Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 11137967
    Abstract: In an exemplary process for interacting with user interface objects using an eye gaze, an affordance associated with a first object is displayed. A gaze direction or a gaze depth is determined. While the gaze direction or the gaze depth is determined to correspond to a gaze at the affordance, a first input representing user instruction to take action on the affordance is received, and the affordance is selected responsive to receiving the first input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Bar-Zeev, Ryan S. Burgoyne, Devin W. Chalmers, Luis R. Deliz Centeno, Rahul Nair
  • Patent number: 11139588
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a dielectric cover layer, a dielectric substrate, and a phased antenna array on the dielectric substrate for conveying millimeter wave signals through the dielectric cover layer. The array may include conductive traces mounted against the dielectric layer. The conductive traces may form patch elements or parasitic elements for the phased antenna array. The dielectric layer may have a dielectric constant and a thickness selected to form a quarter wave impedance transformer for the array at a wavelength of operation of the array. The substrate may include fences of conductive vias that laterally surround each of the antennas within the array. When configured in this way, signal attenuation, destructive interference, and surface wave generation associated with the presence of the dielectric layer over the phased antenna array may be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Edwards, Harish Rajagopalan, Simone Paulotto, Bilgehan Avser, Hao Xu, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo, Siwen Yong, Matthew A. Mow, Mattia Pascolini
  • Patent number: 11137612
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may include a housing structure, a display module mounted in the housing structure, and adjustable support structures coupled to the housing structure. The adjustable support structures may include a first portion that rests against a user's forehead and second and third portions that rest against the user's cheeks or temples. In some arrangements, the adjustable support structures include posts with adjustable lengths, telescoping layers of material, inflatable structures, and/or elastomeric materials that expand and retract to accommodate different face shapes and sizes. In some arrangements, the adjustable support structures include a cable located in a flexible member. When pressure is applied to a forehead portion of the flexible member, the cable pulls the temple portions of the flexible member towards each other. In some arrangements, the adjustable support structures include a movable member that pivots about a pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yoonhoo Jo, Thomas E. Degen, Julian Hoenig, Julian Jaede, Aiden D. Mossop, Atif H. Naqvi, Scott Y. Oshita, Heidi Williamson, Edward W. Wong, Timon A. Wright
  • Patent number: 11137830
    Abstract: A control device for an interactive computing system includes a first elongated member, a second elongated member, and a biasing actuator. The first elongated member and the second elongated member are pivotably coupled at a pivot axis. The biasing actuator is coupled to the first elongated member and the second elongated member to provide an output torque between the first elongated member and the second elongated member about the pivot axis. The control device is configured to receive user input for controlling a virtual device displayed by the interactive computing system to visually resemble a physical device. The biasing actuator is controllable to provide tactile feedback to simulate physical behavior of the physical device. The control device is movable freely in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Jackson, Seung Wook Kim, David H. Bloom, Brenton A. Baugh, Steven J. Taylor, Madeleine S. Cordier
  • Patent number: 11138771
    Abstract: A computer system displays an annotation placement user interface that includes a representation of a field of view of one or more cameras that is updated over time based on changes in the field of view, and a placement user interface element indicating a location. If the placement user interface element is over a representation of a first type of feature in the physical environment, the appearance of the placement user interface element changes to indicate an anchor point corresponding to the first type of feature, and the system displays a first set of guides. If the placement user interface element is over a representation of a second, different type of feature in the physical environment, the appearance of the placement user interface element changes to indicate an anchor point corresponding to the second type of feature, and the system displays a second, different set of guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Allison W. Dryer, Giancarlo Yerkes, Grant R. Paul, Lisa K. Forssell
  • Patent number: 11139924
    Abstract: A method and system to improve the link budget of a wireless system using fast Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) protocol. In one embodiment of the invention, the Medium Access Control (MAC) logic in a base station determines whether the quality of the communication link with a mobile station is bad. When the MAC logic in the base station determines that the quality is bad, the base station uses a fast Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) protocol to indicate to the mobile station to send identical information to the base station in each of a plurality of successive or consecutive communication intervals before processing any received identical information from the mobile station. The fast HARQ protocol reduces the latency of receiving the identical information correctly, as compared with the current HARQ protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Aran Bergman
