Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 7916126
    Abstract: The application of a watershed algorithm to pixels and their touch values obtained from a scan of a touch sensor panel to determine patches corresponding to images of touch is disclosed. Prior to applying the watershed algorithm, background pixels having little or no touch values can be eliminated. A primary merge algorithm can then merge adjacent patches together when the saddle point between them is shallow as compared to the peak represented by the patches. However, if two candidate patches for merging have a total number of pixels below a certain threshold, these two patches may not be merged under the assumption that the patches might have been caused by different fingertips. Conversely, if two candidate patches for merging have a total number of pixels above a certain threshold, these two patches can be merged under the assumption that the patches were caused by a single thumb or palm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, Joshua Strickon
  • Patent number: 7914320
    Abstract: A cable connector assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2), a plurality of contacts (3) received in the insulative housing, a cable (7) electrically connected with the contacts, a light guiding member (6), a cover enclosing the insulative housing and the cable, a LED covered by the light guiding member and a pair of films (9) located between the LED and one side of the insulative housing. And the films (9) are shielding a gap between the insulative housing and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David Ko
  • Patent number: 7915987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that reduces an audible noise produced in a power supply. The apparatus includes: (1) a housing; (2) an inductor coil formed from a coil of wire enclosed in the housing; (3) a set of wires that are coupled from the inductor coil to the outside of the housing through corresponding apertures in the housing, comprising electrical leads for the inductor coil; and (4) a predetermined amount of adhesive in the apertures that bonds the wires to the housing to reduce an audible noise produced when the current through the inductor coil is cycled quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Dayu Qu
  • Patent number: 7916089
    Abstract: Portable electronic devices are provided with wireless circuitry that includes antennas and antenna isolation elements. The antennas may include antennas that have multiple arms and that are configured to handle communications in multiple frequency bands. The antennas may also include one or more antennas that are configured to handle communications in a single frequency band. The antennas may be coupled to different radio-frequency transceivers. For example, there may be first, second, and third antennas and first and second transceivers. The first and third antennas may be coupled to the first transceiver and the second antenna may be coupled to the second transceiver. The antenna isolation elements may be interposed between the antennas and may serve to reduce radio-frequency interference between the antennas. There may be a first antenna isolation element between the first and second antennas and a second antenna isolation element between the second and third antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Schlub, Robert J. Hill
  • Patent number: 7917784
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing power consumption in data processing systems are described. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a general purpose processing unit, a graphics processing unit (GPU), at least one peripheral interface controller, at least one bus coupled to the general purpose processing unit, and a power controller coupled to at least the general purpose processing unit and the GPU. The power controller is configured to turn power off for the general purpose processing unit in response to a first state of an instruction queue of the general purpose processing unit and is configured to turn power off for the GPU in response to a second state of an instruction queue of the GPU. The first state and the second state represent an instruction queue having either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua de Cesare, Bernard Semeria, Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 7916941
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for color image restoration and enhancement. In at least one embodiment, color signals for individual channels of an image (e.g., red, green, or blue) are adjusted based on a weighted set of averages (e.g., of the entire image, the center portion, the surrounding portion, or other portions). In one example, pixels with extreme values of color signals (e.g., pure black or white pixels) are ignored for the purposes of restoring color; and, the different averages are weighted according to the pixel location (e.g., the distance from the pixel to a center point). In one example, after color restoration for individual channels, the luminance of each pixel is adjusted back to their original levels; and the range of luminance of the image is further adjusted to provide improved brightness and contrast, where in determining the luminance the red, green and blue color channels are given an equal weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Christie
  • Patent number: 7917892
    Abstract: A method for responding to changes to properties of component instances is disclosed. A routine, that is to be informed of changes that occur to a particular property of a plurality of properties of a component instance, is registered. The value of the particular property is detected as changed when the value of the particular property changes because of a change to another property of the plurality of properties. A call is made to the routine to indicate that the particular property has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley D. Ford
  • Patent number: 7917678
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Paquette, Simon Douglas
  • Publication number: 20110069085
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for automatically generating a slide associated with a slideshow. In one aspect, a method includes selecting an image for inclusion in a slideshow, where the image has associated facial detection information. A face location is determined in the selected image based on the facial detection information and the selected image is cropped based on the determined face location to generate a cropped image depicting the included face. The cropped image is inserted into a slide associated with the slideshow. Further, an animation having a defined animation path can be associated with the slide. Also, the face location can be identified as a position in the animation path and the slide can be animated based on the associated animation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ralf Weber, Robert Van Osten
  • Publication number: 20110069511
    Abstract: An LED backlight method for display systems comprising receiving a plurality of light emitting diodes categorized into a plurality of bins, wherein each bin references a separate range of white point colors, and determining an optimal order for mounting the plurality of light emitting diodes at spatially distributed positions, the plurality of light emitting diodes comprising white point colors associated with separate bins, wherein the optimal order of the plurality of light emitting diodes produces a light of a desired white point color when the light outputs of the plurality of light emitting diodes are mixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wei CHEN, Jun QI, Victor YIN, John ZHONG
  • Publication number: 20110069437
