Patents by Inventor Joshua G. Wurzel

Joshua G. Wurzel 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: 11223020
    Abstract: A display may have an array of organic light-emitting diodes that form an active area on a flexible substrate. Metal traces may extend between the active area and an inactive area of the flexible substrate. Display driver circuitry such as a display driver integrated circuit may be coupled to the inactive area. The metal traces may extend across a bend region in the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may be bent in the bend region. The flexible substrate may be made of a thin flexible material to reduce metal trace bending stress. A coating layer in the bend region may be provided with an enhanced elasticity to allow its thickness to be reduced. The flexible substrate may be bent on itself and secured within an electronic device without using a mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhen Zhang, Yi Tao, Paul S. Drzaic, Joshua G. Wurzel
  • Patent number: 11196011
    Abstract: A display may have an array of organic light-emitting diodes that form an active area on a flexible substrate. Metal traces may extend between the active area and an inactive area of the flexible substrate. Display driver circuitry such as a display driver integrated circuit may be coupled to the inactive area. The metal traces may extend across a bend region in the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may be bent in the bend region. The flexible substrate may be made of a thin flexible material to reduce metal trace bending stress. A coating layer in the bend region may be provided with an enhanced elasticity to allow its thickness to be reduced. The flexible substrate may be bent on itself and secured within an electronic device without using a mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhen Zhang, Yi Tao, Paul S. Drzaic, Joshua G. Wurzel
  • Patent number: 10524084
    Abstract: A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless, data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander D. Schlaupitz, Joshua G. Wurzel, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Publication number: 20190268714
    Abstract: A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless, data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Alexander D. Schlaupitz, Joshua G. Wurzel, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Patent number: 10285000
    Abstract: A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander D. Schlaupitz, Joshua G. Wurzel, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Publication number: 20180206064
    Abstract: A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander D. Schlaupitz, Joshua G. Wurzel, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Patent number: 9971454
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining the temperature of a light-generating component of a display assembly using a voltage of the light-generating component are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operating an electronic device, which may include an external surface and a light-emitting diode operative to emit light for illuminating the external surface, may include detecting the forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, calculating the temperature of the light-emitting diode using the detected forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, and altering the performance of the electronic device based on the calculated temperature of the light-emitting diode. Additional embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David A. Doyle, Joshua G. Wurzel, Tyler R. Kakuda
  • Publication number: 20180088728
    Abstract: This relates to a force-sensitive touch screen including a metallization layer for force sensing. In some examples, the force-sensing metallization layer can be deposited between a color filter layer and a thin film transistor (TFT) layer (including an array of TFTs) of the touch screen. In some examples, the metallization layer can be electrically coupled to a patterned conductive layer. Together, a force-sensing metallization trace of the metallization layer and a patterned conductor of the patterned conductive layer can act as a force sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the device can include a force-sensing metallization layer and a conductive layer (patterned or not) located beneath the TFT layer (i.e., rather than between a color filter layer and the TFT layer).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua G. WURZEL, Abbas JAMSHIDI-ROUDBARI, Ting-Kuo CHANG
  • Patent number: 9832603
    Abstract: A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander D. Schlaupitz, Joshua G. Wurzel, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Patent number: 9773853
    Abstract: A display may have an array of organic light-emitting diodes that form an active area on a flexible substrate. Metal traces may extend between the active area and an inactive area of the flexible substrate. Display driver circuitry such as a display driver integrated circuit may be attached to a flexible printed circuit that is attached to the flexible substrate in the inactive area. The metal traces may extend across a bend region in the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may be bent in the bend region. The flexible substrate may be locally thinned in the bend region. A neutral stress plane adjustment layer may cover the metal traces in the bend region. The neutral stress plane adjustment layer may include polymer layers such as an encapsulation layer, a pixel definition layer, a planarization layer, and a layer that covers a pixel definition layer and planarization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Tao, Zhen Zhang, MinKyu Kim, Jae Won Choi, Young Bae Park, Joshua G. Wurzel, Paul S. Drzaic, Shih Chang Chang
  • Publication number: 20170263873
    Abstract: A display may have an array of organic light-emitting diodes that form an active area on a flexible substrate. Metal traces may extend between the active area and an inactive area of the flexible substrate. Display driver circuitry such as a display driver integrated circuit may be coupled to the inactive area. The metal traces may extend across a bend region in the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may be bent in the bend region. The flexible substrate may be made of a thin flexible material to reduce metal trace bending stress. A coating layer in the bend region may be provided with an enhanced elasticity to allow its thickness to be reduced. The flexible substrate may be bent on itself and secured within an electronic device without using a mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Zhen Zhang, Yi Tao, Paul S. Drzaic, Joshua G. Wurzel
  • Patent number: 9658479
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with electrical components mounted in an electronic device housing. A display module may be attached to a display cover layer with a layer of adhesive to form a display module assembly. The display module assembly may include a display module assembly chassis. The display module assembly chassis may include a plastic display module assembly chassis molded over a metal display module assembly chassis. The display module assembly and a backlight unit may be assembled to form a display module that is installed within the electronic device housing or display module assembly layers and backlight unit structures may be assembled into the electronic device housing. The backlight unit may include a backlight unit chassis. A metal housing midplate may serve as part of the backlight unit chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua G. Wurzel, David A. Doyle, Shawn R. Gettemy, Wey-Jiun Lin
