Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 11144158
    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: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marduke Yousefpor, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Aaron Scott Tucker, Marcus Yip, Ehsan Khajeh, Brian Michael King, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Patent number: 11147051
    Abstract: Techniques discussed herein can facilitate transmission and reception of group common PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) for NR (New Radio). One example embodiment employable by a UE (User Equipment) comprises processing circuitry configured to: process higher layer signaling that configures a set of combinations for slot formats for the UE; detect, via blind decoding on at least a portion of a control resource set, a DCI (Downlink Control Information) message that indicates a combination for slot formats of the set of combinations for slot formats via a SFI (slot format indicator); and determine a slot format for one or more slots based on the indicated combination for slot formats, wherein the slot format indicates, for each symbol of the one or more slots, whether that symbol is DL (Downlink), UL (Uplink), or a flexible symbol in the slot format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjun Kwak, Gang Xiong, Hwan-Joon Kwon, Hong He, Seung Hee Han, Debdeep Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 11147126
    Abstract: One or more wireless stations may operate to configure direct communication with neighboring mobile stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. A mechanism for wireless stations to mitigate medium congestion in discovery windows may include suppressing solicited publisher responses via an SRF for a first time period and resetting the SRF after the first time period in order to receive updates from peer devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrie Kurian, Peter N. Heerboth, Yong Liu, Tashbeeb Haque
  • Patent number: 11146905
    Abstract: An audio engine is provided for acoustically rendering a three-dimensional virtual environment. The audio engine uses geometric volumes to represent sound sources and any sound occluders. A volumetric response is generated based on sound projected from a volumetric sound source to a listener, taking into consideration any volumetric occluders in-between. The audio engine also provides for modification of a level of detail of sound over time based on distance between a listener and a sound source. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Thall, Christopher A. Wolfe, James E. McCartney
  • Patent number: 11147104
    Abstract: Systems and methods of selecting a PRACH resource opportunity are described. One of multiple Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBs) is received. Each SSB has PSSs, SSSs and a PBCH that contain system information. A RACH occasion (RO) is selected from among multiple ROs associated with the SSB. A PRACH is transmitted on resources of the RO. The ROs are configured in a TDM and/or FDM manner. The RO is selected randomly or, if TDM is used, an earliest of the ROs from a UE-initiated RACH transmission in a previous period. A preamble of the RO is selected randomly with equal probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yujian Zhang, Seunghee Han, Gregory Morozov, Ansab Ali, Dae Won Lee, Yongjun Kwak
  • Patent number: 11143847
    Abstract: A compact, small form factor optical system for cameras that provides multiple optical paths to capture images of an object field in different portions of the light spectrum. The optical system includes a front lens group that captures visible and near-infrared (NIR) light from an object field and refracts the light to a beam splitter that splits the visible light and the NIR light onto two paths. On the visible light path, a visible light lens group refracts the visible light to form an image of the object field at a visible light sensor. On the NIR light path, a NIR light lens group refracts the NIR light to form an image of the object field at an NIR light sensor. The optical system thus provides images of the object field at two sensor planes, one image in the visible spectrum and the other image in the NIR spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Romeo I. Mercado
  • Patent number: 11146909
    Abstract: A device can receive an audio signal and determine a measure of correlation between the audio signal and a microphone signal. The audio signal can be attenuated based on the measure of correlation. The audio signal can be used to drive one or more speakers of the device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Pinto, Chad Himeda
  • Patent number: 11144615
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a denominator circuit that determines the number of valid elements of a data surface covered by a kernel depending on various locations of the kernel relative to the data surface. The denominator circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit that have the same structure. The first circuit receives numbers representing different horizontal locations of a reference point in the kernel and generates a first matrix with first output elements corresponding to the different horizontal locations. The second circuit receives numbers representing different vertical locations of a reference point in the kernel and generates a second matrix with second output elements corresponding to the different vertical locations. A matrix multiplication of the first matrix and the second matrix is performed to obtain an array of valid elements covered by the kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yiu Chun Tse, Ji Liang Song, Ponan Kuo
  • Patent number: 11145294
    Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In one example process, a speech input is received from a user. In response to determining that the speech input corresponds to a user intent of obtaining information associated with a user experience of the user, one or more parameters referencing a user experience of the user are identified. Metadata associated with the referenced user experience is obtained from an experiential data structure. Based on the metadata, one or more media items associated with the referenced are retrieved based on the metadata. The one or more media items associated with the referenced user experience are output together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos Regis Vescovi, Eric M. G. Circlaeys, Richard Warren, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Matthaeus Krenn
  • Patent number: 11144121
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a user input device and methods related to the use thereto. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a flexible fabric attachable to a user having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be moveable in relation to the second portion. The embodiment may further include a controller configured to identify an input configuration based on a position of the first portion relative to a position of the second portion within a three-dimensional space. The embodiment may further include a haptic feedback structure disposed adjacent the flexible fabric and configured to provide haptic feedback based on the input configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Zheng Gao, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Ray L. Chang
