Patents by Inventor Steven P. Cardinali

Steven P. Cardinali 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: 20190059152
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a circuit assembly for an electronic device having an electromagnetic shield that defines a sensing element or contact pad along an outer surface of the assembly. The circuit assembly includes a group of electrical components attached to a surface of a printed circuit board. A molded structure may encapsulate the group of electrical components and at least a portion of the surface of the printed circuit board. A metal layer may be formed over an outer surface of the molded structure. The metal layer may define both a shield portion configured to provide shielding for one or more of the group of electrical components and an electrode configured to detect an input applied to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Brad G. Boozer, Colin M. Ely, Steven P. Cardinali
  • Patent number: 10132706
    Abstract: An electronic device having a pressure detection system is disclosed. The electronic device may include one or more elements designed to detect pressure exerted on the electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a membrane and a detection mechanism, both of which bend in response to a pressure change at the membrane. The membrane may be electrically coupled with a circuit that detects the bending of the membrane and correlates the bending with a pressure change at the membrane. A can may be hermetically sealed with the membrane and surround the circuit to shield the circuit from liquid ingress. In some embodiments, a light transmitter and light receiver are used to detect the bending of the membrane. The light may reflect from the membrane at different angles, based upon a shape of the membrane, and contact the receiving element at different locations, corresponding to pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Tyler S. Bushnell, David M. Pelletier, William C. Lukens, Steven P. Cardinali, Rex T. Ehman
  • Patent number: 10108151
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a housing and a band attached to the housing. The band has an indicator with a variably and/or progressively illuminable portion. The indicator of the band conveys to a user an analog representation of the completion progress of an activity or task tracked by wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device also includes a processing unit within the housing, and a sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit. In some cases, the sensor is a motion sensor such as an accelerometer or a gyroscope. In other examples, the sensor is a health sensor or a biometric sensor. Sensor data is used to update the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Steven P. Cardinali, Katherine E. Tong, Trevor J. Ness, William C. Lukens
  • Publication number: 20180069588
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display cover layer mounted to a metal housing. Electrical component layers such as a display layer, touch sensor layer, and near-field communications antenna layer may be mounted under the display cover layer. An antenna feed may have a positive feed terminal coupled to the electrical component layers and a ground feed terminal coupled to the metal housing. The electrical component layers may serve as an antenna resonating element for an antenna. The antenna may cover cellular telephone bands and may receive satellite navigation system signals. A system-in-package device may be mounted to the metal housing. A flexible printed circuit may extend between the electrical component layers and the system-in-package device. A mounting bracket for the system-in-package device may be provided with electrical isolation to enhance antenna performance in bands such as a satellite navigation system band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Yi Jiang, Jiangfeng Wu, Lijun Zhang, Siwen Yong, Jiaxiao Niu, Mattia Pascolini, Jayesh Nath, Carlo Di Nallo, Zheyu Wang, Mario Martinis, Eduardo Jorge Da Costa Bras Lima, Steven P. Cardinali, Rex Tyler Ehman, James G. Horiuchi, Trevor J. Ness, Scott D. Morrison, Siddharth Nangia, Mushtaq A. Sarwar
  • Patent number: 9888561
    Abstract: Electrical components such as integrated circuits and other components may be mounted on a substrate such as a printed circuit substrate. A molded plastic cap may cover the components and a portion of the printed circuit substrate to form a packaged electrical device. Metal structures such as springs, posts, and other metal members may be insert molded within the plastic cap. A metal layer on the surface of the cap may be patterned to from electromagnetic shielding, signal paths, contact pads, sensor electrodes, antennas, and other structures. Multiple substrates each with a respective set of mounted electrical components may be joined using a flexible printed circuit. The flexible printed circuit may be covered with a rigid cap portion or an elastomeric material or may be left uncovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Trevor J. Ness, Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven P. Cardinali
  • Patent number: 9811121
    Abstract: A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device includes an acoustic device positioned in a housing, a gasket compressed between the acoustic device and the housing, and a liquid-resistant membrane. The liquid-resistant membrane is disposed such that it is isolated from a non-uniform compressive distribution resulting from compression of the gasket. The liquid-resistant membrane may be uncompressed by compression of the gasket or compressed by a different compressive force than the gasket. For example, the liquid-resistant membrane may not be positioned between the gasket and the acoustic device, may be separated from the gasket, may be mounted to a shelf of the gasket or within a gap defined by the gasket, mounted to a stiffener positioned within the gasket, and mounted using other similar configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Cardinali, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Publication number: 20170212558
