Patents by Inventor Mahmoud R. Amini

Mahmoud R. Amini 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: 20240106158
    Abstract: Connector receptacles and connector receptacle interfaces that can detect a connection to a corresponding connector insert, can detect liquid in the connector receptacle, and can limit damage to the connector receptacle caused by the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric B. Wankoff, Peter J. Cameron, Mahmoud R. Amini, Daren L. Rimando, Sotirios Lyrintzis, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Adam H. Herzog, Mohammed Nasser Khamis Al Jashmi, George Tziviskos, Aaron N. Miletich, Collin Greene, Jason S. Sloey, Sydney Puckett
  • Publication number: 20240106137
    Abstract: Connector receptacles that can provide a robust and reliable connection to a board and have a small form factor. An example can provide connector receptacles that provide a robust and reliable connection to a board by providing contacts having highly planarized solder tails. The solder tails can be supported by extensions of housing portions to provide consistent placement and alignment, as well an amount of shock absorption. The solder tails can include chamfered surfaces to improve soldered connections to pads of a board. The chamfered surfaces can also enable a reduced pitch between solder tails thereby helping to provide a reduced form factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Jeon, Mahmoud R. Amini, Marc Soriano Baliarda, Tianrun Jiang
  • Publication number: 20240106161
    Abstract: Connector structures that can help to reduce corrosion of contacts in a connector receptacle and can reduce liquid ingress into an electronic device that houses the connector receptacle. An example can increase an effective width between adjacent contacts. This and other examples can force dendritic growth to occur in a location where it can be at least partially cleared by the insertion of a corresponding connector into the connector receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Eric B. Wankoff, Nikhil S. Pansare, Ibuki Kamei, Samira Chizari, Peter J. Cameron
  • Patent number: 11936151
    Abstract: Connector assemblies and contacts that can be moisture-resistant, light-weight, space efficient, and can be readily manufactured. The connector assembly can be formed of two or more materials that can be molded together to reduce the chance of leakage at seams between the two materials. One of the two materials can have an affinity for plating materials while the other material can have an aversion to plating materials. The first material can be plated and used as contacts, while the second can resist plating and can be used to separate regions of the first material into two or more contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric B. Wankoff, Mahmoud R. Amini, Peter J. Cameron
  • Publication number: 20240055788
    Abstract: Connectors that provide a large number of connections between a flexible circuit board and a printed circuit board, can easily and securely connect the flexible circuit board to the printed circuit board, are readily manufactured, and can be used in an assembly of an electronic device without excessive warpage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: George Tziviskos, Mohammed Nasser Khamis Al Jashmi, Mahmoud R. Amini, Aaron N. Miletich, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 11811174
    Abstract: Power connectors that are easy to connect, have a low profile, and can convey one or more data signals. One example can provide a power connector that is easy to connect by providing an axisymmetric connector receptacle and connector insert. Magnets can be used to help guide a connection between a connector insert and a connector receptacle. Canted springs can be used to provide a tactile response to the insertion of the connector insert into the connector receptacle and to help to secure the connector insert in place when mated with the connector insert. Keying or self-aligning features can be included on either or both the connector insert and the connector receptacle to help guide mating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, James E. Harper, James M. Jeon
  • Publication number: 20230283002
    Abstract: Power connector systems that can have an asymmetric insertion-to-extraction force ratio such that they are easy to mate and can reliably remain connected during use. The power connector systems can have a low-profile for use in thin electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Deep Karpe, James M. Jeon, Richard P. Howarth, Rui Zhou, Unhyi Yang
  • Patent number: 11677174
    Abstract: Connectors that support high-speed data transfers and have a high signal quality, good reliability, and are readily manufactured. One example can provide a connector receptacle that supports high-speed data transfers and has a high signal quality by employing connector contacts that include multiple structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Nikhil S. Pansare, William P. Cornelius, Seungyong Baek
  • Patent number: 11626692
    Abstract: Connector receptacles that can provide audible feedback to inform a user that a card has been properly inserted, and can include structures to protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage due to an improper card insertion. An example can provide a connector receptacle having a click module to provide audible feedback indicating that a card has been fully inserted. Another example can provide a connector receptacle having movable contacts that can remain out of an insertion path until the card is at least partially inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, George Tziviskos, Bartley K. Andre, Ayoub Yari Boroujeni, James E. Harper, Davood Mousanezhad Viyand, Rui Zhou, Daniel A. Bergvall, Nikhil S. Pansare
  • Publication number: 20230108190
    Abstract: Power adapters having a small-form factor, are capable of delivering a large amount of power, can charge multiple electronic devices, and can allocate power between the multiple electronic devices in an efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam H. Herzog, Cesar Lozano Villarreal, Johnathan D. Simeroth, Mahmoud R. Amini, Mathieu P. Roy, Michael J. Reis, Patrick M. DalCanto, Rui Zhou, Sharif S. Chang, Shayla Schoensee
  • Publication number: 20230103155
    Abstract: Connector receptacles that can provide audible feedback to inform a user that a card has been properly inserted, and can include structures to protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage due to an improper card insertion. An example can provide a connector receptacle having a click module to provide audible feedback indicating that a card has been fully inserted. Another example can provide a connector receptacle having movable contacts that can remain out of an insertion path until the card is at least partially inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, George Tziviskos, Bartley K. Andre, Ayoub Yari Boroujeni, James E. Harper, Davood Mousanezhad Viyand, Rui Zhou, Daniel A. Bergvall, Nikhil S. Pansare
