Patents by Inventor Sean S. Corbin

Sean S. Corbin 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).

  • Patent number: 11480998
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11128943
    Abstract: An earpiece is described that includes a driver housing that encloses an audio driver. The driver housing is oriented so that a first end of the driver housing can be supported by a concha bowl of a user's ear and a second end opposite the first end can tilt outside of the user's ear so that the ear need not accommodate an entirety of the driver housing. The driver housing is held in place by an ear clip that engages an exterior portion of the user's ear and attaches to the driver housing by way of a bridge element that can enclose other electronic components such as a battery, antenna, processor and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Eugene A. Whang, Robert A. Boyd, Duy P. Le, Yi-Fang D. Tsai, David J. Feathers, Shota Aoyagi, Sean S. Corbin
  • Publication number: 20200413179
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an ear hook having a body the bulk of which is made from a flexible material molded over a formable member and a plurality of wires. The ear hook includes a first end and a second end and a curved portion in between. The earphone further includes an earbud coupled to the first end of the ear hook and coupled to the plurality of wires. The plurality of wires extends within the ear hook along its length from the first end to the second end exiting the ear hook at the second end. The formable member extends within the ear hook from the first end along a portion of the ear hook length towards the second end and enables the ear hook to be bent along a portion of its length while retaining its bent shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, William R. Rochowicz, Carlos M. Santana, Sean S. Corbin, Matthew Costello, David H. Tan
  • Patent number: 10880632
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an ear hook having a body the bulk of which is made from a flexible material molded over a formable member and a plurality of wires. The ear hook includes a first end and a second end and a curved portion in between. The earphone further includes an earbud coupled to the first end of the ear hook and coupled to the plurality of wires. The plurality of wires extends within the ear hook along its length from the first end to the second end exiting the ear hook at the second end. The formable member extends within the ear hook from the first end along a portion of the ear hook length towards the second end and enables the ear hook to be bent along a portion of its length while retaining its bent shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Boyd, William R. Rochowicz, Carlos M. Santana, Sean S. Corbin, Matthew Costello, David H. Tan
  • Patent number: 10796863
    Abstract: An input device, such as a keyboard, includes one or more keys that each includes a keycap operable to move within an aperture of a frame to activate a switch and fabric disposed over the frame and keycap. A first region of the fabric is bonded to the keycap and a second region of the fabric is bonded to the frame. The first region may be an embossed region and the second region may be an unembossed region. The fabric may dampen sound from within the keyboard, such as noise related to movement of the keycap, activation of the switch, and so on. The fabric may also form a barrier that restricts passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or other portions of the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Stringer, Daniel J. Coster, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Benjamin A. Cousins, Melody Kuna, Sean S. Corbin, John M. Brock, Robert S. Murphy, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200314518
    Abstract: An earpiece is described that includes a driver housing that encloses an audio driver. The driver housing is oriented so that a first end of the driver housing can be supported by a concha bowl of a user's ear and a second end opposite the first end can tilt outside of the user's ear so that the ear need not accommodate an entirety of the driver housing. The driver housing is held in place by an ear clip that engages an exterior portion of the user's ear and attaches to the driver housing by way of a bridge element that can enclose other electronic components such as a battery, antenna, processor and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Eugene A. Whang, Robert A. Boyd, Duy P. Le, Yi-Fang D. Tsai, David J. Feathers, Shota Aoyagi, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 10712777
    Abstract: A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Corbin, Andrew D. Lauder
  • Patent number: 10658744
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and no on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing formed from a radio opaque material with a cover formed from a radio transparent material. To implement a wireless interface, an antenna stack-up can be provided that allows an antenna to be mounted to a bottom of the cover. Methods and apparatus are provided for improving wireless performance. For instance, in one embodiment, a metal housing can be thinned to improve antenna performance. As another example, a faraday cage can be formed around speaker drivers to improve antenna performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen C. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo
  • Patent number: 10652644
