Patents Assigned to Apple Computers Inc.
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Patent number: 7038914Abstract: A computer assembly is disclosed. The computer assembly comprises a chassis and a mounting module rigidly coupled to the chassis. The mounting module is for cooling the computer assembly when in operation. The computer assembly includes at least one circuit board suspended from the module. The at least one circuit board has a known orientation relative to the module and the at least one circuit board has a variable orientation relative to the chassis. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides a stable mounting for the cooling system that includes a large heat sink. The method and system in accordance with the present invention prevents the disturbance of the critical alignment of the printed circuit board with the heatsink from shock and vibration loading.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Douglas L. Heirich, Steven T. Holmes, James Guy Smeenge, Jason Alan Burton
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Patent number: 7039203Abstract: A plurality of audio inputs which require gain applied are coupled together, the gain is applied and that weighted signal is summed with the output of similar circuits running with different gains. For typical overall gain requirements of 0 to +22.5 dB to be applied in 1.5 dB increments, the new circuit reduces by over two-thirds the number of analog switches required in the level adjusting portion of an audio mixer. More generally, the complexity of the new circuit, in terms of the number of analog switching elements is 2m(1+log2n) for m channels with n gain steps/channel. The number of stages of differing gain is reduced from 2m variable gain amplifiers to 2(1+log2n) fixed gain amplifiers.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventor: Lawrence F. Heyl
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Patent number: 7034849Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for blending two images using vector table look up operations. In one aspect of the invention, a method to blend two images includes: loading a vector of keys into a vector register; converting the vector of keys into a first vector of blending factors for the first image and a second vector of blending factors for the second image using a plurality of look up tables; and computing an image attribute for the blended image using the blending factors.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Steven Todd Weybrew, David Ligon, Ronald Gerard Langhi
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Patent number: 7034814Abstract: A control indication assembly. A first control mounted on a surface of a computer is coupled to a first sensor, to a first sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to the first control when a user-touch occurs to the first sensor, and to a first indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch. A second control mounted on a surface of a display which is coupled to the computer is coupled to a second sensor, to a second sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said second control when said user-touch occurs to the display, and to a second indicator to indicate an occurrence of the user-touch. The first and second control are configured such that the first and second indicator are synchronized to exhibit identical behaviors when the user-touch occurs to either the first control or the second control.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Gong, Brian Q. Huppi, Christopher H. Krah, Richard D. Cappels, Duncan R. Kerr, Michael Culbert
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Patent number: 7035092Abstract: The present invention is a computer controlled display device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data. Additionally, a moveable assembly may be coupled to the display. The moveable assembly may provide at least three degrees of freedom of movement for the flat panel display device. Additionally, the moveable assembly may have a cross-sectional area, which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of the flat panel display.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Hillman, Frank Tsai, Michael D. McBroom, Daniel L. McBroom, Brian T. Sudderth, Bartley K. Andre, Christopher Stringer, Daniel Riccio, Sung Kim, Cliff Jue
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Patent number: 7035102Abstract: An apparatus for air-cooling an electronic device is disclosed. A contoured panel channels a flow of air within the housing of an electronic device so as to channel the flow of air more directly over heat producing elements such as the microprocessor and peripheral cards. A sensor can also be employed to determine whether the panel is present and properly placed. If not, measures can be taken to reduce the heat generated by the heat producing elements. For example, a warning can be displayed, or the microprocessor can be instructed to enter sleep mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Steven Holmes, Douglas L. Heirich
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Patent number: 7024626Abstract: A system and method for producing notification objects conveying computer warning or error notification information to a computer user is provided. The notification objects point to a target to which the information contained therein relates and are persistent until dismissed by a user or an application. The notification objects are aware of the bounds of their target, and where possible do not obscure any part of their target. These objects are collapsible, allowing the user to minimize the objects, and are also non-modal, allowing a user to fully interact with any running application while the notification objects are visible. These notification objects are only visible when the window containing the target to which the information in the notification object relates is the active window.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventor: Steve Ko
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Publication number: 20060066581Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly provides a two layer capacitive trackpad sensor in which an EMI ground grid is interposed among the sensor's capacitive elements on each of its layers. The EMI grid on each of the two layers is electrically coupled via, typically, vias. The described arrangement of sensor elements (capacitor plates) and EMI ground grid traces may be incorporated into a PCB having additional layers (e.g., a four, six or eight layer PCB). If used in this manner, additional vias are provided on the PCB which permit electrical coupling between these “additional layers” and which are electrically isolated from, and shielded by, the EMI ground grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2004Publication date: March 30, 2006Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Steven Hotelling
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Publication number: 20060066588Abstract: An input device and system are described that acquires (measures) raw track pad sensor data and transmits this data to a host computer where it is analyzed by an application executing on one or more host computer central processing units. The resulting input processing architecture provides a track pad input device that is both lower in cost to manufacture and more flexible than prior art track pad input devices. Lower costs may be realized by eliminating the prior art's dedicated track pad hardware for processing sensor data (e.g., a processor and associated firmware memory). Increased flexibility may be realized by providing feature set functionality via software that executes on the host computer. In this architecture, track pad functionality may be modified, updated, and enhanced through software upgrade procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Stephanie Cinereski, Chad Bronstein, Steven Hotelling
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Publication number: 20060066582Abstract: An input device and system are described that acquires (measures) raw track pad sensor data and transmits this data to a host computer where it is analyzed by an application executing on one or more host computer central processing units. The resulting input processing architecture provides a track pad input device that is both lower in cost to manufacture and more flexible than prior art track pad input devices. Lower costs may be realized by eliminating the prior art's dedicated track pad hardware for processing sensor data (e.g., a processor and associated firmware memory). Increased flexibility may be realized by providing feature set functionality via software that executes on the host computer. In this architecture, track pad functionality may be modified, updated and enhanced through software upgrade procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2004Publication date: March 30, 2006Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Lyon, Stephanie Cinereski, Chad Bronstein, Steven Hotelling
