Patents by Inventor Fletcher R. Rothkopf

Fletcher R. Rothkopf 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: 10304297
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 10296125
    Abstract: An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 10290202
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts to the current operating environment of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method comprising providing a plurality of alert devices in an electronic device, determining an operating environment of the electronic device using a sensor of the electronic device, and actuating at least one of the plurality of alert devices that corresponds to the determined operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Pakula, Matthew Hill, Ethan Larry Huwe, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Richard Hung Minh Dinh
  • Patent number: 10290440
    Abstract: A waterproof button assembly. The waterproof button assembly may include a housing including an opening and a button. The button may be positioned at least partially within the housing via the opening. The assembly may also include a plurality of engagement components positioned on opposite-distal ends of the button. The plurality of engagement components may be configured to retain the button within the housing. The engagement components may extend distally from the button, such that a portion of the engagement components may be positioned within apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing. The assembly may also include a plurality of supports, a tactile dome in contact with the button and at least one of the plurality of supports. A sensing component of the assembly may be positioned adjacent the housing and in alignment with the button and/or tactile dome for sensing actuation of the button within the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Pierre M. Teplitxky, Colin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Samuel B. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10261370
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display having a thin-film transistor layer. One or more holes in the thin-film transistor layer may be used to form pathways from display circuitry to other circuitry underneath the display. One or more conductive bridges may pass through holes in the thin-film transistor layer and may have one end that couples to the display circuitry and a second end that couples to a printed circuit underneath the display. These conductive bridges may be formed from wire bonding. Wire bond connections may be encapsulated with potting material to improve the reliability of the wire bond and increase the resiliency of the display. Display signal lines may be routed through holes in a thin-film transistor layer to run along a backside of the display thereby reducing the need for space in the border region for display circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Drzaic, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen Brian Lynch, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus
  • Publication number: 20190096966
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an active region in which display pixels are used to display images. The display may have one or more openings and may be mounted in a housing associated with the electronic device. An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the openings in the display. The electronic component may include a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, status indicator lights, a light-based touch sensor array, a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings, antenna structures, a speaker, a microphone, or other acoustic, electromagnetic, or light-based component. One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object. Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Scott A. Myers, Richard P. Howarth, Julian Hoenig, Christopher J. Stringer, John P. Ternus, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20190079301
    Abstract: A head-mounted display to be worn by a user includes a housing, a compressible material, and a support member. The compressible material is connected to the housing and is configured for contact with the user. The support member is disposed in the compressible material. The support member is movably connected to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Jason C. Sauers, Phil M. Hobson, Edward S. Huo, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20190075689
    Abstract: A head-mounted display to be worn by a user includes a housing, a component chamber defined in the housing, and electronic components that generate heat. The electronic components are located in the component chamber of the housing. The head-mounted display also includes a first fan for causing air to flow through the component chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Sivesh Selvakumar, Laura M. Campo, Timothy Y. Chang, Holly E. Gerhard, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Jae Hwang Lee
  • Publication number: 20190072772
    Abstract: A head-mounted display to be worn by a user includes a housing, and an eye chamber to be positioned adjacent to eyes of the user. A support assembly includes a headband and an adjustment mechanism that is operable to change fit of the headband relative to the head of the user in response to a control signal, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a feedback component, and the control signal is generated based on output from the feedback component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Killian J. Poore, Marinus Meursing, Jeffrey C. Olson, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Jason C. Sauers
  • Publication number: 20190074333
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an active region in which display pixels are used to display images. The display may have one or more openings and may be mounted in a housing associated with the electronic device. An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the openings in the display. The electronic component may include a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, status indicator lights, a light-based touch sensor array, a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings, antenna structures, a speaker, a microphone, or other acoustic, electromagnetic, or light-based component. One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object. Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Scott A. Myers, Richard P. Howarth, Julian Hoenig, Christopher J. Stringer, John P. Ternus, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 10222756
    Abstract: A watch crown assembly has a body configured to receive rotary input. The body defines a recess and a retention feature. The watch crown assembly further comprises a ceramic member positioned at least partially in the recess and a mounting arm attached to the ceramic member. The mounting arm is engaged with the retention feature of the body, thereby retaining the ceramic member to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Maegan K. Spencer
  • Patent number: 10219591
