公开(公告)号：US10915151B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-09

申请号：US16145019

申请日：2018-09-27

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Mikael M. Silvanto ,  Simon J. Trivett ,  Matthew S. Theobald ,  Dinesh C. Mathew ,  Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque ,  Robert Y. Cao ,  Ari P. Miller ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Houtan R. Farahani ,  Francesco Ferretti ,  John Raff ,  Robert J. Lockwood ,  Genie Kim ,  Karan Bir ,  Keith J. Hendren ,  Gurshan Deol ,  Antonio Clarke ,  Prabhu Sathyamurthy ,  William A. Counts

IPC: G06F1/18 ,  G06F1/16 ,  H04M1/02

Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.

公开(公告)号：US10761571B1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-01

申请号：US16424332

申请日：2019-05-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Edward J. Cooper ,  Ari P. Miller ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Ian A. Guy

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  F16H21/44 ,  E05D11/08 ,  E05D3/14

Abstract: This application relates to a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a housing including (i) a first case, and (ii) a second case that is capable of pivoting relative to the first case. The portable electronic device further includes a linkage assembly that includes a first joint that is joined to the first case, a second joint that is joined to the first case, a third joint that is joined to the second case, where the second and third joints define a first link, and a fourth joint that is joined to the second case, the first and fourth joints defining a second link, where when an input motion is applied at the second link, the second link oscillates to cause the first link to move such that the first and second cases pivot between a closed configuration and an open configuration.

公开(公告)号：US20190094973A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-28

申请号：US16121454

申请日：2018-09-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ari P. Miller ,  Justin D. Crosby ,  Daniel K. Boothe ,  Houtan R. Farahani ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Ryan J. Mihelich ,  Robert J. Lockwood

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  H04R1/02

Abstract: An electronic device has a housing that forms an exterior surface of the electronic device. An array of actuators is coupled to the housing and is operable to move the housing in order to produce sound waves and/or haptic output via the exterior surface. In this way, less space is consumed by acoustic and haptic devices as compared to similar conventional devices, thereby allowing for thinner electronic devices and/or room for other components within the housing. The actuators may be operable to move different regions of the housing to produce sound waves and/or haptic output within different frequency ranges.

公开(公告)号：US20240329691A1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-03

申请号：US18434719

申请日：2024-02-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Brett W. Degner ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Christoph M. Pistor ,  Mehrdad Hooshmand ,  Simon J. Trivett ,  Bradley J. Hamel ,  Kristopher P. Laurent ,  David H. Narajowski ,  Stephen V. Jayanathan ,  Laura M. DeForest

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  F16M11/10 ,  F16M11/20 ,  H05K5/02

CPC classification number: G06F1/1654 ,  F16M11/10 ,  F16M11/2021 ,  G06F1/166 ,  H05K5/0226 ,  F16M2200/024 ,  F16M2200/041 ,  G06F1/1607 ,  G06F1/1681 ,  H05K5/0221

Abstract: Support systems and stands for electronic devices include tilt hinges, lift arms, and their component parts. Some tilt hinges include assemblies for guiding and retaining bars or protrusions into preferred positioning within receiver openings to unify the parts, particularly as they move, and to reduce wobble or slop in the joints. Lift arms provide simplified and low-cost guidance and counterbalance mechanisms for controlling movement of the electronic device relative to the base of a stand. In some cases, the lift arms have sheaths to help protect or cover mechanisms while allowing additional space for the mechanisms within the lift arm. Other interconnection systems hide and protect a connector interface between the stand and the electronic device within a housing until unlocked and the connector is moved into an exposed position. These systems improve efficiency, comfort, ergonomics, accessibility, and user satisfaction of the electronic devices and their supports.

公开(公告)号：US11567542B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-31

申请号：US16821875

申请日：2020-03-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ari P. Miller ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Chien-Tsun Chen

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  F16C11/04 ,  E05D11/00 ,  E05D11/08 ,  E05D11/10 ,  E05D1/04

Abstract: An accessory device for an electronic device is disclosed. The accessory device includes multiple sections, with one section holding the electronic device, and another section having an input mechanism, such as a keyboard. The accessory device includes a hinge assembly that allows relative movement of the sections with respect each other. An additional hinge assembly is integrated with the section carrying the electronic device, and provides additional flexibility and range of motion of the section, thereby allowing a user to position the electronic device at multiple different angles relative to the section carrying the input mechanism. Also, each hinge assembly may include multiple roller and spacer elements, as well as a retention structure passing through each roller element and spacer element. The retention structure can provide tension to increase the frictional force between the roller and spacer elements, and/or provide counterbalance to offset the weight of the electronic device.

公开(公告)号：US11550369B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-10

申请号：US17158480

申请日：2021-01-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Mikael M. Silvanto ,  Simon J. Trivett ,  Matthew S. Theobald ,  Dinesh C. Mathew ,  Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque ,  Robert Y. Cao ,  Ari P. Miller ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Houtan R. Farahani ,  Francesco Ferretti ,  John Raff ,  Robert J. Lockwood ,  Genie Kim ,  Karan Bir ,  Keith J. Hendren ,  Gurshan Deol ,  Antonio Clarke ,  Prabhu Sathyamurthy ,  William A. Counts

IPC: G06F1/18 ,  G06F1/16 ,  H04M1/02

Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.

公开(公告)号：US11079807B1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-03

申请号：US16053693

申请日：2018-08-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Kevin M. Robinson ,  Houtan R. Farahani ,  Ari P. Miller

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  E05D11/08 ,  E05D7/00 ,  E05D11/00

Abstract: A hinge assembly is disclosed. The hinge assembly may include roller elements and spacer elements positioned between adjacent roller elements. The hinge assembly couples with two housing parts, and allows movement of the housing parts with respect to one another. The roller elements synchronously rotate along surfaces of the spacer elements during rotation of one of the housing parts. Also, in order to maintain engagement between the roller elements and the spacer elements, a strap may extend through openings of the roller elements and the spacer elements. Further, the strap may provide the hinge assembly with a desired stiffness. For example, when the first housing part ceases rotational movement, the strap may cause the first housing part to maintain its position relative to the second housing part. Also, the hinge assembly may include a tensioning element coupled to the strap in order to provide tension to the strap.

公开(公告)号：US10324501B1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-18

申请号：US16041633

申请日：2018-07-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Aidan N. Zimmerman ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Scott J. Krahn ,  Chien-Tsun Chen ,  Bradley J. Hamel ,  Arthur Stanley Brigham

IPC: G06F16/00 ,  H05K5/00 ,  H05K7/00 ,  G06F1/16 ,  E05D7/00 ,  E05D5/02

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a first and a second set of friction elements engaged each other by an applied force perpendicular to the friction elements. The first and the second set of friction elements are capable of rotational movement about a cylindrical element that passes through each of the friction elements. Also, the first set of friction elements is capable of movement relative to the second set of friction elements. However, the first set friction elements can remain in a fixed position based upon the applied force, until an external force overcomes the applied. During rotation of the first set of friction elements about the cylindrical element, the frictional engagement that controls the position of the first set of friction elements is based primarily on engagement between the friction elements, as opposed to engagement, if any, between the friction elements and the cylindrical element.

公开(公告)号：US10228721B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-12

申请号：US15215530

申请日：2016-07-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Houtan R. Farahani ,  Craig C. Leong ,  Matthew W. Blum ,  Zheng Gao ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Keith J. Hendren

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  H05K5/00 ,  H05K7/00 ,  G06F3/02 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  H05K5/04

Abstract: A portable electronic device having several features is disclosed. The device can include a retention member that retains flexible circuits extending from a top portion to a bottom portion of the device, thereby allowing some components to be moved from a top portion of the device to a bottom portion. The device may include a cover plate can be secured with a display in the top portion to cover the retention member and other internal components. The device can include an omni-directional port designed to receive a connector different orientations and provide power to the device. The device can include a flexible keyboard having butterfly keycaps. The device can include an array of openings for an audio driver, with some of the array including through holes and blind holes. The device can also include a touch pad having a force feedback sensor and a haptic device.

公开(公告)号：US10001812B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-19

申请号：US14825137

申请日：2015-08-12

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Bartley K. Andre ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Mikael M. Silvanto ,  Robert Y. Cao ,  Bryan W. Posner ,  Wey-Jiun Lin ,  Dinesh C. Mathew

IPC: G06F1/16

CPC classification number: G06F1/1656 ,  G06F1/1616

Abstract: A cover plate for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The cover plate can be used as a cosmetic feature disposed on a display or cover glass of the portable computing device. For instance, the cover plate may include one or may layers disposed on a surface of the cover plate. In some cases, the layers are formed on a rear surface of the cover plate. In addition to enhancing the appearance of the portable electronic device, the cover plate provides additional a protective layer to internal components positioned behind the cover plate. Moreover, the cover plate may formed from an electromagnetically transparent material such as glass to allow receipt and/or transmission of electromagnetic waves in the form of radio frequencies. Also, the cover plate offers protection to the display and cover glass when the portable electronic device is in a closed configuration.