  • Patent number: 9614168
    Abstract: A display may have an array of organic light-emitting diodes that form an active area on a flexible substrate. Metal traces may extend between the active area and an inactive area of the flexible substrate. Display driver circuitry such as a display driver integrated circuit may be coupled to the inactive area. The metal traces may extend across a bend region in the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may be bent in the bend region. The flexible substrate may be made of a thin flexible material to reduce metal trace bending stress. A coating layer in the bend region may be provided with an enhanced elasticity to allow its thickness to be reduced. The flexible substrate may be bent on itself and secured within an electronic device without using a mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhen Zhang, Yi Tao, Paul S. Drzaic, Joshua G. Wurzel
  • Patent number: 9600113
    Abstract: Flexible circuits for routing signals of a device, such as a touch sensor panel of a touch sensitive device, are provided. The flexible circuit can include a first set of traces for routing a first set of lines and a second set of traces for routing a second set of lines. The first set of traces can couple together the ends of at least a portion of the first set of lines. Additionally, the first set of traces can be non-intersecting or non-overlapping with the second set of traces. The flexible circuit can have a T-shape configuration and can be incorporated within a touch sensitive device, display device, printed circuit board, or the like. The flexible circuit can be placed over another flexible circuit, and can extend onto the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Joshua G. Wurzel, Steven J. Martisauskas, Thayne M. Miller, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Publication number: 20170046009
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining the temperature of a light-generating component of a display assembly using a voltage of the light-generating component are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operating an electronic device, which may include an external surface and a light-emitting diode operative to emit light for illuminating the external surface, may include detecting the forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, calculating the temperature of the light-emitting diode using the detected forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, and altering the performance of the electronic device based on the calculated temperature of the light-emitting diode. Additional embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: David A. Doyle, Joshua G. Wurzel, Tyler R. Kakuda
  • Patent number: 9532450
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a substrate and a conductive layer. The conductive layer can be disposed over at least a portion of the substrate and a patterned conductive material can be disposed over at least a portion of the conductive layer. Alternatively, the patterned conductive layer can be disposed over at least a portion of a surface of the substrate and the conductive layer can be disposed over a portion of the surface of the substrate and in between the patterned conductive material. The conductive layer can be disposed over at least a portion of the patterned conductive material. The patterned conductive material can have a resistivity that is lower than a resistivity of the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ehsan Farkhondeh, Joshua G. Wurzel, Romain A. Teil, Steven J. Martisauskas
  • Patent number: 9501174
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining the temperature of a light-generating component of a display assembly using a voltage of the light-generating component are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operating an electronic device, which may include an external surface and a light-emitting diode operative to emit light for illuminating the external surface, may include detecting the forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, calculating the temperature of the light-emitting diode using the detected forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, and altering the performance of the electronic device based on the calculated temperature of the light-emitting diode. Additional embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David A. Doyle, Joshua G. Wurzel, Tyler R. Kakuda
  • Patent number: 9488862
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may include a liquid crystal display cell and an organic light-emitting diode backlight unit. The liquid crystal display cell may include a color filter layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. The organic light-emitting diode backlight unit may include organic emissive material formed on a substrate. The organic emissive material may generate backlight for liquid crystal display cell. Display pixels in the liquid crystal display cell may control the emission of the backlight from the display. The organic light-emitting diode backlight unit may be attached to the display using adhesive, laminated to a polarizer layer of the display cell, or may be integrated into the liquid crystal display cell. The backlight unit may include conductive vias or bent extended edge portions for coupling the backlight unit to control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Doyle, Paul S. Drzaic, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Joshua G. Wurzel
  • Publication number: 20160323703
    Abstract: A wireless data processing device is described which periodically exits an unpowered state and transmits location data. For example, one embodiment of a wireless data processing device comprises: power circuitry for maintaining the wireless data processing device in a powered or unpowered state, the power circuitry causing the wireless data processing device to enter into an unpowered state responsive to user input; a timer to periodically power up the wireless device or portion thereof in response to reaching a predetermined time; a location services module determining a current location of the wireless data processing device using one or more specified location determination techniques; a transmit thread transmitting the current location of the wireless device over one or more specified communication channels; and the power circuitry powering down the wireless data processing device a second time after the current location has been transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander D. Schlaupitz, Joshua G. Wurzel, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Publication number: 20160299629
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining the temperature of a light-generating component of a display assembly using a voltage of the light-generating component are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operating an electronic device, which may include an external surface and a light-emitting diode operative to emit light for illuminating the external surface, may include detecting the forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, calculating the temperature of the light-emitting diode using the detected forward voltage of the light-emitting diode, and altering the performance of the electronic device based on the calculated temperature of the light-emitting diode. Additional embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Doyle, Joshua G. Wurzel, Tyler R. Kakuda