Patents by Inventor James R. Wilson
James R. Wilson 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).
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Patent number: 11667585Abstract: A ceramic composite article includes a substrate including a matrix of ceramic material defining a network of interstitial regions and a transparent material occupying at least some of the interstitial regions of the substrate. The transparent material can have a melting point lower than a melting point of the ceramic material. The matrix of ceramic material can be formed by a 3D printing process.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Apple, Inc.Inventors: James R. Wilson, Andi M. Limarga
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Patent number: 11639307Abstract: A glass sheet having asymmetric chemical strengthening is disclosed and described. The examples described herein are directed to a cover glass for an electronic device and other glass components that may be used as enclosure elements or may form an enclosure. Within the glass component, localized compressive stress regions may be formed on opposite sides of the glass component, which may help arrest or redirect propagating cracks or defects in the glass. The opposing compressive stress regions may also help maintain the overall flatness of the component while increasing strength and/or impact resistance of the component.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Christopher C. Bartlow, Aidan R. Doan
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Publication number: 20230102639Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing and a display mounted to the housing. The housing may have a rear wall, a front wall that forms a display cover layer, and sidewalls. A coating may be formed on a portion of the housing. The coating may include a diffractive layer having a textured surface that diffracts incoming light to form at least part of a spectral rainbow on an outer surface of the housing. The textured surface may have pits and bumps in any suitable shape and pattern. The coating may include a thin-film interference layer that increases an intensity of the spectral rainbow. The thin-film interference layer may be interposed between an ink layer and the diffractive layer. The diffractive layer may be a reflective diffractive layer that reflects ambient light or a transmissive diffractive layer that transmits light from a light source in the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventor: James R. Wilson
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Publication number: 20230081222Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have windows with one or more conductive layers. The conductive layers may form part of an infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer. The infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer may be formed as a coating on a transparent structural window layer such as an outer or inner glass layer in a laminated window or may be embedded in a polymer layer between the outer and inner layers. Segmented terminals and elongated terminals that may extend past two or more segmented terminals may be coupled to the edges of the conductive layers. Using these terminals, control circuitry can apply localized ohmic heating currents and can make resistance measurements on the conductive layers to detect cracks.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Martin Melcher, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
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Publication number: 20230056403Abstract: Components formed from colored glass-based materials are disclosed. A cover member formed from a colored glass-based material may be positioned over one or more device components such as a component of a wireless communication or charging system. The cover member may have optical properties, electrical properties, magnetic properties, and/or mechanical properties compatible with the requirements of the one or more device components. In some cases, different portions of the cover member may be configured to have different optical and/or electrical properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Que Anh S. Nguyen, James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers, Weidi Zhu, Nisha S. Sheth
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Publication number: 20230013056Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
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Publication number: 20230014610Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
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Patent number: 11506623Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have windows with one or more conductive layers. The conductive layers may form part of an infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer. The infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer may be formed as a coating on a transparent structural window layer such as an outer or inner glass layer in a laminated window or may be embedded in a polymer layer between the outer and inner layers. Segmented terminals and elongated terminals that may extend past two or more segmented terminals may be coupled to the edges of the conductive layers. Using these terminals, control circuitry can apply localized ohmic heating currents and can make resistance measurements on the conductive layers to detect cracks.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Martin Melcher, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
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Publication number: 20220365256Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing surrounding an interior in which electrical components are mounted. A display may be mounted to housing structures in the device. The housing may have a rear wall. The display cover layer and rear wall of the housing may be formed from transparent glass layers. Coatings may be formed on inwardly facing surfaces of the transparent glass layers. A coating on a transparent glass layer may be formed from a thin-film interference filter having a stack of dielectric layers. The coating may include an ink layer on the thin-film interference filter. The transparent glass layers may have one or more textured surfaces that allow light at high angles to enter the transparent layers and reflect off the coatings at high angles, thereby adjusting optical properties of the coatings.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers
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Patent number: 11498397Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
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Publication number: 20220342163Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, and an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the housing. An optical component can be disposed in the aperture and can include a first region of a first material having a first index of refraction, the first region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation emitter, a second region of the first material, the second region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation detector, and a bulk region surrounding a periphery of the first region and a periphery of the second region, the bulk region including a second material having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2021Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
