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).

  • Publication number: 20140247567
    Abstract: Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies that can be substantially flush with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture. The ejectable component assemblies may include connectors coupled to circuit boards of the devices, and trays that can be loaded with removable modules, inserted through openings in the housings of the devices, and into the connectors for functionally aligning the removable modules with the circuit boards. The ejectable component assemblies may also include ejectors coupled to the housings of the devices for ejecting the trays from the connectors and, thus, from the devices themselves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Robert Sean Murphy, Tang Yew Tan, Jeffrey Eugene Neaves, Lawrence E. Davis, Sung Kim
  • Publication number: 20140243052
    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: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hobson, Erik L. Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Richard H. Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Adam D. Mittleman, Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De luliis, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. lve, Steven P. Jobs, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Douglas B. Satzger, Calvin Q. Seid, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Publication number: 20140233170
    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: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hobson, Erik L. Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Richard H. Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, 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 Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Publication number: 20140233168
    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: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hobson, Erik L. Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Richard H. Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Adam D. Mittleman, Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. lve, Steven P. Jobs, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Douglas B. Satzger, Calvin Q. Seid, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Publication number: 20140233169
    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: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hobson, Erik L. Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Richard H. Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, 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 Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Patent number: 8776358
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    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
  • Publication number: 20140132463
    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: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Hobson, Erik L. Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Richard H. Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Adam D. Mittleman, Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iullis, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Steve Jobs, Ducan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Douglas B. Satzger, Calvin Q. Seid, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
  • Patent number: 8725198
    Abstract: Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies that can be substantially flush with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture. The ejectable component assemblies may include connectors coupled to circuit boards of the devices, and trays that can be loaded with removable modules, inserted through openings in the housings of the devices, and into the connectors for functionally aligning the removable modules with the circuit boards. The ejectable component assemblies may also include ejectors coupled to the housings of the devices for ejecting the trays from the connectors and, thus, from the devices themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Robert Sean Murphy, Tang Yew Tan, Jeffrey Eugene Neaves, Lawrence E. Davis, Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 8681056
    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 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Philip M. Hobson, Erik L. Wang, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Adam D. Mittleman
  • Publication number: 20140045010
    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: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Erik L. Wang, Trent Weber, Jason Sloey
  • Publication number: 20140004763
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Crenshaw Whitley, Craig Stanley, Matthew Rohrbach, Trent Weber, Robert Merrit, Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20140001216
    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: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Crenshaw Whitley, Craig Stanley, Matthew Rohrbach, Trent Weber, Robert Merrit, Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20130335899
    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. Hard stop structures may be used to vertically align the first and second parts. A frame in the device may have an integral gasket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Phillip M. Hobson, Kenneth A. Jenks, Adam D. Mittleman
  • Patent number: 8610822
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a housing. A camera module may be mounted within the housing. The housing may have a camera window with which a lens in the camera module is aligned. To rotationally and laterally align the camera module with respect to the camera window and the electronic device housing, an alignment structure may be mounted to the housing in alignment with the camera window and housing. The alignment structure may be formed form a ring-shaped structure with an opening. The alignment structures may have sidewalls that form an alignment groove for the camera module. The camera window may be formed from a circular opening in a layer of opaque material deposited on a transparent housing member such as a planar layer of glass. During the process, a laser tool may be used to trim the opening in the opaque material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Trent Weber, Scott Myers, David A. Pakula, Matthew Hill, Erik L. Wang, Richard Hung Minh Dinh
  • Publication number: 20130300272
    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: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Erik L. Wang, Jason S. Sloey
  • Patent number: 8537543
    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. Hard stop structures may be used to vertically align the first and second parts. A frame in the device may have an integral gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Phillip M. Hobson, Kenneth A. Jenks, Adam D. Mittleman
  • Publication number: 20130233235
    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: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Erik L. Wang
  • Patent number: 8440274
    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: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Erik L. Wang
  • Publication number: 20130108907
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. A curve may also be formed in the battery cell by applying a pressure of at least 0.13 kilogram-force (kgf) per square millimeter to the layers using a set of curved plates applying a temperature of about 85° C. to the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang
  • Publication number: 20130108906
    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: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang