Abstract: A consumer product that is a portable and, in some cases, a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device may have functionalities including: keeping time; monitoring a user's physiological signals and providing health-related information based on those signals; communicating with other electronic devices or services; visually depicting data on a display; gather data form one or more sensors that may be used to initiate, control, or modify operations of the device; determine a location of a touch on a surface of the device and/or an amount of force exerted on the device, and use either or both as input.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 10, 2016
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
APPLE INC.
Inventors:
Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Jonathan Ive, Julian Hoenig, Rico Zorkendorfer
Abstract: A first electronic device receives a phone call that was routed to the first electronic device by a call-routing service. While receiving the call, the first electronic device receives a request to route the phone call to a second electronic device. In response to receiving the request to route the phone call to the second electronic device, in accordance with a determination that a first routing criteria have been met, the first electronic device sends a request to the call-routing service to route the phone call to the second electronic device instead of routing the phone call to the first electronic device. In accordance with a determination that a second routing criteria have been met, the first electronic device causes call data associated with the call to be routed through the first electronic device to the second electronic device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 21, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick L. Coffman, Keith Walter Rauenbuehler
Abstract: Methods are disclosed directed to a controlled crystallization (ceramic particle growth) of a shaped glass ceramic workpiece. The physical and chemical properties of the shaped glass ceramic of the present invention may be specified or tailored by shaping or machining the workpiece during or in combination with a controlled crystallization process that nucleates (precipitates) ceramic particles from a glass material. For example, in one embodiment, a non-crystalline amorphous solid may be heated above a transition temperature and shaped (e.g., molded, pressed, or the like). Ceramic particles may be precipitated within the solid during at least one of the heating or the shaping, thereby forming a shaped glass ceramic.
Abstract: A regulator configured to provide at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the regulator comprises feedback means for deriving a feedback voltage from the output voltage at the output node. In addition, the regulator comprises a differential amplifier configured to control the pass transistor in dependence of the feedback voltage and in dependence of a reference voltage. The regulator further comprises compensation means configured to determine a sensed current which is indicative of the load current at the output node. Furthermore, the compensation means are configured to adjust an operation point of the regulator in dependence of the sensed current and in dependence of a value of a track impedance of a conductive track which links the output node to a load.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 5, 2019
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Hande Kurnaz, Ambreesh Bhattad, Gary Hague, Frank Kronmueller
Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at a first device with one or more processors, non-transitory memory, and a display. The method includes displaying, on the display, a device control transfer affordance while operating the first device based on user input from an input device that is in communication with the first device. The method includes receiving a device control transfer user input from the input device selecting the device control transfer affordance that is displayed on the display of the first device. In response to receiving the device control transfer user input, the method includes configuring a second device to be operated based on user input from the input device and ceasing to operate the first device based on user input from the input device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher Brian Fleizach, Clare T. Kasemset, Darren Christopher Minifie, Gregory F. Hughes, Ibrahim G. Yusuf, James Nathan Cartwright, James Plowden Craig, Patti P. Hoa
Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for measuring displacement of a moving mass by combining (i) information obtained from scanning, using a beam of light, an intensity pattern disposed on a surface of the mass, with (ii) information obtained when a coil interacts with a magnet attached to the moving mass.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 22, 2019
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Denis G. Chen, Jui Hua Liu, Xingxing Cai
Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for defining travel paths in a map region. The method identifies location data collected over a period of time from multiple mobile devices. The method aggregates the location data for each of multiple map areas. The aggregated data for each map area identifies an amount of mobile device traffic passing through the map area over the period of time. The method normalizes the aggregated data for a subset of the multiple map areas based on analysis of the relative amounts of mobile device traffic. The method uses the normalized data to identify paths in the map.
Abstract: Embodiments for performing, by a wireless device, a procedure for auto-joining a wireless network based on factors associated with the wireless networks are provided. The embodiments include determining a current location of the wireless device. The wireless device stores information regarding nearby known networks associated with the current location of the wireless device and may select a candidate network from the nearby known networks based on a network score associated with the candidate network.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 27, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
APPLE INC.
