Patents by Inventor Michael E. Wittenberg

Michael E. Wittenberg 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: 12009162
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure and a keyboard positioned within the enclosure. The keyboard includes a substrate and a key mechanism. The key mechanism includes a keycap support mechanism, a keycap supported by the keycap support mechanism and movable relative to the substrate, a ferromagnetic component attached to the keycap support mechanism, and a selectively magnetizable magnet. The selectively magnetizable magnet system may include a magnetizable material and a coil configured to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the magnetizable material. The key mechanism may include a collapsible dome biasing the keycap toward the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Riley E. Brandt, Richard H. Koch, Zhipeng Zhang, John C. DiFonzo, Michael B. Wittenberg
  • Publication number: 20150370396
    Abstract: A force sensing device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, Martin P. Grunthaner, Peter W. Richards, Romain A. Teil, Charley T. Ogata, Michael E. Wittenberg