Patents by Inventor Steven C. Roach
Steven C. Roach 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: 12093359Abstract: A portable electronic device may include a housing member defining a side surface of the portable electronic device, a portion of the housing member defining a side wall of a hole extending through the housing member, a button member positioned along the side surface and defining a chassis portion and a hollow post extending into the hole defined through the housing member, and a first waterproof seal defined between the hollow post and the side wall of the hole. The portable electronic device may also include a biometric sensing component coupled to the chassis portion, a flexible circuit element extending through the hollow post and conductively coupling the biometric sensing component to a component within the housing, and a second waterproof seal defined within the hollow post.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2021Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Timothy D. Koch, Dylan L. Magida, Michael B. Wittenberg, Henry H. Yang, Alvin T. Chang, Steven C. Roach, Jared P. Ostdiek
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Publication number: 20240053707Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a crown assembly having a shaft and a user-rotatable crown. The user-rotatable crown may include a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to the shaft and functions as an electrode. The conductive cap may be coupled to the shaft using solder or another conductive attachment mechanism. The shaft may electrically couple the conductive cap to a processing unit of the electronic device. One or more additional electrodes may be positioned on the exterior surface of the electronic device. The conductive cap is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while another electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The processing unit of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter, such as an electrocardiogram, of the user based on voltages at the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Sameer Pandya, Steven C. Roach
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Publication number: 20240045383Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing defining a side wall having a through-hole and a crown assembly including an actuation member. The actuation member may include a crown shaft extending through the through-hole and having an exterior portion defining an input surface and a crown ring coupled to the exterior portion of the crown shaft and electrically isolated from the crown shaft. The crown assembly may further include an optical encoder component attached to the actuation member and defining a group of optical features. The electronic watch may further include an optical detector configured to detect rotation of the crown assembly by detecting motion of the group of optical features and an electrocardiograph sensor comprising a sensing component. The sensing component may be conductively coupled to the actuation member via a conductive path at least partially defined by the crown shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Steven C. Roach, Sameer Pandya, Erik G. de Jong, Erik L. Wang, Peter J. Kardassakis, Steven P. Cardinali
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Publication number: 20240008233Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and at least partially defining an internal volume of the electronic device, an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the internal volume, and an optical component disposed in the aperture. The optical component can include a first and second transparent portions disposed above the electromagnetic radiation detector and the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and an opaque portion disposed between the first and second transparent portions. A conductive component can be in electrical communication with the opaque portion and one or more components of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Brian R. Land, Naoto Matsuyuki, Erik L. Wang, William C. Lukens, Steven C. Roach
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Publication number: 20230414122Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and at least partially defining an internal volume of the electronic device, an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the internal volume, and an optical component disposed in the aperture. The optical component can include a first and second transparent portions disposed above the electromagnetic radiation detector and the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and an opaque portion disposed between the first and second transparent portions and extending a thickness of the optical component. The first transparent portion, the second transparent portion, and the opaque portion can define a flush exterior surface of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Brian R. Land, Naoto Matsuyuki, Erik L. Wang, William C. Lukens, Steven C. Roach
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Patent number: 11805629Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and at least partially defining an internal volume of the electronic device, an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the internal volume, and an optical component disposed in the aperture. The optical component can include a first and second transparent portions disposed above the electromagnetic radiation detector and the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and an opaque portion disposed between the first and second transparent portions. A conductive component can be in electrical communication with the opaque portion and one or more components of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Brian R. Land, Naoto Matsuyuki, Erik L. Wang, William C. Lukens, Steven C. Roach
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Patent number: 11796968Abstract: An electronic watch may include a housing defining a side wall having a through-hole and a crown assembly including an actuation member. The actuation member may include a crown shaft extending through the through-hole and having an exterior portion defining an input surface and a crown ring coupled to the exterior portion of the crown shaft and electrically isolated from the crown shaft. The crown assembly may further include an optical encoder component attached to the actuation member and defining a group of optical features. The electronic watch may further include an optical detector configured to detect rotation of the crown assembly by detecting motion of the group of optical features and an electrocardiograph sensor comprising a sensing component. The sensing component may be conductively coupled to the actuation member via a conductive path at least partially defined by the crown shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Roach, Sameer Pandya, Erik G. de Jong, Erik L. Wang, Peter J. Kardassakis, Steven P. Cardinali
