Patents by Inventor Reuben J. WILLIAMS
Reuben J. WILLIAMS 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).
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Patent number: 11972083Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
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Publication number: 20230205383Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
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Patent number: 11625131Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
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Publication number: 20220291778Abstract: Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2021Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Clark E. Waterfall, Eng Eow Goh, Karan S. Jain
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Patent number: 11297732Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
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Publication number: 20210059071Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
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Patent number: 10653034Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
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Patent number: 10285303Abstract: An exemplary electronic device with integrated passive and active cooling includes a main logic board, a heat sink, and a cooling fan. A first surface of the heat sink faces the main logic board and contacts a heat-generating component of the main logic board. A second surface of the heat sink faces away from the main logic board and has a recess formed thereon. The heat sink further includes a plurality of fins that surround the recess. The cooling fan is at least partially enclosed within the recess by a fan shroud. The cooling fan is operable to draw air into the recess via channels defined by a first subset of the plurality of fins, and expel air from the recess via channels defined by a second subset of the plurality of fins.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep, Jonathan Matheson
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Publication number: 20190021184Abstract: An exemplary electronic device with integrated passive and active cooling includes a main logic board, a heat sink, and a cooling fan. A first surface of the heat sink faces the main logic board and contacts a heat-generating component of the main logic board. A second surface of the heat sink faces away from the main logic board and has a recess formed thereon. The heat sink further includes a plurality of fins that surround the recess. The cooling fan is at least partially enclosed within the recess by a fan shroud. The cooling fan is operable to draw air into the recess via channels defined by a first subset of the plurality of fins, and expel air from the recess via channels defined by a second subset of the plurality of fins.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Reuben J. WILLIAMS, Vinh H. DIEP, Jonathan MATHESON
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Publication number: 20180324977Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. PRATHER, Clark E. WATERFALL, Reuben J. WILLIAMS, Vinh H. DIEP
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Patent number: 10063001Abstract: Connector receptacles that are arranged to avoid inadvertent connections. One example may provide contacts for a first connector receptacle that may be located behind a movable gate. The first connector receptacle may be combined with a second connector receptacle that is user accessible to save space and simplify device assembly. Combining the first connector receptacle and a second connector receptacle may also remove the movable gate from a surface of an electronic device, thereby further preventing inadvertent connections.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, James M. Jeon, Jonathan A. Matheson, Mahmoud R. Amini, Daniele G. De Iuliis
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Patent number: 10034411Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric R. Prather, Clark E. Waterfall, Reuben J. Williams, Vinh H. Diep
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Publication number: 20180090869Abstract: Connector receptacles that are arranged to avoid inadvertent connections. One example may provide contacts for a first connector receptacle that may be located behind a movable gate. The first connector receptacle may be combined with a second connector receptacle that is user accessible to save space and simplify device assembly. Combining the first connector receptacle and a second connector receptacle may also remove the movable gate from a surface of an electronic device, thereby further preventing inadvertent connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Reuben J. Williams, James M. Jeon, Jonathan A. Matheson, Mahmoud R. Amini, Daniele G. Iuliis
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Publication number: 20170094835Abstract: An electronic device includes an outer housing having an upper enclosure and a foot coupled thereto, a heat generating component, and a fan assembly integrated into the foot and situated proximate a bottom surface of the heat generating component. The foot can include inlet and outlet vents. The fan assembly can include an inlet, outlet, impeller with blades, shroud and fin stack. The electronic device can also include a heat pipe, a heat transfer stage, a PCB, and a bottom shield. Airflow through the electronic device can be directed across the fin stack, heat pipe, heat transfer stage, and bottom shield. Airflow can occur over a substantially level path through the electronic device from the inlet to outlet vents.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Eric R. PRATHER, Clark E. WATERFALL, Reuben J. WILLIAMS, Vinh H. DIEP