Apple Inc.

Bart K Andre

Paul Xiaopeng Wang

Dinesh C Mathew

Abidur Rahman Chowdhury

Keith J Hendren

Houtan R Farahani

Daniele De Iuliis

Brett W Degner

Michael D McBroom

Sabrina K Paseman

Geng Luo

Richard P Howarth

Kainoa Kwon-Perez

Adam T Garelli

Sung Hoon Kim

Matthew J Sundstrom

John B Morrell

Seung Wook Kim

John C Difonzo

Michael E Leclerc

Brian T Gleeson

William D Lindmeier

Kristi E Bauerly

Danny L McBroom

Megan M Sapp

Andy Johnston

Evangelos Christodoulou

Jonathan P Ive

Christopher J Stringer

Martha Evans Hankey

Daniel J Coster

Benjamin Andrew Shaffer

Mikael M Silvanto

Steve P Jobs

Douglas B Satzger

Calvin Q Seid

Sung-Ho Tan

Chris A Ligtenberg

David H Narajowski

Bryan W Posner

Jerzy S Guterman

Peter Henry Mahowald

Onur I Ilkorur

Eric R Prather

Richard D Kosoglow

David H Bloom

Per Haakan Linus Persson

John Schooley Camp

Miao He

Steven J Taylor

James M Cuseo

Joshua A Spechler

Joel D Barrera

Ronald J Moller

Kristen L Cretella

Marc J Van De Loo

Rafael L Dionello

Mariel L Lanas

Rodrigo Dutervil Mubarak

Mounir M Itani

Andrew S Healy

Kamal Husam Habboub

Megan A Mcclain

Claire Puginier

Son C Le

Chentian Zhu

Hamza Kashif

Danny L Mcbroom

Michael D Mcbroom

An electronic device may include a speaker having fabric portions. The fabric-based speaker may have one or more fabric support layers on which other speaker components are disposed. In particular, the fabric-based speaker may include one or more conductive patterns and one or more magnetic structures. The one or more conductive patterns may be coupled to one or more fabric support layers and may receive electric signals that actuate the one or more fabric support layers in the presence of magnetic field created by the one or more magnetic structures to produce sounds waves.

Fabric speakers

An input device can include a housing defining an internal volume and a lower portion, the lower portion defining an aperture, an input sensor disposed in the internal volume, and a haptic assembly disposed in the internal volume. The haptic assembly can include an actuator and a foot coupled to the actuator and aligned with the aperture. The actuator can be configured to selectively extend the foot through the aperture to vary a sliding resistance of the input device on a support surface.

Variable friction and multi-texture mouse

A computer input system includes a mouse including a housing having an interior surface defining an internal volume and a sensor assembly disposed in the internal volume. A processor is electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and a memory component having electronic instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine an orientation of the mouse relative to a hand based on a touch input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly. The mouse can also have a circular array of touch sensors or lights that detect hand position and provide orientation information to the user.

Input device with adaptive grip orientation

Low-profile computer supports include features to reduce the thickness and improve the portability or storage capability of a computer system while it is disassembled, packaged, shipped, or moved. Some computer systems have a computing device and a dock device that can be stored and moved separately or that can store or support accessories associated with the computer system. Some computer systems have a movable stand configured to transition between a collapsed state and a deployed or standing state. Some stands include handles or grips for moving the computer systems while collapsed. Other computer systems include handles or grips to provide areas to more easily carry the computer systems. The handles or grips can have features such as a flexible material to hide or mask their appearance on the computer system.

Low profile computer support

Keyboards and other input devices are provided with at least one flexible layer that extends over or under the keycaps. The flexible layer spans interkey spaces and lies between inner and outer keycaps. The flexible layer prevents intrusion of invasive material to the keyboard mechanisms and simplifies the appearance of the keyboard area. Some flexible layers help align keycaps by connecting inner and outer keycaps or by providing a mechanical connection interface for the keycaps. Some membranes used in the flexible layer have a layered or composite construction that increases durability and tear resistance by attaching or infusing a mesh material or other tough material to a less durable, elastic material.

Membrane sealed keyboard

A housing for an electronic device can include a body having an exterior surface and a second surface disposed opposite the exterior surface at least partially defining an interior volume, the body defining a first repeating pattern of apertures extending from the exterior surface to the second surface. The housing can also include a component defining a second repeating pattern of apertures, the component positioned adjacent to the second surface. The first repeating pattern of apertures and the second repeating pattern of apertures can combine to define an open area of at least about 70%.

Computer tower architecture

An electronic device may have electrical components mounted in an interior region of the electronic device. A housing may surround the interior region and may separate the interior region from an exterior region that surrounds the electronic device. Arrays of recesses may be formed on opposing inner and outer sides of the housing. The arrays may be laterally offset from each other along the housing. The recesses on the inner and outer sides of the housing may meet at passageways within the housing. During operation of the electronic device, air may flow through the inner recesses, the passageways, and the outer recesses to cool electrical components within the interior region. Lighting may be provided for the housing. Light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes may be received within cavities in the housing. Light guiding structures, diffusers, reflectors, and other structures may be used to help adjust illumination from the light-emitting devices.

Electronic device with illumination

A housing for an electronic device can include an enclosure at least partially defining an internal volume. The enclosure can include a bottom panel. The housing can also include a tubular frame that includes a first pair of tubular support members extending from the bottom panel and a second pair of tubular support members extending from the bottom panel. The housing can also include a first tubular top frame member disposed outside the internal volume and connected to an end of each of the first pair of tubular support members through an opening defined by the enclosure, and a second tubular top frame member disposed outside the internal volume and connected to an end of each of the second pair of tubular support members through an opening defined by the enclosure.

An electronic device can include a tubular frame to receive and support electronic components and a shell that defines a portion of the exterior surface of the device and an internal volume sized to encompass the electronic components and tubular frame. The shell can be removably attachable to the tubular frame by a user actuated locking mechanism.

An electronic device may be provided with a housing surrounding an interior portion of the electronic device. The housing may have one or more layers of material such as fabric layers, polymer layers, and metal layers. An outer fabric layer may have openings between adjacent strands of material such as openings between adjacent warp and weft strands. An inner housing layer such as a layer of plastic or metal may have openings that define airflow entrance and exit ports. The outer fabric layer may overlap the openings of the airflow entrance and exit ports. A fan may draw cooling air into the interior through the airflow entrance port and may expel air through the airflow exit port. An airflow controller in the interior may be controlled by control circuitry based on measurements from temperature sensors. The airflow controller may steer airflow to cool appropriate electronic components in the interior.

Electronic devices with cooling systems

Techniques and apparatus to provide improved visibility to user input devices, such as keys, are disclosed. In low light conditions, key legends can be difficult to distinguish. For example, often keys have legends on them to visually distinguish them from one another, but in low light conditions it can be difficult for users to visually identify the different keys. The legends can be textual and/or graphic. Hence, according to one embodiment, light from a nearby (e.g., attached) display device can be used to provide illumination to the user input devices (e.g., keys). The user input devices can be configured to include reflective optical components to enhance reflection of light and thereby improve visibility of the keys or the legends thereon.

Enhancing keycap legend visibility with optical components

A keyboard assembly configured for converting keystroke activation into electrical signals. The keyboard assembly includes a plurality of key caps, each of the plurality of key caps being configured to transition between a rest position and a depressed position. The keyboard assembly also includes a web-like structure having a plurality of interconnected ribs defining a plurality of apertures. The plurality of key caps are disposed such that the plurality of key caps move within the plurality of apertures and traverse a plane formed by an upper surface of the web-like structure when the plurality of key caps transition between the rest position and the depressed position.

Webbed keyboard assembly

Improved housings for computing devices are disclosed. One improvement pertains to a multi-axis ventilation system. Another improvement pertains to a push button latch for a portable computer. Still another improvement pertains to a media bay ejection system provided with a dampener. These improvements can be provided separately or in any combination in a given computing device.

Computer housing for a portable computer

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Bart K Andre