Patents by Inventor Ueyn L. Block
Ueyn L. Block 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: 20250110298Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, and an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the housing. An optical component can be disposed in the aperture and can include a first region of a first material having a first index of refraction, the first region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation emitter, a second region of the first material, the second region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation detector, and a bulk region surrounding a periphery of the first region and a periphery of the second region, the bulk region including a second material having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2024Publication date: April 3, 2025Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
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Patent number: 12265248Abstract: An electronic device may have image transport layer material such as coherent fiber bundle material or Anderson localization material. The image transport layer material may overlap optical components. Optical sensor components can emit and/or detect light passing through the image transport layer material. Optical components such as light-emitting diodes may emit light through image transport layers. An image from a display may pass through an image transport layer. Infrared light-emitting diodes, infrared photodetectors, and/or other optical sensor components may be used to form a two-dimensional optical touch sensor that is configured to gather touch input from an external object such as a finger of a user. The optical touch sensor may operate through an image transport layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Erik G. de Jong, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Michael B. Wittenberg, Ueyn L Block, Vivek Venugopal
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Patent number: 12253728Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture, and an electromagnetic radiation emitter and an electromagnetic radiation detector disposed in the housing. An optical component can be disposed in the aperture and can include a first region of a first material having a first index of refraction, the first region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation emitter, a second region of the first material, the second region aligned with the electromagnetic radiation detector, and a bulk region surrounding a periphery of the first region and a periphery of the second region, the bulk region including a second material having a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2021Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
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Publication number: 20250076502Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices, detectors, systems, and methods for estimating a distance to an exterior object. Light pulses from an emitter on the electronic device or detector are received by at least one pair of light detectors positioned at different distances from the emitter. One or more ratios of strengths of signals of the light detectors are used to determine the object's distance. The ratios may be compared to a proximity curve to obtain the object's distance. If the ratio exceeds a critical distance value, a determination may be made that the exterior object has been separated from the electronic device. Wearable electronic devices, such as smart watches, may use the detectors, systems, and methods to determine if a user is wearing the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2024Publication date: March 6, 2025Inventors: Xiyu Duan, Nicholas P. Allec, Ueyn L. Block
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Patent number: 12204289Abstract: An electronic device includes a device body having a back surface, a band configured to fasten the device body to a user with the back surface facing a body part of the user, an optical sensor system, and a device removal detector. The optical sensor system has a first optical measurement path and a second optical measurement path. The first optical measurement path has a first optical path length that differs from a second optical path length of the second optical measurement path. The device removal detector is configured to generate a device removal indication responsive to either of, a first set of object proximity measurements received from the optical sensor system for the first optical measurement path, or a second set of object proximity measurements received from the optical sensor system for the second optical measurement path.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Ueyn L. Block, Xiyu Duan
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Publication number: 20240418644Abstract: A photoplethysmographic (PPG) device is disclosed. The PPG device can include one or more light emitters and one or more light sensors to generate the multiple light paths for measuring a PPG signal and perfusion indices of a user. The multiple light paths between each pair of light emitters and light detectors can include different separation distances to generate both an accurate PPG signal and a perfusion index value to accommodate a variety of users and usage conditions. In some examples, the multiple light paths can include the same separation distances for noise cancellation due to artifacts resulting from, for example, tilt and/or pull of the device, a user's hair, a user's skin pigmentation, and/or motion. The PPG device can further include one or more lenses and/or reflectors to increase the signal strength and/or and to obscure the optical components and associated wiring from being visible to a user's eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2024Publication date: December 19, 2024Inventors: Chin San Han, Ueyn L. Block, Brian R. Land, Nevzat Akin Kestelli, Serhan Isikman, Albert Wang, Justin S. Shi
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Publication number: 20240411163Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device including an optical sensing unit for distinguishing between a user's body and an object. The optical sensing unit can include a plurality of light detectors, a plurality of first light emitters, and a plurality of second light emitters. The plurality of first light emitters can measure physiological information of the user, and the plurality of second light emitters can measure a state of the device. The device can include one or more optical components, which can allow the plurality of second light emitters to emit first light towards the strap attached to the device and second light towards the edges of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2024Publication date: December 12, 2024Inventors: Nicholas Paul Joseph Allec, Maximillian Chase Bruggeman, Ueyn L. Block
