公开(公告)号：US20220413626A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-29

申请号：US17901765

申请日：2022-09-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Erin M. Bosch ,  Stephen E. Dey ,  Jeffrey A. Griffis ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Yuhao Pan ,  Paul X. Wang

IPC: G06F3/033

Abstract: A finger device may be worn on a user's finger and may serve as a controller for a head-mounted device or other electronic device. The finger device may have a housing having an upper housing portion that extends across a top of the finger and first and second side housing portions that extend down respective first and second sides of the finger. Sensors in the side housing portions may measure movements of the sides of the finger as the finger contacts an external surface. To ensure that the sensors are appropriately positioned relative to the sides of the finger, the housing may include one or more adjustable structures such as an elastomeric band, a drawstring, a ratchet mechanism, a scissor mechanism, and/or other adjustable structures for adjusting the position of the first and second side housing portions and associated sensors relative to the upper housing portion.

公开(公告)号：US11513611B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-29

申请号：US16928319

申请日：2020-07-14

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Craig C. Leong ,  Alex J. Lehmann

IPC: G06F3/02 ,  H01H13/70 ,  H01H13/14 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/023

Abstract: An interface device includes a movable button connected to a frame structure by resilient structures positioned laterally between the button and the frame structure. Multiple layers or diaphragms of material can be used to make the button, frame, and resilient structures. Movement of the button can trigger a switch or sensor in a manner allowing an electronic device to detect interaction with the button. The interface device can be implemented in an electronic device such as a keyboard that has a low number of parts yet also providing tactile, stabilized key travel, support for various sensor or switch types for the keys, and, in some cases, haptic feedback.

公开(公告)号：US11500538B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-15

申请号：US15692810

申请日：2017-08-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alex J. Lehmann ,  Chang Zhang ,  Dayu Qu ,  Kenneth M. Silz ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Zheng Gao ,  Scott J. McEuen ,  Reza Nasiri Mahalati

IPC: G06F3/04886 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/04883

Abstract: An input device for an electronic device includes an enclosure and a top member defining an input surface having multiple differentiated input regions. The input device further includes a first force sensing system associated with a first area of the top member and including a first group of the differentiated input regions, and a second force sensing system associated with a second area of the top member and including a second group of the differentiated input regions. The input device further includes a touch sensing system configured to determine which input region from the first group of the differentiated input regions corresponds to the first force input and to determine which input region from the second group of the differentiated input regions corresponds to the second force input.

公开(公告)号：US20220357773A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-10

申请号：US17871366

申请日：2022-07-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Keith J. Hendren ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Adam T. Garelli ,  Brett W. Degner ,  Christiaan A. Ligtenberg ,  Dinesh C. Mathew

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: An electronic device may include a glass housing member that includes an upper portion defining a display area, a lower portion defining an input area, and a transition portion joining the upper portion and the lower portion and defining a continuous, curved surface between the upper portion and the lower portion. The electronic device may include a display coupled to the glass housing member and configured to provide a visual output at the display area. The electronic device may include an input device coupled to the glass housing member and configured to detect inputs at the input area. The electronic device may include a support structure coupled to the glass housing member and configured to support the computing device.

公开(公告)号：US11462194B1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US16049643

申请日：2018-07-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Tianjia Sun ,  Chang Zhang ,  Dominic P. McCarthy ,  Eric Shyr ,  John B. Morrell ,  John P. Ternus

IPC: G09G5/12 ,  G06F3/14 ,  G09G5/14 ,  G06F3/0346 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G01D5/241 ,  H04M1/72412

Abstract: A system may include electronic devices that communicate wirelessly. When positioned so that a pair of devices overlap or are adjacent to one another, the devices may operate in a linked mode. During linked operations, devices may communicate wirelessly while input gathering and content displaying operations are shared among the devices. One or both of a pair of devices may have sensors. A capacitive sensor or other sensor may be used to measure the relative position between two devices when the two devices overlap each other. Content displaying operations and other linked mode operations may be performed based on the measured relative position between the two devices and other information.

公开(公告)号：US11379049B2

公开(公告)日：2022-07-05

申请号：US16353915

申请日：2019-03-14

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Michelle R. Goldberg ,  Kathleen A. Bergeron ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  William P. Yarak, III ,  Kevin C. Armendariz ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: H01H3/12 ,  G06F3/02 ,  H01H13/14 ,  H01H13/83 ,  H01H13/705 ,  H01H11/00 ,  H01H13/7065 ,  H01H13/88

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a low profile key for a keyboard having an overmolded support structure. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap having an illuminable symbol. A support structure having a pair of overmolded wings may pivotally couple to the key cap. A switch housing may surround the support structure and connect each of the first and second wings. A tactile dome may be at least partially positioned within the switch housing and configured to bias the key cap upward. A sensing membrane may be positioned along an underside surface of the tactile dome and configured to trigger a switch event in response to a collapsing of the tactile dome caused by a depression of the key cap. A feature plate may be positioned below the sensing membrane. A light guide panel may define at least one light extraction feature that may be configured to propagate light toward the key cap and cause illumination of the illuminable symbol.

公开(公告)号：US20220171474A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-02

申请号：US17651163

申请日：2022-02-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Dinesh C. Mathew ,  John S. Camp

IPC: G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/02 ,  G06F3/038

Abstract: Computing systems and input devices can include a chassis with a computing device and an input tool with a sensor, such as a pen- or rod-like input tool, that can be positioned relative to the chassis in multiple configurations. In one configuration, the tool can be spaced away from the chassis and its sensor output can cause a first output signal in response to input provided to the sensor. In another configuration, the tool can be contacting the chassis and its sensor output can cause a second output signal in response to input provided to the sensor. For example, an input tool can be stowed in a recess of a keyboard housing or device chassis, and the input tool can produce a first output when it is in the recess and a second input when it has been removed from the chassis.

公开(公告)号：US11347312B1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-31

申请号：US16923474

申请日：2020-07-08

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  B06B1/02 ,  G02B27/01

Abstract: A system may include haptic output devices such as ultrasonic haptic output components that generate ultrasonic sound waves. The ultrasonic sound waves may be directed towards a user to provide haptic output. The haptic output devices may be used in a system that includes one or more electronic devices. Control circuitry may control the haptic output devices based on sensor data indicating where the user is located and/or based on what is being displayed for a user on a display. Ultrasonic haptic output may be used to simulate contact with a virtual object, to simulate rain, to simulate a breeze, and/or to simulate other sensations in a mixed reality or virtual reality environment. The ultrasonic haptic output components may be stand-alone devices or may be mounted in a head-mounted display, a gaming base station, a handheld controller, a finger-mounted device, or other electronic equipment.

公开(公告)号：US20220091457A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-24

申请号：US17031767

申请日：2020-09-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Lauren M. Farrell ,  Adam T. Garelli ,  Brian P. Graves ,  David P. Tarkington ,  Eric L. Benson ,  Erik A. Zweigle ,  Kwonil D. Fleischman ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Simon S. Lee ,  Tingjun Xu ,  Nicholas A. Rundle

IPC: G02F1/1333 ,  G02B5/08 ,  G02B5/10

Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing that at least partially defines an exterior surface and an internal volume of the electronic device, and a display assembly at least partially disposed in the internal volume. The display assembly can include a transparent cover that at least partially defines the exterior surface of the electronic device, a backlight unit disposed between the cover and the housing, a frame coupling the cover to the backlight unit, a portion of the frame at least partially defining an aperture, and an electronic component disposed in the internal volume and extending through the aperture.

公开(公告)号：US20210408169A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-30

申请号：US17470881

申请日：2021-09-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Dinesh C. Mathew

IPC: H01L27/32 ,  G09F9/30 ,  H01L51/52 ,  G02F1/13357 ,  H01L51/00 ,  G09G3/00

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display mounted in a housing. The display may be mounted on a front side of the device and the housing may have a housing wall on the rear side of the device. The display may be formed from an array of pixels configured to display an image for a user. Pixel-free border areas that run along the edges of the array of pixels may be provided with an edge illuminator. The edge illuminator may provide illumination to the border areas during operation of the device. The edge illuminator may have crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies, backlit liquid crystal devices or electrophoretic display components, or may have a light guide that is supplied with illumination from a light-emitting diode.