Patents Represented by Attorney Treyz Law Group
  • Patent number: 8059039
    Abstract: Wireless portable electronic devices such as laptop computers are provided with antennas. An antenna may be provided within a clutch barrel in a laptop computer. The clutch barrel may have a dielectric cover. Antenna elements may be mounted within the clutch barrel cover on an antenna support structure. There may be two or more antenna elements mounted to the antenna support structure. These antenna elements may be of different types. A first antenna element for the clutch barrel antenna may be formed from a dual band antenna element having a closed slot and an open slot. A second antenna element for the clutch barrel antenna may be formed from a dual band antenna element of a hybrid type having a planar resonating element arm and a slot resonating element. Flex circuit structures may be used in implanting the first and second antenna elements for the clutch barrel antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Hao Xu, Gregory A. Springer, Bing Chiang, Eduardo Lopez Camacho, Douglas B. Kough
  • Patent number: 8057964
    Abstract: Photolithographic reticles are provided that have electrostatic discharge protection features. A photolithographic reticle may be formed from metal structures such as chrome structures on a transparent substrate such as fused silica. Some of the metal structures on the reticle correspond to transistors and other electronic devices on integrated circuits that are fabricated when using the reticles in a step-and-repeat lithography tool. These metal device structures may be susceptible to damage due to electrostatic charge build up during handling of the reticle. To prevent damage, dummy ring structures are formed in the vicinity of device structures. The dummy ring structures may be constructed to be more sensitive to electrostatic discharge than the device structures, so that in the event of an electrostatic discharge, damage is confined to portions of the reticle that are not critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Che Ta Hsu, Peter J. McElheny, Jeffrey T. Watt
  • Patent number: 8059040
    Abstract: Wireless portable electronic devices such as laptop computers are provided with antennas and radio-frequency transceiver circuitry. Antenna structures and transceiver circuitry may be provided within a clutch barrel in a laptop computer. The clutch barrel may have a dielectric cover. Antenna elements may be mounted within the clutch barrel cover on an antenna support structure. The antenna support structure may be mounted to a metal housing frame. The metal housing frame may have a tab-shaped extension that serves as a heat sink. The heat sink may draw heat away from the transceiver circuitry. The transceiver circuitry may be coupled to the antenna using a radio-frequency transmission line path that contains microstrip transmission lines or coaxial cable transmission lines. The transceiver circuitry may be coupled to logic circuitry on a laptop computer motherboard using a digital data communications path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Hao Xu, Gregory A. Springer, Bing Chiang, Eduardo Lopez Camacho, Douglas B. Kough
  • Patent number: 8055003
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may have acoustic ports such as microphone and speaker ports. Acoustic devices such as microphones and speakers may be associated with the acoustic ports. An acoustic port may have an opening between an interior and exterior of the portable electronic device. The opening may be covered by a metal mesh. An acoustic fabric may be interposed between the metal mesh and the opening. The opening may be formed from a hole in a glass member having outer and inner chamfers. A microphone boot may be provided that forms front and rear radial seals with a housing of the device and a microphone unit respectively. The microphone boot may also form multiple face seals with the microphone unit. A speaker for the speaker port may be enclosed in a sealed speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may have a pressure-equalizing vent slit covered with an acoustic mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Mittleman, Richard P. Howarth, Chad Seguin
  • Patent number: 8054221
    Abstract: A portable user device may provide Global Positioning System (GPS) services. The device may include a GPS receiver. The GPS receiver may provide accurate information about the current location of the device. A user may use the device to perform tasks. Certain tasks may generate excess heat or de-generate heat that causes the GPS receiver to perform unsatisfactorily. Methods are provided that can test GPS receiver performance during acquisition mode and during tracking mode. During testing, the GPS receiver may be given a predetermined amount of time to acquire a GPS fix. The GPS receiver may be tested repeatedly to acquire successive GPS fixes. After a desired number of tests are performed, a success rate may be calculated. If the success rate is satisfactory, the GPS receiver satisfies design criteria. If the success rate is not satisfactory, the GPS receiver may be reconfigured with new settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anh Luong, Daniel C. Kong
  • Patent number: 8054232
    Abstract: Antenna window structures and antennas are provided for electronic devices. The electronic devices may be laptop computers or other devices that have conductive housings. Antenna windows can be formed from dielectric members. The dielectric members can have elastomeric properties. An antenna may be mounted inside a conductive housing beneath a dielectric member. The antenna can be formed from a parallel plate waveguide structure. The parallel plate waveguide structure may have a ground plate and a radiator plate and may have dielectric material between the ground and radiator plates. The ground plate can have a primary ground plate portion and a ground strip. The ground strip may reflect radio-frequency signals so that they travel through the dielectric member. The antenna may handle radio-frequency antenna signals in one or more communications bands. The radio-frequency antenna signals pass through the dielectric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Douglas Blake Kough, Enrique Ayala Vazquez, Eduardo Lopez Camacho, Gregory Allen Springer
  • Patent number: 8044873
