Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 11132818
    Abstract: Attributes for point cloud compression may be predicted according to a space filling curve. An order for selecting points of a point cloud to be compressed in order to predict attributes of the points may be determined according to values of a space filling curve applied to spatial information for the points. A point of the point cloud may be selected according to the determined ordering. A prediction technique may be performed with respect to the selected point based on a set of neighboring points in the point cloud also selected according to the ordering. Predicted attribute values and correction values may be determined for the predicted values. The correction values may be encoded as part of a compressed version of the point cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Khaled Mammou, Alexandros Tourapis, Jungsun Kim, Valery G. Valentin, Fabrice A. Robinet, Yeping Su
  • Patent number: 11133663
    Abstract: A circuit and method for protecting from reverse current is disclosed. A reverse current protection circuit is coupled to a pass transistor of power circuitry (e.g., a power switch or voltage regulator), the pass transistor being coupled between first and second voltage nodes, the first voltage node being coupled to a power supply circuit. The reverse current protection circuit includes a sensing circuit that is configured to sense an amount of reverse current flowing through the pass transistor (from the second voltage node to the first voltage node). Responsive to the amount of reverse current exceeding a threshold value, the reverse current sensing circuit activates a shunt circuit, which redirects at least some of the reverse current to a reference node (e.g., ground).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan F. Hanagami, Jay B. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 11131562
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a processor of a mobile device, raw pedometer data from a pedometer included in or coupled to the mobile device. The processor receives raw GNSS data from a GNSS receiver included in or coupled to the mobile device. A first filter uses the raw pedometer data to estimate a step frequency of a user wearing or holding the mobile device. The processor determines a pace change from the estimated step frequency. Responsive to the pace change, the processor adapts a bandwidth of a second filter and estimates, by the second filter, an estimated pace or speed of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Pejman Lotfali Kazemi
  • Patent number: 11132120
    Abstract: An electronic device displays a text object that includes first text. While continuously displaying the text object, the device, in response to detecting a user input, varies one or more properties, other than position, of the continuously displayed text object from a first set of display property values to a second set of display property values through a plurality of intermediate states, the plurality of intermediate states including: a first intermediate state in which the first text has a first intermediate set of display property values that are between the first set of display property values and the second set of display property values; and a second intermediate state in which the first text has a second intermediate set of display property values that are between the first set of intermediate display values and the second set of display property values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Stephen O. Lemay
  • Patent number: 11132097
    Abstract: A device that can autonomously scan a sensor panel is disclosed. Autonomous scanning can be performed by implementing channel scan logic. In one embodiment, channel scan logic carries out many of the functions that a processor would normally undertake, including generating timing sequences and obtaining result data; comparing scan result data against a threshold value (e.g., in an auto-scan mode); generating row count; selecting one or more scanning frequency bands; power management control; and performing an auto-scan routine in a low power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Minh-Dieu Thi Vu, Thomas James Wilson, Christoph H. Krah
  • Patent number: 11132162
    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: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Bar-Zeev, Ryan S. Burgoyne, Devin W. Chalmers, Luis R. Deliz Centeno, Rahul Nair, Timothy R. Oriol, Alexis H. Palangie
  • Patent number: 11134403
    Abstract: An interface circuit in an electronic device may provide rate feedback. During operation the interface circuit may transmit one or more packets or frames associated with a data stream that are intended for the recipient electronic device, where the data stream is associated with a video encoder. Then, the interface circuit may estimate a communication performance metric associated with at least the transmissions. For example, the estimated communication performance metric comprises an effective capacity associated with a wireless link between the electronic device and the recipient electronic device. Moreover, the effective capacity may be estimated based at least in part on an efficiency of the wireless link. Next, the interface circuit may provide the rate feedback intended for the video encoder based at least in part on the estimated communication performance metric. In some embodiments, when beamforming occurs, the rate feedback may be reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Sun, Zhanfeng Jia, Yakun Sun
