Patents by Inventor Nicholas W. Ruhter
Nicholas W. Ruhter 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: 11838432Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing defining an internal volume and a circuit board assembly within the internal volume. The circuit board assembly includes a first circuit board, a wall structure soldered to the first circuit board, and a second circuit board soldered to the wall structure and supported above the first circuit board by the wall structure. The second circuit board defines an exterior top surface of the circuit board assembly. A processor is coupled to the first circuit board and positioned within an internal volume defined between the first circuit board and the second circuit board and at least partially surrounded by the wall structure. A memory module is coupled to the exterior top surface of the circuit board assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Bryan D. Keen, Devon A. Monaco, Sherry Lee, Ihtesham H. Chowdhury, Eric N. Nyland, Matthew D. Hill, Arun R. Varma, Lucy E. Browning, Sawyer I. Cohen, Benjamin J. Pope, Abhishek Choudhury, James W. Bilanski, Yaodong Wang, Daniel J. Morizio, Nicholas W. Ruhter, David A. Karol, Sean M. Gordoni
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Patent number: 11363133Abstract: A method of an electronic device that includes a power source is disclosed. The method determines a health of the power source, a temperature of the power source, and a state of charge of the power source. The method then sets a performance state cap for the electronic device based on at least the health of the power source.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Cyril De La Cropte De Chanterac, David M. Demuro, John Ananny, Karen Eckert, Michael Eng, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Stephen D. Sterz
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Patent number: 10599199Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method can include receiving a command to shut down an electronic device based on a measurement of power delivery to the electronic device. After receiving the command to shut down, the method can determine whether an indication of remaining power capacity at the electronic device exceeds a threshold value. The method can shut down the electronic device and, after shutting down the electronic device, in accordance with a determination that the indication of remaining power capacity exceeds the threshold value, automatically reboot the electronic device. In accordance with a determination that the indication of the remaining power capacity does not exceed the threshold value, automatically rebooting the electronic device can be foregone.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Cyril De La Cropte De Chanterac, Michael Eng, Karen Eckert, Alessandro Pelosi, David M. Demuro, Stephen D. Sterz, Nicholas W. Ruhter
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Patent number: 9746904Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from a low power state in a computing system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the computing system enters the low power state from a standard power state after an activity detector indicates a user controlled peripheral device connected to the computer system has been inactive for a period of time. To enter the low power state, the method disconnects the user controlled peripheral device from a host controller, while continuing to supply power to the user controlled peripheral device and shutting off power to the host controller. The method returns the computer system to the standard power state when the activity detector indicates the user controlled peripheral device has become active. To return to the standard power state, power is restored to the host controller and the user controlled peripheral device is reconnected to the host controller.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Fiyinfolu O. Adewale, Paul J. Costa, David R. Cox, Michael J. Giles, Steven I. Kuo, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Steven J. Sfarzo
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Patent number: 9152193Abstract: A method and system for reducing acoustic power supply noise, specifically acoustic noise related to power supply switching frequencies in a computing device, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a controller can monitor power consumed by the computing device, and an operational state of the computing device can be determined. If the computing device is in a first operational state and the power consumed is greater than a threshold amount, then the power supply can be operated at a first switching frequency or mode of operation, thereby avoiding switching frequencies that can produce acoustic noise.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Paul J. Costa, David R. Cox, Bharat K. Patel, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Xiaoyang Zhang, Steve X. Zhou
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Publication number: 20150227190Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from a low power state in a computing system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the computing system enters the low power state from a standard power state after an activity detector indicates a user controlled peripheral device connected to the computer system has been inactive for a period of time. To enter the low power state, the method disconnects the user controlled peripheral device from a host controller, while continuing to supply power to the user controlled peripheral device and shutting off power to the host controller. The method returns the computer system to the standard power state when the activity detector indicates the user controlled peripheral device has become active. To return to the standard power state, power is restored to the host controller and the user controlled peripheral device is reconnected to the host controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Fiyinfolu O. ADEWALE, Paul J. COSTA, David R. COX, Michael J. GILES, Steven I. KUO, Nicholas W. RUHTER, Steven J. SFARZO
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Patent number: 9021288Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from a low power state in a computing system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the computing system enters the low power state from a standard power state after an activity detector indicates a user controlled peripheral device connected to the computer system has been inactive for a period of time. To enter the low power state, the method disconnects the user controlled peripheral device from a host controller, while continuing to supply power to the user controlled peripheral device and shutting off power to the host controller. The method returns the computer system to the standard power state when the activity detector indicates the user controlled peripheral device has become active. To return to the standard power state, power is restored to the host controller and the user controlled peripheral device is reconnected to the host controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Fiyinfolu O. Adewale, Paul J. Costa, David R. Cox, Michael J. Giles, Steven I. Kuo, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Steven J. Sfarzo
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Publication number: 20130332765Abstract: A method and system for reducing acoustic power supply noise, specifically acoustic noise related to power supply switching frequencies in a computing device, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a controller can monitor power consumed by the computing device, and an operational state of the computing device can be determined. If the computing device is in a first operational state and the power consumed is greater than a threshold amount, then the power supply can be operated at a first switching frequency or mode of operation, thereby avoiding switching frequencies that can produce acoustic noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Paul J. COSTA, David R. COX, Bharat K. PATEL, Nicholas W. RUHTER, Xiaoyang ZHANG, Steve X. ZHOU
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Publication number: 20130326251Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from a low power state in a computing system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the computing system enters the low power state from a standard power state after an activity detector indicates a user controlled peripheral device connected to the computer system has been inactive for a period of time. To enter the low power state, the method disconnects the user controlled peripheral device from a host controller, while continuing to supply power to the user controlled peripheral device and shutting off power to the host controller. The method returns the computer system to the standard power state when the activity detector indicates the user controlled peripheral device has become active. To return to the standard power state, power is restored to the host controller and the user controlled peripheral device is reconnected to the host controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Fiyinfolu O. Adewale, Paul J. Costa, David R. Cox, Michael J. Giles, Steven I. Kuo, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Steven J. Sfarzo