Patents by Inventor Rex T. Ehman

Rex T. Ehman 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: 20230350349
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Shannon X. Yang, Willam C. Lukens, Mandeep Gill, Jeanny Wang, William S. Lee, Stephen P. Jackson, Rex T. Ehman, Colin M. Ely, Nikolas T. Vitt, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 11740591
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Shannon X. Yang, William C. Lukens, Mandeep Gill, Jeanny Wang, William S. Lee, Stephen P. Jackson, Rex T. Ehman, Colin M. Ely, Nikolas T. Vitt, Trevor J. Ness
  • Publication number: 20220269221
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Shannon X. Yang, William C. Lukens, Mandeep Gill, Jeanny Wang, William S. Lee, Stephen P. Jackson, Rex T. Ehman, Colin M. Ely, Nikolas T. Vitt, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 11334164
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure having a transparent cover defining a touch-sensitive surface, a display positioned within the enclosure and below the transparent cover, and a haptic device configured to produce a haptic output along the touch-sensitive surface. The haptic device may include a battery element electrically coupled to the display, a magnetic element, and a coil assembly fixed with respect to the enclosure and configured to induce an oscillatory movement of the battery element parallel to the display to produce the haptic output. In other examples, the coil assembly may be coupled to the battery element and the first and second magnetic elements may be fixed with respect to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody C. Fu, Erik G. de Jong, Christopher R. Pasma, Katharine R. Chemelewski, Rex T. Ehman, Brad W. Simeral
  • Patent number: 11334032
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Shannon X. Yang, William C. Lukens, Mandeep Gill, Jeanny Wang, William S. Lee, Stephen P. Jackson, Rex T. Ehman, Colin M. Ely, Nikolas T. Vitt, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 11196148
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may have a housing with metal portions such as metal sidewalls. The housing may form an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from a stack of capacitively coupled component layers such as a display layer, touch sensor layer, and near-field communications antenna layer at a front face of the device. An additional antenna may be formed from a peripheral resonating element that runs along a peripheral edge of the device and the antenna ground. A rear face antenna may be formed using a wireless power receiving coil as a radio-frequency antenna resonating element or may be formed from metal antenna traces on a plastic support for light-based components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rex T. Ehman, Jayesh Nath, Carlo Di Nallo, James G. Horiuchi, Erik G. de Jong, Jason C. Sauers, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Siwen Yong, Lijun Zhang, Yi Jiang, Zheyu Wang, Mario Martinis, Eduardo Da costa Bras Lima, Xu Han, Mattia Pascolini, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 11108139
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a rear housing wall, antenna resonating element, coil, sensor board, and antenna grounding ring structures. The coil may receive wireless charging signals through the grounding ring structures and the rear housing wall. The grounding ring structures may include concentric ring-shaped traces. The ring-shaped traces may be separated by at least one gap. The ring-shaped traces and the gaps may configure the grounding ring structures to short antenna currents at relatively high frequencies from the antenna resonating element to a ground trace on the sensor board while blocking currents at relatively low frequencies. This may allow the ground trace to form part of an antenna without substantially impairing wireless charging efficiency of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Jorge Da Costa Bras Lima, Andrea Ruaro, Dimitrios Papantonis, Jayesh Nath, Jiaxiao Niu, Mario Martinis, Mattia Pascolini, Michael R. Parker, Rex T. Ehman
  • Publication number: 20210075094
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a rear housing wall, antenna resonating element, coil, sensor board, and antenna grounding ring structures. The coil may receive wireless charging signals through the grounding ring structures and the rear housing wall. The grounding ring structures may include concentric ring-shaped traces. The ring-shaped traces may be separated by at least one gap. The ring-shaped traces and the gaps may configure the grounding ring structures to short antenna currents at relatively high frequencies from the antenna resonating element to a ground trace on the sensor board while blocking currents at relatively low frequencies. This may allow the ground trace to form part of an antenna without substantially impairing wireless charging efficiency of the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Eduardo Jorge Da Costa Bras Lima, Andrea Ruaro, Dimitrios Papantonis, Jayesh Nath, Jiaxiao Niu, Mario Martinis, Mattia Pascolini, Michael R. Parker, Rex T. Ehman
  • Publication number: 20210026450