  • Patent number: 11133910
    Abstract: Logic may receive an initial communication from a user device, the initial communication comprising capabilities. Logic may determine when the capabilities indicate a requirement for measurement gaps. Logic may determine, when the capabilities for the user device indicate a requirement to implement measurement gaps, a gap pattern to assign to the user device to re-tune one or more radio frequency chains to a wide bandwidth carrier frequency during communications. Logic may transmit information about the gap pattern to the user device. Logic may transmit an initial communication to a base station, the initial communication comprising capabilities. Logic may receive a communication from the base station comprising information about a gap pattern. Logic may receive a synchronization signal to synchronize a wide bandwidth, radio frequency chain. And logic may retune the radio frequency chain during one or more measurement gaps defined by the gap pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Huang, Yang Tang, Jie Cui
  • Patent number: 11133008
    Abstract: Systems and processes for selectively processing and responding to a spoken user input are provided. In one example, audio input containing a spoken user input can be received at a user device. The spoken user input can be identified from the audio input by identifying start and end-points of the spoken user input. It can be determined whether or not the spoken user input was intended for a virtual assistant based on contextual information. The determination can be made using a rule-based system or a probabilistic system. If it is determined that the spoken user input was intended for the virtual assistant, the spoken user input can be processed and an appropriate response can be generated. If it is instead determined that the spoken user input was not intended for the virtual assistant, the spoken user input can be ignored and/or no response can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe P. Piernot, Justin Binder
  • Patent number: 11133839
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to detect intermodulation issues and configure a transmission scheme to remedy detected intermodulation issues. The wireless device may perform measurements on a downlink carrier while one uplink carrier is scheduled for the wireless device. The wireless device may also perform measurements on the downlink carrier while two uplink carriers are scheduled for the wireless device. The wireless device may provide information based on those measurements to a serving base station. The base station may determine that an intermodulation issue is occurring at the wireless device based on the information provided, and may configure the wireless device to use a single uplink carrier at a time based at least in part on the intermodulation issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zeng, Haijing Hu, Dawei Zhang, Xiangying Yang, Haitong Sun, Christian W. Mucke
  • Patent number: 11132665
    Abstract: A device, an add-on and a secure element for conducting a secured financial transaction are disclosed. The device comprises a central processing unit; a communication interface for establishing a communication between the device and a financial institution related to a financial account; an interface for acquiring data relating to the financial account; the secure element for processing at least a portion of the data relating to the financial account acquired by the interface; and control logic for acquiring a purchase amount to be debited from the financial account and for obtaining a transaction authorization from the financial institution related to the financial account, the transaction authorization being based, at least partially, on data processed solely by the secure element independently of data processed by the central processing unit. A method of conducting the secured financial transaction, and a computer program product for execution by the secure element are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Dolcino, Sebastien Fontaine, Xavier Alberti, Benjamin Du Hays, Maxime De Nanclas
  • Patent number: 11133572
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a multi-segment housing for an electronic device that includes multiple conductive segments that are structurally coupled by one or more non-conductive housing segments or splits. One or more of the conductive segments may be configured to operate as an antenna and the non-conductive housing segments may provide electrical insulation between the conductive segment and one or more adjacent housing segments. The non-conductive housing segment may be formed from a polymer having an array of fibers dispersed within the polymer. The fibers may be aligned along one or more fiber directions, which may be substantially perpendicular to an exterior surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yaocheng Zhang, John J. Baker, Martin J. Auclair, Paul U. Leutheuser, Christopher J. Durning, Jun Ham
  • Patent number: 11134540
