Patents by Inventor Hilbert T. KWAN

Hilbert T. KWAN 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: 11699558
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Publication number: 20210166895
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: 10804051
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Publication number: 20190214201
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: 10224157
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: 10133312
    Abstract: The present application describes various embodiments regarding systems and methods for providing a lightweight and durable portable computing device having a thin profile. The portable computing device can take the form of a laptop computer. The portable computing device can include a case snap system configured to movably attach two portions of a base of the computing device together. The portable computing device can include a lid portion with a support structure having a shaped profile configured to support a display. The portable computing device can include locating features disposed within the base portion configured to locate internal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Brandon S. Smith, Charles A. Schwalbach, Gavin J. Reid, Houtan R. Farahani, Zheng Gao, Michael D. McBroom, Hilbert T. Kwan, Joss N. Giddings
  • Patent number: 10002727
    Abstract: An illuminated metal keycap having a legend diffuser material that may diffuse light through a legend opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the legend may be transparent. The metal keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the metal keycap, around the perimeter of the metal keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Hilbert T. Kwan, Jeffrey L. Yen, Craig C. Leong, James J. Niu, Keith J. Hendren, Yanyang Yuan, Feng Zhao, Wanshan Li, Derrick T. Jue, Ze Hong
  • Patent number: 9989992
    Abstract: An enclosure for a portable computing device is disclosed. The enclosure includes an indicium (e.g., logo) positioned in an opening extending partially through the enclosure. The enclosure includes multiple material removal processes. First, a tool (e.g., laser ablation tool) can be used to ablate the opening defining an ablation having a shape or profile similar to that of the indicium. A second material removal process can remove a region within the ablation to define an indicium support. The second material removal process may be performed by a CNC cutting tool capable of forming the indicium support to a desired precision. As a result, when the indicium is secured with the indicium support, the indicium includes a desired flatness that prevents an undesired reflectivity. In order to ensure the indicium properly fits in the opening, a third material removal process may be performed to define an indention region around the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Houtan R. Farahani, Hsinhan Wu, Lindsay D. Corbet, Hilbert T. Kwan, Katherine Spriggs, You Fu Tan
  • Publication number: 20170301487
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: 9710023
    Abstract: Perforated structures and methods for forming perforated structures are disclosed. The perforated structures include partial holes or blind-holes that pass partially through the substrate. The partial holes can be positioned proximate to through-holes that pass entirely through the substrate. The partial holes add mechanical strength to the perforated substrate. Described are methods for modifying the optical appearance of the partial holes such that the partial holes appear indistinguishable from the through-holes, which allows for flexibility in designing cosmetically appealing patterns within the perforated structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ming Kun Shi, Jason O. Mettler, Hilbert T. Kwan, Christopher Bruni, Qi Tian, Jing Zhang, Howard E. Bujtor, Stephen V. Jayanathan, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Patent number: 9704670
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: 9640347
    Abstract: An illuminated metal keycap having a legend diffuser material that may diffuse light through a legend opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the legend may be transparent. The metal keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the metal keycap, around the perimeter of the metal keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Hilbert T. Kwan, Jeffrey L. Yen, Craig C. Leong, James J. Niu, Keith J. Hendren, Yanyang Yuan, Feng Zhao, Wanshan Li, Derrick T. Jue, Ze Hong
  • Publication number: 20170004939
    Abstract: An illuminated metal keycap having a legend diffuser material that may diffuse light through a legend opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the legend may be transparent. The metal keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the metal keycap, around the perimeter of the metal keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hilbert T. Kwan, Jeffrey L. Yen, Craig C. Leong, James J. Niu, Keith J. Hendren, Yanyang Yuan, Feng Zhao, Wanshan Li, Derrick T. Jue, Ze Hong
  • Publication number: 20160209870
    Abstract: An enclosure for a portable computing device is disclosed. The enclosure includes an indicium (e.g., logo) positioned in an opening extending partially through the enclosure. The enclosure includes multiple material removal processes. First, a tool (e.g., laser ablation tool) can be used to ablate the opening defining an ablation having a shape or profile similar to that of the indicium. A second material removal process can remove a region within the ablation to define an indicium support. The second material removal process may be performed by a CNC cutting tool capable of forming the indicium support to a desired precision. As a result, when the indicium is secured with the indicium support, the indicium includes a desired flatness that prevents an undesired reflectivity. In order to ensure the indicium properly fits in the opening, a third material removal process may be performed to define an indention region around the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Houtan R. Farahani, Hsinhan Wu, Lindsay D. Corbet, Hilbert T. Kwan, Katherine Spriggs, You Fu Tan
  • Publication number: 20160202732
    Abstract: Perforated structures and methods for forming perforated structures are disclosed. The perforated structures include partial holes or blind-holes that pass partially through the substrate. The partial holes can be positioned proximate to through-holes that pass entirely through the substrate. The partial holes add mechanical strength to the perforated substrate. Described are methods for modifying the optical appearance of the partial holes such that the partial holes appear indistinguishable from the through-holes, which allows for flexibility in designing cosmetically appealing patterns within the perforated structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ming Kun Shi, Jason O. Mettler, Hilbert T. Kwan, Christopher Bruni, Qi Tian, Jing Zhang, Howard E. Bujtor, Stephen V. Jayanathan, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Publication number: 20150127135
    Abstract: Methods of machining a housing of a portable computing device are provided. A cutting tool may be moved perpendicularly to a rotational axis during each rotation thereof to machine a substrate and define pockets and holes including substantially non-rounded corners. In this regard, the cutting tool may be translated perpendicularly to the rotational axis during each rotation of the cutting tool to define a non-rounded cutting profile, where desired. Translation movement perpendicular to the rotational axis may be provided by a controller actively controlling actuators of a computer numerical control (CNC) mill or other rotary machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Regis Louis Lancaster-Larocque, Hilbert T. Kwan
  • Publication number: 20150090570
    Abstract: An illuminated metal keycap having a legend diffuser material that may diffuse light through a legend opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the legend may be transparent. The metal keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the metal keycap, around the perimeter of the metal keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Hilbert T. Kwan, Jeffrey L. Yen, Craig C. Leong, James J. Niu, Keith J. Hendren, Yanyang Yuan, Feng Zhao, Wanshan Li, Derrick T. Jue, Ze Hong
  • Publication number: 20150090571
    Abstract: An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Derrick T. Jue, Hilbert T. Kwan, Keith J. Hendren
  • Publication number: 20140345798
    Abstract: Manufacturing techniques are provided herein. In one embodiment, a reusable insert is used within a pocket disposed within a thin walled enclosure to prevent deformation of the thin walled enclosure during a machining operation. The insert includes a body including a transparent material and having a size and shape in accordance with the pocket disposed within the thin walled enclosure, and at least one channel having a first opening at a first surface of the body and a second opening at a second surface of the body. Related apparatuses and methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Charles H. WERNER, JR., Derrick T. JUE, Hilbert T. KWAN
  • Publication number: 20140111929
    Abstract: The present application describes various embodiments regarding systems and methods for providing a lightweight and durable portable computing device having a thin profile. The portable computing device can take the form of a laptop computer. The portable computing device can include a case snap system configured to movably attach two portions of a base of the computing device together. The portable computing device can include a lid portion with a support structure having a shaped profile configured to support a display. The portable computing device can include locating features disposed within the base portion configured to locate internal components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. ANDRE, Brandon S. SMITH, Charles A. SCHWALBACH, Gavin J. REID, Houtan R. FARAHANI, Zheng GAO, Michael D. McBROOM, Hilbert T. KWAN, Joss N. GIDDINGS