Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Naftalis & Frankel LLP
  • Patent number: 8348010
    Abstract: An ear piece for providing audio (e.g., from an electronic device) to the user is provided. The ear piece may include a compliant element operative to be inserted in the user's ear such that the compliant element deforms to retain the ear piece in the user's ear. The compliant element may include a connector portion coupling the compliant element to the ear piece housing, and an outer portion folded over the ear piece housing. To improve the user's comfort, the parting lines and other manufacturing defects may be hidden from view and from touch (e.g., the parting lines are on the inner surface of the outer portion).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Stiehl, Emery Sanford, Cameron Frazier
  • Patent number: 8350167
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems which provide buttons oriented at angles relative to each other as a part of a multiple function switch are described. In one embodiment, the multiple function switch is part of an inline controller that is suitable for use to control features or functions of a portable electronic device. A multiple function switch may be incorporated in a cable associated with an earpiece arranged to be interfaced with a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Prest, Kurt Stiehl, Cameron Frazier, Michelle Yu, Wim Crooijmans
  • Patent number: 8346008
    Abstract: This is generally directed to systems and methods for noise reduction in high dynamic range (“HDR”) imaging systems. In some embodiments, multiple images of the same scene can be captured, where each of the images is exposed for a different amount of time. An HDR image may be created by suitably combining the images. However, the signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) curve of the resulting HDR image can have discontinuities in sections of the SNR curve corresponding to shifts between different exposure times. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a noise model for the HDR image can be created that takes into account these discontinuities in the SNR curve. For example, a noise model can be created that smoothes the discontinuities of the SNR curve into a continuous function. This noise model may then be used with a Bayer Filter or any other suitable noise filter to remove noise from the HDR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Peng Lin
  • Patent number: 8345125
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting an object of object class, such as faces, in an image sensor. In some embodiments, the image sensor can provide a scan sequence that scans a scene over multiple time intervals. The image sensor can scan, in succession, portions of a scene, where each of the portions covers a different amount or location of the scene. This way, the scanned portions can be saved in an image buffer that is sized significantly smaller than an entire frame. In some embodiments, when the image sensor detects the presence of an object of the object class, the image sensor can store positional information (e.g., location and size of the object) in a region of interest buffer. The image sensor can output the positional information to aid an electronic device, such as a camera, perform various functions, such as automatic exposure and color balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Kirsch, Anthony Huggett
  • Patent number: 8336576
    Abstract: A compressed air supply system for motor vehicles includes a compressor, control electronics, an air dryer having an inlet channel for non-dried compressed air, an outlet channel for the dried compressed air, and a dehumidification device through which the compressed air to be dried can flow, a pressure regulator having an outlet valve for controlling the compressor between an idle phase and a load phase, a multi-circuit safety valve that is connected to the outlet channel of the air dryer via a compressed air line, and over-flow valves for the individual circuits, a regeneration valve and a moisture sensor for detecting the atmospheric moisture in the compressed air flowing in the compressed air line. To reduce the detrimental effects of admixtures and components of the compressed air on the moisture sensor, the moisture sensor is located in a bypass channel of the compressed air line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Diekmeyer, Horst Heinrich, Bernd Strilka
  • Patent number: 8341500
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for detecting corrupted data for a system having non-volatile memory, such as NAND Flash memory. In some embodiments, a non-volatile memory (“NVM”) package is provided, which can include a NVM controller and one or more NVM dies. Each NVM die can include one or more blocks, where each block can further include an array of memory cells. One or more of these memory cells can be configured as “multi-level cells” (“MLCs”). In some embodiments, in order to avoid transmitting data obtained from an improperly programmed page of a MLC, a NVM controller can be configured to detect if data obtained from the page is in fact data stored in a different page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Byom, Daniel J. Post, Vadim Khmelnitsky, Nir J. Wakrat
  • Patent number: 8336364
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating wheel speed signals measured by wheel rpm sensors in a vehicle equipped with at least one longitudinal acceleration sensor integrates the signal of the longitudinal acceleration sensor during the acceleration or deceleration phases of the vehicle, and the resulting vehicle speed signal is compared against the signals of the individual wheel rpm sensors. A determination is made as to whether a deviation that may exist for a wheel lies within a predefined tolerance range. If a deviation falls outside of the tolerance range, the parameterized tire circumference of the associated wheel is adaptively recalibrated until the deviation falls within the tolerance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Munko, Axel Stender, Gerhard Ruhnau, Ingo Tha
  • Patent number: 8335700
    Abstract: A quantitative system and method that utilizes data sources external to a company, and when available, traditional data sources, e.g., internal company information, to (i) provide for matching criteria such as, for example, demographic needs, to a database that can provide a number of potential recruits or customers and that can also be used to screen both current and prospective company employees matching the criteria, and (ii) generate a statistical model that can be used to predict future profitability and productivity of licensed professionals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Deloitte Development LLC
    Inventors: Frank M. Zizzamia, John R. Lucker, Karl J. Knable
  • Patent number: 8332718
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented to improve the performance of a constant bit rate iterative decoder by providing elastic buffering, while utilizing a relatively simple decoder architecture capable of maintaining a fixed number of iterations of a lower value. An LDPC decoder can be designed, for example, to support less than the maximum possible number of iterations, and can, for example, be mated to elastic input and output buffers. If a given code block, or succession of code blocks, requires the maximum number of iterations for decoding, the decoder can, for example, run at such maximum number of iterations and the elastic input buffer can, for example, hold code blocks waiting to be processed so as to maintain a constant input rate. Alternatively, if one or more code blocks requires less than the nominal number of iterations, the output buffer can store those code blocks so as to preserve a constant output rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Scarpa, Edward Schell
  • Patent number: 8324578
    Abstract: An electronic device having one or more sensors is provided. The sensors may include any suitable type of sensor, including for example a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, or any other suitable type of sensor that emits or receives radiation (e.g., light waves) from the environment. The electronic device may include openings through which radiation may reach the sensors while keeping the sensors hidden from view. In some embodiments, the sensors may be placed underneath an opening used for an audio receiver such that radiation is piped to the sensors using a light path or a chamfered surface along the opening. In some embodiments, the sensors may be embedded in a screen such that the radiation emitted by the sensors exits the screen instead of being reflected on the screen (e.g., to provide content displays).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Chris Mullens, John Tam, Brian Huppi
  • Patent number: 8319326
    Abstract: Stacked die having vertically-aligned conductors and methods for making the same are disclosed for providing a non-volatile memory, such as flash memory (e.g., NAND flash memory), for use in an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nir J. Wakrat, Nick Seroff, Anthony Fai
  • Patent number: 8319128
    Abstract: A keyboard may be generally illuminated while also providing for key-specific illumination of one or more particular keys. The keyboard may be generally illuminated using any configuration of any number of suitable illumination sources. The keyboard may selectively illuminate any key or keys together with or apart from the general illumination of other keys. The keyboard may also variably illuminate certain keys to aid the user in navigating the keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Bronstein, Peter H. Mahowald
  • Patent number: 8314354
    Abstract: Accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A headset may be provided with a button controller assembly that has user-actuated buttons and a microphone. The microphone may be formed by mounting a microphone transducer on a printed circuit board. A housing may be mounted over the transducer to form a sealed cavity for the transducer. Circuitry may be mounted on portions of the printed circuit board that extend beyond the edges of the microphone housing. The button controller assembly may have dome switches. The dome switches may have a housing that encloses dome switch components and that forms a structural internal part for the button controller. The dome switch housing structure may have tabs or other engagement features that mate with corresponding engagement features in a button member. The button member may be pressed by a user to actuate a desired dome switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Prest, Claudio Di Leo, Jahan Minoo
  • Patent number: 8311866
