Patents by Inventor Paul X. Wang

Paul X. Wang 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: 20230297227
    Abstract: A user may provide finger press input to a surface such as a touch sensitive input surface. The input surface may be formed from a two-dimensional touch sensor overlapping a display of an electronic device. The electronic device and an associated device such as a finger-mounted device may form a system for gathering the finger press input from the user. A sensor may be used in monitoring when the finger-mounted device and a user's finger in the device approach the input surface of the electronic device. In response to detection of the finger near the input surface, actuators in the finger-mounted device may squeeze the finger inwardly to cause a finger pad on the finger to protrude outwardly towards the input surface, thereby softening impact between the finger and the input surface. The electronic device may also have an array of components to repel the finger-mounted device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventor: Paul X. Wang
  • Publication number: 20230288712
    Abstract: A device includes a device housing, a facial interface, a support structure, content display components, and an impact mitigation structure that is configured to mitigate an impact with an external structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Adam Y. Kollgaard, Jeremy C. Franklin, Scott M. Leinweber, Venkata Narayana Murthy Arelekatti, Paul X. Wang, John Cagle
  • Publication number: 20230259174
    Abstract: A device may include a display portion that includes a display housing and a display at least partially within the display housing. The device may also include a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and including a bottom case, a top case coupled to the bottom case and defining an array of raised key regions, and a sensing system below the top case and configured to detect an input applied to a raised key region of the array of raised key regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Alex J. Lehmann, Zheng Gao
  • Publication number: 20230251496
    Abstract: A head-mountable device can include modules that provide fit adjustment capabilities when assembled together. By providing head-mountable devices with modular features, certain modules can provide fit adjustment capabilities without requiring other modules to be custom designed or available in a wide variety of sizes and/or shapes. For example, a light seal module that provides engagement of a user's face and transmits light from a display element can be coupled to an HMD module. The coupling module that couples the light seal to the HMD module can be provided in a wide variety of sizes and/or shapes to allow a user to select an appropriate one for optimal alignment of an HMD module. Additionally or alternatively, a light seal module can be provided with manual and/or automated adjustment capabilities to achieve the desired fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. WANG, Yoonhoo JO, Trevor J. NESS, Samuel O. SCHNEIDER, Adam Y. KOLLGAARD, Scott M. LEINWEBER, Jeremy C. FRANKLIN, Heidi WILLIAMSON
  • Publication number: 20230205271
    Abstract: An electronic device may have input-output devices such as sensors, displays, wireless circuitry, and other electronic components mounted within a housing. The housing may have opposing front and rear walls. A display may be formed on a front side of the device and may be overlapped by a front housing wall such as a glass layer. Sensors and other components may be formed on a rear side of the device and may be overlapped by a rear housing wall. The rear housing wall may have a glass portion or other transparent structure through which projectors project images onto nearby surfaces and through which image sensors and other optical sensors receive light. The housing may be supported by a stand. An electrical component in the stand may interact with an electronic device on the stand. Wireless circuitry in an external item may wirelessly couple to wireless circuitry within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Joshua P. Song
  • Publication number: 20230188877
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display positioned in the aperture. The display and the housing can define an internal volume in which a speaker assembly is positioned. The speaker assembly can include a speaker module and a speaker enclosure in fluid communication, with the speaker enclosure at least partially defining a speaker volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Chanjuan Feng, Christopher Wilk, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Stuart M. Nevill, Daniel K. Boothe, Nicholas A. Rundle, Simon S. Lee, Xiang Zhang, Thomas H. Tsang, Rebecca J. Mikolajczyk
  • Patent number: 11630485
    Abstract: An electronic device may have input-output devices such as sensors, displays, wireless circuitry, and other electronic components mounted within a housing. The housing may have opposing front and rear walls. A display may be formed on a front side of the device and may be overlapped by a front housing wall such as a glass layer. Sensors and other components may be formed on a rear side of the device and may be overlapped by a rear housing wall. The rear housing wall may have a glass portion or other transparent structure through which projectors project images onto nearby surfaces and through which image sensors and other optical sensors receive light. The housing may be supported by a stand. An electrical component in the stand may interact with an electronic device on the stand. Wireless circuitry in an external item may wirelessly couple to wireless circuitry within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Joshua P. Song