    Abstract: An antenna may be formed from conductive regions that define a gap that is bridged by shunt inductors. The inductors may have equal inductances and may be located equidistant from each other to form a scatter-type antenna structure. The inductors may also have unequal inductances and may be located along the length of the gap with unequal inductor-to-inductor spacings, thereby creating a decreasing shunt inductance at increasing distances from a feed for the antenna. This type of antenna structure functions as a horn-type antenna. One or more scatter-type antenna structures may be cascaded to form a multiband antenna. Antenna gaps may be formed in conductive device housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Gregory Allen Springer, Douglas B. Kough, Enrique Ayala, Matthew Ian McDonald
  • Patent number: 8041953
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing email are provided. Some of the email may be encrypted using identity-based-encryption (IBE) techniques. When an incoming IBE-encrypted message for a recipient in an organization is received by a gateway at the organization, the gateway may request an IBE private key from an IBE private key generator. The IBE private key generator may generate the requested IBE private key for the gateway. The gateway may use an IBE decryption engine to decrypt the incoming message. The decrypted message can be scanned for viruses and spam and delivered to the recipient. Outgoing email messages can also be processed. If indicated by message attributes or information provided by a message sender, an outgoing message can be encrypted using an IBE encryption engine and the IBE public key of a desired recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Spies, Guido Appenzeller
  • Patent number: 8031011
    Abstract: Oscillator circuitry is provided that is based on a ring of inverters. The ring of inverters may be single-ended or differential inverters. Digitally controlled adjustable load capacitors may be provided at inverter outputs to tune the oscillator circuitry. Each digitally controlled adjustable load capacitor may be formed from multiple varactors connected in parallel. Each varactor may have a control input that receives a digital control signal. The digitally controlled adjustable load capacitors in a given oscillator may be adjusted in unison to produce the same capacitance value for each capacitor or may be adjusted individually so that they produce different capacitance values. The inverters may include common-mode-gain reduction features such as series-connected current sources, series-connected resistors, and cross-coupled negative feedback transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mohsen Moussavi, William W. Bereza
  • Patent number: 8032817
    Abstract: Error detection and error location determination circuitry is provided for detecting and locating soft errors in random-access-memory arrays on programmable integrated circuits. The random-access-memory arrays contain rows and columns of random-access-memory cells. Some of the cells are loaded with configuration data and produce static output signals that are used to program associated regions of programmable logic. Cyclic redundancy check error correction check bits are computed for each column of each array. The error correction check bits are stored in corresponding columns of cells in the array. During normal operation of an integrated circuit in a system, the cells are subject to soft errors caused by background radiation strikes. The error detection and error location determination circuitry contains linear feedback shift register circuitry that processes columns of array data. The circuitry continuously processes the data to identify the row and column location of each error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Ninh D. Ngo
  • Patent number: 8030962
    Abstract: Integrated circuits such as programmable logic device integrated circuits are provided that have configuration random-access memory elements. The configuration random-access memory elements are loaded with configuration data to customize programmable logic on the integrated circuits. Each memory element has a capacitor that stores data for that memory element. A pair of cross-coupled inverters are connected to the capacitor. The inverters ensure that the memory elements produce output control signals with voltages than range from one power supply rail to another. Each configuration random-access memory element may have a clear transistor. The capacitor may be formed in a dielectric layer that lies above the transistors of the inverters, the address transistor, and the clear transistor. The inverters may be powered with an elevated power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Irfan Rahim, Andy L. Lee, Myron Wai Wong, William Bradley Vest, Jeffrey T. Watt
  • Patent number: 8023646
    Abstract: IBE extensions to IBE schemes may be provided by creating multiple instances of the same IBE scheme, where each instance has an associated IBE master key and corresponding IBE public parameters. During encryption, an IBE extension identity for each instance of the IBE scheme may be mapped to a corresponding component identity. A message may be encrypted using the component identities to create multiple ciphertexts. The ciphertexts can be combined and sent to a recipient. The recipient can request a private key. The private key may be generated by mapping the IBE extension identity into a component identity in each instance, by extracting private keys for each of the component identities, and by combining the private keys into a single IBE extension private key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventor: Xavier Boyen
  • Patent number: 8024769
    Abstract: A system is provided that allows encrypted content to be distributed to users over a communications network. A policy enforcement service may use an identity-based encryption algorithm to generate public parameter information and private keys. Data content may be encrypted prior to distribution using an identity-based encryption engine. The encryption engine may use the public parameter information from the policy service and public key information to encrypt the data. The public key information may be based on policy information that specifies which types of users are allowed to access the data that is encrypted using that public key. A user may obtain a private key for unlocking particular encrypted data by providing a key request to the policy enforcement service that contains the public key. The policy enforcement service may enforce the policies given by the policy information and may provide private keys only to authorized users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishi R. Kacker, Guido Appenzeller, Matthew J. Pauker, Terence Spies
  • Patent number: 8019096