Inventors:
Vinesh Pallen, Ronald K. Huang, Chaitanya Mannemala, Christopher R. Purcell, Sriram Lakshmanan
Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals modulated at a given power frequency to a wireless power receiving device using a wireless power transmitting coil. The wireless power receiving device may transmit data signals to the wireless power transmitting device. The wireless power transmitting device may include a data receiver that is coupled to the wireless power transmitting coil and that receives the transmitted data. The data receiver may include an input stage, bandpass filter circuitry, demodulator circuitry, and a data stream combiner. The data receiver may further include a power supply noise cancellation circuit. The power supply noise cancellation circuit may include an input stage, a baseband filter, a window filter, a down-sampler, and a difference filter. The power supply noise cancellation circuit may be coupled to the data stream combiner and is configured to mitigate power supply noise interference in the received data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 8, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Moshe H. Malkin, Manu Agarwal, Brandon R. Garbus
Abstract: A method for fabricating an optoelectronic device includes forming an isolation structure between an array of pixel electrodes and a built-in pad (BIP) on a dielectric layer of an integrated circuit, depositing a photosensitive film over the dielectric layer, such that at least one pinch point is formed in the photosensitive film at an edge of the isolation structure. The method further includes depositing an electrode layer, which is at least partially transparent, over the photosensitive film, etching away the photosensitive film from the BIP, and after etching away the photosensitive film, depositing a metal layer over the BIP and in contact with the electrode layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 23, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
APPLE INC.
Inventors:
Yu-Hua Chang, Zachary M Beiley, Richard W Snow, Robin W Cheung
Abstract: A system for wireless control of stored media presentations is provided. In some examples, a media player is operative to wirelessly communicate with an associated portable electronic device and control presentation of a stored media content file according to a control signal converted from an audio signal received by the associated portable electronic device. In another example, a portable electronic device is operative to generate and wirelessly transmit a signal to control presentation of a stored media content file by an associated media player according to audio data received via a microphone. In yet another example, a system for using a portable electronic device to control a media presentation device includes the portable electronic device that generates and wirelessly transmits a signal according to audio data received via a microphone and a media player that receives the signal and controls presentation of a stored media content file.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 1, 2019
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple, Inc.
Inventors:
Anthony Fadell, Andrew Bart Hodge, Stephen P. Zadesky, Aram Lindahl, Anthony Guetta
Abstract: Haptic feedback can be provided to a user via an input device to give a user a richer interaction experience with the input device and host device. The input device can include a magnet and a host device can include an array of coils. The coils can be driven to generate a magnetic field (or one or more magnetic fields) that can exert a force on the input device to provide haptic feedback. In some examples, the haptic feedback can be a push force pushing the input device away from the device or a pull force pulling the input device toward the device. In some examples, the haptic feedback can guide the input device using lateral forces. The haptic feedback described herein can be used for writing, drawing or actuating virtual input controls in a user interface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 17, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Yi-Heng Sen, Alex J. Speltz, Alex M. Lee
Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes an anode containing an anode current collector and an anode active material disposed over the anode current collector. The battery cell also includes a cathode containing a cathode current collector and a cathode active material disposed over the cathode current collector. The cathode active material has a composition represented by xLi2MO3·(1-x)LiCoyM?(1-y)O2.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 12, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Hongli Dai, Christopher S. Johnson, Huiming Wu
Abstract: Content can be using an input device without a touch-sensitive surface. In some examples, touch-down and lift-off on a non-touch-sensitive surface can be monitored by a force sensor of the input device. The position and/or motion of the input device can be tracked according to various methods including one or more of a motion and orientation sensor, a camera, or an electromagnetic- or sound-based triangulation scheme. The force data and position/motion data can be processed to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the content can be generated based on tracking position and/or motion of the input device without requiring contact with a surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 14, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven Cardinali, Katherine E. Tong
Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with an ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor may be a color ambient light sensor or a monochrome ambient light sensor. The electronic device may have a light-emitting component such as a display. During operation of the display, the display emits light. To reduce noise due to the emitted light while measuring ambient light, the ambient light sensor may have optical structures such as wave plates and polarizers. Theses optical structures may overlap light detectors. The optical structures may be configured to prevent ambient light from reaching a first of the light detectors while allowing ambient light to reach a second of the light detectors. The ambient light sensor may be configured to receive ambient light that has passed thorough an inactive area of a display or that has passed through a pixel array in an active area of a display.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 27, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 7, 2020
Assignee:
Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher M. Dodson, Aleksandr N. Polyakov, Guocheng Shao, Meng-Huan Ho, Niva A. Ran, Serhan O. Isikman, Volodymyr Borshch
Inventors:
Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
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