Patents by Inventor Tyler S. Bushnell

Tyler S. Bushnell 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: 12383200
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20250155981
    Abstract: An electronic device is configured to provide haptic feedback to a user based on an input action associated with an input device. The electronic device includes a haptic engine operably connected to a processing device. The haptic engine includes an electromagnetic actuator that detects an input action associated with the input device. The electromagnetic actuator also produces a haptic output in response to the detection of the input action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Benjamin J. Kallman, David M. Pelletier
  • Publication number: 20250155931
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may have a flexible display layer covered by a protective display cover layer. The flexible display layer may be an organic light-emitting diode display layer or other layer with a flexible substrate. The flexible display layer may have a central region with peripheral edges. The central region may be rectangular, may be octagonal, or may have other shapes. Strip-shaped protrusions may extend along each of the peripheral edges of the central region. The strip-shaped protrusions may be bent to provide the protrusions with curved surface profiles. The display cover layer may have a cushion shape with bowed edges that overlap parts of the strip-shaped protrusions, may have curved inner and outer surfaces and/or planar surfaces, may have rounded corners with compound curvature, may have edges with curved surface profiles, and/or may have other configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventor: Tyler S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 12299339
    Abstract: Device localization (e.g., ultra-wideband device localization) may be used to provide coordinated outputs and/or receive coordinated inputs using multiple devices. Providing coordinated outputs may include providing partial outputs using multiple devices, modifying an output of a device based on its position and/or orientation relative to another device, and the like. In some cases, each device of a set of multiple devices may provide a partial output, which combines with partial outputs of the remaining devices to produce a coordinated output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Erik G. de Jong
  • Patent number: 12257078
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20250068213
    Abstract: A biometric button assembly may be disposed in an opening of an enclosure of an electronic device. The biometric button assembly may include an input member that forms an exterior surface of the button housing and is configured to receive inputs, for example from a user of the electronic device. The biometric button assembly may further include a biometric sensor for detecting the received inputs and transmitting a signal to a processor of the electronic device. The signal may correspond to a biometric characteristic, such as a fingerprint. A flexible conduit may transmit the signal to the processor. A portion of the flexible conduit and a seal may be positioned between the button assembly and the enclosure that prevents contaminants from entering the button housing and the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, James G. Horiuchi, Michael K. McCord, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 12228973
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may have a flexible display layer covered by a protective display cover layer. The flexible display layer may be an organic light-emitting diode display layer or other layer with a flexible substrate. The flexible display layer may have a central region with peripheral edges. The central region may be rectangular, may be octagonal, or may have other shapes. Strip-shaped protrusions may extend along each of the peripheral edges of the central region. The strip-shaped protrusions may be bent to provide the protrusions with curved surface profiles. The display cover layer may have a cushion shape with bowed edges that overlap parts of the strip-shaped protrusions, may have curved inner and outer surfaces and/or planar surfaces, may have rounded corners with compound curvature, may have edges with curved surface profiles, and/or may have other configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Tyler S. Bushnell
  • Publication number: 20250030794
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing damping analyses on a device are disclosed. The damping analyses may be used by a device in numerous ways. For example, in some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine whether a device is being worn or held by a user. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine which user of multiple users is wearing a device. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine the body composition of a user who is holding or wearing the device. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine how much force a user is applying to a device via a touch input. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine whether and to what extent a sensor is in contact with a body of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: David I. Nazzaro, Erik G. de Jong, Steven J. Martisauskas, Tyler S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 12181927
    Abstract: A biometric button assembly may be disposed in an opening of an enclosure of an electronic device. The biometric button assembly may include an input member that forms an exterior surface of the button housing and is configured to receive inputs, for example from a user of the electronic device. The biometric button assembly may further include a biometric sensor for detecting the received inputs and transmitting a signal to a processor of the electronic device. The signal may correspond to a biometric characteristic, such as a fingerprint. A flexible conduit may transmit the signal to the processor. A portion of the flexible conduit and a seal may be positioned between the button assembly and the enclosure that prevents contaminants from entering the button housing and the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, James G. Horiuchi, Michael K. McCord, Trevor J. Ness