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for customizing a worker's career development within an organization is provided. Information concerning the worker is obtained by either or both soliciting input directly from the worker and retrieving the information from one or more databases containing such information. The information is applied to a set of stored rules for defining available options along predefined career dimensions reflective of career-life fit. Based on application of the information to the set of stored rules, a profile is automatically created. If the profile accurately reflects the career-life fit goals of the worker, it is used as the operative profile for the worker until it is appropriate or necessary to change it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Deloitte Development LLC
    Inventors: Cathleen Benko, Anne Weisberg, Molly Anderson
  • Patent number: 8310569
    Abstract: Embodiments of circuits and methods for suppressing row-wise noise in the analog domain in an image sensing device. In one embodiment, a pixel sampling circuit includes a readout circuit that is connected to a plurality of pixels to receive analog signals from the pixels. The pixel sampling circuit also includes a noise correction circuit that provides a reference signal to remove at least a portion of the noise in the analog signals received from the pixels before the analog signals are converted into digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Trygve Willassen
  • Patent number: 8308180
    Abstract: A connection arrangement for a trailer vehicle includes at least two connections of the following connections suitable for a towing vehicle-end connection: a) a first electrical connection for a brake system, b) a second electrical connection for a lighting system, c) a first pneumatic connection for a brake line, d) a second pneumatic connection for a supply line, and at least two lines for connecting a respective connection to a corresponding trailer-end component. The at least two lines are combined, at least in sections, to form a common cable harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Risse, Udo Ronnenberg, Axel Stender
  • Patent number: 8306145
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for transmitting additional data over preexisting differential COFDM signals by modulating existing data carriers with a phase and an amplitude offset. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, additional data capacity can be achieved for an COFDM signal which is completely backwards compatible with existing satellite broadcast communications systems. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention additional information can be overlayed on an existing signal as a combination of amplitude and phase offset from the original QPSK symbols, applied for each information bit of the overlay data. With two additional levels of modulation, a receiver can demodulate the information from each of the previous stages and combine the information into a suitable format for soft decoding. The first stage of demodulation will be recovery of overlay data from the amplitude modulated D8PSK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Scarpa, Edward Schell, Christopher Strolle
  • Patent number: 8306337
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting objects of an object class, such as faces, in an image sensor. In some embodiments, the image sensor can include a detector with an image buffer. The image buffer can store image data in raster order. The detector can read the data out in Z order to perform object detection. The image data can then compute feature responses using the Z-ordered image data and determine whether any objects of the object class are present based on the feature responses. In some embodiments, the detector can downscale the image data while the object detection is performed and use the downscaled image data to continue the detection process. In some embodiments, the image data can perform detection even if the image is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Kirsch, Anthony Huggett
  • Patent number: 8297712
    Abstract: A valve unit for an electro-pneumatic brake control device for controlling a parking brake of a vehicle includes at least one air-quantity-boosting valve device for aerating and venting at least one spring brake cylinder of the parking brake and at least one electrically actuatable control valve for controlling the air-quantity-boosting valve device. To simplify the construction of the brake control device, the air-quantity-boosting valve device and the control valve are integrated in a common integral valve block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Bensch, Jörg Helmer, Bernd-Joachim Kiel, Hartmut Rosendahl, Otmar Struwe
  • Patent number: 8297714
    Abstract: An electropneumatic brake control device for controlling an air-quantity-boosting valve device which controls a parking brake of a vehicle. A valve unit is provided that has a vent valve for venting a control input of the air-quantity-boosting valve device. The vent valve has three states. In a first state, the control input of the air-quantity-boosting valve device can be vented in a throttled manner by using an aperture. In a second state, the control input of the air-quantity-boosting valve device cannot be vented. In a third state, the control input of the air-quantity-boosting valve device can finally be vented in an unthrottled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Bensch, Jörg Helmer, Bernd-Joachim Kiel, Wilfried Menze