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Patent number: 11796961Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a crown assembly having a shaft and a user-rotatable crown. The user-rotatable crown may include a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to the shaft and functions as an electrode. The conductive cap may be coupled to the shaft using solder or another conductive attachment mechanism. The shaft may electrically couple the conductive cap to a processing unit of the electronic device. One or more additional electrodes may be positioned on the exterior surface of the electronic device. The conductive cap is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while another electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The processing unit of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter, such as an electrocardiogram, of the user based on voltages at the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Sameer Pandya, Steven C. Roach
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Patent number: 11786139Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and at least partially defining an internal volume of the electronic device, an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the internal volume, and an optical component disposed in the aperture. The optical component can include a first and second transparent portions disposed above the electromagnetic radiation detector and the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and an opaque portion disposed between the first and second transparent portions and extending a thickness of the optical component. The first transparent portion, the second transparent portion, and the opaque portion can define a flush exterior surface of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Brian R. Land, Naoto Matsuyuki, Erik L. Wang, William C. Lukens, Steven C. Roach
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Patent number: 11784394Abstract: A wireless communication system may include an electronic device having a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module may include an antenna radiating element on a first surface, a ground ring surrounding the antenna radiating element on the first surface, and a radio component mounted to a second surface. The wireless communication module may be incorporated into a system package that also includes other components. Encapsulation material may cover the wireless communication module and other components. A shielding material may cover the encapsulation material and be coupled to the ground ring. An opening in the shielding material may be aligned with the antenna radiating element. If desired, the wireless communication system may include external equipment having a wireless communication module communicatively coupled to the wireless communication module to convey firmware testing, debugging, restore, and/or other data.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiaofang Mu, Annie Manuja, Christopher D. Guichet, Erik G. de Jong, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, Patrick J. Crowley, Steven C. Roach, Venkatesh Rajendran, William C. Lukens, Woojin Jung, Yue Chen, Zhiwei Gu, Derek Iwamoto, Siddharth Nangia, Scott D. Morrison, Kevin A. Klenk, Neeloy Roy
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Publication number: 20230238683Abstract: A portable electronic device can include a housing defining an internal volume and an opening. The device can also include a rear cover disposed in the opening, with an inner surface of the rear cover defining the internal volume, and a conductive antenna component embedded within the rear cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Steven C. Roach, Eric T. Chiang, YoungHoon Kim, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael R. Parker, Christopher M. Werner, Ryan C. Perkins, Bora Inci, Sherry Tang, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell, Daniela Deschamps, Colin M. Ely, Devon K. Copeland, Ming Kun Shi
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Publication number: 20230210461Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a housing to which a carrier is attached. The carrier has a first surface interior to the electronic device, and a second surface exterior to the electronic device. A set of electrodes is deposited on the exterior surface of the carrier. An additional electrode is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while the first electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The additional electrode may be positioned on a user-rotatable crown of the electronic device, on a button of the electronic device, or on another surface of the housing of the electronic device. A processor of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter of the user based on voltages at the electrodes. The biological parameter may be an electrocardiogram.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Adam T. Clavelle, Erik G. de Jong, Michael B. Wittenberg, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan, Martin Melcher, Zhipeng Zhang, Steven C. Roach, Steven P. Cardinali
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Publication number: 20230139537Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display assembly at least partially positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a substrate having a conductive portion, a display layer having pixels, a touch sensitive layer positioned on a first side of the substrate, an operational component positioned on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side, and a flexible electrical connector electrically coupled with the conductive portion and the operational component. The flexible electrical connector can include an electromagnetic antenna. A transparent cover can overlay the display assembly and can be secured to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Eric T. Chiang, Steven C. Roach, Ross L. Jackson, Maegan K. Spencer, William C. Lukens, Michael R. Parker, YoungHoon Kim