  • Patent number: 12130672
    Abstract: A modular button assembly includes a button housing that may be disposed in an opening of an enclosure of an electronic device. The modular button assembly may include an input member that forms an exterior surface of the button housing and is configured to receive inputs, for example from a user of the electronic device. The modular button assembly may further include a sensor to detect the received inputs and transmit a signal to a processor of the electronic device. The modular button assembly may be configured such that disposing the button housing in the opening of the enclosure forms a seal that prevents contaminants from entering the button housing and the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Colin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Trevor J. Ness, James G. Horiuchi, Steven P. Cardinali
  • Patent number: 12104929
    Abstract: A compact crown for an electronic device such as an electronic watch, including a set of wipers capable of determining a rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed, is disclosed. The set of wipers is in contact with at least one resistance member at different angular positions around a rotation axis. The crown may have a group of ground taps disposed along the resistance member and a measured signal may vary based on the position of each wiper as it contacts the at least one resistance member. A compact crown may also include capacitive members and capacitive sensors in order to similarly determine rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Christopher M. Werner, Colin M. Ely, Stephen N. Sweet, Sriram Moorthy, Huan Peng
  • Patent number: 12086331
    Abstract: An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
  • Publication number: 20240225547
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20240225548
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Patent number: 12022021
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing damping analyses on a device are disclosed. The damping analyses may be used by a device in numerous ways. For example, in some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine whether a device is being worn or held by a user. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine which user of multiple users is wearing a device. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine the body composition of a user who is holding or wearing the device. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine how much force a user is applying to a device via a touch input. In some embodiments, damping analyses are used to determine whether and to what extent a sensor is in contact with a body of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David I. Nazzaro, Erik G. De Jong, Steven J. Martisauskas, Tyler S. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 11963795
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Patent number: 11937944
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20240094970
    Abstract: Device localization (e.g., ultra-wideband device localization) may be used to provide coordinated outputs and/or receive coordinated inputs using multiple devices. Providing coordinated outputs may include providing partial outputs using multiple devices, modifying an output of a device based on its position and/or orientation relative to another device, and the like. In some cases, each device of a set of multiple devices may provide a partial output, which combines with partial outputs of the remaining devices to produce a coordinated output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Erik G. de Jong
  • Publication number: 20240061466
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have an inner layer with a pixel array for displaying images and an outer layer with an array of light modulator cells operable in transparent and light-blocking modes. Force sensor and touch sensor circuitry may be used to gather user input such as information on finger pressure or stylus input applied to a location on the display. A block of the cells may be placed into a transparent mode to form a transparent window based on information from the sensor circuitry. Images on the pixel array may be viewed through the window. In another mode of operation, images can be displayed by adjusting the cells of the light modulator layer and backlight illumination may be provided by the pixel array. A camera and a flash or other optical components may be overlapped by an adjustable shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Harry K. Ng, Alvin K. Ng, Katherine E. Tong, Tyler S. Bushnell, Amin M. Younes, Benjamin S. Bustle, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20240045475
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may have a flexible display layer covered by a protective display cover layer. The flexible display layer may be an organic light-emitting diode display layer or other layer with a flexible substrate. The flexible display layer may have a central region with peripheral edges. The central region may be rectangular, may be octagonal, or may have other shapes. Strip-shaped protrusions may extend along each of the peripheral edges of the central region. The strip-shaped protrusions may be bent to provide the protrusions with curved surface profiles. The display cover layer may have a cushion shape with bowed edges that overlap parts of the strip-shaped protrusions, may have curved inner and outer surfaces and/or planar surfaces, may have rounded corners with compound curvature, may have edges with curved surface profiles, and/or may have other configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventor: Tyler S. Bushnell