    Abstract: Electronic devices and accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A microphone may be included in an accessory to capture sound for an associated electronic device. Buttons and other user interfaces may be included in the accessories. An accessory may have an audio plug that connects to a mating audio jack in an electronic device, thereby establishing a wired communications path between the accessory and the electronic device. Path configuration circuitry may be used to selectively configure the path between the electronic device and accessory to support different operational modes. Analog audio lines in the wired path may convey left and right channel analog audio channels. When it is desired to convey power over the wired path, one of the analog audio channel lines may be converted to a power line. Audio functionality may be retained by simultaneously converting a unidirectional line into a bidirectional line using hybrids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Sander, Jeffrey Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 8013632
    Abstract: Integrated circuits such as programmable logic devices are provided with hotsocket detection circuitry. The hotsocket detection circuitry monitors signals on data pins and power supply voltages. If the data pins become active before the power supply voltages have reached appropriate levels, a hotsocket condition is identified. When a hotsocket condition is identified, driver circuitry on the integrated circuit can be disabled by a hotsocket signal. The integrated circuit may include multiple blocks of input-output circuitry, each of which includes a local hotsocket circuit that uses global hotsocket and power-on-reset signals in disabling input-output circuitry in that input-output block. A power supply circuit in each input-output block may ensure that the local hotsocket circuit in that input-output block is powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Chui, Linda Chu, Toan D. Do
  • Patent number: 8014480
    Abstract: Circuitry and methods for supporting serial communications over serial interconnects between circuit modules are provided. A data recovery circuit receives incoming serial data from the serial interconnect path with zero delay. The data recovery circuit includes a data sampler that samples the incoming serial data using a multiphase clock. Data samples are provided to a multiplexer that selects an optimum sampled data signal to use as a recovered data signal. The multiplexer has a control input that receives a phase pointer signal. Control circuitry in the data recovery circuit analyzes the sampled data signals and a current value of the phase pointer to compute a clock phase shift error. If the clock phase shift error exceeds a predetermined value, the phase pointer signal can be updated. The data recovery circuit may be implemented using hardwired circuitry or programmable logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Jingcheng Zhuang, Qingjin Du, Tad Kwasniewski, Rakesh H. Patel
  • Patent number: 8013666
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit may have multiple charge pumps. Each charge pump may have an output. The outputs of the charge pumps may be connected to a common output terminal for the charge pump circuit. The charge pump circuit may produce an output voltage at the output terminal. The output voltage may be monitored by a charge pump regulator circuit. The charge pump regulator circuit may produce a control signal based on the measured output voltage. The control signal may be processed by register and logic gating circuitry and may be used to generate a sequential set of slave charge pump enable signals. The slave charge pump enable signals may be used to sequentially enable the charge pumps to progressively increase the strength of the charge pump while exhibiting reduced ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Ping-Chen Liu
  • Patent number: 8004915
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with built-in-self test circuitry. The integrated circuit may have multiple blocks of memory. The memory may be tested using the built-in-self test circuitry. Each memory block may include a satellite address generator that is used in generating test addresses for the memory blocks. Each memory block may also include failure analysis logic and output response analyzer logic. Stalling logic may be used to individually stall memory block testing on a block-by-block basis during memory tests. Address buffer circuitry such as first-in-first-out buffers may be used to provide randomized memory addresses during testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Jayabrata Ghosh Dastidar, Danh Dang
  • Patent number: 7999748
    Abstract: Key antennas are provided for an electronic device such as a laptop computer. The electronic device may have radio-frequency transceivers that transmit and receive signals using the key antennas. An antenna resonating element may be mounted beneath a keycap of each key antenna. The antenna resonating element may be spirally wrapped and integrated into the keycap. The key antenna may function as an antenna and may also function as an input key for an electronic device. A flexible communications path may pass through a hole in a conductive housing of the electronic device and may be used to couple the antenna resonating element to the radio-frequency transceiver. The antenna resonating element may be coupled to the radio-frequency transceiver by a weak spring. The weak spring may form a portion of the antenna resonating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Ligtenberg, Brett William Degner, Douglas Blake Kough
  • Patent number: 7996743
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may have a circuit under test. The integrated circuit may have a clock generation circuit that receives a reference clock from a tester and that generates a corresponding core clock. The integrated circuit may have a built in self test circuit and a clock synthesizer that receives the core clock. The built in self test circuit may provide clock synthesizer control signals that direct the clock synthesizer to produce test clock signals at various test clock frequencies. The test clock at the test clock frequencies may be applied to the circuit under test during circuit testing. The circuit under test may assert a pass signal when the circuit tests are completed successfully. The built in self test circuit may inform the tester of the maximum clock frequency at which the circuit under test successfully passes testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Tze Sin Tan, Jayabrata Ghosh Dastidar