Patents by Inventor James H. Hallar

James H. Hallar 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: 11829206
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second breakaway brackets that define an adjacent position of the first and second housing portions relative to each other and a spread position. The first and second breakaway brackets expand the spacing between the first and second housing portions in the event that the housing portions close over an object disposed between them. The breakaway brackets bias to the adjacent position with a biasing device and a retainer that maintains the adjacent position unless a predetermined force is applied through the hinge assembly at the breakaway brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 11797059
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of first and second chassis that slide to move the axles to varied distances. The first and second axles transfer rotation through one or more belts and first and second transfer pulleys rotationally coupled with members that adjust transfer pulley positions as the distance between the first and second axles change to maintain belt tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 11579695
    Abstract: A haptic keyboard of an information handling system may comprise a coversheet to identify a key location, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, and a controller operatively coupled to the contact foil. The controller may receive a haptic actuation indicator signal via a processor or via the contact foil, send a first haptic feedback control signal to a first piezoelectric element to cause the first piezoelectric element to generate haptic tactile movement feedback at the key location, and send a second haptic feedback control signal to the first or a second piezoelectric element to cause the second piezoelectric element to generate haptic sound feedback in response to the haptic actuation indicator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Priyank Gajiwala, Michiel Knoppert, James H. Hallar, Thomas M. Hinskens, Frank van Valkenhoef
  • Patent number: 11243610
    Abstract: A haptic keyboard based sound system of an information handling system comprising a coversheet to identify a plurality of key locations of a haptic keyboard and a first key having a piezoelectric element for haptic tactile feedback upon key actuation, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, and a haptic feedback and piezo sound controller operatively coupled to the contact foil to receive the mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal from an audio controller operably connected to the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller, and send a piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate a mid-frequency and high-frequency sound audio according to the received mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Priyank Gajiwala, Michiel Knoppert, James H. Hallar, Thomas M. Hinskens, Frank van Valkenhoef
  • Patent number: 11099611
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition and selectively engaging with a first or second gear assembly having a first or second gear ratio. A distance between the first and second axles varies based upon the selected gear assembly to adapt the information handling system to accept a keyboard between the first and second housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 11093008
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of a gear chassis, a drive carriage and an idler assembly. The first and second axles expand to increase the distance between the first and second housing portions in the event that the housing portions close over an object disposed between them. The idler assembly couples to the gear chassis and drive carriage to rotate with the second axle as it moves relative to the first axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210247817
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of first and second chassis that slide to move the axles to varied distances. The first and second axles transfer rotation through one or more belts and first and second transfer pulleys rotationally coupled with members that adjust transfer pulley positions as the distance between the first and second axles change to maintain belt tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210247816
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second breakaway brackets that define an adjacent position of the first and second housing portions relative to each other and a spread position. The first and second breakaway brackets expand the spacing between the first and second housing portions in the event that the housing portions close over an object disposed between them. The breakaway brackets bias to the adjacent position with a biasing device and a retainer that maintains the adjacent position unless a predetermined force is applied through the hinge assembly at the breakaway brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210240271
    Abstract: A haptic keyboard based sound system of an information handling system comprising a coversheet to identify a plurality of key locations of a haptic keyboard and a first key having a piezoelectric element for haptic tactile feedback upon key actuation, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, and a haptic feedback and piezo sound controller operatively coupled to the contact foil to receive the mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal from an audio controller operably connected to the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller, and send a piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate a mid-frequency and high-frequency sound audio according to the received mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Priyank Gajiwala, Michiel Knoppert, James H. Hallar, Thomas M. Hinskens, Frank van Valkenhoef
  • Publication number: 20210240267
    Abstract: A haptic keyboard of an information handling system may comprise a coversheet to identify a key location, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, and a controller operatively coupled to the contact foil. The controller may receive a haptic actuation indicator signal via a processor or via the contact foil, send a first haptic feedback control signal to a first piezoelectric element to cause the first piezoelectric element to generate haptic tactile movement feedback at the key location, and send a second haptic feedback control signal to the first or a second piezoelectric element to cause the second piezoelectric element to generate haptic sound feedback in response to the haptic actuation indicator signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Priyank Gajiwala, Michiel Knoppert, James H. Hallar, Thomas M. Hinskens, Frank van Valkenhoef
  • Patent number: 11016539
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of first and second chassis that slide to move the axles to varied distances. The first and second axles transfer rotation through one or more belts and first and second transfer pulleys rotationally coupled with members that adjust transfer pulley positions as the distance between the first and second axles change to maintain belt tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 11016540
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second breakaway brackets that define an adjacent position of the first and second housing portions relative to each other and a spread position. The first and second breakaway brackets expand the spacing between the first and second housing portions in the event that the housing portions close over an object disposed between them. The breakaway brackets bias to the adjacent position with a biasing device and a retainer that maintains the adjacent position unless a predetermined force is applied through the hinge assembly at the breakaway brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210096607
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of a gear chassis, a drive carriage and an idler assembly. The first and second axles expand to increase the distance between the first and second housing portions in the event that the housing portions close over an object disposed between them. The idler assembly couples to the gear chassis and drive carriage to rotate with the second axle as it moves relative to the first axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210096610
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second breakaway brackets that define an adjacent position of the first and second housing portions relative to each other and a spread position. The first and second breakaway brackets expand the spacing between the first and second housing portions in the event that the housing portions close over an object disposed between them. The breakaway brackets bias to the adjacent position with a biasing device and a retainer that maintains the adjacent position unless a predetermined force is applied through the hinge assembly at the breakaway brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210096608
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition and selectively engaging with a first or second gear assembly having a first or second gear ratio. A distance between the first and second axles varies based upon the selected gear assembly to adapt the information handling system to accept a keyboard between the first and second housings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210096609
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly having first and second axles held in a parallel fixed lateral disposition by interaction of first and second chassis that slide to move the axles to varied distances. The first and second axles transfer rotation through one or more belts and first and second transfer pulleys rotationally coupled with members that adjust transfer pulley positions as the distance between the first and second axles change to maintain belt tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 10936073
    Abstract: A haptic keyboard based sound system of an information handling system comprising a coversheet to identify a plurality of key locations of a haptic keyboard and a first key having a piezoelectric element for haptic tactile feedback upon key actuation, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, and a haptic feedback and piezo sound controller operatively coupled to the contact foil to receive the mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal from an audio controller operably connected to the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller, and send a piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate a mid-frequency and high-frequency sound audio according to the received mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Priyank Gajiwala, Michiel Knoppert, James H. Hallar, Thomas M. Hinskens, Frank van Valkenhoef
  • Patent number: 10725505
    Abstract: A portable information handling system housing rotationally couples first and second housing portions with a hinge assembly that provides a variable distance between the housing portions, such as with first and second axles move together and apart or with a main bracket having telescoping members on opposing sides that provide rotation about a minor axis. Increased distance between the housing portions may accommodate a keyboard disposed between the housing portions or provide extra space if an object is placed between the housing portions so that a display integrated in the housing is not damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, John Trevor Morrison, Andrew P. Tosh
  • Patent number: D934855
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, Mason Archer Bonar, Dong Chul Kang
  • Patent number: D1008277
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Hallar, Cherian S. Mathews, Paul J. Doczy