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: 20180262840
    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: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt, Christopher Wilk, Rex T. Ehman
  • Publication number: 20180048057
    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: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    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: 20180048058
    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: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    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: 20180017995
    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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    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: 9681210
    Abstract: A liquid-tolerant acoustic device assembly includes a housing with an acoustic aperture connected to a through hole in the housing. An acoustic device such as a microphone or speaker that includes a liquid resistant membrane is coupled to the through hole utilizing a gasket. A protrusion is positioned between the through hole and the gasket. The configuration of the assembly may be tuned such that liquid present in the through hole is allowed to exit and/or functioning of the acoustic device is not impaired by the presence of the liquid in the through hole. The assembly may be incorporated into an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt, Rex T. Ehman
  • Publication number: 20170089795
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Ryan C. PERKINS, Tyler S. BUSHNELL, David M. PELLETIER, William C. LUKENS, Steven P. CARDINALI, Rex T. EHMAN
  • Publication number: 20170089698
    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: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Rex T. EHMAN, William C. LUKENS, David M. PELLETIER, Henry H. YANG
  • Publication number: 20170041712
    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: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Nikolas T. Vitt, Christopher Wilk, Rex T. Ehman
  • Patent number: 9363589
    Abstract: An acoustic port of acoustic device is covered with a mesh and/or other structure that resists entry of liquid and/or other materials into the acoustic device. Apertures of a housing that are separated by an umbrella section are coupled to the acoustic port such that the umbrella section may cover the acoustic port. In this way, when liquid enters one or more of the apertures, the umbrella section may direct the liquid away from the mesh such that pressure from the liquid upon the mesh may be reduced. As such, potential damage to the mesh and/or internal acoustic device components may be mitigated. In some implementations, the apertures may be covered with an additional mesh. Such additional mesh may further reduce the pressure of entering liquid on the mesh covering the acoustic port of the acoustic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Brad G. Boozer, Nikolas T. Vitt, Rex T. Ehman
  • Publication number: 20160037243
    Abstract: An acoustic port of acoustic device is covered with a mesh and/or other structure that resists entry of liquid and/or other materials into the acoustic device. Apertures of a housing that are separated by an umbrella section are coupled to the acoustic port such that the umbrella section may cover the acoustic port. In this way, when liquid enters one or more of the apertures, the umbrella section may direct the liquid away from the mesh such that pressure from the liquid upon the mesh may be reduced. As such, potential damage to the mesh and/or internal acoustic device components may be mitigated. In some implementations, the apertures may be covered with an additional mesh. Such additional mesh may further reduce the pressure of entering liquid on the mesh covering the acoustic port of the acoustic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Jesse A. Lippert, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Brad G. Boozer, Nikolas T. Vitt, Rex T. Ehman