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure having a transparent cover defining a touch-sensitive surface, a display positioned within the enclosure and below the transparent cover, and a haptic device configured to produce a haptic output along the touch-sensitive surface. The haptic device may include a battery element electrically coupled to the display, a magnetic element, and a coil assembly fixed with respect to the enclosure and configured to induce an oscillatory movement of the battery element parallel to the display to produce the haptic output. In other examples, the coil assembly may be coupled to the battery element and the first and second magnetic elements may be fixed with respect to the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Jody C. Fu, Erik G. de Jong, Christopher R. Pasma, Katharine R. Chemelewski, Rex T. Ehman, Brad w. Simeral
  • Patent number: 10868356
    Abstract: An electronic device may include an antenna element, coil, sensor board, and grounding ring structures. The coil may receive wireless charging signals through the grounding ring structures. The grounding ring structures may include concentric ring-shaped traces separated by at least one gap. The ring-shaped traces and gaps may configure the grounding ring structures to short antenna currents at relatively high frequencies from the antenna element to a ground trace on the sensor board while blocking currents at relatively low frequencies. The grounding ring structures may include conductive wings that increase capacitive coupling between the grounding ring structures and the antenna element. The grounding ring structures may be soldered to the antenna element. The antenna element and the grounding ring structures may be formed from traces patterned on the same substrate. The ground trace may form part of an antenna without substantially impairing wireless charging efficiency of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Jorge Da Costa Bras Lima, Andrea Ruaro, Dimitrios Papantonis, Jayesh Nath, Jiaxiao Niu, Mario Martinis, Mattia Pascolini, Michael R. Parker, Rex T. Ehman
  • Patent number: 10750287
    Abstract: An acoustic module, such as a microphone or speaker module, includes an acoustic membrane that vibrates to produce acoustic waves and an acoustic cavity through which acoustic waves produced by the membrane travel. A liquid removal mechanism removes liquid from the acoustic cavity. Such a liquid removal mechanism may include the acoustic membrane, heating elements, hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic surfaces, and so on. In some cases, the liquid removal mechanism may remove liquid from the acoustic cavity upon connection of the acoustic module and/or an associated electronic device to an external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt, Christopher Wilk, Rex T. Ehman
  • Publication number: 20200073338
    Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing at least partially defining an interior cavity divided into at least a first volume and a second volume, a pressure-sensing component positioned within the first volume, a speaker positioned within the first volume, a processor positioned within the second volume, a battery positioned within the second volume, and a barometric vent that allows air pressure equalization between the first volume and an external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Shannon X. Yang, William C. Lukens, Mandeep Gill, Jeanny Wang, William S. Lee, Stephen P. Jackson, Rex T. Ehman, Colin M. Ely, Nikolas T. Vitt, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 10466047
    Abstract: An electronic device having a pressure sensor configured to determine pressure is disclosed. The electronic device includes an enclosure defining an internal volume. The enclosure may include a sidewall with an external opening that provides a vent for the internal components. To reduce the response of the pressure sensor (that is, the time required to detect a pressure change), the pressure sensor may secure with an internal wall of the enclosure. Further, the internal wall includes an opening defining an air pocket significantly smaller than the internal volume. When the pressure sensor is mounted to receive air via the air pocket, the pressure sensor may respond faster to pressure changes, as compared to receiving air circulating throughout the internal volume. This is due in part to an amount of airflow passing through the air pocket causing a greater pressure change throughout the air pocket as compared to the internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rex T. Ehman, William C. Lukens, David M. Pelletier, Henry H. Yang
  • Patent number: 10425738
    Abstract: An acoustic module, such as a microphone or speaker module, includes an acoustic membrane that vibrates to produce acoustic waves and an acoustic cavity through which acoustic waves produced by the membrane travel. A liquid removal mechanism removes liquid from the acoustic cavity. Such a liquid removal mechanism may include the acoustic membrane, heating elements, hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic surfaces, and so on. In some cases, the liquid removal mechanism may remove liquid from the acoustic cavity upon connection of the acoustic module and/or an associated electronic device to an external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt, Christopher Wilk, Rex T. Ehman
  • Patent number: 10372166