    Abstract: An earbud tip for an in-ear headphone can include an outer body; an inner tube extending at least partially within the outer body, the tube having opposing first and second ends and first and second openings at the opposing first and second ends, respectively, the first opening configured to emit audio signals provided by a speaker of an in-ear headphone into a user's ear canal during operation of the in-ear headphone and when the earbud tip seals the user's ear canal and the second opening configured to be removably coupled to a portion of the in-ear headphone; and one or more channels extending from an outer periphery of the earbud tip to the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Bruss, Duy P. Le, Sean S. Corbin, Robert A. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20200117235
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20200100011
    Abstract: An earbud tip for an in-ear headphone can include an outer body; an inner tube extending at least partially within the outer body, the tube having opposing first and second ends and first and second openings at the opposing first and second ends, respectively, the first opening configured to emit audio signals provided by a speaker of an in-ear headphone into a user's ear canal during operation of the in-ear headphone and when the earbud tip seals the user's ear canal and the second opening configured to be removably coupled to a portion of the in-ear headphone; and one or more channels extending from an outer periphery of the earbud tip to the inner tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: John R. Bruss, Duy P. Le, Sean S. Corbin, Robert A. Boyd
  • Patent number: 10579184
    Abstract: A portable input device is described. The portable input device can wirelessly send control signals to an external circuit. The control signals can derive from touch or gestures applied to a touch sensitive surface. The control signals can also include a mouse click equivalent control signal generated by mechanical manipulation of the portable input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Rico Zorkendorfer, Andrew Lauder, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 10474193
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Sean S. Corbin, John P. Ternus, Kevin D. Gibbs, Jeremy C. Franklin, Elvis M. Kibiti, John Raff, Jules B. Henry, Benjamin Rappoport, Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Ming Yu, Carl R. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20190278329
    Abstract: A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Sean S. CORBIN, Andrew D. LAUDER
  • Patent number: 10303215
    Abstract: A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Corbin, Andrew D. Lauder
  • Patent number: 10303209
    Abstract: An accessory device for use with an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device may include a cover configured to overlay an electronic device (or device) or fold to form a support structure for the electronic device. The cover may include an attachment feature that electrically couples with the device, and a keyboard foldable with respect to the cover. Further, the keyboard may include a retention feature designed to receive the attachment feature in a folded configuration of the cover. The accessory device may further include an electrically conductive fabric that folds with the cover. The accessory device may include an array of magnets throughout the attachment feature, the cover, and the keyboard. The magnets may be used to magnetically couple together 1) segments of the cover, 2) the cover and the keyboard assembly, 3) and/or the device with the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Gilkison Smith, Daniel J. Coster, Sean S. Corbin, Melody L. Kuna, Siddhartha Hegde, Benjamin A. Cousins, Robert Sean Murphy
  • Publication number: 20190064878
    Abstract: A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Sean S. CORBIN, Andrew D. LAUDER
  • Patent number: 10117504
    Abstract: A wearable band for an electronic device and a method of forming the wearable band for the electronic device. The wearable band may include a first strap portion including a loop, and a second strap portion positioned through the loop of the first strap portion. The second strap portion may include a first group of components positioned adjacent a first end of the second strap portion. The first group of components may include magnetic properties. The second strap portion may also include a second group of components positions adjacent a second end, opposite the first end, of the second strap portion. The second group of components may include magnetic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Bataillou, Richard D. Kosoglow, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 10121581
    Abstract: An article having a multiple magnetic polarities and a method for making the article are disclosed. The article can be a monolithic substrate form from a metallic material or materials. The article may include a first magnetic polarity and a second magnetic polarity opposite the first magnetic polarity. Methods for making the article include provide either providing a monolithic substrate having a first magnetic polarity, or applying a first magnetic field to the monolithic substrate to impart a first magnetic polarity. The method may also include raising the temperature of the monolithic substrate in order to reduce the coercivity of the monolithic substrate. The temperature of the monolithic substrate may also be selectively raised to lower the coercivity of the monolithic substrate in associated areas. By lowering the coercivity, the second magnetic polarity may be imparted on the monolithic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Zhu, John C. DiFonzo, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 10037054
    Abstract: A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Corbin, Andrew D. Lauder