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Publication number: 20220322557Abstract: Textured cover assemblies for electronic devices are disclosed. The textured cover assemblies may provide a combination of optical and tactile properties to the electronic devices. In some cases, a textured cover assembly may be provided over decorative coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Andi M. Limarga, James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen, Bijumon Varkey
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Publication number: 20220312614Abstract: An electronic device may have transparent housing structures such as walls formed of glass or sapphire. Housing structures such as transparent housing structures may have a colored coating. The colored coating may include an absorptive layer and a metal layer. The coating may exhibit a color that can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the thin absorptive layer. A colored layer such as a layer of colored polymer may be incorporated into the colored coating to further adjust the color of the coating. The colored coating may be formed on an inner or outer housing structure surface. The surface may have a texture to provide the coating with a matte appearance. When formed on an outer surface, a diamond-like carbon layer may protect the colored coating. When formed on an inner surface, a passivation layer may be used to prevent oxidation of the metal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Khadijeh Bayat, Yoshitaka Matsui, Naomi Sugawara, Daisuke Nozu, Xianwei Zhao, Avery P. Yuen, Martin Melcher, James R. Wilson, Di Fan
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Patent number: 11448801Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing surrounding an interior in which electrical components are mounted. A display may be mounted to housing structures in the device. The housing may have a rear wall. The display cover layer and rear wall of the housing may be formed from transparent glass layers. Coatings may be formed on inwardly facing surfaces of the transparent glass layers. A coating on a transparent glass layer may be formed from a thin-film interference filter having a stack of dielectric layers. The coating may include an ink layer on the thin-film interference filter. The transparent glass layers may have one or more textured surfaces that allow light at high angles to enter the transparent layers and reflect off the coatings at high angles, thereby adjusting optical properties of the coatings.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers
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Publication number: 20220284715Abstract: Various embodiments relate to sensing defects associated with a window. Furthermore, various embodiments relate to performing image processing to produce a corrected image of a scene based at least partly on data corresponding to the detected defects. In some examples, one or more lighting modules may be used to illuminate the window to facilitate detection of the defects by one or more sensor devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Malcolm J. Northcott, Jack E. Graves, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Martin Melcher
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Patent number: 11399442Abstract: An electronic device may have transparent housing structures such as walls formed of glass or sapphire. Housing structures such as transparent housing structures may have a colored coating. The colored coating may include an absorptive layer and a metal layer. The coating may exhibit a color that can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the thin absorptive layer. A colored layer such as a layer of colored polymer may be incorporated into the colored coating to further adjust the color of the coating. The colored coating may be formed on an inner or outer housing structure surface. The surface may have a texture to provide the coating with a matte appearance. When formed on an outer surface, a diamond-like carbon layer may protect the colored coating. When formed on an inner surface, a passivation layer may be used to prevent oxidation of the metal layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Khadijeh Bayat, Yoshitaka Matsui, Naomi Sugawara, Daisuke Nozu, Xianwei Zhao, Avery P. Yuen, Martin Melcher, James R. Wilson, Di Fan
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Publication number: 20220232698Abstract: An electronic device may include electrical components and other components mounted within an interior of a housing. The device may have a display on a front face of the device and may have a glass layer that forms part of the housing on a rear face of the device. The glass layer may be provided with regions having different appearances. The regions may be textured, may have coatings such as thin-film interference filter coatings formed from stacks of dielectric material having alternating indices of refraction, may have metal coating layers, and/or may have ink coating layers. Textured surfaces may be formed on thin glass layers and polymer films that are coupled to the glass layer. A glass layer may be formed from a pair of coupled glass layers. The coupled layers may have one or more recesses or other structures to visually distinguish different regions of the glass layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Prest, Marta M. Giachino, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen
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Patent number: 11369028Abstract: Textured cover assemblies for electronic devices are disclosed. The textured cover assemblies may provide a combination of optical and tactile properties to the electronic devices. In some cases, a textured cover assembly may be provided over decorative coating.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Andi M. Limarga, James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen, Bijumon Varkey
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Patent number: 11348345Abstract: Various embodiments relate to sensing defects associated with a window. Furthermore, various embodiments relate to performing image processing to produce a corrected image of a scene based at least partly on data corresponding to the detected defects. In some examples, one or more lighting modules may be used to illuminate the window to facilitate detection of the defects by one or more sensor devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Malcolm J. Northcott, Jack E. Graves, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Martin Melcher
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Patent number: 11330708Abstract: An electronic device may include electrical components and other components mounted within an interior of a housing. The device may have a display on a front face of the device and may have a glass layer that forms part of the housing on a rear face of the device. The glass layer may be provided with regions having different appearances. The regions may be textured, may have coatings such as thin-film interference filter coatings formed from stacks of dielectric material having alternating indices of refraction, may have metal coating layers, and/or may have ink coating layers. Textured surfaces may be formed on thin glass layers and polymer films that are coupled to the glass layer. A glass layer may be formed from a pair of coupled glass layers. The coupled layers may have one or more recesses or other structures to visually distinguish different regions of the glass layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Prest, Marta M. Giachino, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen