Patents by Inventor Michael W. FIRKA
Michael W. FIRKA 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: 20230314891Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Patent number: 11740527Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Publication number: 20230239558Abstract: A portable electronic device may include an enclosure including a front cover defining a front exterior surface of the portable electronic device and a rear cover defining a rear exterior surface of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may further include a rear-facing camera and a rear-facing flash including a light emitting component defining a plurality of illuminable regions. The light emitting component may be configured to illuminate a first subset of the plurality of illuminable regions to illuminate a first field of view and illuminate a second subset of the plurality of illuminable regions, the second subset different from the first subset, to illuminate a second field of view different from the first field of view.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2022Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Matthew D. Hill, Michael W. Firka, Nicholas D. Rath, Douglas G. Fournier, Matthew P. Rao, Benjamin J. Pope, James A. Bertin, David A. Hurrell, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, Blake M. Coughenour, Angelo M. Alaimo, Jeremy D. Bataillou
-
Publication number: 20230224388Abstract: A mobile phone may include a display, wireless communication circuitry, a battery, and an enclosure enclosing the display, the wireless communication circuitry, and the battery. The enclosure may include a front cover formed from a transparent material and defining a front exterior surface of the mobile phone, a rear cover formed from a glass material and defining a rear exterior surface of the mobile phone, and a first housing component including a first wall section defining a first side exterior surface of the mobile phone, a second wall section defining a second side exterior surface opposite to the first side exterior surface, and a mid-chassis section extending between the first wall section and the second wall section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Eric W. Bates, Arun R. Varma, Benjamin J. Pope, Griffin L. Schmitt, Zonghao Liu, Michael W. Firka, Christopher J. Durning, Douglas G. Fournier, Yaocheng Zhang
-
Publication number: 20230224387Abstract: A mobile phone may include a display, an enclosure enclosing the display and including a front cover positioned over the display and defining a front exterior surface, and a housing component coupled to the front cover and defining a chassis section below the front cover. The chassis section may define a first side facing the front cover, a second side opposite the first side and defining a battery mounting region, a first recess formed along the second side in the battery mounting region, and a second recess formed along the second side in the battery mounting region. The mobile phone may further include a battery coupled to the chassis section in the battery mounting region, a first adhesive positioned in the first recess and adhering the battery to the chassis section, and a second adhesive positioned in the second recess and adhering the battery to the chassis section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Devon A. Monaco, Benjamin J. Pope, Douglas G. Fournier, Michael W. Firka, Yaocheng Zhang
-
Publication number: 20230221782Abstract: A mobile phone may include an enclosure defining an internal volume, the enclosure including a front cover formed from a transparent material and defining a front exterior surface, a rear cover formed from a glass material and defining a rear exterior surface, and a housing component defining a side exterior surface. The mobile phone may include a circuit board assembly within the internal volume. The circuit board assembly may include a circuit board, a circuit component coupled to an exterior surface of the circuit board, and a cowling coupled to the circuit board and covering the circuit component, the cowling having a thickness less than about 0.5 mm and including a base structure formed from an aluminum alloy having a thickness less than about 0.4 mm and a thermally conductive structure positioned over the base structure and configured to dissipate heat.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: David A. Hurrell, Gregory N. Stephens, Isabel Yang, John J. Baker, Sherry Lee, Matthew D. Hill, Obinna Onyemepu, Douglas G. Fournier, Benjamin J. Pope, Michael W. Firka, Griffin L. Schmitt, Arun R. Varma, Robert Hrabchak
-
Publication number: 20220404663Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Patent number: 11460746Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Patent number: 11099439Abstract: A disclosed display device assembly includes a panel substrate, multiple light transmitting pixels disposed over the panel substrate, a backlight unit disposed under the panel substrate, a flexible substrate attached to the panel substrate, and a display integrated circuit mounted to the flexible substrate and disposed under the backlight unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Benjamin S. Bustle, Rasamy Phouthavong, Benjamin J. Pope, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Michael W. Firka
-
Publication number: 20210096417Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Patent number: 10942412Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Publication number: 20200201103Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Patent number: 10690986Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Publication number: 20200081288Abstract: A disclosed display device assembly includes a panel substrate, multiple light transmitting pixels disposed over the panel substrate, a backlight unit disposed under the panel substrate, a flexible substrate attached to the panel substrate, and a display integrated circuit mounted to the flexible substrate and disposed under the backlight unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Benjamin S. BUSTLE, Rasamy Phouthavong, Benjamin J. Pope, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Michael W. Firka
-
Publication number: 20190079334Abstract: An electronic device has an electrically adjustable shutter. The shutter may be placed in a transparent state or a nontransparent state. The shutter may overlap a portion of a display, may overlap a liquid contact indictor or a structure with text in a device, or may overlap an optical component such as an optical proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, visible light-emitting diode or laser, infrared light-emitting diode or laser, visible light image sensor, or infrared light image sensor. Control circuitry in the electronic device may place the shutter in an opaque state to hide an overlapped component from view or may place the shutter in a transparent state to allow the overlapped component to transmit or receive light. The adjustable shutter may exhibit changes in its transmission spectrum in different modes of operation and may be used as a camera filter or neutral density filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Michael W. Firka, Ashley E. Fletcher, Benjamin J. Pope, Lee E. Hooton, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin Shane Bustle, Garam Young, Blake M. Coughenour
-
Patent number: 10028397Abstract: An electronic device having several modifications designed to prevent liquid ingress into an opening (or openings) of the electronic device is disclosed. For example, the electronic device includes a SIM tray having a sealing element designed to provide a seal at an opening that receives the SIM tray. The sealing element may include a first section and a second section extending from the first section, with the first section designed to bend with respect to (and in some cases collapse onto) the second section. The electronic device may further include an audio module fitted with a sealing element. The sealing element may include extensions extending away from a main body of the sealing element, with some extension designed to engage the audio module, and other extensions designed to engage an audio module interface. The sealing element provides a seal against liquid ingress into the audio module.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiao Ying Zhao, Timothy S. Lui, Tyler B. Cater, Rasamy Phouthavong, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin J. Pope, David A. Hurrell, Christopher R. Xydis, Edward S. Huo, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Michael W. Firka, Martin J. Auclair, Kurtis J. Mundell, Salome Bavetta, Paul Leutheuser, Hani Esmaeili, Kevin M. Froese, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Tang Yew Tan, Eric W. Bates, Yaocheng Zhang
-
Patent number: 9967375Abstract: An electronic device having liquid-resistant modifications that prevent liquid ingress into an opening (or openings) in an enclosure of the electronic device is disclosed. For example, the electronic device may include a coating formed from a liquid-resistant material that is applied internally to the enclosure. The electronic device may further include a frame that carries a protective transparent layer designed to cover a display assembly. In order to secure the frame with the enclosure, the electronic device may include an adhesive assembly disposed over an outer perimeter of the coating. The adhesive assembly may include several adhesive parts initially separate from one another. However, with the adhesive parts between the frame and the enclosure, the adhesive parts can be compressed by the frame and the enclosure, causing the adhesive parts to expand and engage each other. As a result, the coating and the adhesive parts provide a seal against liquid.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2017Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiao Ying Zhao, Timothy S. Lui, Tyler B. Cater, Rasamy Phouthavong, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin J. Pope, David A. Hurrell, Christopher R. Xydis, Edward S. Huo, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Michael W. Firka, Martin J. Auclair, Kurtis J. Mundell, Salome Bavetta, Paul Leutheuser, Hani Esmaeili, Kevin M. Froese, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Tang Yew Tan, Eric W. Bates, Yaocheng Zhang
-
Publication number: 20180110143Abstract: An electronic device having several modifications designed to prevent liquid ingress into an opening (or openings) of the electronic device is disclosed. For example, the electronic device includes a SIM tray having a sealing element designed to provide a seal at an opening that receives the SIM tray. The sealing element may include a first section and a second section extending from the first section, with the first section designed to bend with respect to (and in some cases collapse onto) the second section. The electronic device may further include an audio module fitted with a sealing element. The sealing element may include extensions extending away from a main body of the sealing element, with some extension designed to engage the audio module, and other extensions designed to engage an audio module interface. The sealing element provides a seal against liquid ingress into the audio module.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Xiao Ying ZHAO, Timothy S. LUI, Tyler B. CATER, Rasamy PHOUTHAVONG, Scott A. MYERS, Benjamin J. POPE, David A. HURRELL, Christopher R. XYDIS, Edward S. HUO, Richard Hung Minh DINH, Michael W. FIRKA, Martin J. AUCLAIR, Kurtis J. MUNDELL, Salome BAVETTA, Paul LEUTHEUSER, Hani ESMAEILI, Kevin M. FROESE, Ihtesham H. CHOWDHURY, Tang Yew TAN, Eric W. BATES, Yaocheng ZHANG
-
Publication number: 20180109659Abstract: An electronic device having liquid-resistant modifications that prevent liquid ingress into an opening (or openings) in an enclosure of the electronic device is disclosed. For example, the electronic device may include a coating formed from a liquid-resistant material that is applied internally to the enclosure. The electronic device may further include a frame that carries a protective transparent layer designed to cover a display assembly. In order to secure the frame with the enclosure, the electronic device may include an adhesive assembly disposed over an outer perimeter of the coating. The adhesive assembly may include several adhesive parts initially separate from one another. However, with the adhesive parts between the frame and the enclosure, the adhesive parts can be compressed by the frame and the enclosure, causing the adhesive parts to expand and engage each other. As a result, the coating and the adhesive parts provide a seal against liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Xiao Ying ZHAO, Timothy S. LUI, Tyler B. CATER, Rasamy PHOUTHAVONG, Scott A. MYERS, Benjamin J. POPE, David A. HURRELL, Christopher R. XYDIS, Edward S. HUO, Richard Hung Minh DINH, Michael W. FIRKA, Martin J. AUCLAIR, Kurtis J. MUNDELL, Salome BAVETTA, Paul LEUTHEUSER, Hani ESMAEILI, Kevin M. FROESE, Ihtesham H. CHOWDHURY, Tang Yew TAN, Eric W. BATES, Yaocheng ZHANG
-
Publication number: 20170068279Abstract: This application relates to a portable electronic device includes at least a device housing having walls that define a cavity, the walls having edges that define an opening that leads into the cavity. Component assembly features used to secure components received through the opening to each other and/or to the walls during an assembly operation, and a protective cover formed of transparent material and disposed within the opening and secured to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Daniel W. JARVIS, James B. SMITH, Kuldeep P. LONKAR, Timothy S. LUI, Robert F. MEYER, Michael W. FIRKA, Lee E. HOOTON, Thomas R. LUCE