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Publication number: 20240407659Abstract: An electronic device including optical sensing with a concentric architecture and methods for operation thereof is disclosed. The concentric architecture can include light detector(s) arranged in a concentric manner around light emitter(s). In some examples, at least one light emitter can be located in the center of the device, and each light detector can be located the same separation distance from the light emitter. Each light detector can be arranged such that the separation distance from the centrally located light emitter can be greater than the separation distance from another light emitter. Examples of the disclosure further include a selective transparent layer overlaying the light detector(s). The selective transparent layer can include section(s) transparent to a first wavelength range and non-transparent to a second wavelength ranges. In some examples, the selective transparent layer can further include section(s) transparent to the second wavelength range.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2024Publication date: December 12, 2024Inventors: Ueyn L. Block, Guocheng Shao, Itaru L. Hiromi, Mathieu Charbonneau-LeFort, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan
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Patent number: 12164027Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices, detectors, systems, and methods for estimating a distance to an exterior object. Light pulses from an emitter on the electronic device or detector are received by at least one pair of light detectors positioned at different distances from the emitter. One or more ratios of strengths of signals of the light detectors are used to determine the object's distance. The ratios may be compared to a proximity curve to obtain the object's distance. If the ratio exceeds a critical distance value, a determination may be made that the exterior object has been separated from the electronic device. Wearable electronic devices, such as smart watches, may use the detectors, systems, and methods to determine if a user is wearing the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiyu Duan, Nicholas P. Allec, Ueyn L. Block
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Publication number: 20240389942Abstract: An integrated window for a photosensor for use in an electronic device has first and second transparent regions separated by an opaque region. The first transparent region allows a transmitter to emit light out of the housing of the electronic device and the second transparent region allows a receiver to receive light through the housing. The opaque region is disposed between the first and second transparent regions to isolate them from one another such that the transmitted light is isolated from the received light.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2024Publication date: November 28, 2024Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Maegan K. Spencer, Jaden Alyssa Barney, Dale N. Memering, Ueyn L. Block, Paul D. Mannheimer
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Publication number: 20240389901Abstract: A wearable device is described. The wearable device includes a housing having a back cover, and an optical mask on first portions of the back cover. The back cover includes a set of windows, with a first subset of windows in the set of windows being defined by an absence of the optical mask on second portions of the back cover, and a second subset of windows in the set of windows being inset in a set of openings in the back cover. An optical barrier surrounds each window in the second subset of windows. A set of light emitters is configured to emit light through at least some of the windows in the set of windows. A set of light detectors is configured to receive light through at least some of the windows in the set of windows.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2024Publication date: November 28, 2024Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Ueyn L. Block, Brian R. Land, Paul D. Mannheimer, Albert E. Cerussi
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Publication number: 20240328871Abstract: This relates generally to systems and processes (e.g., algorithm(s), application(s), and device(s)) that use temperature information, such as temperature gradient data (e.g., spatial temperature gradients and/or temporal temperature gradients), for detecting a physiological state of a user, a portion of the user on which the user wears an electronic device, an orientation of the electronic device on the user, and/or skin thermal properties for body temperature sensing, for refining or improving an optical sensor calibration, and/or for improving a photoplethysmogram sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2024Publication date: October 3, 2024Inventors: Imam uz ZAMAN, Ashkan OJAGHI, Mathieu CHARBONNEAU-LEFORT, Ueyn L. BLOCK
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Patent number: 12076142Abstract: A wearable device is described. The wearable device includes a housing having a back cover, and an optical mask on first portions of the back cover. The back cover includes a set of windows, with a first subset of windows in the set of windows being defined by an absence of the optical mask on second portions of the back cover, and a second subset of windows in the set of windows being inset in a set of openings in the back cover. An optical barrier surrounds each window in the second subset of windows. A set of light emitters is configured to emit light through at least some of the windows in the set of windows. A set of light detectors is configured to receive light through at least some of the windows in the set of windows.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2023Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Ueyn L. Block, Brian R. Land, Paul D. Mannheimer, Albert E. Cerussi
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Patent number: 12066702Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device including an optical sensing unit for distinguishing between a user's body and an object. The optical sensing unit can include a plurality of light detectors, a plurality of first light emitters, and a plurality of second light emitters. The plurality of first light emitters can measure physiological information of the user, and the plurality of second light emitters can measure a state of the device. The device can include one or more optical components, which can allow the plurality of second light emitters to emit first light towards the strap attached to the device and second light towards the edges of the device.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Paul Joseph Allec, Maximillian Chase Bruggeman, Ueyn L Block
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Patent number: 12064224Abstract: An electronic device including optical sensing with a concentric architecture and methods for operation thereof is disclosed. The concentric architecture can include light detector(s) arranged in a concentric manner around light emitter(s). In some examples, at least one light emitter can be located in the center of the device, and each light detector can be located the same separation distance from the light emitter. Each light detector can be arranged such that the separation distance from the centrally located light emitter can be greater than the separation distance from another light emitter. Examples of the disclosure further include a selective transparent layer overlaying the light detector(s). The selective transparent layer can include section(s) transparent to a first wavelength range and non-transparent to a second wavelength ranges. In some examples, the selective transparent layer can further include section(s) transparent to the second wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ueyn L. Block, Guocheng Shao, Itaru L. Hiromi, Mathieu Charbonneau-LeFort, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan
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Patent number: 12064265Abstract: An integrated window for a photosensor for use in an electronic device has first and second transparent regions separated by an opaque region. The first transparent region allows a transmitter to emit light out of the housing of the electronic device and the second transparent region allows a receiver to receive light through the housing. The opaque region is disposed between the first and second transparent regions to isolate them from one another such that the transmitted light is isolated from the received light.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Maegan K. Spencer, Jaden Alyssa Barney, Dale N. Memering, Ueyn L. Block, Paul D. Mannheimer
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Patent number: 12042255Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing; a wrist band attached to the housing; first and second emitters positioned within the housing and configured to respectively emit, through a back of the housing, a first beam of electromagnetic radiation having a first infrared (IR) wavelength and a second beam of electromagnetic radiation having a second IR wavelength. The second IR wavelength is different from the first IR wavelength. The wearable device also includes a photodetector positioned within the housing and filtered to detect a set of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths including the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength; and a matter differentiation circuit configured to indicate, at least partly in response to signals indicating amounts of the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength received by the photodetector, whether the back of the housing is likely proximate to human tissue.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2023Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Albert E. Cerussi, Maximillian C. Bruggeman, Xiyu Duan, Ueyn L. Block
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Patent number: 12023153Abstract: This relates to an electronic device configured for optical sensing having shared windows and including light restriction designs. The light restriction designs can include one or more of optical layers, optical films, lenses, and window systems configured to reduce or eliminate crosstalk between optical components. A plurality of accepting sections and a plurality of blocking sections can be employed to selectively allow light having an angle of incidence within one or more acceptance viewing angles and block light with angles of incidence outside of the acceptance viewing angles. In some examples, the light restriction designs can include variations in optical and structural properties can allow the light restriction designs to have spatially varying acceptance angles. Variations in structural properties can include, but are not limited to, differences in widths, heights, and/or tilts of the accepting sections and/or blocking sections.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Guocheng Shao, Mathieu Charbonneau-Lefort, Ueyn L. Block
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Patent number: 11857298Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing; a wrist band attached to the housing; first and second emitters positioned within the housing and configured to respectively emit, through a back of the housing, a first beam of electromagnetic radiation having a first infrared (IR) wavelength and a second beam of electromagnetic radiation having a second IR wavelength. The second IR wavelength is different from the first IR wavelength. The wearable device also includes a photodetector positioned within the housing and filtered to detect a set of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths including the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength; and a matter differentiation circuit configured to indicate, at least partly in response to signals indicating amounts of the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength received by the photodetector, whether the back of the housing is likely proximate to human tissue.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Albert E. Cerussi, Maximillian C. Bruggeman, Xiyu Duan, Ueyn L. Block
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Publication number: 20230404419Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing; a wrist band attached to the housing; first and second emitters positioned within the housing and configured to respectively emit, through a back of the housing, a first beam of electromagnetic radiation having a first infrared (IR) wavelength and a second beam of electromagnetic radiation having a second IR wavelength. The second IR wavelength is different from the first IR wavelength. The wearable device also includes a photodetector positioned within the housing and filtered to detect a set of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths including the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength; and a matter differentiation circuit configured to indicate, at least partly in response to signals indicating amounts of the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength received by the photodetector, whether the back of the housing is likely proximate to human tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Albert E. Cerussi, Maximillian C. Bruggeman, Xiyu Duan, Ueyn L. Block