    Abstract: A device and a method for mixed mode communication are disclosed. For example, a Bluetooth master device transmits data packets to a Bluetooth slave device and receives acknowledgments from the Bluetooth slave device, by controlling a transceiver to transmit the data packets based on a Bluetooth Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR) protocol, and to receive the acknowledgements packet (ACK) based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol. In another example, a Bluetooth slave device receives the data packets from a Bluetooth master device and transmits acknowledgments to the Bluetooth master device, by controlling a transceiver to receive the data packets based on a BR/EDR protocol, and to transmit the ACK based on a BLE protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hakan Magnus Eriksson, Vivek Krishnan Devarajan, Prasanna Desai, Djordje Kokotovic, Jayant Somani
  • Patent number: 11133696
    Abstract: A battery case has first and second coils on opposing sides of a battery and has switching circuitry that is coupled between the first and second coils. The battery case has a battery that provides supplemental battery power wirelessly to a wireless power receiving device via the second coil when the switching circuitry is in an open state. The case can also receive power wirelessly with the first coil from a wireless charging mat when the switching circuitry is in the open state. In a closed state, the switching circuitry shorts the first and second coils together so that current flowing through the first coil flows through the second coil in series and so that wireless power from the wireless charging mat that is received with the first coil is transmitted wirelessly to the wireless power receiving device using the second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Narendra S. Mehta, Stephen C. Terry, Rohan Dayal
  • Patent number: 11132053
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method includes: displaying simulated reality (SR) content; determining whether an object in a physical environment satisfies one or more interaction criteria; and changing display of the SR content from a first view to a second view, in response to determining that the object in the physical environment satisfies the one or more interaction criteria, wherein, in the first view, the object in the physical environment is occluded by the SR content, and wherein the second view reduces occlusion of the object in the physical environment by the SR content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Yohan Rajan
  • Patent number: 11134328
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared M. Kole, Daniel R. Bloom, Audrey L. Sheng, Tian Shi Li, Eugene Antony Whang, Edward Siahaan, Phillip Qian, Alex C. Hellwig, Oliver M. Hewitt, Yuta Kuboyama, Christopher S. Erickson, Sneha Kadetotad, Edwin J. Corona Aparicio, Rajesh Anantharaman, Jacob E. Mattingley, Tsu-Hui Lin, Robert D. Zupke, Dustin A. Hatfield, Axit H. Patel
  • Patent number: 11132145
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for reducing write amplification when processing write commands directed to a non-volatile memory. According to some embodiments, the method can include the steps of (1) receiving a first plurality of write commands and a second plurality of write commands, where the first plurality of write commands and the second plurality of write commands are separated by a fence command (2) caching the first plurality of write commands, the second plurality of write commands, and the fence command, and (3) in accordance with the fence command, and in response to identifying that at least one condition is satisfied: (i) issuing the first plurality of write commands to the non-volatile memory, (ii) issuing the second plurality of write commands to the non-volatile memory, and (iii) updating log information to reflect that the first plurality of write commands precede the second plurality of write commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhua Liu, Andrew W. Vogan, Matthew J. Byom, Alexander Paley
  • Patent number: 11134432
    Abstract: An apparatus of a user equipment (UE) includes processing circuitry configured to decode a master information block (MIB) using a set of physical broadcast channel (PBCH) symbols received within a downlink frame to obtain system frame number (SFN) information. The downlink frame includes multiple copies of the PBCH symbols within at least three subframes of the downlink frame. A system information block (SIB) may be decoded based on the SFN information, to obtain uplink channel configuration information. Random access channel (RACH) procedure may be performed with a base station (BS) based on the uplink channel configuration information, to obtain an uplink resource assignment. A connection setup completion message can be encoded for transmission to the BS using the uplink resource assignment. The set of PBCH symbols can include a set of four legacy PBCH symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoliy Ioffe, Debdeep Chatterjee, Marta Martinez Tarradell, Andrey Chervyakov, Jie Cui, Seau S. Lim, Qiaoyang Ye, Yang Tang, Seunghee Han, Shuang Tian
  • Patent number: D931663
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Federico F. Tio, Frank Craig Thaler, Wesley B. Hamm, Kevin Fenton Smeds, Russell John Kaaihue Heirakuji
  • Patent number: D931751
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Markus Diebel, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Marc A. Newson, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Joe Sung-Ho Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer