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).

  • Publication number: 20230056403
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Que Anh S. Nguyen, James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers, Weidi Zhu, Nisha S. Sheth
  • Publication number: 20230013056
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Publication number: 20230014610
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 11506623
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Melcher, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20220365256
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11498397
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Publication number: 20220342163
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
  • Publication number: 20220322557
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Andi M. Limarga, James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen, Bijumon Varkey
  • Publication number: 20220312614
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Khadijeh Bayat, Yoshitaka Matsui, Naomi Sugawara, Daisuke Nozu, Xianwei Zhao, Avery P. Yuen, Martin Melcher, James R. Wilson, Di Fan
  • Patent number: 11448801
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20220284715
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Malcolm J. Northcott, Jack E. Graves, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 11399442
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Khadijeh Bayat, Yoshitaka Matsui, Naomi Sugawara, Daisuke Nozu, Xianwei Zhao, Avery P. Yuen, Martin Melcher, James R. Wilson, Di Fan
  • Publication number: 20220232698
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Prest, Marta M. Giachino, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11369028
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Andi M. Limarga, James R. Wilson, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen, Bijumon Varkey
  • Patent number: 11348345
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Clarisse Mazuir, Malcolm J. Northcott, Jack E. Graves, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 11330708
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Prest, Marta M. Giachino, Matthew S. Rogers, Que Anh S. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11314005
    Abstract: An electronic device or other equipment may include an infrared-transparent one-way mirror. The infrared-transparent one-way mirror may be formed by a layer of material that is supported by a head-mounted support structure or other support structure. The support structure may support the layer of material so that the layer of material separates an exterior region from an interior region. Optical components in the interior region may be overlapped by the layer of material. The optical components may include visible light components such as a visible light camera and infrared components such as an infrared light-emitting device and an infrared light sensor. The optical components may operate through the layer of material while being hidden from view by the reflective appearance of the one way mirror from the exterior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, James W. Vandyke, Matthew S. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20220083382
    Abstract: Multiple electronic devices may be used together in a system. The electronic devices may use sensor measurements and other information to detect when an edge of a first electronic device is adjacent to an edge of a second electronic device. In response to detection of adjacency between the edges of the first and second devices, the devices may transition from an independent operating mode in which each device operates separately to a joint operating mode in which resources of the devices are shared. In the joint operating mode, images may extend across displays in the devices, speakers in the devices may be used to play different channels of an audio track, cameras and other sensors may be used in cooperation with each other, and other resources may be shared. Magnetic components may hold devices together in a variety of orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, David A. Pakula
  • Patent number: 11243403
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable optical layer. Displays and other optical components may be supported by a housing structure. The housing structure may form a handheld device housing, a head-mounted housing, or other housing for the electronic device. Control circuitry in the electronic device may adjust the electrically adjustable optical layer. The control circuitry may reduce light transmission for the electrically adjustable optical layer to hide the optical components, may increase light transmission to reveal the optical components while the optical components are being used to receive light or to output light, and may otherwise adjust the electrically adjustable optical layer to exhibit a desired set of optical characteristics depending on the mode of operation of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Wilson, James W. Vandyke, Matthew S. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11237315
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first and second glazing layers and first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers. The light-control panel also includes a thermal coating extending between the first switchable component and the first glazing layer and a filter extending between the first and second switchable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein