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).

  • Patent number: 8810232
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Depew
  • Patent number: 8368329
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Depew, Mike Culbert, Keith Cox
  • Patent number: 8319488
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Depew
  • Publication number: 20120062206
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Depew
  • Patent number: 8063625
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Depew
  • Publication number: 20090315411
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Depew
  • Patent number: 6215476
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Depew, David C. Northway
  • Patent number: 6047342
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Depew