  • Patent number: 11619976
    Abstract: A device may include a display portion that includes a display housing and a display at least partially within the display housing. The device may also include a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and including a bottom case, a top case coupled to the bottom case and defining an array of raised key regions, and a sensing system below the top case and configured to detect an input applied to a raised key region of the array of raised key regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Alex J. Lehmann, Zheng Gao
  • Publication number: 20230088181
    Abstract: Low-profile computer supports include features to reduce the thickness and improve the portability or storage capability of a computer system while it is disassembled, packaged, shipped, or moved. Some computer systems have a computing device and a dock device that can be stored and moved separately or that can store or support accessories associated with the computer system. Some computer systems have a movable stand configured to transition between a collapsed state and a deployed or standing state. Some stands include handles or grips for moving the computer systems while collapsed. Other computer systems include handles or grips to provide areas to more easily carry the computer systems. The handles or grips can have features such as a flexible material to hide or mask their appearance on the computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Abidur R. Chowdhury, Adam T. Garelli, Bart K. Andre, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: 11609603
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing. The housing may be characterized by a vertical axis and may have housing structures such as cylindrical housing structures with a cylindrical surface. A speaker may be mounted in the housing to provide sound through openings in the housing structures. A visual output device may be mounted in the housing to provide light through openings in the housing structures. The visual output device may include an electrophoretic display, a light-emitting diode display, or other display with an array of pixels that display images or may include other components for emitting light. During operation, voice commands may be received by a microphone in the device and action taken based on the commands and other information. The action taken may include playing sound with the speaker and providing visual output with the visual output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Jie Gu
  • Publication number: 20230078889
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to engaging in cross device interactions. The method includes at a first device with a first display, while a second device having a second display is placed over a first region of the first display, detecting, via input devices of the first device, a first input. In response to detecting the first input and in accordance with a determination that the first input occurred while focus was directed to the second device, the method includes causing a response to the first input to be displayed on the second display. In response to detecting the first input and in accordance with a determination that the first input occurred while focus was directed to the first device, the method includes displaying, on the first display, a response to the first input without causing a response to the first input to be displayed on the second display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Tianjia SUN, Chang ZHANG, Paul X. WANG, Aaron WANG
  • Patent number: 11606633
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display positioned in the aperture. The display and the housing can define an internal volume in which a speaker assembly is positioned. The speaker assembly can include a speaker module and a speaker enclosure in fluid communication, with the speaker enclosure at least partially defining a speaker volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Chanjuan Feng, Christopher Wilk, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Stuart M. Nevill, Daniel K. Boothe, Nicholas A. Rundle, Simon S. Lee, Xiang Zhang, Thomas H. Tsang, Rebecca J. Mikolajczyk
  • Patent number: 11599322
    Abstract: A system may include electronic devices that communicate wirelessly. When positioned so that a pair of devices overlap or are near to one another, the devices may operate in a linked mode. During linked operations, devices may communicate wirelessly while input gathering and content displaying operations are shared among the devices. One or both of a pair of devices may have sensors. An orientation sensor, motion sensor, optical sensor, and/or other sensors may be used in identifying conditions in which to enter the linked mode and to identify a region where displays in the pair of devices overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul V. Johnson, Aaron Wang, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jiaying Wu, Paul X. Wang
  • Publication number: 20230055725
    Abstract: A speaker includes a housing having walls that define a cavity and a diaphragm covering the cavity and configured to vibrate under application of a magnetic field. The vibration produces sound waves. The walls are configured to deform under bending stress. The speaker is configured produce the sound waves both in an undeformed state and in a deformed state. Another speaker includes a flexible layer, a sensor configured to detect a curvature of the flexible layer, and a transducer disposed on and configured to vibrate the flexible layer. The vibrations of the flexible layer generate sound waves and output generated by the transducer is based on the curvature of the flexible layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Chanjuan Feng
