Patents by Inventor Fletcher Rothkopf

Fletcher 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: 9886006
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9871319
    Abstract: A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Mathias Schmidt, Eric S. Jol, Jahan Minoo, Ian Spraggs, Cameron Frazier, Fletcher Rothkopf, Jonathan Aase, Wendell Sander, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 9781846
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assembling an electronic device and components thereof are provided. The electronic device may include a housing and a cover inserted into an opening in the housing. The electronic device may also include a first assembly that may be inserted into the housing through a first end, and a second assembly that may be inserted into the housing through a second end. The electronic device may also include end cap assemblies. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include an input mechanism coupled to the housing and a plate coupled to the housing. In some embodiments, a connector of the electronic device may be mounted on a circuit board by inserting a fixture into the connector, mounting the connector to a portion of the circuit board, removing the fixture from the connector, and separating the portion of the circuit board from another portion of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Emery Sanford, Stephen Brian Lynch, Anthony Sagala Montevirgen, Fletcher Rothkopf, Mathias Schmidt, Hamid Mohammadinia, R. Sean Murphy
  • Patent number: 9780621
    Abstract: An electronic device including a processor, at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the device and drop event based on input from the at least one sensor. The electronic device further includes a motor in communication with the processor and a mass operably connected to the motor. The processor is configured to drive the motor when a drop event is determined and the mass is configured to rotate with respect to the motor to alter the orientation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Colin M. Ely, Stephen B. Lynch
  • Patent number: 9756927
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for fabricating an electronic device with an integrated railing system that detachably couples mounting hardware to the electronic device. By selectively detaching the mounting hardware, the electronic device may be made more compact and portable. In some embodiments, the railing system is fabricated substantially contemporaneous to fabricating the electronic device, such as by extrusion of the railing and the electronic device together. This fabrication approach may reduce the overall cost and complexity of manufacturing the railing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Auclair, Fletcher Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 9753436
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Publication number: 20170227375
    Abstract: An electronic pedometer device can be calibrated using other pedometer devices that the user happens to be wearing. For example, a first pedometer can be incorporated into a device wearable on a first portion of a user's body (e.g., the wrist) while a second pedometer is incorporated into a device wearable on another portion of the user's body (e.g., the waist). The pedometer devices can communicate with each other to initiate a calibration period, during which data regarding measured accelerations, step count and/or user location is gathered. After the calibration period, one or both of the devices can use the data to compute calibration parameters, such as a conversion factor for converting a step count to distance and/or other parameters for converting measured accelerations to distance traveled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chintan S. Parikh, Robert C. Curtis, Taido L. Nakajima, Jonathan J. Andrews, Fletcher Rothkopf
  • Patent number: 9607505
    Abstract: An electronic device configured for closed loop remote control functionality and related methods are disclosed herein. In particular, in one embodiment, an electronic device configured for closed loop remote control functionality is provided. The device includes a processor and a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit instructions to a remotely controlled device. Additionally, the device includes an input device configured to allow a user to provide input to the electronic device related to remote control and one or more sensors configured to obtain information related to a state of the remotely controlled device. The processor is configured to use the information obtained by the one or more sensors to determine the state of the remote controlled devices upon receiving the input from a user to transmit instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 9600071
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing haptic feedback, including: a shell defining an aperture; a driver disposed within the shell; a mass disposed within the coil; and a projection connected to the mass and extending through the aperture. Also described herein is a method for providing generalized and localized haptic feedback, including the operations of: receiving an input signal; determining if the input signal corresponds to a generalized haptic feedback; if so, providing a first input to a linear vibrator; otherwise, providing a second input to a linear vibrator; wherein the linear vibrator outputs a generalized haptic feedback in response to the first input; and the linear vibrator outputs a localized haptic feedback in response to the second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Fletcher Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20170033496
    Abstract: A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Mathias Schmidt, Eric S. Jol, Jahan Minoo, Ian Spraggs, Cameron Frazier, Fletcher Rothkopf, Jonathan Aase, Wendell Sander, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Publication number: 20160378072
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9531235
    Abstract: Systems and methods involving reconfigurable rotating masses are disclosed. One embodiment may take the form of a system having a motor and coupled weights attached to the motor. Operation of the motor rotates the coupled weights and the weights are dynamically reconfigurable to change the location of the center of mass relative to an axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher Rothkopf, Colin M. Ely
  • Patent number: 9495307
    Abstract: A method for operating a portable electronic device includes receiving an identifier associated with an accessory connected to the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device then determines a set of actions to be performed for that accessory based on the received identifier. The portable electronic device then performs the determined actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Zadesky, Fletcher Rothkopf, Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 9478905
    Abstract: A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Mathias Schmidt, Eric Jol, Jahan Minoo, Ian Spraggs, Cameron Frazier, Fletcher Rothkopf, Jonathan Aase, Wendell Sander, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: D768634
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Brad G. Boozer, Makiko Kawamura Brzezinski, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Phillip M. Hobson, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Eric Steven Jol, Duncan Robert Kerr, David Nazzaro, Trevor Jordan Ness, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Stephen Paul Zadesky, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D778912
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Brad G. Boozer, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Colin Ely, M. Evans Hankey, Phillip M. Hobson, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D790517
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Brad G. Boozer, Makiko Kawamura Brzezinski, Tyler Scott Bushnell, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Colin Ely, M. Evans Hankey, Phillip M. Hobson, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Eric Steven Jol, Benjamin Jordan Kallman, Duncan Robert Kerr, David Nazzaro, Trevor Jordan Ness, Marc A. Newson, David Pelletier, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Jason Christopher Sauers, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Christopher M. Werner, Eugene Antony Whang, Michael Benjamin Wittenberg, Stephen Paul Zadesky, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D791771
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Brad G. Boozer, Makiko Kawamura Brzezinski, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Phillip M. Hobson, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Eric Steven Jol, Duncan Robert Kerr, David Nazzaro, Trevor Jordan Ness, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Stephen Paul Zadesky, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D795217
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Colin Ely, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D800725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Erik Geddes Pieter De Jong, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Peter Jon Kardassakis, Duncan Robert Kerr, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Fletcher Rothkopf, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Katherine E. Tong, Samuel Bruce Weiss, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer