Patents by Inventor Henry E. Herman, III

Henry E. Herman, III 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).

  • Electronic device having force sensor air flow promotion structures
    Patent number: 10845925
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a device with a display may have a force sensor. The force sensor may include capacitive electrodes separated by a deformable layer such as a layer of an elastomeric polymer. The display or other layers in the electronic device may deform inwardly under applied force from a finger of a user or other external object. As the deformed layers contact the deformable layer, the deformable layer is compressed and the spacing between the capacitive electrodes of the force sensor decreases. This causes a measurable rise in the capacitance signal and therefore the force signal output of the force sensor. To prevent the deformable layer from sticking to the inner surface of the display layers, air flow promotion structures may be interposed between the deformable layer and the inner surface of the display. The air flow promotion structures may include spacer pads with anti-stick surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Henry E. Herman, III, Po-Jui Chen, Robert W. Rumford, Steve L. Terry, Yindar Chuo
  • Electronic Device Having Force Sensor Air Flow Promotion Structures
    Publication number: 20190179450
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a device with a display may have a force sensor. The force sensor may include capacitive electrodes separated by a deformable layer such as a layer of an elastomeric polymer. The display or other layers in the electronic device may deform inwardly under applied force from a finger of a user or other external object. As the deformed layers contact the deformable layer, the deformable layer is compressed and the spacing between the capacitive electrodes of the force sensor decreases. This causes a measurable rise in the capacitance signal and therefore the force signal output of the force sensor. To prevent the deformable layer from sticking to the inner surface of the display layers, air flow promotion structures may be interposed between the deformable layer and the inner surface of the display. The air flow promotion structures may include spacer pads with anti-stick surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Henry E. Herman, III, Po-Jui Chen, Robert W. Rumford, Steve L. Terry, Yindar Chuo
  • Electronic Device Having Force Sensor Air Flow Promotion Structures
    Publication number: 20170052616
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a device with a display may have a force sensor. The force sensor may include capacitive electrodes separated by a deformable layer such as a layer of an elastomeric polymer. The display or other layers in the electronic device may deform inwardly under applied force from a finger of a user or other external object. As the deformed layers contact the deformable layer, the deformable layer is compressed and the spacing between the capacitive electrodes of the force sensor decreases. This causes a measurable rise in the capacitance signal and therefore the force signal output of the force sensor. To prevent the deformable layer from sticking to the inner surface of the display layers, air flow promotion structures may be interposed between the deformable layer and the inner surface of the display. The air flow promotion structures may include spacer pads with anti-stick surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Wei Lin, Henry E. Herman, III, Po-Jui Chen, Robert W. Rumford, Steve L. Terry, Yindar Chuo