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. The housing includes a first conductive component defining a first interface surface, a second conductive component defining a second interface surface facing the first interface surface, and a joint structure between the first and second interface surfaces. The joint structure includes a molded element forming a portion of an exterior surface of the housing, and a sealing member forming a watertight seal between the first and second conductive components. Methods of forming the electronic device housing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brian M. Gable, Carlo Di Nallo, Colin M. Ely, Craig A. Horton, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Henry B. Wettersten, Hoishun Li, Jason C. Sauers, Jayesh Nath, Mario Martinis, Mattia Pascolini, Michael P. Coleman, Rex T. Ehman, Zheyu Wang
  • Patent number: 10367252
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may have a housing with metal portions such as metal sidewalls. The housing may form an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from a stack of capacitively coupled component layers such as a display layer, touch sensor layer, and near-field communications antenna layer at a front face of the device. An additional antenna may be formed from a peripheral resonating element that runs along a peripheral edge of the device and the antenna ground. A rear face antenna may be formed using a wireless power receiving coil as a radio-frequency antenna resonating element or may be formed from metal antenna traces on a plastic support for light-based components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rex T. Ehman, Jayesh Nath, Carlo Di Nallo, James G. Horiuchi, Erik G. de Jong, Jason C. Sauers, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Siwen Yong, Lijun Zhang, Yi Jiang, Zheyu Wang, Mario Martinis, Eduardo Da Costa Bras Lima, Xu Han, Mattia Pascolini, Trevor J. Ness
  • Publication number: 20190123431
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may have a housing with metal portions such as metal sidewalls. The housing may form an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from a stack of capacitively coupled component layers such as a display layer, touch sensor layer, and near-field communications antenna layer at a front face of the device. An additional antenna may be formed from a peripheral resonating element that runs along a peripheral edge of the device and the antenna ground. A rear face antenna may be formed using a wireless power receiving coil as a radio-frequency antenna resonating element or may be formed from metal antenna traces on a plastic support for light-based components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Rex T. Ehman, Jayesh Nath, Carlo Di Nallo, James G. Horiuchi, Erik G. de Jong, Jason C. Sauers, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Siwen Yong, Lijun Zhang, Yi Jiang, Zheyu Wang, Mario Martinis, Eduardo Da costa Bras Lima, Xu Han, Mattia Pascolini, Trevor J. Ness
  • Publication number: 20190098415
    Abstract: An acoustic module, such as a microphone or speaker module, includes an acoustic membrane that vibrates to produce acoustic waves and an acoustic cavity through which acoustic waves produced by the membrane travel. A liquid removal mechanism removes liquid from the acoustic cavity. Such a liquid removal mechanism may include the acoustic membrane, heating elements, hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic surfaces, and so on. In some cases, the liquid removal mechanism may remove liquid from the acoustic cavity upon connection of the acoustic module and/or an associated electronic device to an external power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt, Christopher Wilk, Rex T. Ehman
  • Patent number: 10181640
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a wristwatch may have a housing with metal portions such as metal sidewalls. The housing may form an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from a stack of capacitively coupled component layers such as a display layer, touch sensor layer, and near-field communications antenna layer at a front face of the device. An additional antenna may be formed from a peripheral resonating element that runs along a peripheral edge of the device and the antenna ground. A rear face antenna may be formed using a wireless power receiving coil as a radio-frequency antenna resonating element or may be formed from metal antenna traces on a plastic support for light-based components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rex T. Ehman, Jayesh Nath, Carlo Di Nallo, James G. Horiuchi, Erik G. de Jong, Jason C. Sauers, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Siwen Yong, Lijun Zhang, Yi Jiang, Zheyu Wang, Mario Martinis, Eduardo Da Costa Bras Lima, Xu Han, Mattia Pascolini, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 10132706
    Abstract: An electronic device having a pressure detection system is disclosed. The electronic device may include one or more elements designed to detect pressure exerted on the electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a membrane and a detection mechanism, both of which bend in response to a pressure change at the membrane. The membrane may be electrically coupled with a circuit that detects the bending of the membrane and correlates the bending with a pressure change at the membrane. A can may be hermetically sealed with the membrane and surround the circuit to shield the circuit from liquid ingress. In some embodiments, a light transmitter and light receiver are used to detect the bending of the membrane. The light may reflect from the membrane at different angles, based upon a shape of the membrane, and contact the receiving element at different locations, corresponding to pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Tyler S. Bushnell, David M. Pelletier, William C. Lukens, Steven P. Cardinali, Rex T. Ehman