Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 11907436
    Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. An example process includes detecting input representing motion of an electronic device and sampling an audio input with a microphone of the electronic device. The example process further includes determining, based on the audio input and the input representing motion of the electronic device, whether to initiate a virtual assistant session. In accordance with a determination to initiate the virtual assistant session, the example process includes initiating the virtual assistant session. In accordance with a determination not to initiate the virtual assistant session, the example process includes forgoing initiating the virtual assistant session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen O. Lemay, Michael R. Bastian, Roman Holenstein, Minwoo Jeong, Charles Maalouf, Brandon J. Newendorp, Heriberto Nieto, Timothy Paek, Joanna Peterson, Shawn Scully, Srikrishna Sridhar, Brandt M. Westing, Shiwen Zhao
  • Patent number: 11906124
    Abstract: A system may have lights. The lights may emit visible and infrared light. Infrared light may be used to illuminate objects that are monitored using infrared image sensors or other infrared sensors. Visible light may be used to illuminate objects that are viewed by users and which may be monitored using sensors. The lights may be adjustable. An adjustable light may have a light source that contains an infrared light-emitting device such as an infrared light-emitting diode and a visible light-emitting device such as a visible light-emitting diode. A reflector may reflect light from the light source towards a lens. An adjustable light-blocking device may be located between the reflector and the lens. The light-blocking device may allow infrared light to pass unimpeded while adjusting visible light passing to the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Tang, Christopher P Child, Clarisse Mazuir
  • Patent number: 11908998
    Abstract: Liquid electrolytes for a lithium metal battery comprise an aprotic solvent, an ionic liquid, a lithium salt, 8 mol % to 30 mol % hydrofluoroether and up to 5 mol % additives. A molar ratio of the hydrofluoroether to the lithium salt is 0.22:1 to 0.83:1. The liquid electrolytes achieve at least a 50% improvement in cycle life over conventional electrolytes, extend capacity retention and delay increases in internal resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alan A. Ritchie, Bernd Jurgen Neudecker, Karl M. Brown, Andrew Basile
  • Patent number: 11910398
    Abstract: Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE), Generation Node-B (gNB) and methods of communication are disclosed herein. The UE may receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that schedules a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in a slot, and on a component carrier (CC) of a plurality of CCs. The PDCCH may include a total downlink assignment index (DAI) and a counter DAI for hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback of the PDSCH. The total DAI may indicate a total number of pairs of CCs and slots for the HARQ-ACK feedback. The UE may encode the HARQ-ACK feedback to include a bit that indicates whether the PDSCH is successfully decoded. A size of the HARQ-ACK feedback may be based on the total DAI, and a position of the bit may be based on the counter DAI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hong He, Debdeep Chatterjee, Gang Xiong, Hwan-Joon Kwon, Sergey Sosnin, Yongjun Kwak
  • Patent number: 11909306
    Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system regulates a power supply voltage used by other circuits in the computer system. During operation, the power converter circuit monitors the load current, and, in response to a transient in the load current, switches regulation modes to adapt to the new load conditions. Upon a detection of the end of the transient in the load current, the power converter returns to its original regulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Wen, Hubert Attah, Wenxun Huang, Hao Zhou
  • Patent number: 11909677
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for performing physical uplink shared channel transmissions with improved reliability in a wireless communication system. The wireless device may establish a wireless link with a cellular base station. The wireless device may receive uplink data transmission configuration information from the cellular base station. The uplink data transmission configuration information may configure an uplink data transmission to multiple transmission-reception-points. The wireless device may perform the uplink data transmission to the multiple transmission-reception-points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Haitong Sun, Yushu Zhang, Hong He, Wei Zeng, Dawei Zhang, Chunxuan Ye, Oghenekome Oteri, Sigen Ye, Weidong Yang, Chunhai Yao, Jie Cui, Yang Tang
  • Patent number: 11909171
    Abstract: An optical sensor system includes a set of epitaxial layers formed on a semiconductor substrate. The set of epitaxial layers defines a semiconductor laser having a first multiple quantum well (MQW) structure. Electromagnetic radiation is generated by the first MQW structure, emitted from the first MQW structure, and self-mixed with a portion of the emitted electromagnetic radiation that is returned to the first MQW structure. The set of epitaxial layers also defines a second MQW structure operable to generate a first photocurrent responsive to detecting a first emission of the semiconductor laser, and a third MQW structure operable to generate a second photocurrent responsive to detecting a second emission of the semiconductor laser. The optical sensor system also includes a circuit configured to generate a self-mixing interferometry (SMI) signal by combining the first photocurrent and the second photocurrent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Fei Tan, Mingzhou Jin
  • Patent number: 11908098
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that generate a combined 3D representation of a user based on an alignment based on a 3D reference point. For example, a process may include obtaining a predetermined three-dimensional (3D) representation that is associated with a 3D reference point defined relative to a skeletal representation of the user. The process may further include obtaining a sequence of frame-specific 3D representations corresponding to multiple instants in a period of time, each of the frame-specific 3D representations representing a second portion of the user at a respective instant of the multiple instants in the period of time. The process may further include generating combined 3D representations of the user generated by combining the predetermined 3D representation with a respective frame-specific 3D representation based on an alignment which is based on the 3D reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 11909587
    Abstract: Systems and methods of managing creation and configuration for 5G networks, NFs and NSSIs are provided. An instantiation or configuration request received from a managed entity respectively instantiates or configures the appropriate element. For NF instantiation, when the NF has a virtualized part to be instantiated by a VNF, interaction with an NFV MANO system instantiates the VNF is followed by NF instantiation notification and MOI creation for the NF. For NF configuration, the NF is configured and notification provided thereof. For network instantiation, after reception of a network creation request, interaction with the system to instantiate a NS that realizes the network is followed by determination that a new VNF associated with the NS has been instantiated, creation of a NF (constituting the network) MOI is realized by the new VNF, and NF configuration. For NSSI creation, a NF constituting the NSSI is created and configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yizhi Yao, Joey Chou