    Abstract: This application relates to an insert nut for a housing of a computing device. The insert nut can include a threaded interior surface for receiving a screw, and a ribbed exterior surface for receiving an adhesive between ribs of the ribbed exterior surface. At least one of the ribs can include at least one notch that allows for an adhesive to flow between ribs. When the insert nut is pressed into an adhesive filled cavity, the adhesive can flow over the notch and between the ribs of the insert nut. Thereafter, the adhesive can be cured in order to secure the insert nut to the housing. This arrangement allows for screws to be secured into the insert nut rather than directly into the housing, thereby reducing cracks that can otherwise form in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Colin M. ELY, Adam T. CLAVELLE, Steven P. CARDINALI
  • Publication number: 20170207524
    Abstract: A packaged device may include electrical components such as integrated circuits that are mounted to a substrate such as a printed circuit substrate. Plastic may be molded to the printed circuit substrate over the integrated circuits. The molded plastic may include one or more shots of plastic and may include laser-sensitizable plastic material. Antenna structures may be supported by molded plastic such as molded plastic in a packaged device. The antenna structures may be formed from metal foil, flexible printed circuit substrate material with metal antenna traces, and metal traces that are formed on exposed surfaces of the plastic. The metal traces may be electroplated metal traces that are formed on regions of a laser-sensitizable plastic material that have been exposed to laser light. A package may have a protrusion that supports an antenna structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Steven P. Cardinali, James G. Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20170089795
    Abstract: An electronic device having a pressure detection system is disclosed. The electronic device may include one or more elements designed to detect pressure exerted on the electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a membrane and a detection mechanism, both of which bend in response to a pressure change at the membrane. The membrane may be electrically coupled with a circuit that detects the bending of the membrane and correlates the bending with a pressure change at the membrane. A can may be hermetically sealed with the membrane and surround the circuit to shield the circuit from liquid ingress. In some embodiments, a light transmitter and light receiver are used to detect the bending of the membrane. The light may reflect from the membrane at different angles, based upon a shape of the membrane, and contact the receiving element at different locations, corresponding to pressure change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Ryan C. PERKINS, Tyler S. BUSHNELL, David M. PELLETIER, William C. LUKENS, Steven P. CARDINALI, Rex T. EHMAN
  • Publication number: 20170079583
    Abstract: A wearable consumer electronic product includes at least a housing arranged to catty operational components comprising a processor and a band having a pliable band body and a securing means arranged to secure the band body to the housing. In one embodiment, the pliable band body has a size and shape suitable for wrapping around an individual appendage and that includes an opening that leads to a cavity within the band body suitable for accumulating an amount of water and a band sensor embedded within the band body in communication with the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Steven P. CARDINALI, William C. LUKENS, Katherine E. TONG, Trevor J. NESS
  • Publication number: 20170084133
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a housing and a band attached to the housing. The band has an indicator with a variably and/or progressively illuminable portion. The indicator of the band conveys to a user an analog representation of the completion progress of an activity or task tracked by wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device also includes a processing unit within the housing, and a sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit. In some cases, the sensor is a motion sensor such as an accelerometer or a gyroscope. In other examples, the sensor is a health sensor or a biometric sensor. Sensor data is used to update the indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Steven P. Cardinali, Katherine E. Tong, Trevor J. Ness, William C. Lukens
  • Publication number: 20170027058
    Abstract: Electrical components such as integrated circuits and other components may be mounted on a substrate such as a printed circuit substrate. A molded plastic cap may cover the components and a portion of the printed circuit substrate to form a packaged electrical device. Metal structures such as springs, posts, and other metal members may be insert molded within the plastic cap. A metal layer on the surface of the cap may be patterned to from electromagnetic shielding, signal paths, contact pads, sensor electrodes, antennas, and other structures. Multiple substrates each with a respective set of mounted electrical components may be joined using a flexible printed circuit. The flexible printed circuit may be covered with a rigid cap portion or an elastomeric material or may be left uncovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Trevor J. Ness, Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven P. Cardinali
  • Publication number: 20160378142
    Abstract: A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device includes an acoustic device positioned in a housing, a gasket compressed between the acoustic device and the housing, and a liquid-resistant membrane. The liquid-resistant membrane is disposed such that it is isolated from a non-uniform compressive distribution resulting from compression of the gasket. The liquid-resistant membrane may be uncompressed by compression of the gasket or compressed by a different compressive force than the gasket. For example, the liquid-resistant membrane may not be positioned between the gasket and the acoustic device, may be separated from the gasket, may be mounted to a shelf of the gasket or within a gap defined by the gasket, mounted to a stiffener positioned within the gasket, and mounted using other similar configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Steven P. Cardinali, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky