Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Wilson, Jr.

Thomas W. Wilson, Jr. 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: 8456586
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs
  • Patent number: 8441450
    Abstract: An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch-sensitive track pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a tracking control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the movable track pad so as to generate one or more other control signals (e.g., button signals). The control signals can be used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett William Degner, Patrick Kessler, Chris A. Ligtenberg, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Bartley K. Andre, Matthew P. Casebolt
  • Patent number: 8408780
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a portable computer may have a housing with a rectangular recess in which layers of display structures such as a light guide panel layer and other light guide structures are directly mounted without intervening chassis members. Mating alignment features in the housing and display structures may be used to align the display structures relative to the housing. A display may be formed from glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor glass layer. Backlight for the display may be generated by an array of light-emitting diodes. The light guide panel may direct light from the light-emitting diodes through the glass layers. A clamp may be used to hold the light-emitting diodes and light guide structures in place in the recess. An undercut in the housing may also hold the light guide structures in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Adam Garelli
  • Publication number: 20130079933
    Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to control of rotational components in a computer system. In one embodiment, the rotational component includes a cooling fan assembly, the cooling fan assembly being controlled in accordance with resonant frequency avoidance data. The resonant frequency avoidance data being characteristic of the computer system such that when the cooling fan assembly operates in accordance with the resonant frequency avoidance data, the cooling fan assembly does not operate at a fan speed that is coincident with a natural resonant frequency of the computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng P. TAN, Anthony J. Aiello, Brad Lee Patton, Con D. Phan, Jesse T. Dybenko, Thomas W. Wilson, JR.
  • Patent number: 8395722
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs
  • Patent number: 8360718
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve air flow in an air circulating fan assembly by forming an inlet opening in a fan assembly. A static air pressure profile is calculated along a top portion of the fan assembly configured to operate in an enclosure. The shape of a section of the inlet opening in the top portion of the fan assembly is changed based on a pressure contour of the calculated static air pressure profile. The method is repeated iteratively one or more times using an inlet opening changed by a previously calculated static air pressure profile when calculating a subsequent static air pressure profile. The inlet opening is positioned in the top surface of the fan assembly so that the centroid of the inlet opening is laterally offset with respect to the rotational axis of an impeller in the fan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse T. Dybenko, Frank Liang, Amaury J. Heresztyn, Brett W. Degner, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Peteris K. Augenbergs, Connor R. Duke
  • Publication number: 20130009898
    Abstract: A touchpad assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The touchpad assembly may include a touchpad frame operative to be placed within an opening in an electronic device frame. The touchpad assembly may include a support plate for supporting a touchpad, and a bracket for receiving a pick button. The support plate and bracket may be manufactured into a same component to increase the rigidity of the touchpad assembly. The pick button may include a varying height to prevent the pick button from deflecting and to make the pick button travel for providing a selection instruction uniform. The pick button may be coupled to the frame using any suitable approach, including using springs connected the ends of the pick button to the frame. The frame may also include pads to muffle the sound of the pick button when it returns to its initial position after having been pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Mathew, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett William Degner, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., John Brock
  • Patent number: 8305761
    Abstract: A low profile heat removal system suitable for removing excess heat generated by a component operating in a compact computing environment is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Frank Liang, Amaury J. Heresztyn, Dinesh Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8294675
    Abstract: A touchpad assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The touchpad assembly may include a touchpad frame operative to be placed within an opening in an electronic device frame. The touchpad assembly may include a support plate for supporting a touchpad, and a bracket for receiving a pick button. The support plate and bracket may be manufactured into a same component to increase the rigidity of the touchpad assembly. The pick button may include a varying height to prevent the pick button from deflecting and to make the pick button travel for providing a selection instruction uniform. The pick button may be coupled to the frame using any suitable approach, including using springs connected the ends of the pick button to the frame. The frame may also include pads to muffle the sound of the pick button when it returns to its initial position after having been pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Mathew, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett William Degner, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., John Brock
  • Publication number: 20120224951
    Abstract: A fan assembly for a computing device is disclosed. The device can include an impeller having a number of blades and a motor for turning the blades. The motor can turn the blades via a magnetic interaction between the impeller and the motor. A thrust bearing can be used to control a position of the impeller relative to the motor. In particular, the impeller can be configured to rotate around an axis and the thrust bearing can be used to control movement of the impeller in a direction aligned with the axis. In one embodiment, the impeller can be configured to generate aerodynamic forces, such as lift, and the parameters associated with the thrust bearing can be selected to counteract the aerodynamic forces so that the impeller remains within a desired positional range relative to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. DEGNER, Cheng P. Tan, Con D. Phan, Connor R. Duke, Frank F. Liang, Jesse T. Dybenko, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Keith J. Hendren
  • Publication number: 20120182497
    Abstract: A display may include a backlight structure. The backlight structure may include a light guide plate. Holes in the light guide plate may be configured to receive corresponding light-emitting diodes. The holes may separate an edge portion of the light guide plate from a main central portion of the light guide plate. Adhesive may be attached to the lower surface of the edge portion. The adhesive may be attached to a device housing or may be attached to a flex circuit that is attached to the housing with additional adhesive. The light-emitting diodes may be mounted within packages in pairs. The packages may be mounted on the flex circuit. Traces on part of the flex circuit may be covered by part of the light guide plate without any intervening adhesive. A reflective structure may be interposed between the traces and parts of the main portion of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Jun Qi, Bryan W. Posner, Dinesh C. Mathew, Adam T. Garelli, Victor H. Yin, Keith J. Hendren, Laura M. DeForest, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Thomas W. Wilson, JR.
