Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 11349539
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer readable medium for special thermal density reduction by antenna thinning. A system comprises N transmit/receive (TX/RX) chains, where each TX/RX chain comprises an RFFE and each RFFE comprises one or more thermal sensors configured to measure heat in the RFFE. An antenna array coupled to the plurality of TX/RX chains. A codebook that comprises a plurality of code words configured to respond to real-time heat measurements from the thermal sensors in each TX/RX chain is configured to switch off selected TX/RX chains to reduce thermal density at the antenna array while maintaining M RFFEs switched on, where M<N and the desired beamforming gain is 10 log 10(M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Oner Orhan, Brent Elliott, Hosein Nikopour, Eren Sasoglu, Shilpa Talwar
  • Patent number: 11348305
    Abstract: In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions computer-executable on a computer to perform operations. The operations include obtaining first content representing a physical environment in which an electronic device is located using an image sensor of the electronic device. A physical feature corresponding to a physical object in the physical environment is detected using the first content. A feature descriptor corresponding to a physical parameter of the physical feature is determined using the first content. Second content representing a computer generated reality (CGR) environment is generated based on the feature descriptor and presented on a display of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Earl M. Olson, Nicolai Georg, Omar R. Khan, James M. A. Begole
  • Patent number: 11347198
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing an optimized adaptive thermal control mechanism for an integrated circuit (IC) are described. A control unit receives a digital input value which is representative of a temperature of an IC. The control unit compares the input value to at least two set points. A result of a first comparison determines whether an accumulator is incremented or decremented by a programmable gain value. A result of a second comparison determines whether the accumulator is primed with a preset ramp-up value. The preset ramp-up value is used since the accumulator can take several sensing cycles to reach the optimal control value while thermal gradients can become critical in only a few cycles. The output of the accumulator is provided to an actuator which adjusts parameter(s) to modulate the IC's temperature. The granularity and range of the accumulator matches the granularity and range of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Knoth, Ramesh B. Gunna, Srikanth Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 11347076
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an image sensor and a zoom lens assembly including a plurality of movable lens elements arranged to be moved independent of one another. In some embodiments, the plurality of movable lens elements share an optical axis. Some embodiments include a lens and mirror assembly for admitting light to the miniature camera. The lens and mirror assembly includes a folded optics arrangement such that light enters the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens with an optical axis of the first lens orthogonal to the plurality of moveable lens elements. The lens and mirror assembly includes a mirror for folding the path of light from the optical axis of the first lens to the optical axis of the plurality of movable lens elements, and the lens and mirror assembly further includes an actuator for tilting the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ning Y. Chan, Richard J. Topliss, Steven Webster
  • Patent number: 11346542
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a speaker, control circuitry, a plurality of light-emitting components configured to emit light through an upper housing wall or other housing structure. A lens diffuser layer having lenses overlapping respective light-emitting components, a textured diffuser layer formed from textured coatings on a substrate, and a volume diffuser layer having light-scattering structures in a polymer layer might be included to project light from the light-emitting components. A light-guiding portion of the lens diffuser layer may guide light to a circular peripheral edge to form an illuminated ring visible through the upper housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Janos C. Keresztes, Yu P. Sun, Rong Liu, Chungjae Lee, Ka Ho P. Poon, Brian P. Graves, Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, Joel C. Yamasaki, Pedro Mari
  • Patent number: 11349063
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are monitoring systems and sensors for physiological measurements. The sensors can be multi-element piezo sensors capable of generating multiple electrical signals, whereby the monitoring systems can receive the multiple electrical signals to analyze the user's vital signs along multiple regions of the user's body. In some examples, the piezo sensor can include one or more corrugations, such as peaks and valleys, to create localized regions with increased mechanical response to force. The sensitivity and resolution of the piezo sensor can be enhanced by further locating electrode sections at the corrugations, where the electrode sections can be electrically isolated and independently operable from other electrode sections. Traces electrically connecting an electrode section to, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chin San Han, German A. Alvarez, Santiago Quijano, Stuart W. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 11350265
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for performing presence discovery in a wireless communication. A wireless device may monitor a wireless medium for discovery signals. A candidate discovery signal may be detected. A frequency offset estimation consistency check may be performed on the candidate discovery signal. A peak to sidelobe ratio check may be performed on the candidate discovery signal. The wireless device may determine whether the candidate discovery signal is a false positive based at least in part on the frequency offset estimation consistency check and the peak to sidelobe ratio check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tianyan Pu, Li Su, Zhu Ji, Yang Li
  • Patent number: 11349776
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for an electronic device. The method stores user data associated with a web-based third party service based on user interaction with a web domain for the third party service through a web browser. The method receives a request from a service-specific application to utilize the user data stored for the third party service. The method provides the user data to the application only when the application is verified by the web domain for receiving user data associated with the third party service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Whalley, Bob Bradley, Kenneth C. McLeod
  • Patent number: 11346940
    Abstract: Object detection may include transmitting, by a first device, a first pulse into an environment using a wide field configuration of an ultrasonic sensor array, detecting a presence of an object in the environment based on a detected echo based on the first pulse. In response to detecting the presence of the object, a targeted configuration of the ultrasonic sensor array is determined, and a second pulse is transmitted into the environment based on the second pulse, wherein a characteristic of the object is determined based on a detected echo from the second pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Soldner, Arthur Y. Zhang, Tushar Gupta