  • Patent number: 11139878
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods and apparatuses for group based beam reporting and channel state information reference signal configuration in new radio systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guotong Wang, Yushu Zhang, Alexei Davydov
  • Patent number: 11137908
    Abstract: The operation of a keyboard, another input device, and/or any surface can be enhanced by features of a head-mounted device, which can display feedback, outputs, or other features based on the user's actions. For example, the head-mounted device can display text generated by the user's operation of the keyboard. The text can be displayed in a manner that allows a user to readily see the keyboard, the user's hands, and the text that is generated by operation of the keyboard. The head-mounted device can further display features that facilitate the user's operation of the keyboard. For example, suggested text, keystrokes, or other features correlated with keys of the keyboard can be displayed for selection by a user. By further example, the keyboard can be displayed in a position and orientation that conforms to an arrangement of the user's hands within a field of view of the head-mounted device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Keith J. Hendren, Alex J. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 11138346
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a non-volatile memory that may serve as both the main memory system and the backing store (or persistent storage). In some embodiments, the non-volatile memory is divided into a main memory portion and a persistent portion. Data in the main memory operation may be encrypted using one or more first keys, and data in the persistent portion may be encrypted using one or more second keys, in an embodiment. The volatile behavior of main memory may be implemented by discarding the one or more first keys in a power down event or other event that indicates a loss of main memory data, while the one or more second keys may be retained. In one embodiment, the physical address space of the non-volatile memory may be a mapping from a second physical address space that is used within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Manu Gulati, Joseph Sokol, Jr., Jeffrey R. Wilcox, Bernard J. Semeria, Michael J. Smith
  • Patent number: 11137904
    Abstract: While displaying a first page of a home screen user interface in a first reconfiguration mode, the computer system detects a first input that corresponds to a request to enter a second reconfiguration mode, where the availability of pages in the home screen user interface can be changed in accordance with user inputs in the second reconfiguration mode. The computer system displays respective representations of at least two of the plurality of pages of the home screen user interface in the second reconfiguration mode. While displaying the second reconfiguration mode, the computer system detects a second input. If the second input is directed to a second representation of a second page that is displayed in the second reconfiguration mode, and the second input meets first criteria, the computer system displays the second page of the home screen user interface in the first reconfiguration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William M. Tyler, Caelan G. Stack, Christopher P. Foss, Christian X. Dalonzo, Craig M. Federighi, Alan C. Dye
  • Patent number: 11137799
    Abstract: A consumer electronic product includes at least a transparent housing and a flexible display assembly enclosed within the transparent housing. In the described embodiment, the flexible display assembly is configured to present visual content at any portion of the transparent housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Myers
  • Patent number: 11139817
    Abstract: A computer system may periodically calibrate an oscillator subsystem, which includes a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit configured to generate an oscillator signal using code signal. In response to activation of a calibration mode, an iterative calibration operation may be performed on the voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. In some cases, performing a given iteration of the calibration operation includes determining a value of the code signal using a number of pulses in the oscillator signal sampled during a particular time period, along with previous values of the code signal and a slope of an error function associated with the difference between a desired frequency and a current frequency of the oscillator signal. In other cases, iterations may employ variable sampling times with error handling, in order to decrease the duration of the calibration operation while maintaining a target accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Long Kong, Simone Gambini, Cristian Marcu, Nachum M. Kanovsky
  • Patent number: 11138472
    Abstract: Systems and methods for localization for mobile devices are described. Some implementations may include accessing motion data captured using one or more motion sensors; determining, based on the motion data, a coarse localization, wherein the coarse localization includes a first estimate of position; obtaining one or more feature point maps, wherein the feature point maps are associated with a position of the coarse localization; accessing images captured using one or more image sensors; determining, based on the images, a fine localization pose by localizing into a feature point map of the one or more feature point maps, wherein the fine localization pose includes a second estimate of position and an estimate of orientation; generating, based on the fine localization pose, a virtual object image including a view of a virtual object; and displaying the virtual object image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno M. Sommer, Alexandre da Veiga
  • Patent number: 11140749
