Patents by Inventor Michael F. Spence

Michael F. Spence 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: 20140321033
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device with an enhanced battery pack construction is shown. The mobile electronic device (10) includes: a housing (12) including a front housing (14) and a rear housing (16) having a reservoir area (18); a user interface (20) connected to the front housing (14); and a battery pack (22) including a planar inwardly facing surface (24) and a nonplanar outwardly facing surface (26), the nonplanar outwardly facing surface (26) being substantially complementarily configured to be received in the reservoir area (18) of the rear housing (16). Advantageously, this construction helps to provide a uniquely shaped mobile electronic device with enhanced ergonomics, adapted to be comfortably held in a user's hand and can conform to a user's palm. Advantageously, this construction is adapted to accommodating expansion and contraction of the battery pack (22), when it comprises a Lithium Ion Polymer, in one embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
    Inventors: Jerald A. Hallmark, Steven R. Fischl, Jason N. Howard, David Kyungtag Lim, Hossein Maleki, Michael F. Spence, Timothy J. Sutherland, Jason P. Wojack
  • Patent number: 8226422
    Abstract: An improved plug connector (100) is disclosed. It includes: a generally U-shaped contact (102) including a first vertical leg (104), a second vertical leg (106) and a horizontal leg (108) connecting the first vertical leg (104)and the second vertical leg (106), the first vertical leg (104) being longer than the second vertical leg (106); and a retention block 110 connected to both sides (112) and (114) of the horizontal leg (108) configured to support the U-shaped contact (102).This design can stand up to the harsh environment that it will be exposed to and will provide improved resistance to failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Pongpinit Towashiraporn, Paul B. Crosbie, Gaurav Gupta, Maninder S. Sehmbey, Michael F. Spence
  • Publication number: 20120164876
    Abstract: An improved plug connector (100) is disclosed. It includes: a generally U-shaped contact (102) including a first vertical leg (104), a second vertical leg (106) and a horizontal leg (108) connecting the first vertical leg (104) and the second vertical leg (106), the first vertical leg (104) being longer than the second vertical leg (106); and a retention block 110 connected to both sides (112) and (114) of the horizontal leg (108) configured to support the U-shaped contact (102). This design can stand up to the harsh environment that it will be exposed to and will provide improved resistance to failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA-MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventors: Pongpinit Towashiraporn, Paul B. Crosbie, Gaurav Gupta, Maninder S. Sehmbey, Michael F. Spence
  • Patent number: 7028373
    Abstract: A hinged housing portion (110) coupled to a second housing portion (120), for example in a wireless communications device, including a compression spring (134) coupled to one of the housing portions, a cam (142) coupled to the body member, and a follower (336) coupled between the cam and the compression spring. The compression spring compresses along a compression axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The contoured surface or cam surface urges the follower against a first side of the second housing portion with the follower force 724. The follower force is parallel to the slope of the contoured surface slope at the point of contact between the follower and the contoured surface. The follower force results in rotation of the second housing portion in a first direction or second direction of rotation about the first axis depending on the angle of the contoured surface relative to the compression spring axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger W. Harmon, Michael F. Spence
  • Publication number: 20040226138
    Abstract: A hinged housing portion (110) coupled to a second housing portion (120), for example in a wireless communications device, including a compression spring (134) coupled to one of the housing portions, a cam (142) coupled to the body member, and a follower (336) coupled between the cam and the compression spring. The compression spring compresses along a compression axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The contoured surface or cam surface urges the follower against a first side of the second housing portion with the follower force 724. The follower force is parallel to the slope of the contoured surface slope at the point of contact between the follower and the contoured surface. The follower force results in rotation of the second housing portion in a first direction or second direction of rotation about the first axis depending on the angle of the contoured surface relative to the compression spring axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Roger W. Harmon, Michael F. Spence
  • Patent number: 5113436
    Abstract: A telephone receptacle for releasably affixing a portion of a telephone handset thereto. A retractable latch member latchingly engages with a corresponding, mated latching surface formed on the telephone handset when the latch member is positioned in the latch position. An actuation force applied to either the left-hand side portion, or the right-side portion of the telephone receptacle retracts the retractable latch member into a release position thereby permitting the telephone handset to be removed from the telephone receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Jarvela, Michael F. Spence
  • Patent number: D385874
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Claus C. Eckhardt, Michael F. Spence, Daniel T. Berg