Patents Assigned to Apple Computer, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20080167088
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer readable media that can facilitate the transfer of power between at least two electrical devices. At least one of the electrical devices is preferably a battery operated device. The present invention may also be used to facilitate the transfer of information among electrical devices. For example, the present invention may be used to automatically pair two Bluetooth devices together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Rabu, Nicholas R. Kalayjian, Jesse L. Dorogusker, Jeff Terlizzi, Emery A. Sanford, M. Evans Hankey
  • Publication number: 20080166009
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, and an acoustic source that is integrated with the frame for emitting sound from the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Derek Boyd Barrentine
  • Publication number: 20080167087
    Abstract: A wireless communication headset having both wired and wireless modes is provided. The wireless headset can include a headset connector assembly that can be coupled to a cable connector of a cable, which can in turn be connected to a telephone. When the wireless headset is coupled to the telephone, it can advantageously be operable to exchange audio information with the telephone through the cable, receive electrical power from the telephone through the cable, or both. In addition, the cable connector can advantageously be coupled to the wireless headset without obstructing airflow to a microphone that is located in the headset connector assembly, through use of apparatus of the invention located on the cable connector, such as an acoustic tunnel, a microphone-speaker pair, or a microphone that is coupled to control circuitry operable to disable the microphone of the headset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: John Tang, Brett Alten
  • Publication number: 20080168553
    Abstract: A code authentication architecture is used to sign code by adding one or more digital signatures to it. The digital signatures identify what authority signed the code, what the code contains, what type of program the code is, or other identifying information. When the signed code is later executed on a computer system, its identity is obtained by accessing encrypted information of the code stored on disk. The architecture then determines whether the identity satisfies at least one requirement imposed on the code for some purpose. If the code has been altered from when it was signed or it fails to satisfy a requirement imposed, the code will not have a valid identity. In addition to verifying the identity of the code, the architecture also validates executing code immediately responsible for managing the code and additional executing code in a chain of hosts responsible for managing one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventor: Peter Kiehtreiber
  • Publication number: 20080165999
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, and a microphone assembly that is integrated with the frame for receiving sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Derek Boyd Barrentine
  • Publication number: 20080168364
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing a user interface (UI) having a selector controllable by a physical input device. The response of the selector is adaptively adjusted to facilitate executing desired operations within the UI. A response factor defines how far the selector moves for a given movement of the physical input device. The response factor is increased so the selector can be moved a large distance, but is dynamically decreased to provide fine-tuned control of the selector for selecting densely grouped screen elements. Screen elements can be endowed with gravity, making them easy to select, or with anti-gravity, making them more difficult to select. The disclosure methods also provide tactile feedback such as vibration or braking of the physical input device to assist a user in executing desired operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventors: HOWARD A. MILLER, Frank Doepke
  • Publication number: 20080165134
    Abstract: An embodiment of an improved touch surface controller for controlling a multi-point touch surface such as a touch screen or a touch pad in a computer system is disclosed. The improved touch system controller detects signal capacitance from the pixels in the touch surface digitally, and therefore is easier and simpler to implement then previous approaches relying on analog detection and processing. Specifically, signal capacitance is measured by measuring a number of clock cycles taken to discharge or charge the input node of a comparator. Embodiments of the disclosed touch surface controller are particularly useful in the context of detecting multiple simultaneous touches on the touch surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventor: Christoph H. Krah
  • Publication number: 20080164056
    Abstract: Compact sub-assemblies of flexible circuits and drivers are provided. The sub-assemblies can occupy less space in an electronic device than conventional sub-assemblies. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the flexible circuits can be attached to or wires can be disposed on portions of the substrate that previously were unoccupied in conventional sub-assemblies. In one or more embodiments, the sub-assemblies of the present invention also can have wires disposed underneath the driver or vary the width of the wires. In one or more embodiments, the sub-assemblies of the present invention also can have composite wires that occupy less space than wires of conventional sub-assemblies, while still maintaining similar energy flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Robert Gettemy, Wei Yao, Barry Corlett
  • Publication number: 20080165807
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing data between devices and more particularly for synchronizing data between a plurality of peer-to-peer devices in a decentralized environment where no one device stores the most “recent” or “true” version of the data. Embodiments of the invention relate concepts of discovering synchronizing peers, communication between peers using special techniques, and using a way station concept as an aid for both discovery and synchronization between peers that are not simultaneously available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Nilo, Gordie Freedman, Toby Paterson
  • Publication number: 20080168183
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of history information as an aid to synchronization in a peer-to-peer system. In particular, node trees are used to represent portions of files systems designated for synchronization. The nodes in the node tree embody history information regarding associated objects. The history information includes version vectors that are used to simplify synchronization-related comparisons and create job lists that may be used to bring participating peers into synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventors: M. Scott Marcy, Brent Eric Knight
  • Publication number: 20080164055
