Patents by Inventor James E. Pedder

James E. Pedder 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: 10685940
    Abstract: Display panels and methods of manufacture are described for down converting a peak emission wavelength of a pump LED within a subpixel with a quantum dot layer. In some embodiments, pump LEDs with a peak emission wavelength below 500 nm, such as between 340 nm and 420 nm are used. QD layers in accordance with embodiments can be integrated into a variety of display panel structures including a wavelength conversion cover arrangement, QD patch arrangement, or QD layers patterned on the display substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Steckel, Jean-Jacques P. Drolet, Roland Van Gelder, Kelly C. McGroddy, Ion Bita, James Michael Perkins, Andreas Bibl, Sajjad A. Khan, James E. Pedder, Elmar Gehlen
  • Publication number: 20200159331
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an electrostatic conductive layer for providing haptic feedback at an input surface of the electronic device. The electrostatic conductive layer is included in a cover assembly positioned over a display. The cover assembly includes a cover sheet, a touch sensor, and the electrostatic conductive layer. The electrostatic conductive layer is driven by an electric field, which electric field is produced by the touch sensor. When the electrostatic conductive layer is activated, it may provide frictional or other tactile feedback at the input surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaonan Wen, James E. Pedder
  • Publication number: 20200096770
    Abstract: A lens module in a head-mounted device may include a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may become rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Six actuators that are evenly distributed around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element may be used to control the curvature of the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may initially be planar or non-planar. For example, the semi-rigid lens element may initially have a spherically convex surface and a spherically concave surface. A tunable spherical lens may be incorporated into the lens module to offset a parasitic spherical lens power from the semi-rigid lens element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: James E. Pedder, Igor Stamenov, Cheng Chen, Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov, Graham B. Myhre, Victoria C. Chan, Xiaonan Wen, Peng Lv, Yuan Li, Yu Horie, Siddharth S. Hazra
  • Publication number: 20200090574
    Abstract: Display panel redundancy schemes and methods of operation are described. In an embodiment, and display panel includes an array of drivers (e.g. microdrivers), each of which including multiple portions to independently receive control and pixel bits. In an embodiment, each driver portion is to control a group of redundant emission elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Kapil V. SAKARIYA, Tore NAUTA, Hopil BAE, Henry C. JEN, James E. PEDDER, Sunggu KANG, Shingo HATANAKA, Xiang LU, Mahdi Farrokh BAROUGHI, Hasan AKYOL, Saif CHOUDHARY, Ion BITA
  • Patent number: 10591368
    Abstract: A transparent force sensor for detecting an applied force on a surface of a device. The transparent force sensor includes a transparent force-sensitive film having an array of strain-relief features oriented along a first direction. The transparent force-sensitive film is formed from a transparent piezoelectric material that exhibits a substantially reduced net charge when strained along a primary direction. The force sensor also includes a display element disposed on one side of the transparent force-sensitive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 10585482
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed which includes a conductive layer for providing haptic feedback at an input surface of the electronic device. The conductive layer includes conductive particles within an organic compound, such as an epoxy. When the conductive layer is activated it may provide frictional or other tactile feedback at the input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaonan Wen, James E. Pedder
  • Publication number: 20200066815
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display may have an array of organic light-emitting diode pixels that each have OLED layers interposed between a cathode and an anode. Voltage may be applied to the anode of each pixel to control the magnitude of emitted light. The conductivity of the OLED layers may allow leakage current to pass between neighboring anodes in the display. To reduce leakage current and the accompanying cross-talk in a display, the pixel definition layer may disrupt continuity of the OLED layers. The pixel definition layer may have a steep sidewall, a sidewall with an undercut, or a sidewall surface with a plurality of curves to disrupt continuity of the OLED layers. A control gate that is coupled to a bias voltage and covered by gate dielectric may be used to form an organic thin-film transistor that shuts the leakage current channel between adjacent anodes on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Jaein Choi, Andrew Lin, Cheuk Chi Lo, Chun-Yao Huang, Gloria Wong, Hairong Tang, Hitoshi Yamamoto, James E. Pedder, KiBeom Kim, Kwang Ohk Cheon, Lei Yuan, Michael Slootsky, Rui Liu, Steven E. Molesa, Sunggu Kang, Wendi Chang, Chun-Ming Tang, Cheng Chen, Ivan Knez, Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov, Giovanni Carbone, Graham B. Myhre, Jungmin Lee
  • Patent number: 10546796
    Abstract: Micro LED and microdriver chip integration schemes are described. In an embodiment a microdriver chip includes a plurality of trenches formed in a bottom surface of the microdriver chip, with each trench surrounding a conductive stud extending below a bottom surface of the microdriver chip body. Integration schemes are additionally described for providing electrical connection to conductive terminal contacts and micro LEDs bonded to a display substrate and adjacent to a microdriver chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hua Hu, Jaein Choi, James E. Pedder, Ion Bita, Hairong Tang, Chin Wei Hsu, Sandeep Chalasani, Chih-Lei Chen, Sunggu Kang, Shinya Ono, Jung Yen Huang, Lun Tsai
  • Patent number: 10535296
    Abstract: Display panel redundancy schemes and methods of operation are described. In an embodiment, and display panel includes an array of drivers (e.g. microdrivers), each of which including multiple portions to independently receive control and pixel bits. In an embodiment, each driver portion is to control a group of redundant emission elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil V. Sakariya, Tore Nauta, Hopil Bae, Henry C. Jen, James E. Pedder, Sunggu Kang, Shingo Hatanaka, Xiang Lu, Mahdi Farrokh Baroughi, Hasan Akyol, Saif Choudhary, Ion Bita
  • Patent number: 10466829