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an attachment system for a consumer product and methods related to the manufacture thereof. In one aspect, an embodiment includes an attachment system including a band having an insert portion. The insert portion may include an aperture. The attachment system may further include a lug having a cavity and a friction element disposed at, and extending away from, an outer surface of the lug to define a protrusion. The attachment system may further include a pin and a retention member positioned within the cavity. The retention member may be configured to retain the pin within the aperture upon advancement of the pin past the retention member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Eiryo Shiraishi, Osamu Yabe, Hsiang Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 10219386
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display and a multi-layer printed circuit. Integrated circuits and other components may be mounted to the multi-layer printed circuit. The display and multi-layer printed circuit may share a common layer formed from a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may have portions that are integrated into the display and portions that are integrated into the multi-layer printed circuit board. The flexible substrate may contain patterned conductive traces that are used to route signals from components in the multi-layer printed circuit to display circuitry such as a display driver integrated circuit. An array of thin-film transistors may be used to control the emission of light from the display and may be formed on portions of the flexible substrate that are integrated into the display. The display may be a flexible display that includes an array of organic light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Drzaic, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen Brian Lynch, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus
  • Publication number: 20190053388
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain multiple housing portions. The housing portions may be coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures. Flexible displays may be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housing portions in a device are rotated relative to each other, the flexible display may bend. The hinge may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which an active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration. Engagement structures may be used to help the housing grip external objects and to hold the housing portions together. The hinges may be provided with rotational detents to help hold the flexible display in desired positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Andrew J. M. Janis, Teodor Dabov
  • Publication number: 20190042041
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays and internal components. An internal component may be positioned under the flexible display. The internal component may be an output device such as a speaker that transmits sound through the flexible display or an actuator that deforms the display in a way that is sensed by a user. The internal component may also be a microphone or pressure sensor that receives sound or pressure information through the flexible display. Structural components may be used to permanently or temporarily deform the flexible display to provide tactile feedback to a user of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Scott A. Myers, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 10200516
    Abstract: Interlocking first member and optical members and methods of their manufacture. A component formed from an interlocking first member and optical member, where the first member includes a recess formed within a surface and the optical member is disposed in the recess. The recess of the first member may include a recess geometry and the optical member may include a member geometry that may correspond to the recess geometry. Additionally, the interlocking component formed from the first member and optical member may be formed by a coupling process. The coupling process may include sintering the first member and the optical member, bonding the optical member to the first member or providing a compression-load or fit between the first member and the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David I. Nazzaro, Naoto Matsuyuki, Raul A. Molina, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Chin San Han
  • Publication number: 20190035329
    Abstract: A system and methods to extending the overall display area for a device. At or near the borders of a device, pixel pitch between adjacent pixels may be increased such that overall pixel placement may be provided closer to a border of a display of a device. In one embodiment, pixel drive circuitry may be located in the spacing between adjacent pixels. Additionally, various optical systems and techniques may be utilized to provide an appearance of a lack of a border around the display such as decreasing the size of border pixels, overdriving the border pixels, or utilizing a light pipe on a surface above the border pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin Mark Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John Patrick Ternus, Paul Stephen Drzaic, Scott Andrew Myers, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 10190891
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical encoder for an electronic device. The optical encoder comprises an elongated shaft having an encoding pattern made up of axial markings and radial markings. The encoding pattern may be disposed around a circumference of the elongated shaft. The optical encoder also includes an optical sensor. In embodiments, the optical sensor includes an emitter and a photodiode array. The emitter causes light to shine on the encoding pattern. The encoding pattern reflects the light back to the photodiode array and the photodiode array determines movement of the shaft based on the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Prashanth S. Holenarsipur, Colin M. Ely
  • Publication number: 20190025881
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided having internal components mounted to a structural glass support member. The structural glass support member may have a planar front surface that forms a front surface of the device. The structural glass support member may have bent portions that form sidewall surfaces of the device. Portions of the structural glass support member may form a transparent display cover layer. A rigid or flexible display may be mounted to the structural glass support member. Additional internal device components may be mounted to the display. A thin enclosure for enclosing the internal components in the device may be mounted to the structural glass support member. The thin enclosure may be mounted to the structural glass support member using a peripheral member. The thin enclosure may be free from attachments to internal components or may be adhesively bonded to one or more internal components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Temus, Kevin D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 10180732
    Abstract: An input device that includes both a movement detector, such as mechanical switch, and positional indicator, such as touch pad touch screen, and/or touch sensing housing is disclosed. These two input devices can be used substantially simultaneously to provide a command to the device. In this manner, different commands can be associated with depressing a moveable member in different areas and a single moveable member can perform like several buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Prest, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Richard Hung Minh Dinh