Kevin D Robinson

US Patent:

20220325845, Oct 13, 2022

Filed:

Mar 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/653831

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Kevin M. Robinson - Sunnyvale CA, US
Christoph M. Pistor - Santa Cruz CA, US
Mehrdad Hooshmand - Cupertino CA, US
Simon J. Trivett - Waterloo, CA
Bradley J. Hamel - Portola Valley CA, US
Kristopher P. Laurent - Portola Valley CA, US
David H. Narajowski - San Jose CA, US
Stephen V. Jayanathan - Seattle WA, US
Laura M. DeForest - San Mateo CA, US

International Classification:

F16M 11/04
H05K 5/00

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.

US Patent:

20220325848, Oct 13, 2022

Filed:

Mar 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/653854

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Kevin M. Robinson - Sunnyvale CA, US
Christoph M. Pistor - Santa Cruz CA, US
Mehrdad Hooshmand - Cupertino CA, US
Simon J. Trivett - Waterloo, US
Bradley J. Hamel - Portola Valley CA, US
Kristopher P. Laurent - Portola Valley CA, US
David H. Narajowski - San Jose CA, US
Stephen V Jayanathan - Seattle WA, US
Laura M. DeForest - San Mateo CA, US

International Classification:

F16M 11/12

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.

US Patent:

20220326731, Oct 13, 2022

Filed:

Mar 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/653859

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Kevin M. Robinson - Sunnyvale CA, US
Christoph M. Pistor - Santa Cruz CA, US
Mehrdad Hooshmand - Cupertino CA, US
Simon J. Trivett - Waterloo, US
Bradley J. Hamel - Portola Valley CA, US
Kristopher P. Laurent - Portola Valley CA, US
David H. Narajowski - San Jose CA, US
Stephen V Jayanathan - Seattle WA, US
Laura M. DeForest - San Mateo CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 1/16
H05K 5/02

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.

US Patent:

20220236765, Jul 28, 2022

Filed:

Apr 12, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/658971

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Bradley J. HAMEL - Portola Valley CA, US
Christopher J. STRINGER - Woodside CA, US
Markus DIEBEL - San Francisco CA, US
Sung-Ho TAN - San Francisco CA, US
Mikael M. SILVANTO - San Francisco CA, US
Kevin M. ROBINSON - Sunnyvale CA, US
Daniel L. MCBROOM - Leander TX, US
Michael D. MCBROOM - Leander TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 1/16
F16M 11/38
A45C 11/00

Abstract:

Accessory devices for portable electronic devices are described. An exemplary accessory device can include a first segment coupled to a second segment via a first hinge assembly. The accessory can include a third segment coupled to the second segment via a second hinge assembly such that the second segment is positioned between the first and third segments. The accessory device can be arranged between a closed configuration and a configuration of a stand that supports the portable electronic device at a viewing angle. At the support configuration, the second segment can be at an acute angle relative to the first segment to shift the center of gravity of the system towards the middle. The third segment can be suspended above the first segment and be inclined outwards. The hinge assemblies of the system can be sufficiently stiff to withstand the weight of the electronic device.

US Patent:

20220214751, Jul 7, 2022

Filed:

Mar 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/703740

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Justin D. Crosby - Cupertino CA, US
Daniel K. Boothe - San Francisco CA, US
Houtan R. Farahani - Cupertino CA, US
Kevin M. Robinson - Sunnyvale CA, US
Ryan J. Mihelich - Morgan Hill CA, US
Robert J. Lockwood - San Carlos CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/01
H04R 1/02
G06F 3/041
H04R 1/24
G06F 3/0354

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.

US Patent:

20220181102, Jun 9, 2022

Filed:

Feb 22, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/651972

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Ari P. Miller - San Francisco CA, US
Edward J. Cooper - Campbell CA, US
Houtan R. Farahani - San Ramon CA, US
Kevin M. Robinson - Sunnyvale CA, US

International Classification:

H01H 13/14
H01H 13/7065
H01H 3/12

Abstract:

Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.

US Patent:

20230099860, Mar 30, 2023

Filed:

Sep 23, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/952021

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Kevin M. ROBINSON - Sunnyvale CA, US
Gregory D. CARINI - Cupertino CA, US
Pengyuan HUANG - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

F21V 8/00

Abstract:

A keyboard includes a mechanical structure and a key attached to the mechanical structure. A light emitting diode configured to emit light into a light guide panel. A reflector may be attached to the light guide panel and be configured to reflect light from the light guide panel through an opening in the mechanical structure to illuminate a periphery of the key.

US Patent:

20230049811, Feb 16, 2023

Filed:

Jul 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/859668

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Adam T Garelli - Morgan Hill CA, US
Bradley J Hamel - Portola Valley CA, US
Dinesh C Mathew - San Francisco CA, US
Hoon Sik Kim - San Jose CA, US
Keith J Hendren - Santa Cruz CA, US
Robert Y Cao - San Francisco CA, US
Terry C Lam - Mountain View CA, US
Kevin M Robinson - Sunnyvale CA, US
Houtan R Farahani - San Ramon CA, US
Tatsuya Sano - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 1/16

Abstract:

A foldable display device may have housing portions coupled by a hinge. The hinge may have a series of interconnected links. The links may be formed from interdigitated fingers in a friction clutch. The fingers or other portions of the links may be provided with crescent-shaped slots that receive pins. During folding of the device, the pins may slide along the crescent-shaped slots, thereby ensuring that adjacent links rotate relative to each other about a rotation axis that lies outside of the hinge and within a flexible display panel. Links may also be formed from link members with curved mating bearing surfaces that slide relative to each other as adjacent links are rotated relative to each other. A housing rotation synchronization mechanism may be formed using a set of gears that extends between the first and second housing portions.