Patents by Inventor James L. McPeak

James L. McPeak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10742050
    Abstract: Simplified interfaces for charging and communication between accessories and docking stations. One example may provide an interface for charging and communication between an accessory and docking station where data and a charging voltage are provided over the same pins. An accessory may determine that it is in a powered docking station by receiving a charging voltage. The accessory may determine that it is in an unpowered docking station by providing a voltage to the unpowered docking station, where the unpowered docking station uses the voltage to power an oscillator. The oscillator signal may be received by the accessory, which may use the presence of the signal to determine that it is in an unpowered docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Daniel S. Naito, Kirill Kalinichev, Jahan C. Minoo, James L. McPeak, Jason W. Brinsfield
  • Patent number: 10182282
    Abstract: A case for a pair of earbuds includes a housing having cavities to receive the pair of earbuds and charging circuitry that is configured to initiate charging of the pair of earbuds when an earbud detector detects that the earbuds are inserted within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Lee M. Panecki, Darshan R. Kasar, Daniel C. Wagman, Zachary C. Rich
  • Patent number: 10097913
    Abstract: A case for a pair of earbuds includes a housing having cavities to receive the pair of earbuds and charging circuitry that is configured to initiate charging of the pair of earbuds when an earbud detector detects that the earbuds are inserted within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Lee M. Panecki, James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Daniel C. Wagman, Zachary C. Rich, Darshan R. Kasar
  • Patent number: 9961431
    Abstract: A case for a portable listening device includes a lid and a lid sensor to detect if the lid is in an open or a closed position. The case further includes circuitry configured to turn on a wireless radio within the portable listening device when the lid sensor detects the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Robert Doran Watson, Lee M. Panecki, Shannon X. Yang, Zachary C. Rich
  • Patent number: 9891719
    Abstract: A docking station configured to mate to an electronic device enables methods of interacting with the electronic device by impacting (e.g., knocking) on a table on which the device and/or the docking station are disposed and by means of contactless gestures. The electronic device may remain in a powered off state while the docking station continuously monitors for user input. The docking station may have a processor that is capable of detecting a user's impact and contactless gesture inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Greg Nayman, Robert Doran Watson, James L. McPeak, Edwin Foo, Albert Golko, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 9883274
    Abstract: A case for a pair of earbuds includes a housing having cavities to receive the pair of earbuds and charging circuitry that is configured to initiate charging of the pair of earbuds when an earbud detector detects that the earbuds are inserted within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Lee M. Panecki, Darshan R. Kasar, Daniel C. Wagman, Zachary C. Rich
  • Patent number: 9883276
    Abstract: A case for a portable listening device includes a lid and a lid sensor to detect if the lid is in an open or a closed position. The case further includes circuitry configured to turn on a wireless radio within the portable listening device when the lid sensor detects the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Robert Doran Watson, Lee M. Panecki, Shannon X. Yang, Zachary C. Rich
  • Publication number: 20180026461
    Abstract: Simplified interfaces for charging and communication between accessories and docking stations. One example may provide an interface for charging and communication between an accessory and docking station where data and a charging voltage are provided over the same pins. An accessory may determine that it is in a powered docking station by receiving a charging voltage. The accessory may determine that it is in an unpowered docking station by providing a voltage to the unpowered docking station, where the unpowered docking station uses the voltage to power an oscillator. The oscillator signal may be received by the accessory, which may use the presence of the signal to determine that it is in an unpowered docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Daniel S. Naito, Kirill Kalinichev, Jahan C. Minoo, James L. McPeak, Jason W. Brinsfield
  • Publication number: 20170115743
    Abstract: A docking station configured to mate to an electronic device enables methods of interacting with the electronic device by impacting (e.g., knocking) on a table on which the device and/or the docking station are disposed and by means of contactless gestures. The electronic device may remain in a powered off state while the docking station continuously monitors for user input. The docking station may have a processor that is capable of detecting a user's impact and contactless gesture inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Greg Nayman, Robert Doran Watson, James L. McPeak, Edwin Foo, Albert Golko, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Publication number: 20170094395
    Abstract: A case for a portable listening device includes a lid and a lid sensor to detect if the lid is in an open or a closed position. The case further includes circuitry configured to turn on a wireless radio within the portable listening device when the lid sensor detects the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Robert Doran Watson, Lee M. Panecki, Shannon X. Yang, Zachary C. Rich
  • Publication number: 20170094394
    Abstract: A case for a pair of earbuds includes a housing having cavities to receive the pair of earbuds and charging circuitry that is configured to initiate charging of the pair of earbuds when an earbud detector detects that the earbuds are inserted within the cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: James L. McPeak, Chandrahas Aralaguppe Chandramohan, Rico L. Zörkendörfer, Lee M. Panecki, Darshan R. Kasar, Daniel C. Wagman, Zachary C. Rich
  • Patent number: 9575508
    Abstract: A docking station configured to mate to an electronic device enables methods of interacting with the electronic device by impacting (e.g., knocking) on a table on which the device and/or the docking station are disposed and by means of contactless gestures. The electronic device may remain in a powered off state while the docking station continuously monitors for user input. The docking station may have a processor that is capable of detecting a user's impact and contactless gesture inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Greg Nayman, Robert Doran Watson, James L. McPeak, Edwin Foo, Albert Golko, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Publication number: 20160190840
    Abstract: Simplified interfaces for charging and communication between accessories and docking stations. One example may provide an interface for charging and communication between an accessory and docking station where data and a charging voltage are provided over the same pins. An accessory may determine that it is in a powered docking station by receiving a charging voltage. The accessory may determine that it is in an unpowered docking station by providing a voltage to the unpowered docking station, where the unpowered docking station uses the voltage to power an oscillator. The oscillator signal may be received by the accessory, which may use the presence of the signal to determine that it is in an unpowered docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Daniel S. Naito, Kirill Kalinichev, Jahan C. Minoo, James L. McPeak, Jason W. Brinsfield
  • Publication number: 20150301615
    Abstract: A docking station configured to mate to an electronic device enables methods of interacting with the electronic device by impacting (e.g., knocking) on a table on which the device and/or the docking station are disposed and by means of contactless gestures. The electronic device may remain in a powered off state while the docking station continuously monitors for user input. The docking station may have a processor that is capable of detecting a user's impact and contactless gesture inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Greg Nayman, Robert Doran Watson, James L. McPeak, Edwin Foo, Albert Golko, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 9157953
    Abstract: A test system may include test stations for testing a device under test. The test stations may each include test equipment that may be connected to a device under test using a test cable. The test cable may include a status indicator to indicate when tests have been passed or have failed. A first connector at one end of the test cable may be coupled to the test equipment. A second connector at an opposing end of the test cable may be coupled to the device under test. Communications through the first connector may use a first communications protocol. Communications through a first set of contacts in the second connector may use the first communications protocol. Communications through a second set of contacts in the second connector may use a second communications protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anuj Bhatnagar, James L. McPeak, Srdjan Sobajic, Nelson Fong
  • Patent number: 8742997
    Abstract: Conductive electronic device structures such as a conductive housing member that forms part of an antenna may be tested during manufacturing. A test system may be provided that has a pair of pins or other contacts. Test equipment such as a network analyzer may provide radio-frequency test signals in a range of frequencies. The radio-frequency test signals may be applied to the conductive housing member or other conductive structures under test using the test probe contacts. An antenna may be used to gather corresponding wireless radio-frequency signal data. Forward transfer coefficient data may be computed from the transmitted and received radio-frequency signals. The forward transfer coefficient data or other test data may be compared to reference data to determine whether the conductive electronic device structures contain a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua G. Nickel, James L. McPeak, Jr-Yi Shen
  • Publication number: 20130018624
    Abstract: During manufacturing, devices under test may be tested at test stations. Test cables may be used to couple the test stations to the devices under test. To ensure that cables have been assembled properly, a test system may be used to convey test data through the cables. Status indictors in the cables can be activated using the test data. The test system may include a test board for performing loop-back tests. During testing, test data may be transmitted through the cable to the test board. The test board may convert the test data from a first format such as a Universal Serial Bus format to a second format such as a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter format. Test signals that have been received by the test board may be sent back to the cable to direct the cable to activate the status indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Anuj Bhatnagar, James L. McPeak
  • Publication number: 20120293379
    Abstract: Conductive electronic device structures such as a conductive housing member that forms part of an antenna may be tested during manufacturing. A test system may be provided that has a pair of pins or other contacts. Test equipment such as a network analyzer may provide radio-frequency test signals in a range of frequencies. The radio-frequency test signals may be applied to the conductive housing member or other conductive structures under test using the test probe contacts. An antenna may be used to gather corresponding wireless radio-frequency signal data. Forward transfer coefficient data may be computed from the transmitted and received radio-frequency signals. The forward transfer coefficient data or other test data may be compared to reference data to determine whether the conductive electronic device structures contain a fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Joshua G. Nickel, James L. McPeak, Jr-Yi Shen
  • Publication number: 20120290246
    Abstract: A test system may include test stations for testing a device under test. The test stations may each include test equipment that may be connected to a device under test using a test cable. The test cable may include a status indicator to indicate when tests have been passed or have failed. A first connector at one end of the test cable may be coupled to the test equipment. A second connector at an opposing end of the test cable may be coupled to the device under test. Communications through the first connector may use a first communications protocol. Communications through a first set of contacts in the second connector may use the first communications protocol. Communications through a second set of contacts in the second connector may use a second communications protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Anuj Bhatnagar, James L. McPeak, Srdjan Sobajic, Nelson Fong
  • Patent number: 7995145
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for inline audio/visual conversion are described. Power to an inline converter is provided over the A/V cable that couples the converter to a destination such as a selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Locolabs, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley W. Hoffert, Susanna E. Hoffert, Steven L. Kelsey, James L. McPeak, Oscar I. Medina, Christopher E. Fitzpatrick, Paul A. Wilcox