Patents by Inventor Scott Douglas Bowers

Scott Douglas Bowers 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: 20230354569
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic device housing includes obtaining a monolithic body of RF transparent material and plating a surface of the monolithic body with a nanograin coating to increase the structural rigidity of the monolithic body. A portion of the nanograin coating is thereafter removed to create an RF window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Zhicong YAO, Han LI, Scott Douglas BOWERS, Massood NIKKHAH, Joseph Benjamin GAULT
  • Patent number: 11744058
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic device housing includes obtaining a monolithic body of RF transparent material and plating a surface of the monolithic body with a nanograin coating to increase the structural rigidity of the monolithic body. A portion of the nanograin coating is thereafter removed to create an RF window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Zhicong Yao, Han Li, Scott Douglas Bowers, Massood Nikkhah, Joseph Benjamin Gault
  • Patent number: 11486535
    Abstract: The present description relates to devices that include portions that are moveable relative to one another. One example device includes a leaf spring positioned to receive forces between a first portion and a second portion. The leaf spring can extend from a first end to a second end and can define a perimeter where the first end and the second end are contained within the perimeter and the first end and the second end are not secured to either the first portion or the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Crandall Schoof, Brian David Bitz, Joseph Benjamin Gault, Scott Douglas Bowers
  • Publication number: 20210404598
    Abstract: The present description relates to devices that include portions that are moveable relative to one another. One example device includes a leaf spring positioned to receive forces between a first portion and a second portion. The leaf spring can extend from a first end to a second end and can define a perimeter where the first end and the second end are contained within the perimeter and the first end and the second end are not secured to either the first portion or the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Crandall Schoof, Brian David Bitz, Joseph Benjamin Gault, Scott Douglas Bowers
  • Patent number: 11086366
    Abstract: The description relates to devices, such as user-serviceable dimensionally-constrained devices. One example can include a first portion and a corresponding second portion. The example can also include a gap reduction assembly positioned along edges of the first portion and the second portion that biases the first and second portions toward one another. The example can also include an alignment assembly that laterally aligns corners of the first portion and the second portion and a locking assembly that locks the aligned corners of the first portion and the second portion against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David John Huston, Eugene Lee, Scott Douglas Bowers, David Michael Lane, Brian David Bitz, Thomas Joseph Longo
  • Patent number: 11081898
    Abstract: A system for electrically de-bonding a battery from an electronic device includes an electro-adhesive layer within a coupling between the battery and the electronic device. When a current a of predetermined magnitude is directed through the electro-adhesive between a first electrode and a second electrode, the electro-adhesive initiates a chemical reaction that weakens a bond between the battery and the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Yoder, Scott Douglas Bowers, Craig D. Owen
  • Patent number: 11054904
    Abstract: A haptic feedback device includes a mechanical ground and a haptic surface. A plurality of connection points is connected to the mechanical ground and a plurality of connection points is connected to the haptic surface. An electroreactive wire extends around the plurality of connection point connected to the mechanical ground and the plurality of connection points connected to the haptic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Douglas Bowers, Nelson Lin
  • Patent number: 11054862
    Abstract: A computing device is described. The computing device includes a first portion with a protrusion and a second portion separably connected to the first portion. The second portion has a receptacle. An undocking assist mechanism is configured to separate the first portion from the second portion when the protrusion is at least partially inserted into the receptacle. An actuator is configured to actuate the undocking assist mechanism. Methods of use are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony E. Hillyerd, Scott Douglas Bowers, Justin Carl Lind, John Stephen Campbell, Joseph Benjamin Gault
  • Publication number: 20210161038
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic device housing includes obtaining a monolithic body of RF transparent material and plating a surface of the monolithic body with a nanograin coating to increase the structural rigidity of the monolithic body. A portion of the nanograin coating is thereafter removed to create an RF window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Zhicong YAO, Han LI, Scott Douglas BOWERS, Massood NIKKHAH, Joseph Benjamin GAULT
  • Publication number: 20210072799
    Abstract: The description relates to devices, such as user-serviceable dimensionally-constrained devices. One example can include a first portion and a corresponding second portion. The example can also include a gap reduction assembly positioned along edges of the first portion and the second portion that biases the first and second portions toward one another. The example can also include an alignment assembly that laterally aligns corners of the first portion and the second portion and a locking assembly that locks the aligned corners of the first portion and the second portion against one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David John Huston, Eugene Lee, Scott Douglas Bowers, David Michael Lane, Brian David Bitz, Thomas Joseph Longo
  • Patent number: 10942547
    Abstract: A lock for actively locking an electronic device includes an engagement member that is movable by an actuator. The actuator moves the engagement member to the locked position with a first amount of power from the power source and from the locked position to an unlocked position with a second amount of power from the power source. The engagement member will passively remain in the unlocked position or the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Gault, Scott Douglas Bowers, Anthony E. Hillyerd, Yazan Aldehayyat, Duane Martin Evans