  • Publication number: 20230032396
    Abstract: A user may provide finger press input to a surface such as a touch sensitive input surface. The input surface may be formed from a two-dimensional touch sensor overlapping a display of an electronic device. The electronic device and an associated device such as a finger-mounted device may form a system for gathering the finger press input from the user. A sensor may be used in monitoring when the finger-mounted device and a user's finger in the device approach the input surface of the electronic device. In response to detection of the finger near the input surface, actuators in the finger-mounted device may squeeze the finger inwardly to cause a finger pad on the finger to protrude outwardly towards the input surface, thereby softening impact between the finger and the input surface. The electronic device may also have an array of components to repel the finger-mounted device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventor: Paul X. Wang
  • Publication number: 20230029049
    Abstract: A system may include electronic devices that communicate wirelessly. When positioned so that a pair of devices overlap or are adjacent to one another, the devices may operate in a linked mode. During linked operations, devices may communicate wirelessly while input gathering and content displaying operations are shared among the devices. One or both of a pair of devices may have sensors. A capacitive sensor or other sensor may be used to measure the relative position between two devices when the two devices overlap each other. Content displaying operations and other linked mode operations may be performed based on the measured relative position between the two devices and other information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Tianjia Sun, Chang Zhang, Dominic P. McCarthy, Eric Shyr, John B. Morrell, John P. Ternus
  • Publication number: 20230018184
    Abstract: A force input/haptic output interface for an electronic device can include a force input sensor and a haptic actuator. In one example, the force input sensor and the haptic actuator are accommodated on a frame positioned below an input surface. In many examples, the frame includes relieved portions that redirect and/or concentrate compression or tension in the haptic actuator into the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Alex J. Lehmann, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Qiliang Xu, Paul X. Wang, Robert J. Lockwood
  • Publication number: 20230015526
    Abstract: An input device for an electronic device includes an enclosure and a top member defining an input surface having multiple differentiated input regions. The input device further includes a first force sensing system associated with a first area of the top member and including a first group of the differentiated input regions, and a second force sensing system associated with a second area of the top member and including a second group of the differentiated input regions. The input device further includes a touch sensing system configured to determine which input region from the first group of the differentiated input regions corresponds to the first force input and to determine which input region from the second group of the differentiated input regions corresponds to the second force input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Alex J. Lehmann, Chang Zhang, Dayu Qu, Kenneth M. Silz, Paul X. Wang, Qiliang Xu, Zheng Gao, Scott J. McEuen, Reza Nasiri Mahalati
  • Publication number: 20230004231
    Abstract: A system may include one or more finger-mounted devices such as finger devices with U-shaped housings configured to be mounted on a user's fingers while gathering sensor input and supplying haptic output. The sensors may include strain gauge circuitry mounted on elongated arms of the housing. When the arms move due to finger forces, the strain gauge circuitry can measure the arm movement. The sensors may also include ultrasonic sensors. An ultrasonic sensor may have an ultrasonic signal emitter and a corresponding ultrasonic signal detector configured to detect the ultrasonic signals after passing through a user's finger. A two-dimensional ultrasonic sensor may capture ultrasonic images of a user's finger pad. Ultrasonic proximity sensors may be used to measure distances between finger devices and external surfaces. Optical sensors and other sensors may also be used in the finger devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Alex J. Lehmann, Tianjia Sun, Yoonhoo Jo, Hongcheng Sun
  • Publication number: 20220413626
    Abstract: A finger device may be worn on a user's finger and may serve as a controller for a head-mounted device or other electronic device. The finger device may have a housing having an upper housing portion that extends across a top of the finger and first and second side housing portions that extend down respective first and second sides of the finger. Sensors in the side housing portions may measure movements of the sides of the finger as the finger contacts an external surface. To ensure that the sensors are appropriately positioned relative to the sides of the finger, the housing may include one or more adjustable structures such as an elastomeric band, a drawstring, a ratchet mechanism, a scissor mechanism, and/or other adjustable structures for adjusting the position of the first and second side housing portions and associated sensors relative to the upper housing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Erin M. Bosch, Stephen E. Dey, Jeffrey A. Griffis, Alex J. Lehmann, Yuhao Pan, Paul X. Wang