Patents by Inventor Lawrence Lam

Lawrence Lam 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: 10082837
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a computing device includes a lid, and a base coupled to the lid by a hinge, the hinge including a bi-stable hinge part including a toggle pivot and a toggle link bar, and a barrel hinge part including a hollow shaft, at least one friction element surrounding a first portion of the hollow shaft, and a casing surrounding a second portion of the hollow shaft, the casing being connected to the toggle link bar. The computing device includes a first mounting tab connected to the toggle link bar and connected to the base, and a second mounting tab connected to the at least one friction element and connected to the lid. The barrel hinge part enables the at least one friction element to rotate about the hollow shaft causing the lid to rotate relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence Lam, Prashant Patel
  • Patent number: 10028045
    Abstract: A computing device may include a multi-functional port in a base housing of the device. The multi-functional port may include an audio input device that can receive and process external audio input signals through an opening in the base housing. The multi-functional port may include a light source that can output light through the opening in the base housing. The multi-functional port may include a microphone boot. The microphone boot may guide external audio input signals into to the audio input device for processing. The microphone boot may also guide light, emitted by the light source, out of the base housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Vivek Saini, Michael Asfaw, Leng Ooi, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: 10024092
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a method of coupling a base to a lid of a computing device using a hinge can include coupling a base hinge flange to the base, the base hinge flange being connected to a base hinge part that includes a knuckle including a toggle pivot, the toggle pivot coupled to and surrounding a first portion of a first shaft, and coupling a lid hinge flange to the lid, the lid hinge flange being connected to a main hinge part that includes a first cam, the lid hinge flange including a first lid main band and a second lid main band surrounding a first portion of a second shaft, the second shaft being parallel to the first shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: James Tanner, Lawrence James Kerila, Prashant Patel, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: 9978543
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to keyboards for computing devices. For example, rather than using a dome, the keycap may include one or more magnets. In one example, a second magnet may be placed adjacent to a switch or magnetic sensor on a circuit board. The magnets may be arranged so that they repel one another in order to force the keycap away from the switch. Webbing between the keycaps may be used to keep the keycaps from falling off of the device. To keep the keycap from moving laterally, the keycap may include two or more flanges held in place by rails. Other arrangements of magnets or magnetic plates may also be used. If a magnetic sensor is used, it may be calibrated to adjust the sensitivity of the keys, for example, how far a user must press the keycap in order to have the pressing register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Loo, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: 9785197
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a computing device can include a base portion including an input region, a display portion, and a moving hinge coupled to the display portion. The moving hinge may be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation as the display portion rotates in a direction away from the input region. The computing device can also include a connecting rod coupled to the moving hinge and to the base portion. The moving hinge may be disposed at a first position with respect to the base portion. The moving hinge may be configured to move to a second position such that the axis of rotation is moved in response to the display portion being rotated in the direction away from the input region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Lam, Gadi Amit
  • Patent number: 9535461
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a display that is operably coupled to the processor. The display includes four sides, where each of the four sides is substantially equal in length, a center of mass for the apparatus is located between a geometric center of the apparatus and an edge of one of the four sides and the edge of one of the four sides includes a grip area that is located on a same side as the center of mass for the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: William Hamburgen, Lawrence Lam, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera
  • Patent number: 9523226
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a computing device includes a lid, and a base coupled to the lid by a hinge, the hinge including a bi-stable hinge part including a toggle pivot and a toggle link bar, and a barrel hinge part including a hollow shaft, at least one friction element surrounding a first portion of the hollow shaft, and a casing surrounding a second portion of the hollow shaft, the casing being connected to the toggle link bar. The computing device includes a first mounting tab connected to the toggle link bar and connected to the base, and a second mounting tab connected to the at least one friction element and connected to the lid. The barrel hinge part enables the at least one friction element to rotate about the hollow shaft causing the lid to rotate relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Lam, Prashant Patel
  • Publication number: 20160349796
    Abstract: A method includes creating an opening in a first outer layer of a multilayer sheet of material, the sheet of material having three or more layers of material, including the first outer layer and a second outer layer. A selective etchant is introduced through the opening, where the etchant selectively etches an interior metal layer of the multilayer sheet of material compared with the first and second outer layers. The selective etchant is permitted to etch material of the interior metal layer under the first outer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: William HAMBURGEN, Lawrence LAM, James TANNER
  • Patent number: 9445517
    Abstract: A method includes creating an opening in a first outer layer of a multilayer sheet of material, the sheet of material having three or more layers of material, including the first outer layer and a second outer layer. A selective etchant is introduced through the opening, where the etchant selectively etches an interior metal layer of the multilayer sheet of material compared with the first and second outer layers. The selective etchant is permitted to etch material of the interior metal layer under the first outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: William Hamburgen, Lawrence Lam, James Tanner
  • Patent number: 9411365
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a method of coupling a base to a lid of a computing device using a hinge can include coupling a base hinge flange to the base, the base hinge flange being connected to a base hinge part that includes a knuckle including a toggle pivot, the toggle pivot coupled to and surrounding a first portion of a first shaft, and coupling a lid hinge flange to the lid, the lid hinge flange being connected to a main hinge part that includes a first cam, the lid hinge flange including a first lid main band and a second lid main band surrounding a first portion of a second shaft, the second shaft being parallel to the first shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James Tanner, Lawrence James Kerila, Prashant Patel, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: 9336314
    Abstract: Methods for dynamically ordering facets for search result presentation are provided. Facets specific to a query are determined and facet orderings are dynamically generated. A number of search result arrangements are generated based upon the facet orderings and, as users input the query, various search results arrangements are presented and user engagement with respect thereto is monitored. To determine which of the arrangements to present to a given user, a number of factors are taken into account, e.g., previous user engagement for each arrangement across a segment or population of users, and whether the user has previously been shown any of the arrangements and, if so, the nature of the user's engagement therewith. Each time an arrangement is presented to a user and the user's behavior with respect thereto is recorded, additional data becomes available for deciding what arrangement to show the next time a user inputs the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence Lam
  • Publication number: 20160104232
    Abstract: Described herein are technologies pertaining to presenting a map to a user that comprises graphical icons that are representative of retail stores. The user has provided a shopping list, wherein the shopping list includes a plurality of products that are desirably purchased by the user. Inventories of retail stores in a geographic region of interest to the user are searched, and a map is generated that includes graphical icons representative of the retail stores, data that indicates that product(s) in the shopping list are available at the retail stores, and price data that indicates prices of product(s) in the shopping list at the respective retail stores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Barbara Leigh Perks, Anastasia Paushkina, Nektarios Ioannides, Lawrence Lam, Sonam Saxena
  • Patent number: D752574
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Lam, Joseph Edward Clayton
  • Patent number: D761248
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: D763248
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: D768084
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Rodriguez, Joshua Boilard, Lawrence Lam, Jeffrey Hayashida
  • Patent number: D781844
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: D782468
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: D790532
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Bowers, Lawrence Lam, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Kenneth Ryan Loo, Ji Lee, Kevin Tom, Gad Amit, Jacqueline Belleau, Yoshikazu Hoshino, Amy Han
  • Patent number: D820826
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bowers, Lawrence Lam, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Kenneth Ryan Loo, Ji Lee, Kevin Tom, Gad Amit, Jacqueline Belleau, Yoshikazu Hoshino, Amy Han