Patents by Inventor Peter C. Cotterill

Peter C. Cotterill 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: 8577321
    Abstract: Electronic devices may have multiple antennas. A first antenna may be located at one end of a device and a second antenna may be located at another end of the device. An input-output port in a device may have a connector that receives a mating connector associated with external equipment. The input-output port and the second antenna may be located at one of the ends of the electronic device. When equipment such as an external video accessory is in use, input-output circuitry in an electronic device may transmit high speed data signals through the input-output port. The presence of activity on the input-output port such as video data or other data transmissions may be monitored by control circuitry in the electronic device. When input-output port activity is detected, use of the second antenna in receiving radio-frequency signals can be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Cotterill, Robert W. Schlub
  • Publication number: 20120142296
    Abstract: Electronic devices may have multiple antennas. A first antenna may be located at one end of a device and a second antenna may be located at another end of the device. An input-output port in a device may have a connector that receives a mating connector associated with external equipment. The input-output port and the second antenna may be located at one of the ends of the electronic device. When equipment such as an external video accessory is in use, input-output circuitry in an electronic device may transmit high speed data signals through the input-output port. The presence of activity on the input-output port such as video data or other data transmissions may be monitored by control circuitry in the electronic device. When input-output port activity is detected, use of the second antenna in receiving radio-frequency signals can be inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Peter C. Cotterill, Robert W. Schlub