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).

  • Patent number: 11857298
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Albert E. Cerussi, Maximillian C. Bruggeman, Xiyu Duan, Ueyn L. Block
  • Publication number: 20230404419
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Albert E. Cerussi, Maximillian C. Bruggeman, Xiyu Duan, Ueyn L. Block
  • Publication number: 20230329597
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Ueyn L. Block, Brian R. Land, Paul D. Mannheimer, Albert E. Cerussi
  • Patent number: 11717197
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Ueyn L. Block, Brian R. Land, Paul D. Mannheimer, Albert E. Cerussi
  • Patent number: 11635786
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing that includes an optically transparent component. First and second light emitters can be positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing. A light detector can be positioned in the internal volume and can be optically isolated from the first and second light emitters within the internal volume. An opaque material can be disposed on the optically transparent component and can be positioned to inhibit light emitted from the second light emitter from reaching the light detector and to allow light emitted from the first light emitter to reach the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ueyn L. Block, Devon K. Copeland, Guocheng Shao, Vivek Venugopal
  • Publication number: 20230052087
    Abstract: A watch having a cover is described. An optical sensor subsystem is attached adjacent to or directly on an interior surface of the cover. In some cases, the optical sensor subsystem includes a substrate to which a light emitter and a light receiver are attached. The light receiver is configured to receive light emitted by the light emitter and reflected from the skin of a person that wears the watch. In some cases, the light emitter and light receiver are separated by a light-blocking wall that abuts the interior surface of the cover. In some cases, a light filter is attached adjacent or directly on the interior surface of the cover, between the cover and the light receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan, Erik G. de Jong, Ueyn L. Block
  • Publication number: 20230022354
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Maegan K. Spencer, Jaden Alyssa Barney, Dale N. Memering, Ueyn L. Block, Paul D. Mannheimer
  • Patent number: 11504057
    Abstract: A watch having a cover is described. An optical sensor subsystem is attached adjacent to or directly on an interior surface of the cover. In some cases, the optical sensor subsystem includes a substrate to which a light emitter and a light receiver are attached. The light receiver is configured to receive light emitted by the light emitter and reflected from the skin of a person that wears the watch. In some cases, the light emitter and light receiver are separated by a light-blocking wall that abuts the interior surface of the cover. In some cases, a light filter is attached adjacent or directly on the interior surface of the cover, between the cover and the light receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan, Erik G. de Jong, Ueyn L. Block
  • Publication number: 20220342163
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Jacky G. Ko, Ueyn L. Block, James R. Wilson, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 11406325
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Maegan K. Spencer, Jaden Alyssa Barney, Dale N. Memering, Ueyn L. Block, Paul D. Mannheimer
  • Publication number: 20220167864
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Ueyn L. Block, Guocheng Shao, Itaru L. Hiromi, Mathieu Charbonneau-LeFort, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan
  • Patent number: 11266320
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ueyn L. Block, Guocheng Shao, Itaru L. Hiromi, Mathieu Charbonneau-Lefort, Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan
  • Publication number: 20210389798
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing that includes an optically transparent component. First and second light emitters can be positioned in the internal volume defined by the housing. A light detector can be positioned in the internal volume and can be optically isolated from the first and second light emitters within the internal volume. An opaque material can be disposed on the optically transparent component and can be positioned to inhibit light emitted from the second light emitter from reaching the light detector and to allow light emitted from the first light emitter to reach the light detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Ueyn L. Block, Devon K. Copeland, Guocheng Shao, Vivek Venugopal
  • Publication number: 20210161444
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Guocheng Shao, Mathieu Charbonneau-Lefort, Ueyn L. Block
  • Publication number: 20210093237
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal, Ueyn L. Block, Brian R. Land, Paul D. Mannheimer, Albert E. Cerussi
  • Patent number: 10918322
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guocheng Shao, Mathieu Charbonneau-Lefort, Ueyn L. Block
  • Patent number: 10874348
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to wearable devices and methods for measuring a photoplethysmographic signal. The wearable devices and methods may include a force sensor that provides input used for motion-noise filtering to obtain improved PPG signals. Feedback from the force sensor may also be used to indicate whether the amount of pressure exerted by the device should be adjusted, or whether the device should be switched to a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chin San Han, Vivek Venugopal, Ueyn L. Block, Nicholas Paul Joseph Allec
  • Publication number: 20200305794
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Maegan K. Spencer, Jaden Alyssa Barney, Dale N. Memering, Ueyn L. Block, Paul D. Mannheimer
  • Patent number: 10702211
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam T. Clavelle, Maegan K. Spencer, Jaden Alyssa Barney, Dale N. Memering, Ueyn L. Block, Paul D. Mannheimer
  • Patent number: 10687718
    Abstract: This relates to systems and methods for determining one or more of a user's physiological signals. The one or more of the user's physiological signals can be determined by measuring pulsatile blood volume changes. Motion artifacts included in the signals can be canceled or reduced by measuring non-pulsatile blood volume changes and adjusting the signal to account for the non-pulsatile blood information. Non-pulsatile blood volume changes can be measured using at least one set of light emitter-light sensor. The light emitter can be located in close proximity (e.g., less than or equal to 1 mm away) to the light sensor, thereby limiting light emitted by the light emitter to blood volume without interacting with one or more blood vessels and/or arterioles. In some examples, the systems can further include an accelerometer configured to measure the user's acceleration, and the acceleration signal can be additionally be used for compensating for motion artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Paul Joseph Allec, Rui Peterson, Ueyn L. Block, Vivek Venugopal