  • Patent number: 11350391
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus of a machine-type communication (MTC) user equipment (UE) comprises baseband processing circuitry to establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with an evolved Node B (eNB), and process a message from the eNB indicating a number of repetitions of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmissions to be used over multiple uplink subframes after the radio resource control connection is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Debdeep Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11348092
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides enhanced financial statements such as credit statements that provide customized payment options to a customer that takes into account the total amount owed by the customer, and past payments made by the customer. The customized payment options are determined with the goal of providing more payment options that encourage financial health, while not overwhelming the customer with too many options or irrelevant options. The customized payment options can be displayed in an interactive user interface for paying a credit statement that can visually inform a user of the benefit of the respective payment options with respect to the impact of the respective payment option on the customer's financial health—at least as it pertains to a credit account for which the statement was issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Artemiw, Aaron M. Melim, Ashish C. Nagre, Christine A. Franco, David T. Haggerty, Fadi S. Obeid, Glen W. Steele, Katie M. McIndoe, Mischa K. McLachlan, Richard W. Heard, Rima Kakarla, Akila Suresh, Jarad M. Fisher
  • Patent number: 11347312
    Abstract: A system may include haptic output devices such as ultrasonic haptic output components that generate ultrasonic sound waves. The ultrasonic sound waves may be directed towards a user to provide haptic output. The haptic output devices may be used in a system that includes one or more electronic devices. Control circuitry may control the haptic output devices based on sensor data indicating where the user is located and/or based on what is being displayed for a user on a display. Ultrasonic haptic output may be used to simulate contact with a virtual object, to simulate rain, to simulate a breeze, and/or to simulate other sensations in a mixed reality or virtual reality environment. The ultrasonic haptic output components may be stand-alone devices or may be mounted in a head-mounted display, a gaming base station, a handheld controller, a finger-mounted device, or other electronic equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Paul X. Wang
  • Patent number: 11347096
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes first, second, and third glazing layers, first and second switchable components extending between the first and second glazing layers, and a third switchable component extending between the second and third glazing layers. The switchable components include a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) device having a clear state and a hazy state, a guest-host liquid-crystal (GHLC) device having a clear state and a tinted state, and a light-guide device having a clear state and a bright state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Donald R. Monroe, Peter F. Masschelein, Clarisse Mazuir
  • Patent number: 11350018
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having one or more bumper arrangements to cushion lateral movement of one or more camera components. In some embodiments, the bumper arrangement(s) may cushion lateral movement of a moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure. According to some embodiments, the bumper arrangement(s) may include one or more bumper features attached to (and/or defined by) the moveable platform and/or the stationary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Sharma, Alfred N. Mireault, Nicholas D. Smyth, Zachary W. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 11349440
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a circuit implementation for extending the bandwidth of an amplifier. The extended bandwidth amplifier includes an amplifier coupled between an input node and an output node of the extended bandwidth amplifier. The amplifier has an input capacitance and an output capacitance. The extended bandwidth amplifier additionally includes a first digitally-trimmable negative-capacitance capacitor coupled between the input node of the extended bandwidth amplifier and a power supply terminal. The digitally-trimmable negative-capacitance capacitor includes a first branch, a second branch, and a controller. The first branch includes a first capacitor having a first negative capacitance, and a first switch. The second branch includes a second capacitor having a second negative capacitance, and a second switch. The controller is configured to turn on the first switch and the second switch based on the input capacitance of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aly Ismail, Amr O Haggag
  • Patent number: 11347355
    Abstract: Acoustic touch and/or force sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch and/or force sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface and an amount of force applied to the surface by the object. The position and/or an applied force can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a deformable material. The location of the object and the applied force can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ehsan Khajeh, Brian Michael King, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Marcus Yip, Aaron Scott Tucker, Marduke Yousefpor, Peter Jon Kardassakis, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Patent number: 11349531
    Abstract: The present invention employs a pilot scheme for frequency division multiple access (FDM) communication systems, such as single carrier FDM communication systems. A given transmit time interval will include numerous traffic symbols and two or more short pilot symbols, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one traffic symbol and will have a Fourier transform length that is less than the Fourier transform length of any given traffic symbol. Multiple transmitters will generate pilot information and modulate the pilot information onto sub-carriers of the short pilot symbols in an orthogonal manner. Each transmitter may use different sub-carriers within the time and frequency domain, which is encompassed by the short pilot symbols within the transmit time interval. Alternatively, each transmitter may uniquely encode the pilot information using a unique code division multiplexed code and modulate the encoded pilot information onto common sub-carriers of the short pilot symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jianglei Ma, Ming Jia, Hua Xu, Wen Tong, Peiying Zhu, Moussa Abdi
  • Patent number: D953350
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Behkish Johnnie Manzari, Andre Souza Dos Santos
  • Patent number: D953358
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Azzi, Anton Davydov, Alan C. Dye, Nicholas Felton, Aurelio Guzmán, Stephen O. Lemay, Alexander Charles MacLean, Wyatt R. Mitchell, Marcel van Os, Christopher Wilson
  • Patent number: D953360
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Lynne Devine