Qwest Communications International Inc.

Steelcase Inc.

Plastic Logic Limited

Tdk Electronics Ag

Zyliss USA Corporation

Ideo Product Development Inc.

Logitech Europe S.a.

Baxano, Inc.

Presentation Technologies, Inc.

James Yurchenco

Matthew Robert Adams

Adam Patrick Vollmer

Andrew Switky

Adam Mekeel Mack

Jonathan I Kaplan

Francis James Canova, Jr

Carl Martin Hayton

Caroline Flagiello

Martin Zabaleta

Mark D Siminoff

John Wallace Smith

Anthony Piazza

Steven L Atkins

Paul Frey

Thomas Overthun

Dennis Joseph Boyle

Anthony Peter Patron

Michael Gibson

Robert Stancel

Blaise Bertrand

Kenneth Ralph Venegas

Vahid Saadat

Edwin J Hlavka

Elger Oberwelz

Masaru Ikebe

Charles Richard Lewis, Jr

Jeffery Lee Bleich

David M Webster

Larry Cheng

Christopher A Miksovsky

David John Miller

Peter Riering-Czekalla

Alan Chung Regala

Annetta M Papadopoulos

Robert Larry Stewart

Hans-Christoph Haenlein

David J Ritch

Mark B Saffell

Patrick Monney

Denis Pavillard

Joseph W Yang

Kristine Rene Chan-Lizardo

Steven Bishop

Philip G Baker

Chase Taylor Thompson

Matthew David Inouye

Craig M Lawrence

Steven A Spisak

Jean-Marc Flueckiger

Sven D Newman

Christopher M Flink

Ari T Adler

Samer Abdo

Emily Joyce Ma

Samuel Blagden Truslow

Andrew Paul Switky

Annetta Papadopoulous

Phillip Stob

Christian Cornelius

Scott Whitman

Sam Palmer

Joe Watson

Afshin Mehin

Kimitoshi Itou

Peter Reinhardt

Robert Lawrence Stewart

Ronnie K Watson

Lopa Patel

Jennifer Ellen Davis-Wilson

David R Miller

Novel tools and techniques are described for protecting an electronic device. In one aspect, an electronic device might comprise a housing defining an open front face, a chassis disposed within the housing, a panel disposed within the open front face of the housing and supported on the chassis, and an elastomeric overmold surrounding at least a portion of a perimeter of the panel and disposed between at least a portion of the chassis and at least a portion of the housing. In some cases, the overmold might be configured to provide a perimeter seal around the panel and to deform upon a frontal impact to the panel or housing. The overmold might be configured to prevent intrusion of liquids or particulates within the electronic device. In another aspect, a protective housing, which might comprise the housing, the chassis, and the overmold, may be provided for protecting a stand-alone electronic device.

Elastomeric chassis suspension for electronic devices

Novel stands for tablet computers and other electronic devices. A stand for a tablet may comprise a body having one or more attachment mechanisms at one location and a crossbar at a second location. The crossbar may comprise a portion of a first material disposed to magnetically interact with a portion of a second material that is provided by the tablet. The magnetic interaction may cause the crossbar to serve as one or more detents that movably affixes the stand in a desired position relative to the tablet.

Integrated magnetic tablet stand

Novel tools and techniques are described for protecting camera components on a surface and/or within an internal portion of a portable electronic device. In one aspect, an electronic device might comprise a camera mount, which might comprise a camera barrel assembly configured to have a camera affixed thereto, the camera barrel assembly being rotatably coupled with one of a front panel, a rear panel, or a chassis of the electronic device. The camera mount may further comprise a set of cantilever springs affixed to one of the front panel, the rear panel, or the chassis and biased against the camera barrel assembly to provide rotational friction on the camera barrel assembly. The set of cantilever springs might have sufficient compliance to allow the camera to retract into a body of the portable electronic device upon encountering an external force, which may include an impact force or a dropping force.

Camera barrel mechanism

Novel tools and techniques are described for waterproof charging contact system. In one aspect, the charging contact system may comprise docking station comprising a first set of compliant charging contacts for a tablet computer system and a second set of compliant charging contacts for a handset computer. Each compliant charging contact comprises a charging pin pressed into an elastomer diaphragm inserted within a body of the docking station. The tablet computer system comprises a first set of static charging contacts configured to mate with the first set of compliant charging contacts. The handset comprises a second set of static charging contacts configured to mate with the second set of compliant charging contacts.

Charging contact system

Novel tools and techniques are described for coupling electronic devices with docking stations. In one aspect, a coupling system comprises a first material in the docking station and a second material in the electronic device. The first material and the second material may each comprise at least one magnet and/or at least one ferromagnetic material that interact magnetically to align the electronic device in an appropriate position with respect to the docking station. The docking station comprises a first set of electrical contacts and the electronic device comprises a second set of electrical contacts. When in the appropriate position, the first set of electrical contacts electrically couples with the second set of electrical contacts. The shapes of the first and second electrical contacts, and the polarities of the magnets/ferromagnetic materials, may be configured to facilitate electrical coupling while avoiding mismatching of the positive/negative terminals of the electrical contacts.

Magnetic docking base for handset

Electronic document reader

Front bezel of an electronic document reader

Methods and apparatus are provided for selective surgical removal of tissue, e.g., for enlargement of diseased spinal structures. The current invention includes specific tools that enable safe tissue modification in epidural space, including a barrier that separates the area where tissue modification will take place from adjacent vulnerable neural and vascular structures. In one variation, a tissue abrasion device is provided including a thin belt or ribbon with an abrasive cutting surface. The device optionally may be placed within a protective sheath that exposes the abrasive surface of the ribbon only in the area where tissue removal is desired.

Devices and methods for tissue modification

A system includes a board having opposing surfaces and at least one leg connected to one surface of the board through a first pivotable fitting to allow the board and the leg to move between a first position wherein the board and the leg are substantially parallel and a second position wherein the board and the leg are substantially perpendicular. The system also includes a locking mechanism secured to the board through a second pivotable fitting at a first end and configured to rotate at a second end opposite the first end between a storage position extending parallel with the board and a work position extending perpendicular to the board.

Pivotable board provided with legs

A seating unit comprising a base configured to be positioned on a floor, a torsional energy unit connected to the base, a back connected to the torsional energy unit and a seat rotatably connected to the torsional energy unit. The torsional energy unit biases the back to a forward position. The torsional energy unit further limits angular rotation of the seat between a substantially horizontal seating position and a substantially vertical seating position.

Seating unit

A cutting device in accordance with the present invention is deal for use in cutting pizza and other 'flat-bread' like cuisine. For example, in accordance with various embodiments, a cutting device is provided which exhibits improved functionality and ease of use through the use of handle which directs the cutting force from a user in the most efficient manner to carryout the task of cutting, for example, pizza. Moreover, the handle may provide improved protection of the user from accidental injury during use as well as be suitably configured to retract in a manner which facilitates removal of the cutting blade.

Cutting wheel

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

James Yurchenco