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: 20250102814
    Abstract: Optical devices including adjustment mechanisms for adjusting balance points thereof and methods of using the same are disclosed. In an example, a head-mountable electronic device includes a frame, a window coupled to the frame, a projector configured to guide light displayed at the window, and a securement arm extending from the frame. The securement arm includes a proximal portion connected to the frame, a distal portion connected to the proximal portion, and an expansion mechanism connecting the proximal portion to the distal portion, the expansion mechanism configured to extend the distal portion away from the proximal portion. The distal portion has a mass greater than a mass of the proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventor: Paul X. Wang
  • Publication number: 20250107054
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a head-mounted display device may include an outer conductive chassis and wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include an antenna. The antenna may have an antenna resonating element formed from a slot in the conductive chassis. The antenna may have antenna feed terminals coupled to the conductive chassis on opposing sides of the slot. The slot may form a thermal vent, a sensor window, a charging port, a card port, an acoustic port, or a button opening for the device, as examples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventor: Paul X Wang
  • Patent number: 12259560
    Abstract: A system may include an electronic device such as a head-mounted device and a handheld controller for controlling the electronic device. The handheld controller may have a housing with an elongated shaft extending between first and second tip portions. The handheld controller may have power receiving circuitry configured to receive power from a power source. The power source may be incorporated into an electronic device such as a wireless charging dock or stick, a battery case, or a head-mounted device. The power source may supply power through terminals that form ohmic contacts with mating terminals in the finger device or may transmit power wirelessly using capacitive coupling or inductive charging arrangements. Magnets may be used to hold and align the elongated shaft of the handheld controller on the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X Wang, Ian P Colahan, Christopher T Eubank, Christopher K Ewy, Patrick T Ryan, Emery A Sanford, Robert D Silfvast
  • Patent number: 12250361
    Abstract: A head-mountable device can operate in concert with one or more optical assemblies thereof to provide multiple users with shared experiences and content enjoyment. Such operations can be facilitated by a connection between the head-mountable device and one or both of its optical assemblies to allow different users to receive content. Such a connection can be made possible by a communication link that directly and/or physically connects the head-mountable device and one or both of its optical assemblies when the one or both of the optical assemblies is removed from the head-mountable device for operation by a separate user. The ability to provide multiple outputs on separate components allows separate users to participate in a shared experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Jeremy C. Franklin
  • Patent number: 12248152
    Abstract: Systems of the present disclosure can provide a head-mountable device with a head securement element that allows a user to adjust how the head securement element fits near the ears of the user. Examples of adjustment mechanisms described herein allow a user to control the size, shape, flexibility, and/or position of certain regions of the head securement element with respect to the ears of the user. Accordingly, the user can select a configuration that distributes forces evenly, maximizes comfort, and allows the user to enjoy the head-mountable device for longer durations of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X Wang, Scott M. Leinweber, John S. Camp
  • Publication number: 20250076936
    Abstract: An accessory device for a tablet computing device may include a base portion having one or more input devices (e.g., keyboards, trackpads, touchscreen displays, and the like) for providing inputs to the tablet computing device. The accessory device may include a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the base portion of the accessory device to a tablet computing device in multiple different installation modes. The coupling mechanism may include an auxiliary display for providing a graphical output along a surface of the coupling mechanism. Additionally or alternatively, the coupling mechanism may include a recess for receiving a stylus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Nicholas L. Qu
  • Publication number: 20250068216
    Abstract: A computing device can be reconfigurable to include one or more electrical devices in various configurations. The computing device can include a base forming an input surface configured to receive user input. The base can receive one or more input devices, such as, displays or keyboards. The base can include a hinge rotatably attached to the base and configured to removably retain an electronic device, such as, a display. The computing device can include a coupling mechanism having a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion. The first and second retaining portions can be configured to removably retain electrical devices to the coupling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Keith J. Hendren, Nicholas L. Qu, Dinesh C. Mathew, Adam T. Garelli
  • Patent number: 12229341
    Abstract: A system may include an electronic device and one or more finger devices. The electronic device may have a display and the user may provide finger input to the finger device to control the display. The finger input may include pinching, tapping, rotating, swiping, pressing, and/or other finger gestures that are detected using sensors in the finger device. The sensor data related to finger movement may be combined with user gaze information to control items on the display. The user may turn any surface or region of space into an input region by first defining boundaries of the input region using the finger device. Other finger gestures such as pinching and pulling, pinching and rotating, swiping, and tapping may be used to navigate a menu on a display, to scroll through a document, to manipulate computer-aided designs, and to provide other input to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Tim H. Cornelissen, Richard G. Huizar, Paul V. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12222514
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a head-mounted display (HMD) and a retention band connected to the HMD. The retention band can include a display assembly positioned within the retention band for displaying visual information on an exterior of the retention band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ivan S. Maric, Paul X. Wang
  • Publication number: 20250044833
    Abstract: A cartridge including a housing, a processor positioned within the housing to provide video output to a display unit of a head-mounted display (HMD), and an attachment interface configured to removably attach the cartridge to the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Jeremy C. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20250044880
    Abstract: A system may include an electronic device such as a head-mounted device and a handheld input device for controlling the electronic device. A lanyard may be removably attached to the handheld input device or a non-electronic object. The lanyard may include visual markers, such as infrared light-emitting diodes and/or fiducials, that can be detected by an external camera and used to track a location of the lanyard. For example, the lanyard may be fabric, and the visual markers may be incorporated into the fabric or attached to the fabric. The lanyard may also include motion sensors, visual-inertial odometry cameras, or other sensors to determine the location of the lanyard. The lanyard may be electrically coupled to the handheld input device, such as to transfer power and/or data. Alternatively, the lanyard may be coupled to a non-electronic object and may include a battery and/or a haptic output component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventor: Paul X Wang
  • Publication number: 20250030420
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an input device having adjustable input mechanisms. The input mechanisms of the input device may be dynamically adjusted based on one or more input characteristics associated with a user. Accordingly, the input device may be customized to fit a user's input preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, John C. DiFonzo, Dayu Qu, Zheng Gao, Chang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20250020936
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted housing containing rear-facing displays that display images for a user when the head-mounted housing is worn by the user. The head-mounted housing may be coupled to the user's head using an upper headband and a lower headband that are attached to a support member. The upper headband and/or the lower headband may rotate relative to the support member to adjust the position of the headband on the user's head. The adjustable headband may rotate about a friction hinge, in a recess of the support member, or about a rotating member of the support member. Additionally or alternatively, the adjustable headband may be coupled to an attachment on the support member that can slide along a portion of the support member. The adjustable headband may be further moved on the user's head by sliding the attachment on the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventor: Paul X Wang
  • Patent number: 12197246
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a glass housing member that includes an upper portion defining a display area, a lower portion defining an input area, and a transition portion joining the upper portion and the lower portion and defining a continuous, curved surface between the upper portion and the lower portion. The electronic device may include a display coupled to the glass housing member and configured to provide a visual output at the display area. The electronic device may include an input device coupled to the glass housing member and configured to detect inputs at the input area. The electronic device may include a support structure coupled to the glass housing member and configured to support the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Keith J Hendren, Paul X Wang, Adam T. Garelli, Brett W. Degner, Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Dinesh C. Mathew
  • Patent number: 12197258
    Abstract: A computing device can be reconfigurable to include one or more electrical devices in various configurations. The computing device can include a base forming an input surface configured to receive user input. The base can receive one or more input devices, such as, displays or keyboards. The base can include a hinge rotatably attached to the base and configured to removably retain an electronic device, such as, a display. The computing device can include a coupling mechanism having a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion. The first and second retaining portions can be configured to removably retain electrical devices to the coupling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Keith J. Hendren, Nicholas L. Qu, Dinesh C. Mathew, Adam T. Garelli
  • Publication number: 20250013057
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a housing containing displays that display images for a user when the head-mounted device is worn. The head-mounted device may include a nosepiece coupled to the housing and configured to rest on a nasal region of the user. The nosepiece may include an adjustable portion to change a curvature of the nosepiece and conform to the user's nose. The adjustable portion may be formed from a central portion of the nosepiece that can be loosened and tightened with respect to a peripheral portion of the nosepiece, a service loop that extends across the nosepiece, shape memory material that changes shape in response to heat, a deformable stiffener that runs across a nose bridge of the nosepiece, and/or a cavity that can be filled with material to change the curvature of the nosepiece. The nosepiece may be removably coupled to the housing, such as with magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Michael Y. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20250004545
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted support structure, a gaze tracker in the head-mounted support structure, and one or more displays in the head-mounted support structure. For example, two displays may display images to two eye boxes. The display may display a virtual keyboard and may display a text input in response to a gaze location that is determined by the gaze tracker. The gaze tracker may additionally determine a gaze swipe input, or a camera in the support structure may determine a hand swipe input, and the swipe input may be used with the gaze location to determine the text input. In particular, the swipe input may create a swipe input curve that is fit to the text input to determine the text input. A user's hand may be used as a secondary input to indicate the start or end of a text input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Ashwin Kumar Asoka Kumar Shenoi, Shuxin Yu, Benjamin R. Blachnitzky, Jie Gu, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20240414462
    Abstract: A speaker includes a flexible layer, a sensor configured to detect a curvature of the flexible layer, and a transducer configured to vibrate the flexible layer. The vibrations of the flexible layer generate sound waves and output generated by the transducer is based on a curvature of the flexible layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Chanjuan Feng
  • Publication number: 20240412669
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device can include optical assemblies for providing visual output to a user. The optical assemblies can include a central display as well as a light track that surrounds at least a portion of the central display. Primary information and images can be provided at the central display to be received at a center region of a user's vision. Supplemental content and/or information can be provided by operation of the light track, which can be operated with relatively simple controls. The supplemental content and/or information can be received at a peripheral region of the user's vision. Accordingly. the inner and outer images produced by the separate mechanisms of the optical assembly can provide a single continuous image for observation by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Ivan S. MARIC, Darshan R. KASAR, Junhan REN, Paul X. WANG, Forrest C. WANG
  • Publication number: 20240402760
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted housing containing rear-facing displays that display images for a user when the head-mounted housing is worn by the user. The head-mounted device housing may have housing structures such as elongated housing members with protruding posts. Multiple headbands may be removably coupled to the head-mounted device housing at the protruding posts. A first headband may have a strap with openings configured to receive the posts. Releasable latches may be provided to allow selective engagement and disengagement between the headband and the housing. A second headband may be coupled to the posts between the housing members and the first headband. Alternatively, the first headband may surround the post, and the second headband may be coupled to the post through the opening in the first headband. One or more hair guards and/or one or more keeper loops may be incorporated between the headbands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan M David, Yuhao Pan, Evan A Cernokus, Erin M Bosch, Benjamin A Stevenson, Paul J Biestek, Paul X Wang, Katherine E Christensen, Michael Wu, James T Smith, Jered Singleton, Venkata Narayana Murthy Arelekatti, Chad J Miller