Patents Assigned to Apple
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Publication number: 20110182503Abstract: A method performed by a software process executing on a computer system, includes accessing a digital image having a plurality of pixels encoded in a color space that defines hue as a pair of Cartesian coordinates. The method also includes calculating a chroma value for a specified pixel by determining a distance between a point corresponding to a hue coordinate pair value for the specified pixel and a Cartesian origin point. The calculated chroma value is compared to a predetermined threshold and an image processing operation is performed on the digital image based on a result of the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Robert Mikio Free
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Publication number: 20110179943Abstract: The invention generally pertains to a hand-held computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a computing device that is capable of controlling the speed of the music so as to affect the mood and behavior of the user during an activity such as exercise. By way of example, the speed of the music can be controlled to match the pace of the activity (synching the speed of the music to the activity of the user) or alternatively it can be controlled to drive the pace of the activity (increasing or decreasing the speed of the music to encourage a greater or lower pace). One aspect of the invention relates to adjusting the tempo (or some other attribute) of the music being outputted from the computing device. By way of example, a songs tempo may be increased or decreased before or during playing. Another aspect of the invention relates to selecting music for outputting based on tempo (or some other attribute). For example, the computing device may only play songs having a particular tempo.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Adam Bowen
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Publication number: 20110182520Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a location relative to an object and a type of a light source that illuminated the object when the image was captured, are described. A method performed by a process executing on a computer system includes identifying an object of interest in a digital image. The method further includes projecting at least a portion of the digital image corresponding to the object of interest onto a three dimensional (3D) model that includes a polygon-mesh corresponding to the object's shape. The method further includes determining one or more properties of a light source that illuminated the object in the digital image at an instant that the image was captured based at least in part on a characteristic of one or more polygons in the 3D model onto which the digital image portion was projected.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Robert Mikio Free
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Publication number: 20110180962Abstract: A headset can include a cable structure connecting non-cable components such as jacks and headphones. The cable structure can be constructed using a molding process. Different approaches can be used to ensure that a conductor bundle extending through the cable structure remains centered within the cable structure during the molding process. In some cases, a movable tube can be placed in the mold such that the conductor bundle is retained within the tube. As material is injected into the mold and reaches the tube, the tube can be displaced and progressively removed from the mold. Alternatively, the movable tube can be constructed such that the tube may combine with injected material to form a shell of the cable structure. In some cases, gates from which material is provided in the mold can be positioned and controlled to facilitate the injection of material in the mold while maintaining the centered position of the conductor bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Aase, Cameron Frazier, John Thomas
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Publication number: 20110185208Abstract: A data processing system that uses memory power reduction in a sleep state. The system can include a volatile memory and at least one data input peripheral and a logic circuit that is configured to manage power consumption of the data processing system for a sleep of the system. The logic circuit can be coupled to the volatile memory and can be configured to turn off power to the volatile memory in response to an event, occurring during the sleep state, but to otherwise remain in the sleep state. The sleep state can be an ACPI complaint S3 sleep state in which the volatile memory, such as DRAM, is powered off after a period of user inactivity during the S3 sleep state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Derek Iwamoto, Steven J. Sfarzo, Ryan Schmidt, Derrick Carty, Keith Cox
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Publication number: 20110182507Abstract: A method, performed by a software process executing on a computer system, includes accessing a digital image comprising a plurality of pixels. The method also includes determining whether one or more pixels bounding a first rectangular sub-region of a predetermined size within the digital image satisfy a specified criterion. If a predetermined percentage of bounding pixels satisfy the specified criterion, the method assumes that all pixels within the first rectangular sub-region also satisfy the specified criterion. The method further includes selectively executing an image analysis algorithm on the digital image using the assumption that all pixels within the rectangular sub-region also satisfy the specified criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Robert Mikio Free
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Patent number: 7986313Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to performing boundary scanning without using a pin which is exclusively dedicated for that purpose. The boundary scan can be performed by an integrated circuit by utilizing a pin which has an alternative use during ordinary operation of the integrated circuit and the device. This pin can be connected to an analog circuit configured to sense capacitance outside of the pin. The analog circuit may also have an alternative function in normal operation of the device. During a testing mode, the analog circuit can sense a stray capacitance present at the pin. The sensed capacitance can be compared to one or more stored expected capacitance values to determine an interconnection state of the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christoph Horst Krah
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Patent number: 7986233Abstract: A theft prevention system for protecting portable electronic devices is disclosed. An acceleration sensor detects the acceleration of a portable electronic device, and a controller analyzes this acceleration to determine whether a theft condition is present. If so, an alarm can be initiated. The theft prevention system can include a filter for attenuating irrelevant acceleration frequencies and isolating those representative of theft, and comparison hardware/software for determining whether the detected acceleration matches a known acceleration profile characteristic of theft. Various parameters of the theft prevention system can also be set by a user through mechanisms such as a graphical user interface.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Paul J. Wehrenberg