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Publication number: 20230098960Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a housing to which a carrier is attached. The carrier has a first surface interior to the electronic device, and a second surface exterior to the electronic device. A set of electrodes is deposited on the exterior surface of the carrier. An additional electrode is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while the first electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The additional electrode may be positioned on a user-rotatable crown of the electronic device, on a button of the electronic device, or on another surface of the housing of the electronic device. A processor of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter of the user based on voltages at the electrodes. The biological parameter may be an electrocardiogram.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Adam T. Clavelle, Erik G. de Jong, Michael B. Wittenberg, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan, Martin Melcher, Zhipeng Zhang, Steven C. Roach, Steven P. Cardinali
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Publication number: 20230084538Abstract: A wireless communication system may include an electronic device having a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module may include an antenna radiating element on a first surface, a ground ring surrounding the antenna radiating element on the first surface, and a radio component mounted to a second surface. The wireless communication module may be incorporated into a system package that also includes other components. Encapsulation material may cover the wireless communication module and other components. A shielding material may cover the encapsulation material and be coupled to the ground ring. An opening in the shielding material may be aligned with the antenna radiating element. If desired, the wireless communication system may include external equipment having a wireless communication module communicatively coupled to the wireless communication module to convey firmware testing, debugging, restore, and/or other data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Xiaofang Mu, Annie Manuja, Christopher D. Guichet, Erik G. de Jong, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, Patrick J. Crowley, Steven C. Roach, Venkatesh Rajendran, William C. Lukens, Woojin Jung, Yue Chen, Zhiwei Gu, Derek Iwamoto, Siddharth Nangia, Scott D. Morrison, Kevin A. Klenk, Neeloy Roy
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Patent number: 11573599Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display assembly at least partially positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a substrate having a conductive portion, a display layer having pixels, a touch sensitive layer positioned on a first side of the substrate, an operational component positioned on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side, and a flexible electrical connector electrically coupled with the conductive portion and the operational component. The flexible electrical connector can include an electromagnetic antenna. A transparent cover can overlay the display assembly and can be secured to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Eric T. Chiang, Steven C. Roach, Ross L. Jackson, Maegan K. Spencer, William C. Lukens, Michael R. Parker, YoungHoon Kim
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Patent number: 11432766Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a housing to which a carrier is attached. The carrier has a first surface interior to the electronic device, and a second surface exterior to the electronic device. A set of electrodes is deposited on the exterior surface of the carrier. An additional electrode is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while the first electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The additional electrode may be positioned on a user-rotatable crown of the electronic device, on a button of the electronic device, or on another surface of the housing of the electronic device. A processor of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter of the user based on voltages at the electrodes. The biological parameter may be an electrocardiogram.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sameer Pandya, Adam T. Clavelle, Erik G. de Jong, Michael B. Wittenberg, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan, Martin Melcher, Zhipeng Zhang, Steven C. Roach, Steven P. Cardinali
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Publication number: 20220100833Abstract: A portable electronic device may include a housing member defining a side surface of the portable electronic device, a portion of the housing member defining a side wall of a hole extending through the housing member, a button member positioned along the side surface and defining a chassis portion and a hollow post extending into the hole defined through the housing member, and a first waterproof seal defined between the hollow post and the side wall of the hole. The portable electronic device may also include a biometric sensing component coupled to the chassis portion, a flexible circuit element extending through the hollow post and conductively coupling the biometric sensing component to a component within the housing, and a second waterproof seal defined within the hollow post.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Timothy D. Koch, Dylan L. Magida, Michael B. Wittenberg, Henry H. Yang, Alvin T. Chang, Steven C. Roach, Jared P. Ostdiek
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Patent number: 11269376Abstract: An input component for an electronic device can include a dial that defines an exterior surface and a shaft affixed to the dial. The dial and the shaft can be rotatable about a central axis of the shaft and the shaft can include a protruding portion that defines a channel. A collar can surround a portion of the shaft and can be at least partially disposed in the channel. A bushing can be positioned between the collar and the protruding portion of the shaft, with the bushing defining a groove.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Daniela M. Deschamps, Sameer Pandya, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell, Christopher M. Werner, Steven C. Roach, Colin M. Ely
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Publication number: 20220043397Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a crown assembly having a shaft and a user-rotatable crown. The user-rotatable crown may include a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to the shaft and functions as an electrode. The conductive cap may be coupled to the shaft using solder or another conductive attachment mechanism. The shaft may electrically couple the conductive cap to a processing unit of the electronic device. One or more additional electrodes may be positioned on the exterior surface of the electronic device. The conductive cap is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while another electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The processing unit of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter, such as an electrocardiogram, of the user based on voltages at the electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Sameer Pandya, Steven C. Roach