  • Patent number: 11145700
    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 in a display, the pixel definition layer may disrupt continuity of the OLED layers. The pixel definition layer may have an undercut to disrupt continuity of some but not all of the OLED layers. The undercut may be defined by three discrete portions of the pixel definition layer. The undercut may result in a void that is interposed between different portions of the OLED layers to break a leakage path formed by the OLED layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jaein Choi, Hairong Tang, Gloria Wong, Sunggu Kang, Younggu Lee, Gwanwoo Park, Chun-Yao Huang, Andrew Lin, Cheuk Chi Lo, Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov, Michael Slootsky, Rui Liu, Wendi Chang, Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11146375
    Abstract: HARQ feedback configuration techniques for broadband wireless communication networks are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a memory and logic for user equipment (UE), at least a portion of the logic implemented in circuitry coupled to the memory, the logic to identify a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) bundling window associated with a received downlink (DL) scheduling command, identify one or more HARQ feedback configuration parameters based on HARQ feedback configuration information comprised in the DL scheduling command, the one or more identified HARQ feedback configuration parameters to include a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format for use in transmission of HARQ feedback for the HARQ feedback bundling window, the logic to generate the HARQ feedback for transmission to an evolved node B (eNB) according to the PUCCH format. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hong He, Alexei Davydov, Seunghee Han, Gang Xiong, Hwan-Joon Kwon
  • Patent number: 11144297
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a system and method for secure delivery of assets to a trusted device. Multiple levels of verification are implemented to enable components of a software update and asset delivery system to verify other components within the system. Furthermore, updates are provided only to client devices that are authorized to receive such updates. In one embodiment, the specific assets provided to a client device during a software update can be tailored to the client device, such that individual client devices can receive updated versions of software asset at a faster or slower rate than mass market devices. For example, developer or beta tester devices can receive pre-release assets, while enterprise devices can receive updates at a slower rate relative to mass market devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dallas B. De Atley, Bailey E. Basile, Venkat V. Memula, Thomas P. Mensch, Robert M. Marini, David P. Remahl, Kelsey J. Skillman, Edward E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11146665
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficient data transfer within a user space network stack. Unlike prior art monolithic networking stacks, the exemplary networking stack architecture described hereinafter includes various components that span multiple domains (both in-kernel, and non-kernel). For example, unlike traditional “socket” based communication, disclosed embodiments can transfer data directly between the kernel and user space domains. Direct transfer reduces the per-byte and per-packet costs relative to socket based communication. A user space networking stack is disclosed that enables extensible, cross-platform-capable, user space control of the networking protocol stack functionality. The user space networking stack facilitates tighter integration between the protocol layers (including TLS) and the application or daemon. Exemplary systems can support multiple networking protocol stack instances (including an in-kernel traditional network stack).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cahya Adiansyah Masputra, Sandeep Nair, Darrin Jewell, Prabhakar Lakhera, Thomas Francis Pauly, Joshua Verweyst Graessley, Wei Shen, Olivier Mardinian
  • Patent number: 11146514
    Abstract: A device implementing a system for sharing groups of files within a messaging application includes a processor configured to provide, within the messaging application, a user interface element for sending at least one file to a participant in an active message thread of the messaging application, the at least one file having been determined to be relevant to the participant. The processor is further configured to, responsive to receiving a selection of the user interface element: transmit, to a server, a request to store the at least one file in association with a shared storage area, and to transmit, via the messaging application, a message to the participant in the active message thread, the message comprising information for accessing the at least one file associated with the shared storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Brandt, Pierre J. De Filippis, Chelsea J. Leblanc, Ge Yan, Gavin B. Thomson, Van Hong, Ahmed M. Bashir, Randall S. Becker, Stephen M. Lottermoser, Kevin Y. He, Roberto Garcia
  • Patent number: 11141498
    Abstract: A portable communication device includes an apparatus for environmental sensing. The apparatus includes a housing, one or more environmental sensors and an optical source. The housing includes one or more ports for allowing air flow between the surrounding environment and a cavity of the housing. The environmental sensors are coupled to the housing and can sense an environmental agent included in the air flow. The optical source can illuminate the cavity of the housing to decompose unwanted organic compounds inside the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miaolei Yan, Michael K. Brown, Richard Yeh
  • Patent number: D932820
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Schwalbach, David Samuel Kumka, Russell John Kaaihue Heirakuji, Carly Lynn Marasco, Frank Craig Thaler
  • Patent number: D933072
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Lucy E. Browning, Markus Diebel, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Christopher J. Durning, Kevin M. Froese, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Paul U. Leutheuser, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Sung-Ho Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D933092
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Broughton, Jonathan P. Ive
  • Patent number: D933098
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Bennett, Michael C. Evashevski, Monika E. Gromek, Joseph Andrew Magnani, Joseph Stanley Phillips