    Abstract: Embodiments of a User Equipment (UE), a generation Node-B (gNB) and methods for communication are generally described herein. The UE may the UE 102 may receive from a gNB, control signaling that indicates: a first pre-coding matrix indicator (PMI) that indicates a first pre-coder for a first sub-band; and a second PMI that indicates a second pre-coder for a second sub-band. The first and second pre-coders may be included in predetermined candidate pre-coders. The UE may encode a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) block for transmission. The UE may scale the PUSCH block in the first sub-band by the first pre-coder. The UE may scale the PUSCH block in the second sub-band by the second pre-coder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yushu Zhang, Alexei Davydov, Wook Bong Lee, Dae Won Lee, Seunghee Han
  • Patent number: 11139932
    Abstract: Technology for a user equipment (UE) operable to perform adaptive time division duplexing (TDD) hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)-ACKnowledgement (ACK) reporting is described. The UE can implement an adaptive uplink-downlink (UL-DL) configuration received from an eNodeB. The UE can decode a downlink (DL) HARQ reference configuration received from the base station for a serving cell, wherein the DL HARQ reference configuration is for the implemented adaptive UL-DL configuration. The UE can decode a reference UL-DL configuration received from the base station via a system information block (SIB). The UE can encode HARQ-ACK feedback for transmission on an uplink channel of the serving cell in accordance with the DL HARQ reference configuration. The UE can perform uplink scheduling and the HARQ-ACK feedback based on the reference UL-DL configuration received from the base station via the SIB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alexey Khoryaev, Andrey Chervyakov, Mikhail Shilov, Jong-Kae Fwu, Hong He
  • Patent number: 11138005
    Abstract: This application relates to a system for the automatic generation of software developer documentation. The system utilizes various machine learning algorithms and processes to facilitate at least a portion of the documentation process. Included are steps for extracting metadata from an undocumented symbol's declaration, processing a corpus of previously documented symbols, and generating output for the undocumented symbol. Consequently, a writer is provided with a document that is at least partially completed when the writer begins the process of documenting an undocumented symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Dewitt, Diogo Manuel Delgado B. Almeida, Emily K. Van Haren, Santiago Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11140099
    Abstract: Systems and processes for providing response suggestions are provided. In one example process, a textual representation of a message is received. Based on the textual representation of the message, one or more response categories and a predetermined number of suggested inputs corresponding to each of the one of more response categories are obtained. Based on the predetermined number of suggested inputs corresponding to each of the one of more response categories, one or more suggested inputs for each of the one or more response categories are determined. The one or more suggested inputs are provided as response suggestions to the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vojtech Jina, Seth J. Hildick-Smith, Peter M. Kirby, Vivek Kumar Rangarajan Sridhar
  • Patent number: 11140171
    Abstract: A user device can verify a user's identity to a server while protecting user privacy by not sharing personal data with any other device. To ensure user privacy, the user device performs an enrollment process in which the user performs an action sequence. The user device collects action data from the action sequence and uses the action data locally to generate a set of public/private key pairs (or other representation) from which information about the action sequence cannot be extracted. The public keys, but not the underlying action data, are sent to a server to store. To verify user identity, a user device can repeat the collection of action data and the generation of the key pairs. If the device can prove to the server its possession of the private keys to a sufficient degree, the user's identity can be verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Friedman, Nathaniel C. Bush, Jefferson Provost, Vignesh Kumar, Gregory J. Kuhlmann, Tal Tversky, Ritwik K. Kumar, Eric M. Gottschalk, Lucas O. Winstrom
  • Patent number: 11139129
    Abstract: Keyboards and other input devices are provided with at least one flexible layer that extends over or under the keycaps. The flexible layer spans interkey spaces and lies between inner and outer keycaps. The flexible layer prevents intrusion of invasive material to the keyboard mechanisms and simplifies the appearance of the keyboard area. Some flexible layers help align keycaps by connecting inner and outer keycaps or by providing a mechanical connection interface for the keycaps. Some membranes used in the flexible layer have a layered or composite construction that increases durability and tear resistance by attaching or infusing a mesh material or other tough material to a less durable, elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Abidur R. Chowdhury, Bart K. Andre, Dinesh C. Mathew, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: RE48765
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for sapphire crystal material is disclosed, including a laser-etched bar code formed into the interior of the sapphire crystal material. The laser-etched bar code may be associated with one or more manufacturing parameters or other manufacturing data. The sapphire crystal may be used to create a cover sheet for use with a display screen of a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale N. Memering, Michael M. Li