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Patent number: 7019967Abstract: A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a shock mount assembly that is configured to provide impact absorption to sensitive components such as a display and an optical disk drive. The computing device also includes an enclosureless optical disk drive that is housed by an enclosure and other structures of the computing device. The computing device further includes a heat transfer system that removes heat from a heat producing element of the computing device. The heat transfer system is configured to thermally couple the heat producing element to a structural member of the computing device so as to sink heat through the structural member, which generally has a large surface area for dissipating the heat.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2004Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: John DiFonzo, Stephen Zadesky, Michael Prichard
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Patent number: 7019758Abstract: Aspects for maintaining and providing a calibrated color environment for display devices of a computer system. In an aspect of an exemplary method, the method includes determining relevant state data, including a framebuffer driver state and a display driver state. The method further includes saving the relevant state data as calibration information for the calibrated color environment. The relevant state data includes information about a display that has an effect on color, such as a frame buffer driver state, a display driver state, and phospher characteristics of the display.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Ian Hendry, David Hayward, John Calhoun, Eric Anderson
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Patent number: 7019752Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for dynamic virtual frame buffer management. At least one embodiment of the present invention dynamically enables or disables the use of a virtual frame buffer, which is not under control of graphics hardware of a data processing system, without restarting the graphical user interface system (e.g., the window system) of the data processing system. For example, in response to the addition or removing of a frame buffer that is under control of a graphics controller (e.g., due to the activation or deactivation of the graphics controller, or the hot plug-in or hot disconnection of the graphics controller), the virtual frame buffer is disabled or enabled respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Michael James Paquette, Simon Douglas
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Publication number: 20060061927Abstract: A power manager for managing power delivered to a battery operated peripheral device is disclosed. The power manager includes an input current limiter arranged to suppress a power surge associated with an insertion event by a power cable arranged to provide an external voltage. A voltage converter unit coupled to the input current limiter converts the received external voltage to a supply voltage that is transmitted by way of a main bus to a voltage sensor unit coupled thereto. During the insertion event, a comparator unit coupled to the voltage sensor, sends a first switching signal to a switchover circuit that responds by connecting the peripheral device and an uncharged battery to the main bus such that the supply voltage is provided thereto. When the battery is substantially fully charged, the switchover circuit responds by electrically disconnecting the battery so as to not overcharge the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2005Publication date: March 23, 2006Applicant: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Fadell, Christoph Krah
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Patent number: 7016891Abstract: A system and method is described which provides for context checking of an operating environment. A context manager controls the execution of context checks requested by applications or processes. In one embodiment, the context check modules are defined as self-contained modules located in a database. When the data base is opened, these modules are loaded and registered with the context manager. Upon occurrence of certain user actions, the context manager will issue an event to cause the appropriate modules to perform a context check of certain context of the environment. The resulting context information is stored in memory by the context manager and provided to the applications by the context manager when needed. One advantage is that the context checks performed can be changed simply by adding or deleting modules from the database.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventor: John Richard Powers, III
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Patent number: 7015921Abstract: An apparatus, in a data processing system having at least one host processor with host processor cache and host memory, includes a chip interconnect, a cache coherent interface coupled to the chip interconnect wherein the cache coherent interface provides cache coherent access, a cache non-coherent interface coupled to the chip interconnect wherein the cache non-coherent interface provides cache non-coherent access to the host memory, and a compute engine coupled to the chip interconnect and coupled to the cache coherent interface and coupled to cache non-coherent interface wherein the compute engine issues a memory access request. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2001Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Sushma Shrikant Trivedi, Joseph P. Bratt
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Patent number: 7016944Abstract: The present invention is a system and method that monitors upgrade availability for computer information on a user's computer and allows the user to determine which of the available upgrades will be downloaded to the user's computer and installed. The upgrade availability for computer information on the user's computer is monitored in the background, without user-intervention when the user connects to a network, such as the Internet. If any such upgrades are available, a flag is set to notify the user of such upgrades. The user is notified of any available upgrades when computer information is accessed for which an upgrade is available, and given a choice of whether or not to download the available upgrade(s). The downloaded upgrade(s) may then be installed by an installation means. In this manner, the present invention allows for the user to download only those upgrades desired by the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1999Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Gordon R. Meyer, Albert R. Howard, Jr., Wayne Loofbourrow
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Patent number: 7015919Abstract: Graphics resources are virtualized through an interface between graphics hardware and graphics clients. The interface allocates the graphics resources across multiple graphics clients, processes commands for access to the graphics resources from the graphics clients, and resolves conflicts for the graphics resources among the clients.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: John Stauffer, Bob Beretta, Ken Dyke
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Patent number: 7013346Abstract: Packets transmitted from a server into a computer network are assigned a sequence number, a retransmit time and a time to live. Each packet is retransmitted upon the expiration of the retransmit time if no acknowledgment has been received from a client to which the packet was sent. The packet is removed from a retransmit buffer if the time to live timer expires prior to any acknowledgment being received. Multiple acknowledgments may be combined into a coalesced acknowledgment.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventor: Rusty Tucker
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Patent number: D518290Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Steve Jobs, Duncan Robert Kerr, Stephen Brian Lynch, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Douglas B. Satzger, Calvin Q. Seid, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Stephen Paul Zadesky
