Patents by Inventor Stephen R. McClure
Stephen R. McClure 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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Publication number: 20170125849Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers forming a non-rectangular shape, wherein the set of layers comprises a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The layers are enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the non-rectangular shape is created by removing material from one or more of the layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang
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Publication number: 20170090576Abstract: Systems and methods for providing localized tactile output and systems and methods for obtaining localized physical characteristic information are disclosed. An electronic device can include a friction transducer configured to augment and/or detect friction between a surface of an electronic device and an object in contact with that electronic device. The electronic device may also include a force transducer configured to detect the force with which an object contacts a display. The force transducer may also provide mechanical output. The electronic device can also include a thermal transducer to augment and/or detect the temperature of various locations on a display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Carl R. Peterson, Derek W. Wright, Kevin D. Gibbs, Soyoung Kim, Stephen R. McClure
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Publication number: 20170068288Abstract: A portable electronic device, having a single piece housing to carry operational components having a front opening, an integral bottom and sidewalls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening. The operational components can include a display to present visual content disposed within the front opening and having an outermost protective layer, a main logic board that extends along a central portion of the cavity having a size and shape that bisects the cavity into a first portion and a second portion each having substantially the same size and shape, a power storage system supported at the bottom wall and comprising a first power storage unit located in the first portion and second power storage unit located in the second portion, each being coupled to the main logic board, and self-contained audio components positioned at each corner of the single piece housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Erik A. UTTERMANN, John RAFF, Melody L. KUNA, Jason S. KEATS, G. Kyle LOBISSER, John R. KAMOROWSKI, Oliver C. ROSS, Guangtao ZHANG, Santhana Krishnan BALAJI, Jiang AI, Robert SCRITZKY, Stephen R. MCCLURE
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Publication number: 20170070001Abstract: An accessory to device coupling system can include a first magnet array adapted for assembly with respect to a surface of an electronic device and a second magnet array adapted for assembly with respect to a surface of an accessory device, the accessory device configured to interact electrically with the electronic device. The first magnet array can include a first plurality of magnets arranged in a first pattern of alternating polarities, and the second magnet array can include a second plurality of magnets arranged in a second pattern of alternating polarities that corresponds to the first pattern of alternating polarities. The corresponding alternating polarity patterns can cause the second magnet array to couple to the first magnet array with a normalized attraction force only at an intended orientation and alignment, and with less than half of the normalized attraction force at any other orientation and alignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Brett W. DEGNER, David H. NARAJOWSKI, Oliver C. ROSS, Hao ZHU, Erik A. UTTERMANN, Stephen R. MCCLURE, Melody L. KUNA
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Publication number: 20170068318Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a housing in which display structures are mounted. Additional input-output devices such as a track pad may also be mounted in the housing. These input-output devices may include components such as touch sensors and force sensors for gathering input from a user. The display structures may include a display such as a flexible organic light-emitting diode display or a liquid crystal display that can present visual information to the user. To provide the user with tactile output, an output device such as a display or track pad may be provided with electroactive polymer structures, electromagnetic actuators, and other tactile output devices. The tactile output devices may provide protrusions, indentations, selectively stiffened and softened areas, and other tactile output for a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Derek W. Wright, Paul S. Drzaic, Soyoung Kim, Yung-Yu Hsu, Que Anh S. Nguyen
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Publication number: 20160363961Abstract: 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 including a plurality of steps. The plurality of mounting steps are formed by at least removing a preselected amount of housing material at predetermined locations on the interior surface. At least some of the mounting steps are used to mount at least some of the plurality of internal operating components housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Stephen R. McCLURE, Joshua D. BANKO, Kevin D. GIBBS, Benjamin M. RAPPOPORT, John P. TERNUS
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Publication number: 20160320802Abstract: 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 a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing using mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Joshua D. Banko, Jonathan Ternus, Matthew B. Morris, Peter M. Thompson, Kevin Gibbs, Timothy G. Van Vorhis, Martin B. Adamcyk, Arthur J. Lucchesi, Brian Scott Carpenter
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Publication number: 20160306423Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing haptic output on an electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes an actuator configured to move in a first direction. The electronic device also includes a substrate coupled to the actuator. When the actuator moves in the first direction, the substrate or a portion of the substrate, by virtue of being coupled to the actuator, moves in a second direction. In some implementations, the movement of the substrate is perpendicular to the movement of the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Erik A. Uttermann, Kevin D. Gibbs, Dhaval Chandrakant Patel, Florence W. Ow, Derek W. Wright, Stephen R. McClure, Inna Lobel
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Publication number: 20160293996Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers forming a non-rectangular shape, wherein the set of layers comprises a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The layers are enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the non-rectangular shape is created by removing material from one or more of the layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang
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Patent number: 9431190Abstract: 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 including a plurality of steps. The plurality of mounting steps are formed by at least removing a preselected amount of housing material at predetermined locations on the interior surface. At least some of the mounting steps are used to mount at least some of the plurality of internal operating components to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Joshua D. Banko, Kevin D. Gibbs, Benjamin M. Rappoport, John P. Ternus
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Patent number: 9417661Abstract: 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 a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing using mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Joshua D. Banko, Jonathan Ternus, Matthew B. Morris, Peter M. Thompson, Kevin Gibbs, Timothy G. Van Vorhis, Martin B. Adamcyk, Arthur J. Lucchesi, Brian Scott Carpenter