    Abstract: An optical force sensor that may compensate for environmental effects, including, for example, variations in temperature of the device or the surroundings. In some examples, two force-sensitive layers are separated by a compliant layer. The relative electrical response of the two force-sensitive layers may be used to compute an estimate of the force of a touch that reduces the effect of variations in temperature. In some examples, piezoelectric films having anisotropic strain properties are used to reduce the effects of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Charley T. Ogata, John Stephen Smith, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Shin John Choi, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner
  • Patent number: 10423265
    Abstract: An optical force sensor, which may be used as input to an electronic device. The optical force sensor may be configured to compensate for variations in temperature using two or more force-sensitive components that are formed from materials having different temperature- and strain-dependent responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Charley T. Ogata, John Stephen Smith, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Shin John Choi, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher J. Butler, Martin P. Grunthaner
  • Publication number: 20190237444
    Abstract: Display panels and methods of manufacture are described for down converting a peak emission wavelength of a pump LED within a subpixel with a quantum dot layer. In some embodiments, pump LEDs with a peak emission wavelength below 500 nm, such as between 340 nm and 420 nm are used. QD layers in accordance with embodiments can be integrated into a variety of display panel structures including a wavelength conversion cover arrangement, QD patch arrangement, or QD layers patterned on the display substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Steckel, Jean-Jacques P. Drolet, Roland Van Gelder, Kelly C. McGroddy, Ion Bita, James Michael Perkins, Andreas Bibl, Sajjad A. Khan, James E. Pedder, Elmar Gehlen
  • Patent number: 10353506
    Abstract: Structures and methods are disclosed for an electronic device having an input surface that uses dual sensors to measure forces applied to the input surface. The forces can be estimated over a greater range of values than would be possible with either sensor alone. A second sensor can be used after a first sensor has reached a limit. A first sensor can be a strain sensor and a second sensor a pressure sensor. Both sensors may be resistance based, with signals from both sensors can be combined and measured by processing circuitry. Each sensor type may be part of planar arrays disposed beneath the input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith, Saahil Mehra, Xiaofan Niu
  • Patent number: 10297581
    Abstract: Display panels and methods of manufacture are described for down converting a peak emission wavelength of a pump LED within a subpixel with a quantum dot layer. In some embodiments, pump LEDs with a peak emission wavelength below 500 nm, such as between 340 nm and 420 nm are used. QD layers in accordance with embodiments can be integrated into a variety of display panel structures including a wavelength conversion cover arrangement, QD patch arrangement, or QD layers patterned on the display substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Steckel, Jean-Jacques P. Drolet, Roland van Gelder, Kelly C. McGroddy, Ion Bita, James Michael Perkins, Andreas Bibl, Sajjad A. Khan, James E. Pedder, Elmar Gehlen
  • Publication number: 20190115274
    Abstract: Micro LED and microdriver chip integration schemes are described. In an embodiment a microdriver chip includes a plurality of trenches formed in a bottom surface of the microdriver chip, with each trench surrounding a conductive stud extending below a bottom surface of the microdriver chip body. Integration schemes are additionally described for providing electrical connection to conductive terminal contacts and micro LEDs bonded to a display substrate and adjacent to a microdriver chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hua Hu, Jaein Choi, James E. Pedder, Ion Bita, Hairong Tang, Chin Wei Hsu, Sandeep Chalasani, Chih-Lei Chen, Sunggu Kang, Shinya Ono, Jung Yen Huang, Lun Tsai
  • Publication number: 20190094969
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed which includes a conductive layer for providing haptic feedback at an input surface of the electronic device. The conductive layer includes conductive particles within an organic compound, such as an epoxy. When the conductive layer is activated it may provide frictional or other tactile feedback at the input surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Xiaonan Wen, James E. Pedder
  • Publication number: 20190094968
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed which includes a conductive layer for providing haptic feedback at an input surface of the electronic device. The conductive layer includes conductive particles within an organic compound, such as an epoxy. When the conductive layer is activated it may provide frictional or other tactile feedback at the input surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Xiaonan Wen, James E. Pedder
  • Patent number: 10209830
    Abstract: A force sensor is disclosed. The force sensor includes a force-sensitive structure that compensates for temperature and other environmental changes through the use of a strain-sensitive element and one or more reference elements. An array of such force-sensitive structures forms a force-sensing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith, Michael Vosgueritchian, Vikram Garg, Sinan Filiz, Miguel C. Christophy
  • Publication number: 20180364850
    Abstract: Structures and methods are disclosed for an electronic device having an input surface that uses dual sensors to measure forces applied to the input surface. The forces can be estimated over a greater range of values than would be possible with either sensor alone. A second sensor can be used after a first sensor has reached a limit. A first sensor can be a strain sensor and a second sensor a pressure sensor. Both sensors may be resistance based, with signals from both sensors can be combined and measured by processing circuitry. Each sensor type may be part of planar arrays disposed beneath the input surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, John Stephen Smith, Saahil Mehra, Xiaofan Niu
  • Patent number: 10139294
    Abstract: One or more strain sensors can be included in an electronic device. Each strain sensor includes a strain sensitive element and one or more strain signal lines connected directly to the strain sensitive element. The strain sensor(s) are used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region or surface of the electronic device. A strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first gauge factor and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second gauge factor. Additionally or alternatively, a strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first conductance and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second conductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vosgueritchian, John Stephen Smith, Sinan Filiz, James E. Pedder, Tingjun Xu, Xiaonan Wen