    Abstract: A cantilevered push button adapted for accepting an input on an electrical or electronic device is disclosed. The button can include an elongated button top component disposed about an exterior surface of an electrical or electronic device such that it is accessible to a user, and having two opposing distal ends associated with separate user inputs. A first fulcrum is located between the first distal end and the midpoint of the elongated button top component, while a second fulcrum is located between the second distal end and the midpoint. A first electrical contact is associated with the first distal end, such that when a user presses on the first distal end, the elongated button top component pivots about the second fulcrum and the first electrical contact is actuated. A second electrical contact is similarly associated with the second distal end and first fulcrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Hamel, Tang Yew Tan, Erik Wang
  • Publication number: 20110071977
    Abstract: Systems, methods and machine-readable media are disclosed for providing segmented graphical representations of elements, such as songs, videos, pictures, graphics, or address book contacts. In some embodiments, an electronic device may identify remote and/or local elements based on a seed element and may display a segmented graphical representation of the seed element (e.g., a tiled album cover). At least one of the segments may be associated with one or more of the identified elements. In response to receiving a user selection of a segment, the electronic device may perform any of a number of suitable actions based on the associated elements. For example, for remotely stored media elements, the electronic device can retrieve and play a preview of the media elements from a server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Taido Nakajima, Pareet Rahul
  • Publication number: 20110072348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for playing full-screen video on a user computer. The method includes displaying in the user interface at the user computer a web page containing at least one link to electronic video file, selecting the link to request the video file, downloading the video file to user computer in response to the request, detecting by the user computer receipt of the video file, opening in the user interface to window of the video player in full-screen mode in response to the detecting, and reading the video file by the player to play the video in the window. A feature of the present invention is that the video player may not have its preferences preset by the user to open in any particular mode. The mode in which the video player opens will be determined by the downloaded video file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Robert Douglas Werner, Daniel Marusich, Greg Gilman
  • Publication number: 20110072189
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for storing data to or reading data from a non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as flash memory, using a metadata redundancy scheme. In some embodiments, an electronic device, which includes an NVM, may also include a memory interface for controlling access to the NVM. The memory interface may receive requests to write user data to the NVM. The user data from each request may be associated with metadata, such as a logical address, flags, or other data. In response to a write request, the NVM interface may store the user data and its associated metadata in a first memory location (e.g., page), and may store a redundant copy of the metadata in a second memory location. This way, even if the first memory location becomes inaccessible, the memory interface can still recover the metadata from the backup copy stored in the second memory location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Post, Vadim Khmelnitsky, Nir J. Wakrat
  • Publication number: 20110067990
    Abstract: A keyboard assembly configured for converting keystroke activation into electrical signals. The keyboard assembly includes a plurality of key caps, each of the plurality of key caps being configured to transition between a rest position and a depressed position. The keyboard assembly also includes a web-like structure having a plurality of interconnected ribs defining a plurality of apertures. The plurality of key caps are disposed such that the plurality of key caps move within the plurality of apertures and traverse a plane formed by an upper surface of the web-like structure when the plurality of key caps transition between the rest position and the depressed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Chris Ligtenberg, Bart Andre
  • Publication number: 20110068587
    Abstract: An integrated latch system is described. The integrated latch system including at least a latch, a keeper, and a discrete actuator. In a closed state, the actuator is in direct contact with the keeper and applies a first force to the keeper, the latch applies a second force to the keeper, the first and the second force cooperating to engage the latch and the keeper. In transitioning from the closed state to the open state, a releasing force is applied to the latch, the latch moving at least a predetermined distance in response to the releasing force thereby causing the latch and the keeper to disengage. The actuator applies an ejection force onto the keeper and the keeper moves to an open position in response to the ejection force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Lauder, Gautam Baksi
  • Patent number: 7911771
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include a first component. The electronic device may also include a metal-ceramic composite component coupled to the first component and configured to reinforce at least a portion of the first component in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John DiFonzo, Chris Ligtenberg
  • Patent number: 7913297
    Abstract: Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless devices with other wireless devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wireless data exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wired link can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wireless devices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices can be completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long as the wired link is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Wyld
  • Patent number: 7911780
    Abstract: An electronic device can be provided with a user interface component and a cooling component contained within a housing. The housing may include at least one surface having an opening formed therethrough, and the user interface may include one port formed therethrough. The user interface port may provide at least a first portion of a passageway between the housing opening and the cooling component. The passageway may allow fluids to be exchanged between the cooling component and the housing opening for cooling the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ihab A. Ali, Bernard K. Rihn
  • Patent number: 7912730
    Abstract: Storing audio data encoded in any of a plurality of different audio encoding formats is enabled by parametrically defining the underlying format in which the audio data is encoded, in audio format and packet table chunks. A flag can be used to manage storage of the size of the audio data portion of the file, such that premature termination of an audio recording session does not result in an unreadable corrupted file. This capability can be enabled by initially setting the flag to a value that does not correspond to a valid audio data size and that indicates that the last chunk in the file contains the audio data. State information for the audio data, to effectively denote a version of the file, and a dependency indicator for dependent metadata, may be maintained, where the dependency indicator indicates the state of the audio data on which the metadata is dependent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Stewart, James E. McCartney, Douglas S. Wyatt