  • Patent number: 8199477
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may contain a display module. The display module may contain layers of material such as a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. These layers of material may be mounted in a display module chassis. A cover glass may cover the display module. The housing may have springs that mate with corresponding holes in the chassis of the display module to hold the display module in place within the housing. The springs may flex about a flex axis that is perpendicular to a planar rear housing surface and the planar layers of the display module. A disassembly tool may be inserted into a gap between the cover glass and housing sidewalls. When the disassembly tool is rotated, a fin on the tool may press against an engagement structure in the spring and may release the spring from the display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Nicholas Alan Rundle, Bryan W. Posner
  • Publication number: 20120106063
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. Inactive portions of the display such as peripheral portions of the display may be masked using an opaque masking layer. An opening may be provided in the opaque masking layer to allow light to pass. For example, a logo may be viewed through an opening in the opaque masking layer and a camera may receive light through an opening in the opaque masking layer. The display may include upper and lower polarizers, a color filter layer, and a thin-film transistor layer. The opaque masking layer may be formed on the upper polarizer, may be interposed between the upper polarizer and the color filter layer, or may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. The upper polarizer may have unpolarized windows for cameras, logos, or other internal structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Adam T. Garelli
  • Publication number: 20120105400
    Abstract: A camera may be mounted under a display in an electronic device. The display may include a polarizer layer, a color filter layer, and a thin-film-transistor layer. A layer of material such as a glass insert may be attached to an edge of the display. Openings may be formed in the layers of the display and the insert to accommodate the camera. A sleeve structure may be mounted within an opening. The camera may include lens structures formed from a stack of lens elements. One or more layers of the display may be interposed within the lens structures. The glass insert may be mounted within a notch in the color filter layer and thin-film transistor layer or along a straight edge of the color filter layer and thin-film transistor layer. The edge of the color filter layer may be recessed with respect to form a mounting shelf for the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Adam T. Garelli
  • Publication number: 20120050975
    Abstract: Electronic devices may have housings. A housing may contain a display on its front face and a rear plate such as a plate formed from glass on its rear face. A peripheral housing member may surround the display and rear plate. An antenna may be formed in the peripheral housing member. The rear plate may be formed from laminated layers including a light guide layer. Device hinges may include hinge structures that are integral to the peripheral housing member. A logo may be formed by coating the rear plate with a patterned masking layer. Display structures for the display and the rear plate may be mounted to opposing sides of a shelf portion of the peripheral housing member. The rear plate may be formed from electrochromic glass and may cover photovoltaic cells and touch sensors. Driver boards may be mounted within a clutch barrel perpendicular to the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Adam T. Garelli, Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Keith J. Hendren, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Brett W. Degner, Bradley J. Hamel, Michael A. Damianakis, Patrick Kessler
  • Publication number: 20120020002
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs
  • Publication number: 20120020000
    Abstract: An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs
  • Publication number: 20120020001
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have a color filter layer and a thin film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin film transistor layer. A layer of polarizer may be laminated onto the surface of the color filter layer. Laser trimming may ensure that the edges of the polarizer are even with the edges of the color filter layer. The thin film transistor layer may have an array of thin film transistors that control pixels of the liquid crystal material in the display. Driver circuitry may be used to control the array. The driver circuitry may be encapsulated in a planarized encapsulant on the thin film transistor layer or may be mounted to the underside of the color filter layer. Conductive structures may connect driver circuitry on the color filter layer to the thin film transistor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Mathew, Thomas W. Wilson, JR., Victor H. Yin, Bryan W. Posner, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett W. Degner, Peteris K. Augenbergs, John Z. Zhong, Steve Hotelling, Lynn Youngs, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Publication number: 20110292598
    Abstract: A portable power source assembly including a plurality of battery cells that are directly attached to a housing used to enclose and support operational components of a portable computing device. A flexible interconnect component is used for electrically interconnecting the battery cells. Protective structures can be provided in discrete locations to protect the battery cells from compressive forces applied to the housing of the computing device. Removal handles or pull tabs may be provided on the battery cells so that individual battery cells may be easily removed for repair or replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Keith J. HENDREN, Thomas W. WILSON, JR., Robert L. COISH, R. Sean MURPHY
  • Publication number: 20110210954
    Abstract: An electrolyte containment structure for an electrode jelly roll and electrolyte in a portable power source is described. The electrolyte containment structure comprises metal foil, such as metal foil sleeve, coupled to and partially surrounding a rigid frame. The rigid frame can protect the electrode jelly roll edges from crush events. To prevent shorts, the metal foil can be coated in plastic, which can insulate the metal foil from the electrode jelly roll. Further, the plastic can serve as a bonding and sealing agent. For instance, the metal foil can be coupled to the rigid frame using a thermal bonding method involving melting of the plastic. The rigid frame can provide a platform for connector pads and safety circuitry associated with the portable power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: R. Sean Murphy, Thomas W. Wilson, JR.