Apple Inc.

Other

Logitech Europe S.a.

John M Brock

Keith J Hendren

Chris A Ligtenberg

Brett W Degner

Ron Alan Hopkinson

Bartley K Andre

Thomas W Wilson, Jr

Craig C Leong

John Raff

James J Niu

Dinesh C Mathew

Michelle Rae Goldberg

Daniel J Coster

Matthew Phillip Casebolt

Eugene J Kim

Christopher J Stringer

David John Yeh

Patrick Kessler

Bradley Joseph Hamel

Robert L Coish

Steven Keiper

Jonathan P Ive

Christiaan A Ligtenberg

Peteris K Augenbergs

Matthew Theobald

Euan S Abraham

Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski

Nicholas Alan Rundle

Laura M DeForest

Bruce E Berg

Jim C Hwang

Jay Kevin Osborn

Duncan Robert Kerr

Jonah Alexander Harley

Robert Sean Murphy

Gavin J Reid

Ryan P Brooks

Tomas E Ponce

Mikael M Silvanto

Storrs Townsend Hoen

Charles A Schwalbach

Bradford J Zercoe

Derryk C Davis

Nicholaus Lubinski

Jeremy D Bataillou

William Francis Leggett

Paul James Wehrenberg

Cina Hazegh

Brandon S Smith

Mi Zhou

Glenn Wheelock

Gary S Thomason

Dhaval Chandrakant Patel

Joss Nathan Giddings

Matthew C Waldon

Cheng Ping Tan

Shinsuke Watanabe

William P Yarak, Iii

Stewart Shannon Fields

Brad Lee Patton

Scott J McEuen

Satoshi Okuma

Hank D Ching

Wayne W Huang

Tom Tate

Tom Wilson

Benjamin Andrew Shaffer

Sean S Corbin

Mark Manuel Martinez

Omar Sze Leung

John C Difonzo

John C DiFonzo

Benjamin A Cousins

Melody L Kuna

Chris Green

Eric Andrew Knopf

Matthew William Blum

Harold James Welch

Thai Quoc La

Nicholas Isaac Reid

Andy Logan

Kevin Tregear

Sam Rhea Sarcia

Gina Clark

Thomas W Wilson

James E Wright

Erik T Stefansson

Steve Cabral

Dave Hardell

John Schen

Bartly K Andre

A top case assembly for a portable computer is disclosed. The assembly may include an integral unified (e.g., homogenous) top case formed from a single part. The integral top case provides an enclosure, frame and cosmetic exterior of the portable computer. The integral top case also serves as the primary structure of the portable computer. The assembly may include a variety of subassemblies such as keyboards, touchpads, circuit boards, and drives that are carried by the underside of the integral top case. The integral top case may be formed from aluminum slab that has been machined to form walls, openings, attachment areas and cosmetic areas of the top case.

Portable computer unified top case

A remote control device includes a housing and an upper element. The top surface of the upper element can be partitioned to include different frictionally engaging surfaces. At least one frictionally engaging surface can be used as an input surface that receives user inputs such as touch or force inputs. An input device, such as a force sensing switch, can be positioned in the housing and used in determining an amount of force applied to the input surface. The bottom surface of the upper element below the second surface can be affixed to the housing in a manner that permits the input surface to bend based on the applied force.

Remote control device

Multi-functional keyboard assemblies include an array of keys formed from stacked component layers. A top portion of the key may be capable of travelling vertically with respect to a base of the key. The top portion can include a keycap and a circuitry module coupled to the keycap. The keys may be capable of receive at least two distinct types of inputs and/or receiving at least one type of input and providing at least one type of output. Such output may include use of one or more light sources, displays, and/or haptic feedback devices.

Multi-functional keyboard assemblies

An input device, such as a keyboard, includes one or more keys that each includes a keycap operable to move within an aperture of a frame to activate a switch and fabric disposed over the frame and keycap. A first region of the fabric is bonded to the keycap and a second region of the fabric is bonded to the frame. The first region may be an embossed region and the second region may be an unembossed region. The fabric may dampen sound from within the keyboard, such as noise related to movement of the keycap, activation of the switch, and so on. The fabric may also form a barrier that restricts passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or other portions of the input device.

Fabric keyboard

A portable computer may include battery indicator light structures. Battery status information in the portable computer may be presented to a user using an array of light-emitting diodes or other light emitters. Light-emitting diodes may be mounted on a printed circuit board. A stiffener may provide the printed circuit board with rigidity. The printed circuit board may include a connector that allows the board to be connected to a main logic board. A switch on the printed circuit board may be actuated by a power button on the portable computer. An opaque member with an array of holes may be used to reduce light bleed between adjacent light-emitting diodes. Diffusing plastic may be mounted within the array of holes. Bumps in the diffusing plastic may mate with corresponding holes on a portable computer housing.

Portable computer battery indicator

A key mechanism including one or more butterfly hinges. Each butterfly hinge may include a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. Hinged coupling mechanisms couple respective arms of the wings together. Additionally or alternatively, a key mechanism can include one or more half-butterfly hinges. Each half-butterfly hinge includes a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. A hinged coupling mechanism couples one set of corresponding arms of the wings together, while the other set of corresponding arms are not coupled together.

Low-travel key mechanisms using butterfly hinges

A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.

Portable computing device

A low travel switch assembly and systems and methods for using the same are disclosed. The low travel dome may include a domed surface having upper and lower portions, and a set of tuning members integrated within the domed surface between the upper and lower portions. The tuning members may be operative to control a force-displacement curve characteristic of the low travel dome.

Low travel switch assembly

Keyboard key employing a capacitive sensor and dome

The present application describes various embodiments of systems and methods for providing internal components for portable computing devices having a thin profile. More particularly, the present application describes internal components configured to fit within a relatively thin outer enclosure.

Internal components of a portable computing device

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

John M Brock