公开(公告)号：US11967561B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-23

申请号：US18330276

申请日：2023-06-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel D. Sunshine ,  Paul S. Drzaic ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  David M. Kindlon ,  Hoon Sik Kim ,  Kathryn P. Crews ,  Yung-Yu Hsu

IPC: H01L23/538 ,  D02G3/44 ,  G01D11/30 ,  H01L23/31 ,  H01L25/075 ,  H01L33/56 ,  H05K1/03 ,  H05K1/18 ,  A41D1/00 ,  F21Y115/10 ,  H01L21/48 ,  H01L23/00 ,  H01L33/62 ,  H05K1/02 ,  H05K3/28

CPC classification number: H01L23/5387 ,  D02G3/441 ,  G01D11/30 ,  H01L23/3121 ,  H01L23/5386 ,  H01L25/0753 ,  H01L33/56 ,  H05K1/038 ,  H05K1/189 ,  A41D1/005 ,  F21Y2115/10 ,  H01L21/4853 ,  H01L24/16 ,  H01L33/62 ,  H01L2224/16225 ,  H01L2224/16227 ,  H01L2924/15174 ,  H01L2933/0091 ,  H05K1/0283 ,  H05K3/284 ,  H05K2201/10106 ,  H05K2201/2009

Abstract: A fabric-based item may include fabric layers and other layers of material. An array of electrical components may be mounted in the fabric-based item. The electrical components may be mounted to a support structure such as a flexible printed circuit. The flexible printed circuit may have a mesh shape formed from an array of openings. Serpentine flexible printed circuit segments may extend between the openings. The electrical components may be light-emitting diodes or other electrical devices. Polymer with light-scattering particles or other materials may cover the electrical components. The flexible printed circuit may be laminated between fabric layers or other layers of material in the fabric-based item.

公开(公告)号：US11821115B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US16985042

申请日：2020-08-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Benjamin J. Grena ,  Didio V. Gomes ,  Joshua A. Hoover ,  Seul Bi Kim ,  David M. Kindlon ,  Kevin T. Pham ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Robert J. Rose ,  Andrew L. Rosenberg ,  Miikka O. Tikander

IPC: D03D7/00 ,  D03D1/00 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B3/08 ,  D03D11/00 ,  D03D17/00 ,  H01B7/06 ,  D03D15/56

CPC classification number: D03D1/0088 ,  B32B3/08 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B5/024 ,  D03D7/00 ,  D03D11/00 ,  D03D15/56 ,  D03D17/00 ,  H01B7/06 ,  B32B2250/02 ,  B32B2250/03 ,  B32B2250/04 ,  B32B2262/02 ,  B32B2262/0276 ,  B32B2262/103 ,  B32B2307/202 ,  B32B2457/00 ,  D10B2331/04 ,  D10B2331/06 ,  D10B2331/12

Abstract: A stretchable fabric signal path may include a conductive strand located between first and second outer fabric layers. The outer fabric layers may be formed from intertwined strands of elastic material. The conductive strand may have a wavy shape to accommodate stretching of the stretchable fabric signal path. First and second inner fabric layers may be located between the outer stretchable fabric layers. The inner fabric layers may be formed from intertwined strands of non-elastic material. The inner fabric layers may have strands that are intertwined with the outer fabric layers to serve as anchor points for maintaining the shape of the conductive strand as the stretchable fabric signal path expands and contracts. The outer fabric layers and inner fabric layers may be woven. The conductive strand may convey electrical signals such as audio signals, power signals, data signals, or other suitable signals.

公开(公告)号：US20230305650A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-28

申请号：US18296882

申请日：2023-04-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Kathryn P. Crews ,  Daniel D. Sunshine

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/044 ,  D03D15/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/041 ,  D03D15/00 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/04166 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/0443 ,  G06F3/0445 ,  G06F3/0446 ,  G06F3/045

Abstract: A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.

公开(公告)号：US11656697B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-23

申请号：US17554601

申请日：2021-12-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Kathryn P. Crews ,  Daniel D. Sunshine

IPC: G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044 ,  D03D15/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/041 ,  D03D15/00 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/0443 ,  G06F3/0445 ,  G06F3/0446 ,  G06F3/04166

Abstract: A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.

公开(公告)号：US20230061553A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-02

申请号：US17862249

申请日：2022-07-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yue Chen ,  Didio V. Gomes ,  Benjamin J. Grena ,  Storrs T. Hoen ,  David M. Kindlon ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Andrew L. Rosenberg

IPC: D03D1/00

Abstract: One or more electrical components may be incorporated into a piece of fabric. The electrical component may include an internal portion that is located inside of the fabric, an external portion that is located on an exterior surface of the fabric, and protrusions that extend through the fabric to electrically and/or mechanically couple the internal and external portions of the electrical component. The internal portion of the component may be inserted into the fabric during formation of the fabric. The external portion of the component may be coupled to the internal portion after the fabric is formed by inserting the protrusions on the internal portion into recesses in the external portion. The external portion of the component may contain skin-facing and/or viewer-facing input-output devices, while the internal portion may contain circuitry that electrically communicates with the input-output devices in the external portion.

公开(公告)号：US20230000435A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-05

申请号：US17900733

申请日：2022-08-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven J. Keating ,  Daniel D. Sunshine ,  Benjamin J. Grena ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Jerzy S. Guterman ,  Jessica J. Lu ,  David M. Kindlon

IPC: A61B5/00 ,  A61B5/0205 ,  A61B5/021 ,  A61B5/024 ,  A61B5/08 ,  D03D1/00 ,  D03D7/00 ,  H04B1/3827 ,  H04W4/80 ,  A61B5/01 ,  A61B5/113 ,  D02G3/44 ,  D03D15/56 ,  A61B5/25

Abstract: A fabric-based item may be provided with a stretchable band. The stretchable band may be formed from a ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric having an opening configured to fit around a body part of a user. Circuitry may be coupled to strands of material in the stretchable band. The circuitry may include sensor circuitry for making measurements on the body part such as electrocardiogram measurements, blood pressure measurements, and respiration rate measurements. Wireless communications circuitry in the fabric-based item may be used to communicate wirelessly with external electronic equipment. A wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power. A coil formed from conductive strands in the fabric-based item may be used by wireless power receiving circuitry in the fabric-based item to receive the wireless power. The coil may have one or more turns that run around the ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric.

公开(公告)号：US11530501B1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-20

申请号：US15947679

申请日：2018-04-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Yohji Hamada

IPC: D04B27/08 ,  D04B23/18 ,  D04B35/04 ,  D04B21/20 ,  D04B21/06 ,  D04B37/06 ,  D04B1/22

Abstract: A warp knitting system may knit a seamless tube of fabric. The fabric may have a spacer between outer and inner fabric layers. The knitting system may have first and second needle guide systems. The first and second needle guide systems may each have selectively linked needle bed sections that guide respective needles. A guide bar system may have guide bars that dispense strands of material during knitting. Each guide bar may be positioned using a respective guide bar positioner. The guide bar system may be shifted relative to the needles using a rotational positioner. The needle guide systems and guide bar system may be formed from selectively coupled links. The selectively coupled links may be configured to adjust the diameter of the tube of fabric to a desired value. The thickness of the tube may be adjusted by adjusting a gap between the first and second needle guide systems.

公开(公告)号：US11504945B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-22

申请号：US16358590

申请日：2019-03-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sofiane Berlat ,  Aedhan M. Loomis ,  Peter F. Coxeter ,  Sarah J. Montplaisir ,  Timon A. Wright ,  Yohji Hamada ,  Patrick Perry ,  Chad J. Miller ,  Andrew L. Rosenberg ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Daniel D. Sunshine ,  Jessica J. Lu ,  Lia M. Uesato ,  Donald L. Olmstead

IPC: B32B7/09 ,  D04B1/08 ,  D04B21/20 ,  D04B1/22 ,  D05B1/06 ,  D05B93/00 ,  B29C70/24 ,  B29C65/00 ,  A45C11/00 ,  B32B3/26 ,  B32B5/06

Abstract: An item may be formed from structures that include holes. Stitching may be used to form a seam that joins the structures. The stitching may be formed from a chain stitch that passes through the holes. The holes may be formed from loops of knit fabric or other holes. Leather layers, polymer layers, fabric layers, and other structures with holes may be joined using the stitching. During fabrication, a layer of material with holes may be placed on an adjustable-shape fixture having a bed of needles. The shape of the bed of nails in the adjustable-shape fixture may then be changed. After the fixture has been used to transform the shape of one or more of the structures, the structures may be placed on needles in an assembly fixture and the stitching between the structures may be formed. The item may be an electronic device cover or other item.

公开(公告)号：US11484264B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-01

申请号：US17088457

申请日：2020-11-03

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven J. Keating ,  Daniel D. Sunshine ,  Benjamin J. Grena ,  Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Jerzy S. Guterman ,  Jessica J. Lu ,  David M. Kindlon

IPC: A61B5/024 ,  A61B5/00 ,  A61B5/0205 ,  A61B5/021 ,  A61B5/08 ,  D03D1/00 ,  D03D7/00 ,  H04B1/3827 ,  H04W4/80 ,  A61B5/01 ,  A61B5/113 ,  D02G3/44 ,  D03D15/56 ,  A61B5/25

Abstract: A fabric-based item may be provide with a stretchable band. The stretchable band may be formed from a ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric having an opening configured to fit around a body part of a user. Circuitry may be coupled to strands of material in the stretchable band. The circuitry may include sensor circuitry for making measurements on the body part such as electrocardiogram measurements, blood pressure measurements, and respiration rate measurements. Wireless communications circuitry in the fabric-based item may be used to communicate wirelessly with external electronic equipment. A wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power. A coil formed from conductive strands in the fabric-based item may be used by wireless power receiving circuitry in the fabric-based item to receive the wireless power. The coil may have one or more turns that run around the ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric.

公开(公告)号：US20220275543A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-01

申请号：US17750287

申请日：2022-05-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel A. Podhajny ,  Kathryn P. Crews ,  Yohji Hamada

IPC: D02H5/02 ,  D03D15/00 ,  D03J1/14

Abstract: Weaving equipment may include warp strand positioning equipment that positions warp strands and weft strand positioning equipment that inserts weft strands among the warp strands to form fabric. One or more of the warp strands may be selectively modified along its length using a warp strand modification unit. The warp strand modification unit may be interposed between the fabric and a reed, may be interposed between the fabric and the warp strand positioning equipment, may be mounted to the reed, or may be incorporated elsewhere in the weaving equipment. Warp strand modifications may include adding segments of metallic paint coatings or other conductive coatings, adding insulating coatings, applying other liquids to segments of the warp strand, modifying the stretchiness of warp strands, removing material from segments of the warp strand, and attaching electrical components to the warp strand.