  • Patent number: 11910654
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display may have an array of organic light-emitting diode pixels that each have OLED layers interposed between a cathode and an anode. Voltage may be applied to the anode of each pixel to control the magnitude of emitted light. The conductivity of the OLED layers may allow leakage current to pass between neighboring anodes in the display. To reduce leakage current and the accompanying cross-talk, the display may include active and/or passive leakage-mitigating structures. The passive leakage-mitigating structures may have an undercut that causes discontinuities in the overlying OLED layers. Active leakage-mitigating structures may include a conductive layer (e.g., a conductive ring) that drains leakage current to ground. Alternatively, the active leakage-mitigating structures may include a gate electrode modulator with a variable voltage that stops the current flow laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Chun Yeh, Jiun-Jye Chang, Doh-Hyoung Lee, Caleb Coburn, Niva A. Ran, Ching-Sang Chuang, Themistoklis Afentakis, Chuan-Jung Lin, Jung Yen Huang, Lei Yuan
  • Patent number: 11908086
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an exemplary process for initializing members of a shared enhanced reality setting is described. In accordance with some embodiments, an exemplary process for forming a private sub-space and example features of the private sub-space is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Grant H. Mulliken, James Williams Charles Vandyke
  • Patent number: 11907270
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retrieving local information on a user device include detecting itinerary information stored by a first application on a user device, and identifying a travel destination based on the detected itinerary information. The travel destination is communicated to a second application executable on a user device, and the travel destination is stored in association with the second application. The second application is adapted to retrieve local information based on an identified geographic location, and local information for the travel destination is provided through the second application in response to a user interaction with the second application and based on a triggering threshold associated with the itinerary information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Devrim Varoglu, Swapnil R. Dave
  • Patent number: 11909791
    Abstract: Facilitating collaboration in a multiuser communication session includes detecting initiation of an interaction between a user of a first device and a virtual object in a multiuser communication session, where the first device and a second device are active in the multiuser communication session, and where state information is synchronized among the first device and second device in the multiuser communication session. In accordance with detecting the initiation of an interaction between the user and the virtual object, synchronization of state information is suspended by the first device, where the state information is related to the interaction between the user and the virtual object. A representation of the multiuser communication session at the first device and a representation of the multiuser communication session at the second device are inconsistent in accordance with the suspended synchronization of the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Luis R. Deliz Centeno, Joseph P. Cerra
  • Patent number: 11908846
    Abstract: A display may include light-emitting components such as light-emitting diodes on a transparent substrate. Conductive signal paths between the light-emitting components, driver integrated circuits for controlling the light-emitting components, and the light-emitting components themselves may be opaque. To mitigate diffraction artifacts caused by the opaque components, the opaque footprint of the display may be selected to include non-periodic portions. The non-periodic portions increase randomness and reduce periodicity within the opaque footprint, which mitigates perceptible diffraction artifacts when viewing the display. One or both of the component mounting portions and interconnect portions of the opaque footprint may be non-periodic. The component mounting portions may have random shapes. The interconnect portions may follow random paths between the component mounting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Yu Hsu, Chaohao Wang, Jonathan C. Moisant-Thompson, Kuan H. Lu, Mingjing Ha, Paul S. Drzaic, Yang Li, Yi-Pai Huang, Nathaniel T. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 11906778
    Abstract: Configurations for an optical splitter are disclosed. The optical splitter may include an input waveguide, a free propagation region, and an array of output waveguides. The input waveguide may be sufficiently narrow that the light in the free propagation region may diffract and provide the same optical intensity at far field angles across a wide wavelength range. The input waveguide may have a high V number in a vertical dimension and a low V number in a horizontal dimension. Because all of the wavelengths of light diffract at the same angle in the free propagation region, once the light reaches the output waveguides, the light may have similar optical power at each of the output waveguides. Additionally, the output waveguides may vary in width and spacing to mitigate the non-uniform optical power distribution of the phase front of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Arbore, Yi-Kuei Wu
  • Patent number: 11909101
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a phased antenna array having a bent dielectric resonating element. The bent dielectric resonating element may have a first segment, a second segment nonparallel to the first segment, and an angled surface that couples the first segment to the second segment. One or more feed probes may be coupled to the first segment to excite the dielectric resonating element. A reflector may be provided on the angled surface to direct electromagnetic energy from the first segment to the second segment and vice versa. The bent dielectric resonating element may exhibit less overall height than dielectric resonators having straight columns of dielectric material, thereby allowing for a reduction in the thickness of the electronic device. The angled surface and the reflector may optimize the radio-frequency performance of the antenna despite the reduction in overall height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas R. Compton, Harish Rajagopalan, James T. Handy
  • Patent number: D1015030
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alice Marlin Brugger, Manuel Dejesus, Joshua Robert Edwards, Jean-Marc Gady, Wesley Bryan Hamm, Russell John Kaaihue Heirakuji, Allison Inouye, Moritz Wilsberg
  • Patent number: D1015187
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D1015341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Graham R. Clarke
  • Patent number: D1015374
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Christopher Capela, Damir Frkovic, Alexander Charles MacLean, Kristoffer W. Mikkelsen, Roger Rock Rosner, Mark Daniel Walczak