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Patent number: 9406999Abstract: Antenna structures may be customized to compensate for manufacturing variations in electronic device antennas. The antenna structures may include an antenna resonating element and a ground. Customizations may be made to the antenna structures by performing customization operations such as adding material, removing material, deforming material, and making electrical adjustments. Customizations may be performed to a conductive antenna resonating element structure, to a ground structure, or to associated antenna structures such as parasitic antenna elements. During manufacturing operations, antenna structures may be characterized by making radio-frequency antenna performance measurements. Antenna performance can be compared to desired performance levels and compensating customizations for the antenna structures can be identified. Customized antenna structures can be installed in electronic devices during manufacturing to produce devices that meet desired specifications.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Bruce E. Berg, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure
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Publication number: 20160139702Abstract: An electronic device may include a display having an active area and an inactive area. The display may include a cover layer and an array of pixels that emit light through the cover layer in the active area. An opaque masking layer may be formed on an inner surface of the cover layer in the inactive area. A touch sensor may include touch sensor electrodes under the opaque masking layer in the inactive area to detect touches near electronic components that are mounted in the inactive area. Operation of the electronic components may be controlled based on signals from the touch sensor in the inactive area. The touch sensor may be formed from capacitive touch sensor electrodes. The capacitive touch sensor electrodes may be formed on the same substrate as an adjacent electronic component or may be formed as an extension of an existing touch sensor in the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Justin R. Wodrich, Stephen R. McClure
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Patent number: 9338832Abstract: The described embodiment relates generally to the field of inductive heating. More specifically an inductive heater designed for use in assembling electronics is disclosed. A number of methods for shaping a radio-frequency (RF) receiver structure are disclosed for the purpose of completing an inductive bonding process without causing harm to adjacent electrical components.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Derek W. Wright, Erik A. Uttermann, Stephen R. McClure
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Patent number: 9335187Abstract: Pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive may contain microspheres that burst and release indicator when subjected to pressure and thereby produce a detectable indication of how much pressure has been applied when forming an adhesive joint between opposing structures. Electronic device structures can be assembled using the pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive. A camera or other sensor may monitor joint formation. The camera can gather infrared image data, visible light image data, or ultraviolet light image data. Sensor data such as magnetic or ultrasonic sensor data can also be collected on an adhesive joint. Joint inspection can be performed on test structures and production structures and corresponding adjustments made to the joint formation process. Positioners and other equipment that compresses the pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive can be adjusted in real time or calibrated using information about the condition of the pressure indicator pressure sensitive adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Derek W. Wright, Carl R. Peterson, Kristina A. Babiarz
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Patent number: 9319760Abstract: A portable electronic device that provides audio sound output from multiple internal speakers to a common output audio opening in a housing of the portable electronic device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the multiple internal speakers are provided in close proximity to one another, such as adjacent to one another, and serve to produce audio sound pertaining to different audio channels. The sound (i.e., pressure waves) produced by each of the internal speakers is directed into a respective acoustic chamber and output via the output audio opening in the housing. Accordingly, the acoustic chambers for the multiple internal speakers can each direct their audio sound output to the same output audio opening in the housing. The respective acoustic chambers can be formed adjacent to one another with a structural barrier serving to separate the distinct acoustic chambers.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ruchi Goel, Stephen R. McClure
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Publication number: 20160087329Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with antenna structures that are embedded in a dielectric such as plastic. The plastic may be molded over the antenna structures using molding equipment. Antenna structures may be embedded in molded plastic structures such as plastic electronic device housing structures. The plastic electronic device housing structures may form housing structures such as housing wall structures. The antenna structures may be embedded within the housing wall structures in the vicinity of an exterior surface of the housing wall structures. Embedded antenna structures may also be mounted under other dielectric structures such portions of a display cover layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Bruce E. Berg, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure
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Patent number: 9276287Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers forming a non-rectangular shape, wherein the set of layers comprises a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The layers are enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the non-rectangular shape is created by removing material from one or more of the layers.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure, Erik L. Wang, Taisup Hwang
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Patent number: 9223349Abstract: An electronic device may have polarizer layers, color filter layers, thin-film-transistor layers, and other display layers. A display layer may be separated from structures such as a display cover layer formed from clear glass or plastic and a touch sensor layer mounted on an inner surface of the display cover layer by an air gap. Cavities within an electronic device housing may serve as a source of dust and other contaminants. The air gap may be sealed against dust intrusion from a cavity within an electronic device using a dust sealing structure. The dust sealing structure may have a rectangular ring shape that runs around a rectangular peripheral portion of a display layer. The dust sealing structure may be formed from a tape-based structure, an elastomeric structure, a compressible foam structure, or a cured liquid structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Jiang Ai, Amy Qian, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Kevin D. Gibbs, Derek Wright, John P. Ternus, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure
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Patent number: 9153856Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with antenna structures that are embedded in a dielectric such as plastic. The plastic may be molded over the antenna structures using molding equipment. Antenna structures may be embedded in molded plastic structures such as plastic electronic device housing structures. The plastic electronic device housing structures may form housing structures such as housing wall structures. The antenna structures may be embedded within the housing wall structures in the vicinity of an exterior surface of the housing wall structures. Embedded antenna structures may also be mounted under other dielectric structures such portions of a display cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin M. Rappoport, Bruce E. Berg, John Raff, Stephen R. McClure