Patents by Inventor Robert Y. Cao
Robert Y. Cao 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: 12147605Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
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Publication number: 20240147644Abstract: A foldable display device may have housing portions coupled by a hinge. A flexible display may overlap the hinge. The hinge may have portions that rotate relative to each other about rotational axes that lie above the hinge to help reduce stress to the display. The hinge may have gear plates with interlocked teeth that synchronize rotational movement between left and right halves of the hinge. The hinge may also have asymmetric friction clips that impose different amounts of rotational friction to the hinge depending on the direction of rotation of the hinge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Scott J Krahn, Robert Y Cao, Lei Wang, Ke Ye, Zhouying Chen
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Patent number: 11960334Abstract: Cable assemblies for providing electrical communication between hinged sections of an electronic device are described. The cable assemblies can include a cover that covers one or more cables that run through a hinge region of the electronic device. The cable and cover can be drawn over a mandrel of the hinge region. The cover and the portions of the mandrel can be visible to a user at the hinge region of the electronic device. The cover can be sufficiently rigid to guide a path of the cable and protect the cable from bending beyond a prescribed angle during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cover can also be sufficiently rigid to prevent ceasing or folding of the cover and the cable during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2023Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Bartley K. Andre, Adam T. Garelli, Simon Regis Louis Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jacob S. Kononiuk, Robert J. Lockwood, Bryan W. Posner, Kevin M. Keeler, Bruce E. Berg, Yi-Chen Kuo, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani
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Publication number: 20230384830Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
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Publication number: 20230333658Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
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Publication number: 20230290897Abstract: A display may include a color filter layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may be formed in the display to accommodate a camera. The camera window may be formed by creating a notch in the thin-film transistor layer that extends inwardly from the edge of the thin-film transistor layer. The notch may be formed by scribing the thin-film transistor layer around the notch location and breaking away a portion of the thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may also be formed by grinding a hole in the display. The hole may penetrate partway into the thin-film transistor layer, may penetrate through the transistor layer but not into the color filter layer, or may pass through the thin-film transistor layer and partly into the color filter layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Eric L. Benson, Bryan W. Posner, Christopher L. Boitnott, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jun Qi, Robert Y. Cao, Victor H. Yin
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Patent number: 11747860Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
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Publication number: 20230251693Abstract: Cable assemblies for providing electrical communication between hinged sections of an electronic device are described. The cable assemblies can include a cover that covers one or more cables that run through a hinge region of the electronic device. The cable and cover can be drawn over a mandrel of the hinge region. The cover and the portions of the mandrel can be visible to a user at the hinge region of the electronic device. The cover can be sufficiently rigid to guide a path of the cable and protect the cable from bending beyond a prescribed angle during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cover can also be sufficiently rigid to prevent ceasing or folding of the cover and the cable during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Mikael M. SILVANTO, Bartley K. ANDRE, Adam T. GARELLI, Simon Regis Louis LANCASTER-LAROCQUE, Robert Y. CAO, Dinesh C. MATHEW, Jacob S. KONONIUK, Robert J. LOCKWOOD, Bryan W. POSNER, Kevin M. KEELER, Bruce E. BERG, Yi-Chen KUO, Kevin M. ROBINSON, Houtan R. FARAHANI
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Patent number: 11720176Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
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Patent number: 11715810Abstract: A display may include a color filter layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may be formed in the display to accommodate a camera. The camera window may be formed by creating a notch in the thin-film transistor layer that extends inwardly from the edge of the thin-film transistor layer. The notch may be formed by scribing the thin-film transistor layer around the notch location and breaking away a portion of the thin-film transistor layer. A camera window may also be formed by grinding a hole in the display. The hole may penetrate partway into the thin-film transistor layer, may penetrate through the transistor layer but not into the color filter layer, or may pass through the thin-film transistor layer and partly into the color filter layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Eric L. Benson, Bryan W. Posner, Christopher L. Boitnott, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jun Qi, Robert Y. Cao, Victor H. Yin
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Patent number: 11656660Abstract: Cable assemblies for providing electrical communication between hinged sections of an electronic device are described. The cable assemblies can include a cover that covers one or more cables that run through a hinge region of the electronic device. The cable and cover can be drawn over a mandrel of the hinge region. The cover and the portions of the mandrel can be visible to a user at the hinge region of the electronic device. The cover can be sufficiently rigid to guide a path of the cable and protect the cable from bending beyond a prescribed angle during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region. The cover can also be sufficiently rigid to prevent ceasing or folding of the cover and the cable during rotation of the electronic device at the hinge region.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Bartley K. Andre, Adam T. Garelli, Simon Regis Louis Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jacob S. Kononiuk, Robert J. Lockwood, Bryan W. Posner, Kevin M. Keeler, Bruce E. Berg, Yi-Chen Kuo, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani
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Publication number: 20230049811Abstract: A foldable display device may have housing portions coupled by a hinge. The hinge may have a series of interconnected links. The links may be formed from interdigitated fingers in a friction clutch. The fingers or other portions of the links may be provided with crescent-shaped slots that receive pins. During folding of the device, the pins may slide along the crescent-shaped slots, thereby ensuring that adjacent links rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis that lies outside of the hinge and within a flexible display panel. Links may also be formed from link members with curved mating bearing surfaces that slide relative to each other as adjacent links are rotated relative to each other. A housing rotation synchronization mechanism may be formed using a set of gears that extends between the first and second housing portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Scott J Krahn, Adam T Garelli, Bradley J Hamel, Dinesh C Mathew, Hoon Sik Kim, Keith J Hendren, Robert Y Cao, Terry C Lam, Kevin M Robinson, Houtan R Farahani, Tatsuya Sano
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Publication number: 20230018184Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Alex J. Lehmann, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Qiliang Xu, Paul X. Wang, Robert J. Lockwood
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Patent number: 11550369Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. Trivett, Matthew S. Theobald, Dinesh C. Mathew, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Francesco Ferretti, John Raff, Robert J. Lockwood, Genie Kim, Karan Bir, Keith J. Hendren, Gurshan Deol, Antonio Clarke, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, William A. Counts
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Patent number: 11487362Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Alex J. Lehmann, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Qiliang Xu, Paul X. Wang, Robert J. Lockwood
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Publication number: 20220326777Abstract: A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Ron A. Hopkinson, Asif Hussain, Dinesh C. Mathew, Mikael M. Silvanto, Chang Zhang, Zheng Gao, Robert Y. Cao, Keith J. Hendren, Bryan W. Posner, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Alex J. Lehmann
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Publication number: 20220308620Abstract: A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Robert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
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Patent number: 11419231Abstract: A cover for an electronic device includes a glass cover defining a substantially planar first surface, a substantially planar second surface opposite the first surface, an opening extending through the glass cover, and a raised wall surrounding the opening and defining a portion of an interior surface of the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Dinesh C. Mathew, A C Manjunath, Christopher D. Jones, Christopher D. Prest, Ari P. Miller, Karan Bir, Genie Kim
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Patent number: 11372151Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an electronic device having an illuminated body that defines a virtual or dynamic trackpad. The electronic device includes a translucent layer defining a keyboard region and a dynamic input region along an external surface. A keyboard may be. positioned within the keyboard region and including a key surface and a switch element (e.g., to detect a keypress). A light control layer positioned below the translucent layer and within the dynamic input region may have a group of illuminable features. The electronic device may also include a group of light-emitting elements positioned below the optical diffuser. One or more of the light control layer or the group of light-emitting elements may be configured to illuminate the dynamic input region to display a visible boundary of an active input area. At least one of a size or a position of the visible boundary may be dynamically variable.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Apple IncInventors: Qiliang Xu, Dinesh C. Mathew, Adam T. Garelli, Richard G. Huizar, Genie Kim, Robert J. Lockwood, Robert Y. Cao
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Patent number: D1053148Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Robert Y. Cao, James M. Cuseo, Daniele De Iuliis, Markus Diebel, Kevin Scott Fetterman, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Dinesh Mathew, Sabrina Paseman, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Joe Sung-Ho Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer