Patents by Inventor John M. Depew
John M. Depew 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).
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Patent number: 8810232Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing intermittent or interruptible power to an electronic device. The circuit may provide power upon user initiation and interrupt that power in response to a user command, fault state, period of inactivity and so forth. As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up” an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation. The initial powering up of the device may be facilitated by closing two contacts. The circuit may continue to provide power after the button is released through a monitoring and/or feedback mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: John M. Depew
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Patent number: 8368329Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving cooling fan operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cooling fan's speed is maximized by adjusting a PWM signal driving the fan to change the switching point of the fan motor. In another embodiment, a method for starting a low speed cooling fan by incrementally increasing the amplitude of the PWM signal applied to the fan is disclosed. In a further embodiment, a method for controlling a fan and a fan sensor is disclosed. In this embodiment, a PWM signal is generated, a fan is driven using the PWM signal, a cycle of the PWM signal is modified, and the fan sensors is driven using the PWM signal during the cycle. In a further embodiment, a fan incorporating these improvements is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2003Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: John M. Depew, Mike Culbert, Keith Cox
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Patent number: 8319488Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing intermittent or interruptible power to an electronic device. The circuit may provide power upon user initiation and interrupt that power in response to a user command, fault state, period of inactivity and so forth. As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up” an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation. The initial powering up of the device may be facilitated by closing two contacts. The circuit may continue to provide power after the button is released through a monitoring and/or feedback mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: John M. Depew
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Publication number: 20120062206Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing intermittent or interruptible power to an electronic device. The circuit may provide power upon user initiation and interrupt that power in response to a user command, fault state, period of inactivity and so forth. As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up” an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation. The initial powering up of the device may be facilitated by closing two contacts. The circuit may continue to provide power after the button is released through a monitoring and/or feedback mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: John M. Depew
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Patent number: 8063625Abstract: A circuit or apparatus for providing intermittent or interruptible power to an electronic device. The circuit may provide power upon user initiation and interrupt that power in response to a user command, fault state, period of inactivity and so forth. As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up” an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation. The initial powering up of the device may be facilitated by closing two contacts. The circuit may continue to provide power after the button is released through a monitoring and/or feedback mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: John M. Depew
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Publication number: 20090315411Abstract: A circuit or apparatus for providing intermittent or interruptible power to an electronic device. The circuit may provide power upon user initiation and interrupt that power in response to a user command, fault state, period of inactivity and so forth. As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up” an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation. The initial powering up of the device may be facilitated by closing two contacts. The circuit may continue to provide power after the button is released through a monitoring and/or feedback mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: John M. Depew
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Patent number: 6215476Abstract: An electromagnetic pen digitizer is integrated into a flat panel display assembly using “bent TAB” active electronics. Integration is performed by placing a discrete electromagnetic pen digitizer further inside the flat panel display assembly itself behind the diffuser backlight component, but in front of the “bent TAB” active electronics. Interference from the active electronics is avoided because they are not in between the digitizer and the pen operating upon the flat panel display. The electromagnetic pen digitizer is integrated into the flat panel display assembly by inserting the digitizer into the flat panel display assembly behind the diffuser backlight during the routine manufacture of the flat panel display assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1997Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: John M. Depew, David C. Northway
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Patent number: 6047342Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for providing additional functionality to a computer system. In one embodiment a PCMCIA (PC) processing card is coupled to a computer system. The PC processing card performs a function that a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer system would otherwise need to perform. The PC processing card provides the additional functionality without requiring specialized hardware that is not already existent in contemporary computer systems. A PC processing card can perform one or more of a variety of functions. By way of example, the PC processing card may perform signal processing, graphics acceleration, audio processing, encryption, decryption or any other suitable processing function. The PC processing card could also be another central processing unit that provides the computer system with parallel processing capabilities.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventor: John M. Depew