公开(公告)号：US20200080580A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16127051

申请日：2018-09-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Adam T. Clavelle ,  Colin M. Ely

IPC: F16B5/02 ,  F16B37/04 ,  H05K5/00

Abstract: A fastener can include a body, an engagement feature, and a protrusion extending from the body. The engagement feature can receive and mechanically engage with a fixing member. The fastener can be positioned in a cavity of a brittle article, the cavity including an undercut region. A fixing member can pass through an aperture of a component positioned relative to the fastener such that the fixing member mechanically engages the fastener and a surface of the protrusion engages with an opposing surface of the undercut region.

公开(公告)号：US20200064779A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-27

申请号：US16255685

申请日：2019-01-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sameer Pandya ,  Steven C. Roach ,  Colin M. Ely ,  Erik G. de Jong

IPC: G04C3/00 ,  G06F1/16

Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has an input mechanism, such as a crown, that may receive translational inputs, rotational inputs, and/or touch inputs. Inputs received at the crown may result in changes in operation of the electronic device and/or outputs, such as graphical outputs, provided by the electronic device. In various embodiments, the crown includes a retainer that couples an outer crown body to an inner crown body and secures an isolator between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. The embodiments of the crown described herein provide a simple and robust input mechanism for receiving rotational, translational, and touch inputs as described above, while simplifying part alignment, ensuring consistent rotation, and allowing for efficient manufacturing.

公开(公告)号：US20200064774A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-27

申请号：US16221549

申请日：2018-12-16

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  Sameer Pandya ,  Steven C. Roach

IPC: G04B3/04 ,  G04C3/00 ,  G04G21/02 ,  G04G21/08 ,  G04G17/08 ,  G04G17/04 ,  G04G17/06

Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a crown assembly having a shaft and a user-rotatable crown. The user-rotatable crown may include a conductive cap that is mechanically and electrically coupled to the shaft and functions as an electrode. The conductive cap may be coupled to the shaft using solder or another conductive attachment mechanism. The shaft may electrically couple the conductive cap to a processing unit of the electronic device. One or more additional electrodes may be positioned on the exterior surface of the electronic device. The conductive cap is operable to be contacted by a finger of a user of the electronic device while another electrode is positioned against skin of the user. The processing unit of the electronic device is operable to determine a biological parameter, such as an electrocardiogram, of the user based on voltages at the electrodes.

公开(公告)号：US10566687B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-18

申请号：US15917083

申请日：2018-03-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  Christopher D. Prest ,  Lucy E. Browning ,  Stephen B. Lynch ,  Eric S. Laakmann ,  Paul L. Nangeroni

IPC: H01Q1/42 ,  C23C14/16 ,  C23C14/58 ,  C23C16/06 ,  C23C28/00 ,  H01Q1/24

Abstract: A housing for an electronic device, including an aluminum layer enclosing a volume that includes a radio-frequency (RF) antenna is provided. The housing includes a window aligned with the RF antenna; the window including a non-conductive material filling a cavity in the aluminum layer; and a thin aluminum oxide layer adjacent to the aluminum layer and to the non-conductive material; wherein the non-conductive material and the thin aluminum oxide layer form an RF-transparent path through the window. A housing for an electronic device including an integrated RF-antenna is also provided. A method of manufacturing a housing for an electronic device as described above is provided.

公开(公告)号：US10561033B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-11

申请号：US16298809

申请日：2019-03-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  Dale N. Memering ,  Kazuya Takagi ,  Naoto Matsuyuki ,  Theodore A. Waniuk

IPC: H05K5/02 ,  C04B35/486 ,  C04B35/48 ,  C04B35/64 ,  C09C1/00

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a housing of an electronic device includes determining a sintering profile configured to produce a selected color at a selected depth within a wall of the housing, sintering a ceramic housing precursor in accordance with the determined sintering profile, thereby forming the housing, and removing material from the housing up to the selected depth.

公开(公告)号：US10551798B1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-04

申请号：US15597145

申请日：2017-05-16

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Tyler S. Bushnell ,  Adam T. Clavelle ,  Christopher M. Werner ,  Colin M. Ely ,  Stephen N. Sweet ,  Sriram Moorthy ,  Huan Peng

IPC: G04G21/00 ,  G04B3/04 ,  G01D5/165

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.

公开(公告)号：US10542338B2

公开(公告)日：2020-01-21

申请号：US15989115

申请日：2018-05-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  Brad G. Boozer ,  Benjamin J. Kallman

IPC: H04R1/02 ,  H01R13/631

Abstract: An electronic device includes a concealed electrical connector positioned within a speaker opening defined by an enclosure of the electronic device. A mating connector is configured to fit through the speaker opening and couple to the concealed electrical connector to form a bidirectional communications path with circuitry within the electronic device.

公开(公告)号：US20190294117A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-26

申请号：US16422722

申请日：2019-05-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  John B. Morrell ,  Duncan Kerr ,  Camille Moussette

IPC: G04B27/00 ,  G06F1/16 ,  H01H3/12 ,  H01H9/16 ,  G04G21/08 ,  G06F3/0362 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  H01H25/06 ,  H01H25/00

Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.

公开(公告)号：US20190228927A1

公开(公告)日：2019-07-25

申请号：US16371301

申请日：2019-04-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Pierre M. Teplitxky ,  Colin M. Ely ,  Fletcher R. Rothkopf ,  Anna-Katrina Shedletsky ,  Samuel B. Weiss

IPC: H01H13/06

Abstract: A waterproof button assembly. The waterproof button assembly may include a housing including an opening and a button. The button may be positioned at least partially within the housing via the opening. The assembly may also include a plurality of engagement components positioned on opposite-distal ends of the button. The plurality of engagement components may be configured to retain the button within the housing. The engagement components may extend distally from the button, such that a portion of the engagement components may be positioned within apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing. The assembly may also include a plurality of supports, a tactile dome in contact with the button and at least one of the plurality of supports. A sensing component of the assembly may be positioned adjacent the housing and in alignment with the button and/or tactile dome for sensing actuation of the button within the assembly.

公开(公告)号：US10331081B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-25

申请号：US16179872

申请日：2018-11-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Colin M. Ely ,  John B. Morrell ,  Duncan Kerr ,  Camille Moussette

IPC: G04B27/00 ,  H01H3/12 ,  H01H9/16 ,  H01H25/00 ,  H01H25/06 ,  G06F3/0362 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G04G21/08 ,  G06F3/0488

Abstract: An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.