sensors, and switches that are sensitive to bending-induced stress in the printed circuit board. An overmolded plastic stress concentrator may be overmolded over the printed circuit board and the circuitry on the printed circuit board. A flexible plastic body may be used to enclose the stress concentrator and printed circuit board. The plastic body, stress concentrator, and printed circuit board may be elongated along a longitudinal axis. The stress concentrator may have unbent regions in which the printed circuit board is prevented from flexing and enhanced flexibility regions. Sensitive circuitry may be located in the unbent regions to prevent the sensitive circuitry from being exposed to bending stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Phillip Qian, Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20150214602
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device may be provided that contains a conductive housing and other conductive elements. The conductive elements may form an antenna ground plane. One or more antennas for the handheld electronic device may be formed from the ground plane and one or more associated antenna resonating elements. Transceiver circuitry may be connected to the resonating elements by transmission lines such as coaxial cables. Ferrules may be crimped to the coaxial cables. A bracket with extending members may be crimped over the ferrules to ground the coaxial cables to the housing and other conductive elements in the ground plane. The ground plane may contain an antenna slot. A dock connector and flex circuit may overlap the slot in a way that does not affect the resonant frequency of the slot. Electrical components may be isolated from the antenna using isolation elements such as inductors and resistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Phillip M. Hobson, Stephen P. Zadesky, Erik L. Wang, Tang Yew Tan, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Adam D. Mittleman, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub
  • Patent number: 9086298
    Abstract: Electronic devices may have sensitive circuitry. To determine whether an electronic device has been exposed to excessive amounts of moisture, the electronic device may be provided with a moisture indicator. The moisture indicator may have a wicking layer of white paper and a red dye layer. If a portion of the moisture indicator is exposed to moisture, red dye may bleed into the white paper. The moisture indicator may be mounted in an input-output port opening or other portion of the electronic device where the state of the moisture indicator is visible. The moisture indicator may have sealed edges to reduce sensitivity to small amounts of moisture intrusion. Different regions of the moisture indicator may be provided with different sensitivities by forming structures that have altered moisture flow properties, by altering wicking layer thicknesses, or by otherwise spatially modifying moisture sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Erik L. Wang
  • Patent number: 9054358
    Abstract: A battery assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The battery assembly may include a battery cell (e.g., a rechargeable battery cell), a battery connector for providing power from the battery cell to the electronic device, and a flex circuit electrically coupling the battery cell to the electronic device. The battery connector may be located adjacent the battery cell, and may include one or more alignment mechanisms for ensuring that conductive pads of the battery connector align properly with corresponding conductive elements of the electronic device. The battery cell may be fixed to the electronic device using an adhesive layer (e.g., double sided tape) placed between the cell and the electronic device. A tab may extend beyond the periphery of the battery cell to allow a user to pull or peal the battery cell from the electronic device for replacement or repair. In some embodiments, a tool may be used to grasp the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Erik L. Wang, Trent Weber, Jason Sloey
  • Publication number: 20150155900
    Abstract: Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies. The ejectable component assembly may include a tray that can be loaded with one or more removable modules, wafers coupled to circuit boards, cages and retaining plates to assist in retaining the tray within the assembly. The ejectable component assembly may include springs operative to engage detents in the tray to retain the tray in the assembly. The ejectable component assembly may include a tray ejector mechanism for ejecting the tray from the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Erik L. Wang, Jason S. Sloey
  • Patent number: 9016534
    Abstract: Laminate lanyards and methods for making the same are disclosed. The laminate lanyards may include a head formed from a reinforcing loop of yarn incorporated within a scrim. The head can be coupled to the head section of a body, which also includes a main section that forms the loop of the laminate lanyard. A gusset can be coupled to ends of the main section of the body to couple the two ends of the body together and facilitate opening and closing of the loop of the laminate lanyard. A slider may also be included in laminate lanyard for adjusting the size of the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Crenshaw Whitley, Craig Stanley, Matthew Rohrbach, Trent Weber, Robert Merrit, Erik L. Wang
  • Patent number: 8989824
    Abstract: Electronic devices are provided with housings that can have smoother profiles and with switch assembly input components with knobs that can move along tracks in directions at least partially offset from the directions of anticipated resistive forces. The housings can include switch assembly input components with knobs that may move along linear tracks and switch assembly input components with knobs that may move along curved tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Tang Yew Tan, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Philip Michael Hobson, Andrew Lewis Johnston
  • Patent number: 8960818
    Abstract: Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies. The ejectable component assembly may include a tray that can be loaded with one or more removable modules, wafers coupled to circuit boards, cages and retaining plates to assist in retaining the tray within the assembly. The ejectable component assembly may include springs operative to engage detents in the tray to retain the tray in the assembly. The ejectable component assembly may include a tray ejector mechanism for ejecting the tray from the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Erik L. Wang, Jason S. Sloey
  • Patent number: 8952853
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device may be provided that contains a conductive housing and other conductive elements. The conductive elements may form an antenna ground plane. One or more antennas for the handheld electronic device may be formed from the ground plane and one or more associated antenna resonating elements. Transceiver circuitry may be connected to the resonating elements by transmission lines such as coaxial cables. Ferrules may be crimped to the coaxial cables. A bracket with extending members may be crimped over the ferrules to ground the coaxial cables to the housing and other conductive elements in the ground plane. The ground plane may contain an antenna slot. A dock connector and flex circuit may overlap the slot in a way that does not affect the resonant frequency of the slot. Electrical components may be isolated from the antenna using isolation elements such as inductors and resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip M. Hobson, Stephen P. Zadesky, Erik L. Wang, Tang Yew Tan, Richard H. Dinh, Adam D. Mittleman, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub
  • Publication number: 20140307377
    Abstract: Electronic devices are provided with a protective housing having one or more housing components. A housing component can be formed from a single sheet of material to appear as if the housing component had been formed from a hollowed out solid block of material. The sheet of material may be deep drawn, forged, and machined to form the housing component. One or more holes may be formed through a portion of the housing component to provide an I/O interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Todd F. GOTHAM, Andrew David LAUDER, Tang Yew TAN, Erik L. WANG, Phillip Michael HOBSON, Richard Hung Minh DINH, Christopher STRINGER, Richard HOWARTH, John TERNUS, Rico ZORKENDORFER