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with one or more electrical components that may be coupled to one or more circuit boards by flexible circuits that can have reduced ground lengths. Each flexible circuit can include at least one ground conductor that may run along its length and that may have at least one portion exposed for coupling to a grounding element that may also be coupled to a ground plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Wang, Philip Michael Hobson, Kenneth A. Jenks, Robert J. Hill, Robert W. Schlub
  • Publication number: 20080165157
    Abstract: Data acquisition from a touch-surface input unit may be disrupted during the generation of radio frequency (“RF”) pulses. To mitigate this problem, touch-surface data acquisition is temporarily halted during RF pulse generation. Data collected prior to temporarily halting is retained, with subsequently acquired data being added to prior collected data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack I-Chieh Fu, Christopher Tenzin Mullens
  • Publication number: 20080168388
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are described for automatically resizing or repositioning an area of interest, identifying a portion of a document for display, so that the area of interest aligns with one or more edges of a structural element in the document. A method is provided that includes receiving input to resize (or reposition) an area of interest associated with a clipping of content. The clipping displays a portion of a document corresponding to the area of interest. The document has a plurality of structural elements. A boundary associated with a structural element in the document is determined. The area of interest is automatically resized (or repositioned) based on the boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Decker
  • Publication number: 20080167094
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, a support panel that is integrated with the frame, and a flexible circuit that is disposed adjacent to the support panel such that the support panel provides support for the flexible circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Erik L. Wang, Philip Michael Hobson
  • Publication number: 20080165961
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to prevent hacking of encrypted audio or video content during playback. Hackers, using a debugging attachment or other tools, can illicitly access encrypted data in memory in a playback device when the data is decrypted during playback and momentarily stored in digital form. This hacking is defeated here by methodically “poisoning” the encrypted data so that it is no longer playable by a standard decoder. The poisoning involves deliberate alteration of certain bit values. On playback, the player invokes a special secure routine that provides correction of the poisoned bit values, for successful playback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Lerouge, Gianpaolo Fasoli, Augustin J. Farrugia
  • Publication number: 20080158146
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying irregular objects in contact with, or in close proximity to, a touch-surface are described. An irregularity measure is determined based on the regions intrinsic characteristics (e.g., energy content) rather than on the shape (or pattern) of the pixels within the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Carl Westerman
  • Publication number: 20080158167
    Abstract: Multi-touch touch-sensing devices and methods are described herein. The touch sensing devices can include multiple sense points, each located at a crossing of a drive line and a sense line. In some embodiments, multiple drive lines may be simultaneously or nearly simultaneously stimulated with drive signals having unique characteristics, such as phase or frequency. A sense signal can occur on each sense line that can be related to the drive signals by an amount of touch present at sense points corresponding to the stimulated drive lines and the sense line. By using processing techniques based on the unique drive signals, an amount of touch corresponding to each sense point can be extracted from the sense signal. The touch sensing methods and devices can be incorporated into interfaces for a variety of electronic devices such as a desktop, tablet, notebook, and handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, and mobile telephones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotelling, John Greer Elias, Kapil Vinod Sakariya
  • Publication number: 20080158176
    Abstract: Normalization of regions of a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-touch events, or a sensor panel capable of detecting multi-hover events, is disclosed to enable each sensor in the sensor panel to trigger a virtual button in a similar manner, given the same amount of touch or hover. Each sensor produces an output value proportional to the level or amount of touch or hover. However, due to processing, manufacturing and physical design differences, the sensor output values can vary from region to region or panel to panel for a given amount of touch or hover. To normalize the sensor output values across regions, gain and offset information can be obtained in advance, stored in nonvolatile memory, and later used to normalize the sensor output values so that all regions in the sensor panel can trigger virtual buttons similarly, providing a uniform “response function” at any location on the sensor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Richards Land, Steven Porter Hotelling, Richard Wei Kwang Lim
  • Publication number: 20080162920
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a microcontroller which includes a Register Load Assist engine. The microcontroller can include no or minimal non-volatile memory which stores boot data. Thus, most of the boot data can be stored at a non-volatile memory external to the microcontroller. An external circuit can read the externally positioned non-volatile memory and send compressed boot data to the microcontroller. The boot data can be originally stored in compressed form in the external non-volatile memory or it can be compressed by the external circuit. The boot data can be received by the microcontroller and saved in an intermediate location in the microcontroller's internal volatile memory. The RLA engine can then uncompress the boot data and store various portions of it in their final destinations (such as, for example, in respective registers).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas James Wilson
  • Publication number: 20080158174
    Abstract: Pre-stored no-touch or no-hover (no-event) sensor output values can initially be used when a sensor panel subsystem is first booted up to establish an initial baseline of sensor output values unaffected by fingers or other objects touching or hovering over the sensor panel during boot-up. This initial baseline can then be normalized so that each sensor generates the same output value for a given amount of touch or hover, providing a uniform response across the sensor panel and enabling subsequent touch or hover events to be more easily detected. After the initial normalization process is complete, the pre-stored baseline can be discarded in favor of a newly captured no-event baseline that may be more accurate than the pre-stored baseline due to temperature or other variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Richards Land, Wayne Carl Westerman, Steve Porter Hotelling