Patents by Inventor John T. Payne

John T. Payne 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: 11597226
    Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on sub-surfaces of the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on a sub-surface of the outer housing surface yet still be visible from the outside of the housing. Since the markings are beneath the surface of the housing, the markings are durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, John T. Payne, Jody R. Akana
  • Publication number: 20180345708
    Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on sub-surfaces of the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on a sub-surface of the outer housing surface yet still be visible from the outside of the housing. Since the markings are beneath the surface of the housing, the markings are durable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, John T. Payne, Jody R. Akana
  • Patent number: 10071584
    Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on sub-surfaces of the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on a sub-surface of the outer housing surface yet still be visible from the outside of the housing. Since the markings are beneath the surface of the housing, the markings are durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, John T. Payne, Jody R. Akana
  • Patent number: 9969199
    Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on sub-surfaces of the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on a sub-surface of the outer housing surface yet still be visible from the outside of the housing. Since the markings are beneath the surface of the housing, the markings are durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, John T. Payne, Jody R. Akana
  • Patent number: 9007307
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus to provide improved visibility to user input devices, such as keys, are disclosed. In low light conditions, keys can be difficult to distinguish. For example, often keys have legends on them to visually distinguish them from one another, but in low light conditions it can be difficult for users to visually distinguish the different keys. The legends can be textual and/or graphic. Hence, according to one embodiment, light from a nearby display device can be used to provide illumination to the user input devices (e.g., keys). More particularly, in one embodiment, some light from the nearby display device can be directed towards and reflected from the user input devices (e.g., keys) to enhance visibility of the keys or the legends thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Moller, John T. Payne, Liliya Lyandres, Michael Nashner, Kenichi Nakajima, Tsao Lun Chung
  • Patent number: 8946621
    Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. The light resistant material has a first side and a second side. Substantially invisible holes penetrate between the first surface and the second surface in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern. The second surface is exposed to a side curing light that is substantially parallel to the second surface at the invisible holes thereadjacent. A light-conducting curable filler is applied into the invisible holes from the first surface. Surfaces of the light-conducting curable filler are cured in the invisible holes at the second surface with the side curing light. The remaining curable filler in the invisible holes is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Payne
  • Publication number: 20140009873
    Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on sub-surfaces of the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on a sub-surface of the outer housing surface yet still be visible from the outside of the housing. Since the markings are beneath the surface of the housing, the markings are durable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, John T. Payne, Jody R. Akana
  • Patent number: 8485702
    Abstract: A multi-workstation for use in a work area of a garage having a vertically oriented pole with an upper end and a lower end and a light fixture mounted between the upper end and the lower end of the vertically oriented pole. The light fixture is capable of sliding up and down along the pole, rotating about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the pole, moving horizontally toward and away from the pole, and rotating about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the pole. Locking means is provided to lock the light fixture at a desired height and angle relative to the pole and mounting means is provided to hold the pole in a vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: John T. Payne
  • Patent number: 8354633
    Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. The light resistant material has a first side and a second side. Substantially invisible holes penetrate between the first surface and the second surface in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern. The second surface is exposed to a side curing light that is substantially parallel to the second surface at the invisible holes thereadjacent. A light-conducting curable filler is applied into the invisible holes from the first surface. Surfaces of the light-conducting curable filler are cured in the invisible holes at the second surface with the side curing light. The remaining curable filler in the invisible holes is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Payne
  • Publication number: 20120032888
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus to provide improved visibility to user input devices, such as keys, are disclosed. In low light conditions, keys can be difficult to distinguish. For example, often keys have legends on them to visually distinguish them from one another, but in low light conditions it can be difficult for users to visually distinguish the different keys. The legends can be textual and/or graphic. Hence, according to one embodiment, light from a nearby display device can be used to provide illumination to the user input devices (e.g., keys). More particularly, in one embodiment, some light from the nearby display device can be directed towards and reflected from the user input devices (e.g., keys) to enhance visibility of the keys or the legends thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald Moller, John T. Payne, Liliya Lyandres, Michael Nashner, Kenichi Nakajima, Tsao Lun Chung
  • Publication number: 20110292665
    Abstract: A multi-workstation for use in a work area of a garage having a vertically oriented pole with an upper end and a lower end and a light fixture mounted between the upper end and the lower end of the vertically oriented pole. The light fixture is capable of sliding up and down along the pole, rotating about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the pole, moving horizontally toward and away from the pole, and rotating about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the pole. Locking means is provided to lock the light fixture at a desired height and angle relative to the pole and mounting means is provided to hold the pole in a vertical position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: John T. Payne
  • Publication number: 20110250388
    Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. The light resistant material has a first side and a second side. Substantially invisible holes penetrate between the first surface and the second surface in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern. The second surface is exposed to a side curing light that is substantially parallel to the second surface at the invisible holes thereadjacent. A light-conducting curable filler is applied into the invisible holes from the first surface. Surfaces of the light-conducting curable filler are cured in the invisible holes at the second surface with the side curing light. The remaining curable filler in the invisible holes is cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: John T. Payne
  • Patent number: 7960684
    Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. The light resistant material has a first side and a second side. Substantially invisible holes penetrate between the first surface and the second surface in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern. The second surface is exposed to a side curing light that is substantially parallel to the second surface at the invisible holes thereadjacent. A light-conducting curable filler is applied into the invisible holes from the first surface. Surfaces of the light-conducting curable filler are cured in the invisible holes at the second surface with the side curing light. The remaining curable filler in the invisible holes is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Payne
  • Publication number: 20090040790
    Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. The light resistant material has a first side and a second side. Substantially invisible holes penetrate between the first surface and the second surface in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern. The second surface is exposed to a side curing light that is substantially parallel to the second surface at the invisible holes thereadjacent. A light-conducting curable filler is applied into the invisible holes from the first surface. Surfaces of the light-conducting curable filler are cured in the invisible holes at the second surface with the side curing light. The remaining curable filler in the invisible holes is cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: John T. Payne