Patents Assigned to Apple
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Patent number: 7982796Abstract: A computer readable medium for compressing video data with an edit track is provided. Generally, computer readable code for compressing video data is provided. The computer readable code for compressing comprises computer readable code for accessing the edit track to use data in the edit track during the compressing the video data.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2001Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Michael F. Culbert
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Publication number: 20110170348Abstract: A flash disk controller includes an input operable to receive analog signals from a flash memory die. The flash memory die includes multiple flash memory cells. The analog signals represent data values stored in the flash memory cells. An analog-to-digital conversion module is coupled to the input to convert received analog signals into digital data. A control module selects memory cells from which the input receives analog signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Cornwell, Christopher P. Dudte
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Publication number: 20110172994Abstract: This is directed to processing voice inputs received by an electronic device while prompts are provided. In particular, this is directed to providing a sequence of prompts to a user (e.g., voice over prompts) while monitoring for a voice input. When the voice input is received, a characteristic time stamp can be identified for the voice input, and can be compared to periods or windows associated with each of the provided prompts. The electronic device can then determine that the prompt corresponding to a window that includes the characteristic time stamp was the prompt to which the user wished to apply the voice input. The device can process the voice input to extract a user instruction, and apply the instruction to the identified prompt (e.g., and perform an operation associated with the prompt).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aram Lindahl, Policarpo Wood
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Publication number: 20110169878Abstract: A display system is provided including forming a display array, connecting a control block to the display array, configuring a communication protocol between the display array and the control block, and operating the display array with the communication protocol.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jerry CHUNG, Wei Yao, Wei Chen
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Publication number: 20110167591Abstract: A hinge is disclosed. The hinge can include an axle, a first member coupled to the axle, and a second member coupled to the axle and configured to rotate relative the first member and around the axle. The hinge can further include a stop mechanism configured to stop the second member from rotating, relative to the first member, in a first direction and beyond a first range when the stop mechanism is in a first position and the second member is in the first range. The stop mechanism can be further configured to allow the second member to rotate, relative to the first member, in the first direction, beyond the first range, and into a second range when the stop mechanism is in a second position and the second member is in the first range.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: William Degner Brett, John Ternus, Andy Lauder
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Publication number: 20110173311Abstract: A server device sends a list of account holders together with an invitation to bind to the server. A client device can decide to present the invitation to a user for decision only if the client device finds a match between the list and the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Gregory Bjorn Vaughan, Jeffrey H. Michaud, Kazuhisa Yanagihara, Bertrand Serlet
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Publication number: 20110169667Abstract: Compact input devices formed on flexible substrates are disclosed. The input devices may be formed using three or more conducting layers. By including three or more conducting layers, the diameter of the input device may be minimized. In addition, to improve the flexibility of portions of the input device mounted, some portions of the input device may be made to have fewer layers than other portions of the input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Fletcher ROTHKOPF, Jan Moolsintong, Joseph Fisher, Wendell Sander, Erturk Kocalar
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Publication number: 20110173539Abstract: Various techniques for adaptively varying audio feedback data on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, an audio user interface implementing certain aspects of the present disclosure may devolve or evolve the verbosity of audio feedback in response to user interface events based at least partially upon the verbosity level of audio feedback provided during previous occurrences of the user interface event. In another embodiment, an audio user interface may be configured to vary the verbosity of audio feedback associated with a navigable list of items based at least partially upon the speed at which a user navigates the list. In a further embodiment, an audio user interface may be configured to vary audio feedback verbosity based upon the contextual importance of a user interface event. Electronic devices implementing the present techniques provide an improved user experience with regard to audio user interfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Benjamin Andrew Rottler, Aram Lindahl, Allen Paul Haughay, Jr., Shawn A. Ellis, Policarpo Wood
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Publication number: 20110169857Abstract: Disclosed is a system for producing images including techniques for reducing the memory and processing power required for such operations. The system provides techniques for programmatically representing a graphics problem. The system further provides techniques for reducing and optimizing graphics problems for rendering with consideration of the system resources, such as the availability of a compatible GPU.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: John Harper, Ralph Brunner, Peter Graffagnino, Mark Zimmer
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Publication number: 20110173554Abstract: A user can control the animation of an object via an interface that includes a control area and a user-manipulable control element. The control area includes an ellipse. The user-manipulable control element includes a three-dimensional arrow with a straight body, a three-dimensional arrow with a curved body, or a sphere. In one embodiment, the interface includes a virtual trackball that is used to manipulate the user-manipulable control element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Gregory E. Niles, Guido Hucking, Brian Edward Walsh
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Publication number: 20110173238Abstract: A database message builder presents a message building window on a user interface of a database application for retrieving structured data from one or more fields of a database record of the database and unstructured data (e.g., free form text) entered by a user of the database application. The message building window can be used to build database messages using a variety of structured and unstructured data. One or more tokens corresponding to the structured data in the database (e.g., database record fields) can be used in the window to build a database message. The user can publish the message to a target application or network resource (e.g., a social networking site). Prior to publication, the tokens can be replaced with corresponding structured data from the record fields. A current character count or character limit for the selected target application or network resource can be displayed in the user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Ryan Griggs
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Publication number: 20110173462Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing the peak power consumption of a system, such as a non-volatile memory system (e.g., flash memory system). The system can include multiple subsystems and a controller for controlling the subsystems. Each subsystem may have a current profile that is peaky. Thus, the controller may control the peak power of the system by, for example, limiting the number of subsystems that can perform power-intensive operations at the same time or by aiding a subsystem in determining the peak power that the subsystem may consume at any given time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nir J. Wakrat, Daniel J. Post, Kenneth Herman, Vadim Khmelnitsky, Nick Seroff, Hsiao Thio, Matthew Byom
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Publication number: 20110169026Abstract: A device to emit light includes a light emitting diode (LED) die and a light guide coupled to the LED die. The light guide includes a first material having a first index of refraction with a plurality of apertures arranged in a grid. A second material having a second index of refraction that is larger than the first index of refraction fills the plurality of apertures. Each aperture extends from a first end adjacent the LED die to a larger second end. The first end may be a circle of approximately 1 to 2 ?m in diameter. The distance between the first and second ends may be from approximately 10 to 20 ?m. Each aperture may be in the form of a frustrated cone having an included angle between the sides from approximately 3 to 7 degrees. The light guide may be formed on a transparent substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: APPLE INCInventor: Richard Tsai
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Publication number: 20110170733Abstract: This is directed to a cable structure for use with an electronic device. The cable structure can include one or more conductors around which a sheath is provided. To prevent the cable structure from tangling, the cable structure can include a core placed between the conductors and the sheath, where a stiffness of the core can be varied along different segments of the cable structure to facilitate or hinder bending of the cable structure in different areas. The size and distribution of the stiffer portions can be selected to prevent the cable from forming loops. The resistance of the core to bending can be varied using different approaches including, for example, by varying the materials used in the core, varying a cross-section of portions of the core, or combinations of these.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Aase, Cameron Frazier, Matthew Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clark, Dale Memering
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Patent number: 7979868Abstract: Techniques for intercommunication amongst device drivers are described herein. In one embodiment, an application programming interface (API) is provided by a kernel of an operating system (OS) running within a data processing system. The API is accessible by device drivers associated with multiple devices installed in the system. In response to a request from a first instance of a driver via the API, information indicating whether another instance of the same driver is currently started is returned via the API. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Joshua de Cesare, Simon Douglas, Alexei Elias Kosut
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Patent number: 7978181Abstract: Disclosed are four arrangements for providing tactility on a touch surface keyboard. One approach is to provide tactile feedback mechanisms, such as dots, bars, or other shapes on all or many keys. In another embodiment, an articulating frame may be provided that extends when the surface is being used in a typing mode and retracts when the surface is used in some other mode, e.g., a pointing mode. The articulating frame may provide key edge ridges that define the boundaries of the key regions or may provide tactile feedback mechanisms within the key regions. The articulating frame may also be configured to cause concave depressions similar to mechanical key caps in the surface. In another embodiment, a rigid, non-articulating frame may be provided beneath the surface. A user will then feel higher resistance when pressing away from the key centers, but will feel a softer resistance at the key center.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Wayne Carl Westerman
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Patent number: 7978474Abstract: Embodiments of a computer system are described. This computer system includes a power source that is coupled to a heat pipe, where the power source includes an integrated circuit. This heat pipe may contain a liquid coolant that has a density greater than a first pre-determined value at room temperature. A pump is coupled to the heat pipe is configured to circulate the liquid coolant through the heat pipe. Furthermore, a heat exchanger coupled to the heat pipe is configured to transfer heat from the heat pipe to an environment external to the computer system.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Ihab A. Ali
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Patent number: 7979728Abstract: A system which enables battery powered devices such as notebook computers to efficiently charge smaller mobile devices such as music players, cell phones and PDAs using the power signals provided over their data connections is made more efficient by ensuring that the power to the small mobile device is not interrupted should the notebook computer otherwise go into a standby or low-power state. The presence of the small mobile device is known and any power-down capabilities of the notebook computer are limited, at least for the period where the small mobile device is being recharged. This detection can be done at any of the levels of software present in the notebook computer. This charging and not powering down can be further optimized by determining the particular device and its charging requirements or by having the device provide feedback as to its charge state.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Avadis Tevanian, Jr.
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Patent number: 7978176Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display and one or more accelerometers. The method includes displaying information on the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers. The method also includes detecting a predetermined finger gesture on or near the touch screen display while the information is displayed in a first view, and in response to detecting the predetermined finger gesture, displaying the information in a second view and locking the display of information in the second view. The method further includes unlocking the display of information in the second view when the device is placed in an orientation where the second view is displayed based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Scott Forstall, Chris Blumenberg
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Patent number: D641762Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Mike Matas