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Patent number: 7986193Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing an oscillating signal of relatively precise frequency without using a signal provided by a crystal as a reference. Disclosed is a feedback oscillator circuit configured to output an oscillating signal having a frequency defined by a reference signal. The oscillating signal can be sent to one or more circuits including at least one frequency sensitive element. The frequency sensitive element produces an output signal which depends on the frequency of the oscillating signal. A controller controls the reference signal in order to cause an attribute of the output signal to have a value within a desired range.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christoph Horst Krah
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Patent number: 7987381Abstract: A method of synchronizing cyclemasters over a distributed bridge is disclosed. The method comprises: a local portal sending a synchronization signal to a peer portal through a bridge fabric upon occurrence of a cycle synchronization event on the local portal; the peer portal sampling its local cycle timer to obtain a sample value when the peer portal receives the synchronization signal; a bridge manager at an upstream portal communicating the sample value to a bridge manager at an alpha portal; the bridge manager at the alpha portal using the sampled time value to compensate for delays through a bridge fabric, calculate the correction to be applied to a cycle timer associated with the alpha portal, and correct the cycle timer.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Colin Whitby-Strevens
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Patent number: 7987427Abstract: An editor for creating and editing user-guidance information employs multiple interrelated interfaces. One such interface allows the user to create a user-guidance sequence from a series of component script file module objects and panel display objects. Each object is assigned a graphical icon. The user constructs the sequence by stringing together the icons to implement the desired sequence. The user may maintain a customized file of frequently used component script files objects and panel display objects. The user may add an object from the customized file to a sequence currently being edited by “dragging” its associated icon from the file to the sequence. The user may perform editing on individual display objects within the above described sequence of display objects by “clicking” on one of the display objects. This invokes a separate editor which displays the contents of the display object. The editor operates on information in parse tree format.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1999Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Lane Gough, Stephanie Eva Koester, Brian Burnell McGhie, James Ieyasu Miyake, Richard Victor Nygord, Samir Ranjan Tiongson Saxena
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Patent number: 7986840Abstract: A computer-implemented method is described including receiving input specifying an image frame from among a series of image frames, and automatically detecting one or more points in the specified image frame that would be suitable for tracking a point in the series of image frames. In addition, a computer-implemented method is described including choosing a first position of a point on a first image frame of a plurality of image frames, and displaying in a bounded region on the first image frame content relating to a second image frame of the plurality of image frames, wherein the content displayed in the bounded region includes a second position of the point at a different time than the first position of the point.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jean-Francois Pelletier, Gregory Niles
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Patent number: 7987378Abstract: Methods and systems for powering-off a Bluetooth device from a linked device are provided. A device can transmit a Bluetooth signal to a linked device to instruct the linked device to power-off. In this manner, the user need only turn off one device manually which results in all linked devices being powered off. This process can be initiated by a user through a device directly linked with the device to be powered-off or through a device that is indirectly connected, through one or more Bluetooth networks, with the device to be powered-off. This process can also be automatically initiated by a device when a set of predetermined conditions exist. Once instructed to do so, a device can initiate a predetermined power-off process which can involve terminating any ongoing functions and turning off various subsystems. In accordance with the present invention, a user can initiate a power-off of all the devices on a Bluetooth network through a single device.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael M. Lee, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Christopher D. McKillop
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Patent number: 7986568Abstract: Systems and methods, including computer software for performing operations enable interleaving of charging operations in a charging pump. A first charge pump is charged to a predetermined level, and a first operation is performed using a charge stored in the first charge pump after it reaches the predetermined level. A second charge pump is charged during a time that overlaps with performing the first operation. A second operation is performed using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Cornwell
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Patent number: 7986731Abstract: A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Barin Haskell, Adriana Dumitras, James Normile, Hsi-Jung Wu, Xiaochun Nie, Atul Puri
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Patent number: 7985935Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed to a switch for electronic devices. The systems and methods provide for a switch disposed on a bottom surface of a circuit board enclosed in a housing of an electronic device. The circuit board may include an aperture. An actuating pin of the switch may extend through the aperture towards the top surface of the circuit board. An external actuator may be coupled to the actuating pin in the aperture on the circuit board. The external actuator may extend out through an opening in the housing for providing a user with access to the switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Emery Sanford
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Patent number: 7986933Abstract: A method and system for wireless communications between base and mobile stations use reference signals transmitted from base stations prior transmission of data signals. The reference signals are used to determine propagation characteristics of communication channels between the base and mobile stations and optimize, in real time, parameters of receivers of the mobile stations for processing the following data signals. Applications of the invention include wireless communication systems compliant with OFDMA, 3GPP LTE, RFN-OFDMA, OFDM, TDMA, and the like communication protocols.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Leo G. Dehner, James W. McCoy, Kevin B. Traylor
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Patent number: D642161Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
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Patent number: D642169Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Douglas B. Satzger, Calvin Q. Seid, Vincent Keane Seid, legal representative, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer
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Patent number: D642172Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zorkendorfer