  • Patent number: 10893724
    Abstract: Locking mechanisms and electronic devices having locking mechanisms are described herein. In one example, a locking mechanism includes a latch configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein a component of the electronic device is secured in the locked position and removable in the unlocked position. The locking mechanism further includes a memory wire in communication with the latch, wherein the memory wire is configured to contract in length to move the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position to release the component of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Steven Volk, David John Huston, Scott Douglas Bowers
  • Patent number: 10794093
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus for locking a computing device includes an actuator, a locking protrusion connected to a first portion of the computing device, a locking receptacle connected to a second portion of the computing device, a shape memory material (SMM) wire, and a force conditioner. The SMM wire has a first state and a second state and is movable between states by the actuator. The first state and the second state have first and second lengths, respectively. Moving from the first state to the second state applies a contraction force along a longitudinal direction of the SMM wire. The force conditioner is configured to apply a return force to the SMM wire that opposes the contraction face. The return force returns the SMM wire toward the first state while moving a maximum available force of the SMM wire to the second state of the SMM wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Gault, Scott Douglas Bowers
  • Patent number: 10721829
    Abstract: Typical electronic device feet are adhered to a bottom surface of an electronic device housing. However, adhered feet are not generally readily removable and replaceable without also removing and replacing the adhesive, which may be messy and time consuming. Implementations described and claimed herein provide an electronic device with a device housing including an aperture therein, a retaining ring oriented within a seat, the retainer ring and the seat concentric with the aperture, and a device foot oriented within and protruding outward from the aperture. The device foot has a concentric extraction surface and the retaining ring compresses against the concentric extraction surface and secures the device foot in place against the device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Douglas Bowers, Brooks Hallin
  • Publication number: 20200195025
    Abstract: A system for electrically de-bonding a battery from an electronic device includes an electro-adhesive layer within a coupling between the battery and the electronic device. When a current a of predetermined magnitude is directed through the electro-adhesive between a first electrode and a second electrode, the electro-adhesive initiates a chemical reaction that weakens a bond between the battery and the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory S. YODER, Scott Douglas BOWERS, Craig D. OWEN
  • Publication number: 20200150764
    Abstract: A haptic feedback device includes a mechanical ground and a haptic surface. A plurality of connection points is connected to the mechanical ground and a plurality of connection points is connected to the haptic surface. An electroreactive wire extends around the plurality of connection point connected to the mechanical ground and the plurality of connection points connected to the haptic surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Douglas BOWERS, Nelson LIN
  • Patent number: 10571974
    Abstract: A computing device is described. The computing device may include a first portion and a second portion separably connected to the first portion. A locking mechanism may be configured to lock the first portion to the second portion. The locking mechanism may include a locking receptacle connected to the first portion and a locking protrusion connected to the second portion. The locking receptacle may include a rotating lock and may have an aperture through which the locking protrusion is insertable. The computing device may include an actuator mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to unlock the first portion from the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Gault, Scott Douglas Bowers, John Stephen Campbell, Anthony E. Hillyerd, Yazan Aldehayyat, Karsten Aagaard, Eric Paul Witt
  • Patent number: 10445533
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking an electronic device includes an actuator, a return mechanism, and an arm. The actuator includes an actuator SMM wire that is configured to apply a contraction force. The return mechanism includes a return SMM wire that is configured to apply a return force opposite the contraction force. The arm is movable toward an unlocked position by the actuator and movable toward a locked position by the return force. The arm has at least one equilibrium position with less than 1 Newton of force on the arm from the actuator and less than 1 Newton of force on the arm from the return mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Gault, Scott Douglas Bowers
  • Patent number: 10331175
    Abstract: A computing device is described. The computing device may include a first portion and a second portion separably connected to the first portion. A locking mechanism may be configured to lock the first portion to the second portion. The locking mechanism may include a locking receptacle connected to the first portion and a locking protrusion connected to the second portion. The locking receptacle may include a rotating lock and may have an aperture through which the locking protrusion is insertable. The computing device may include an actuator mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to unlock the first portion from the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Gault, Scott Douglas Bowers, John Stephen Campbell, Anthony E. Hillyerd, Yazan Aldehayyat, Karsten Aagaard, Eric Paul Witt
  • Publication number: 20190125039
    Abstract: Locking mechanisms and electronic devices having locking mechanisms are described herein. In one example, a locking mechanism includes a latch configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein a component of the electronic device is secured in the locked position and removable in the unlocked position. The locking mechanism further includes a memory wire in communication with the latch, wherein the memory wire is configured to contract in length to move the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position to release the component of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Steven Volk, David John Huston, Scott Douglas Bowers