公开(公告)号：US11825680B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US17095639

申请日：2020-11-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jiang Ai ,  Erik A. Uttermann ,  Soyoung Kim

IPC: H10K50/84 ,  H10K102/00

CPC classification number: H10K50/841 ,  H10K2102/311

Abstract: An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis, the display may have layers such as a display cover layer with grooves or other recesses. The recesses form a flexible portion in the display layer. The display layer may be formed from glass or other materials that are transparent. Elastomeric material, fluids, and other materials may be placed in the recesses in the display layer. The material in the display layer may have an index of refraction that is matched to the index of refraction of the display layer. A hinge may be formed between rigid planar layers that are separated by a gap. Flexible layers that lie flush with opposing surfaces of the rigid planar layers may be used to span the gap.

公开(公告)号：US10600989B1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-24

申请号：US16019431

申请日：2018-06-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jiang Ai ,  Erik A. Uttermann ,  Soyoung Kim

IPC: H01L51/52

Abstract: An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis, the display may have layers such as a display cover layer with grooves or other recesses. The recesses form a flexible portion in the display layer. The display layer may be formed from glass or other materials that are transparent. Elastomeric material, fluids, and other materials may be placed in the recesses in the display layer. The material in the display layer may have an index of refraction that is matched to the index of refraction of the display layer. A hinge may be formed between rigid planar layers that are separated by a gap. Flexible layers that lie flush with opposing surfaces of the rigid planar layers may be used to span the gap.

公开(公告)号：US20190095009A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-28

申请号：US16143382

申请日：2018-09-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alan Kleiman-Schwarsctein ,  Senem E. Emgin ,  Terrence L. Van Ausdall ,  Xianwei Zhao ,  Yuxi Zhao ,  Soyoung Kim

IPC: G06F3/044

Abstract: A transparent high-conductivity layer for providing electrostatic feedback to a user of an electronic device. The transparent high-conductivity layer is positioned over a capacitive input sensor and has a resistivity sufficiently high to prevent interference with the capacitive input sensor. As one example, the transparent high-conductivity layer can be formed from a layer of geometrically-separated regions of high-conductivity material. The average distance between geometrically-separated regions can substantially define the resistivity of the transparent high-conductivity layer.

公开(公告)号：US09891770B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-13

申请号：US14839572

申请日：2015-08-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Po-Jui Chen ,  Soyoung Kim ,  Kuo-Hua Sung ,  Hui Chen ,  Rui Qiao

IPC: G06F3/00 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/044 ,  G06F2203/04103 ,  G06F2203/04111

Abstract: A sensor includes a patterned compliant layer positioned between two substrates. Each substrate can include one or more conductive electrodes, with each electrode of one substrate paired with a respective electrode of the other substrate. Each pair of conductive electrodes forms a capacitor. Several methods are disclosed that can be used to produce the patterned compliant layer.

公开(公告)号：US20160062500A1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-03

申请号：US14501384

申请日：2014-09-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Patrick Kessler ,  Jonah A. Harley ,  Soyoung Kim ,  Daniel D. Sunshine

IPC: G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/0414 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F2203/04104 ,  G06F2203/04105

Abstract: A force sensor and force-sensing structure for use as input to an electronic device. A user touch event may be sensed on a display, enclosure, or other surface associated with an electronic device using a force sensor adapted to determine the magnitude of force of the touch event. The sensor output, corresponding to the magnitude of force, may be used as an input signal, input data, or other input information to the electronic device. A force sensor may include an array of upper electrodes disposed on a first substrate and a compliant medium disposed in a gap between the first substrate and a second substrate. At least one lower electrode may be disposed on the second substrate. The first substrate may be configured to deflect relative to the second substrate over a localized region when a force is applied to the force-receiving surface.

公开(公告)号：US11269442B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-08

申请号：US16901933

申请日：2020-06-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alan Kleiman-Schwarsctein ,  Senem E. Emgin ,  Terrence L. Van Ausdall ,  Xianwei Zhao ,  Yuxi Zhao ,  Soyoung Kim

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/01

Abstract: A transparent high-conductivity layer for providing electrostatic feedback to a user of an electronic device. The transparent high-conductivity layer is positioned over a capacitive input sensor and has a resistivity sufficiently high to prevent interference with the capacitive input sensor. As one example, the transparent high-conductivity layer can be formed from a layer of geometrically-separated regions of high-conductivity material. The average distance between geometrically-separated regions can substantially define the resistivity of the transparent high-conductivity layer.

公开(公告)号：US20200212340A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-02

申请号：US16814890

申请日：2020-03-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jiang Ai ,  Erik A. Uttermann ,  Soyoung Kim

IPC: H01L51/52

Abstract: An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis, the display may have layers such as a display cover layer with grooves or other recesses. The recesses form a flexible portion in the display layer. The display layer may be formed from glass or other materials that are transparent. Elastomeric material, fluids, and other materials may be placed in the recesses in the display layer. The material in the display layer may have an index of refraction that is matched to the index of refraction of the display layer. A hinge may be formed between rigid planar layers that are separated by a gap. Flexible layers that lie flush with opposing surfaces of the rigid planar layers may be used to span the gap.

公开(公告)号：US20200166974A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-28

申请号：US16777239

申请日：2020-01-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jiang Ai ,  Mitchell A. Heschke ,  Soyoung Kim ,  Stephen R. McClure

IPC: G06F1/16

Abstract: An electronic device may have a flexible display that overlaps an axis. The display may be supported by a housing. The housing may have first and second portions that rotate relative to each other about the axis. The housing may be placed in an unfolded configuration to support the display in a planar state. The housing may also be placed in a folded configuration by rotating the first and second portions relative to each other. A hinge mechanism may be used to ensure adequate separation between the first and second portions when the housing is bent. Movable flaps may be retracted when the housing is bent to create room for a bent portion of the display.

公开(公告)号：US20190094970A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-28

申请号：US15719326

申请日：2017-09-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Terrence L. Van Ausdall ,  Senem E. Emgin ,  Soyoung Kim ,  Ryan J. Moynihan ,  YiBo Liu

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: An input/output interface for an electronic device receives touch and/or force input and, additionally provides haptic output to a user. In particular the input/output interface is operated in conjunction with an input surface and includes at least one input sensor and at least one haptic output element. In typical embodiments, the input sensor is ground-shifted to prevent damage to the input sensor when the haptic output element is driven.

公开(公告)号：US12238954B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-25

申请号：US18488911

申请日：2023-10-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jiang Ai ,  Erik A. Uttermann ,  Soyoung Kim

IPC: H10K50/84 ,  H10K102/00

Abstract: An electronic device may have a hinge that allows the device to be flexed about a bend axis. A display may span the bend axis. To facilitate bending about the bend axis, the display may have layers such as a display cover layer with grooves or other recesses. The recesses form a flexible portion in the display layer. The display layer may be formed from glass or other materials that are transparent. Elastomeric material, fluids, and other materials may be placed in the recesses in the display layer. The material in the display layer may have an index of refraction that is matched to the index of refraction of the display layer. A hinge may be formed between rigid planar layers that are separated by a gap. Flexible layers that lie flush with opposing surfaces of the rigid planar layers may be used to span the gap.