  • Publication number: 20230087891
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus that can allow an electronic device housed in a protective accessory to communicate with another electronic device, and are readily manufactured. An example can provide a connector assembly that can include a number of top contacts electrically connected to a corresponding number of bottom contacts. The top contacts can be spaced at a first pitch while the bottom contacts can be spaced at a second pitch, the second pitch different than the first pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kinney, Mahmoud R. Amini
  • Publication number: 20230079265
    Abstract: Connector assemblies and contacts that can be moisture-resistant, light-weight, space efficient, and can be readily manufactured. The connector assembly can be formed of two or more materials that can be molded together to reduce the chance of leakage at seams between the two materials. One of the two materials can have an affinity for plating materials while the other material can have an aversion to plating materials. The first material can be plated and used as contacts, while the second can resist plating and can be used to separate regions of the first material into two or more contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric B. Wankoff, Mahmoud R. Amini, Peter J. Cameron
  • Publication number: 20230020954
    Abstract: Connectors that support high-speed data transfers and have a high signal quality, good reliability, and are readily manufactured. One example can provide a connector receptacle that supports high-speed data transfers and has a high signal quality by employing contacts that are directly attached to a flexible circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam H. Herzog, Mahmoud R. Amini, Mohammed Aljashmi, George Tziviskos, Nikhil S. Pansare, William P. Cornelius, Seungyong Baek
  • Patent number: 11450999
    Abstract: Connector inserts and connector receptacles that have a small form factor and where when a connector insert and connector receptacle are mated, the connector insert can rotate and articulate relative to an electronic device housing the connector receptacle. The connector receptacle can be connected to components in the electronic device through a flexible circuit board having an amount of slack or excess length to allow the connector receptacle and the connector insert to rotate relative to the connected components. A bearing supporting the connector receptacle can articulate about an axis to allow the connector receptacle and connector insert to articulate relative to the connected components. The bearing can further support a locking mechanism to lock the connector insert in place in the connector receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. SooHoo, Mahmoud R. Amini, Daniel R. Bloom, Sean T. McIntosh, Tian Shi Li, Jared M. Kole, Jason Joseph LeBlanc, Colin M. Ely, Peter J. Cameron, Michael A. Kinney, Eric S. Jol, Edward Siahaan, Robert D. Zupke, Rohan Gupta, Jordan J. Francis
  • Patent number: 11424573
    Abstract: Connectors that have a low profile, can form strong and reliable connections despite connection alignment errors, and can be readily manufactured. One example can provide a connector receptacle having a magnetic array arranged to provide a strong attachment that allows the use of a low profile connector receptacle and connector insert. The magnetic array can include magnets and magnetic elements, where the magnetic elements can be magnetically conductive pole-pieces. Each pole piece can have magnets at two of its sides. Another example can provide contacts for a connector insert that can have more than one contacting surface to connect to a contact of a connector receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Ayoub Yari Boroujeni, John C. DiFonzo, Bradley J. Hamel, George Tziviskos, Hao Zhu, Paul Hack, Jean-March Gery
  • Patent number: 11349249
    Abstract: Connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity to allow high-speed data transfers, can be reliably manufactured, can be durable and have good wear performance, and can be positioned in nonstandard locations in an electronic device. One example can provide connector receptacles that can provide a high signal quality or signal integrity by utilizing a comprehensive grounding scheme. These connector receptacles can be located in a hinge of an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhil S. Pansare, Mahmoud R. Amini, John J. Sekerak, II
  • Patent number: 11309649
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having a front wall and a floating connector assembly coupled to the front wall. The connector assembly includes a panel and a connector. The connector includes a frame attached to the panel and defines first and second alignment openings. A sleeve extends from the frame and extends through the front wall. A removable cover for the electronic device includes first and second connector alignment pins that align with the first and second alignment openings to align the connector sleeve with a connector aperture defined by the cover. The first and second connector alignment pins and the first and second alignment openings can each include tapered portions to move the connector assembly into alignment with the connector aperture as the cover is attached with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James E. Harper, Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou
  • Publication number: 20220102923
    Abstract: Power connectors that are easy to connect, have a low profile, and can convey one or more data signals. One example can provide a power connector that is easy to connect by providing an axisymmetric connector receptacle and connector insert. Magnets can be used to help guide a connection between a connector insert and a connector receptacle. Canted springs can be used to provide a tactile response to the insertion of the connector insert into the connector receptacle and to help to secure the connector insert in place when mated with the connector insert. Keying or self-aligning features can be included on either or both the connector insert and the connector receptacle to help guide mating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, James E. Harper, James M. Jeon
  • Publication number: 20220094105
    Abstract: Connectors that have a low profile, can form strong and reliable connections despite connection alignment errors, and can be readily manufactured. One example can provide a connector receptacle having a magnetic array arranged to provide a strong attachment that allows the use of a low profile connector receptacle and connector insert. The magnetic array can include magnets and magnetic elements, where the magnetic elements can be magnetically conductive pole-pieces. Each pole piece can have magnets at two of its sides. Another example can provide contacts for a connector insert that can have more than one contacting surface to connect to a contact of a connector receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Ayoub Yari Boroujeni