Patents Assigned to Apple
  • Patent number: 10606325
    Abstract: A thermal management system that includes a fan assembly, a heat exchanger, and an insulating box is described. The fan assembly can have two impellers and a housing that includes two scroll portions. An internal portion of the scroll wall can be truncated. A motor housing can be connected to the fan housing via multiple struts. The struts can be oriented angularly with a tangential component and can slope inward to increase the effective inlet area. The heat exchanger can be formed of a fin stack that has a curved body that defines an airflow path that turns radially from the inlet to the exhaust. The heat exchanger can have an inlet that is smaller than the exhaust. The heat exchanger can be connected to one or more heat pipes. The insulating box can have a grid that directs air to certain specific directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Eric R. Prather, William K. Smith, Anthony Joseph Aiello, Jesse T. Dybenko, Arash Naghib Lahouti, Kristopher P. Laurent
  • Publication number: 20200099184
    Abstract: AC inlets that have a low profile, are able to withstand side-to-side and axial forces, and are readily manufactured. An example can provide an AC inlet having a low-profile by providing power and ground prongs where the power and ground prongs are attached to flanges that can extend laterally from a back end of each prong. This lateral distribution of power and ground can reduce a depth of the AC inlet and provide the AC inlet with a low profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sanju Bose, Rui Zhou, Mahmoud R. Amini, Richard P. Howarth
  • Publication number: 20200099174
    Abstract: Connector receptacles and device enclosures that can provide proper grounding, improved ventilation, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. An example can include a device enclosure including an enclosure wall and sleeves for a number of connector receptacles. Each sleeve can electrically contact a shield of a corresponding connector receptacle via a conductive structure, such as a conductive gasket, to provide a good ground path. The sleeves can be narrow at the enclosure wall for improved ventilation and an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, James E. Harper, Houtan R. Farahani, Sung-Ho Tan, Mariel L. Lanas
  • Publication number: 20200100082
    Abstract: In a method of device-to-device communication, a user device initially sends an emergency message repeatedly at a first repeating frequency. When a specified number acknowledgement (ACK) messages are received, the user device sends the emergency message repeatedly at a reduced repeating frequency. The repeating frequency may be further reduced when more ACK messages are received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjeevi Balasubramanian, Shiva Krishna Narra, Tarik Tabet, Dhruv Khati, Lydi Smaini, Anjaneyulu Maganti, Mohit Narang, Tiberiu Muresan
  • Publication number: 20200099181
    Abstract: Audio jacks and device enclosures that provide proper grounding, are readily reworkable, provide improved ventilation, and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. An example can include a device enclosure including an enclosure wall and a sleeve for an audio jack. The sleeve can connect to ground through various paths. The audio jack housing can be inserted in the sleeve and kept in place using a fastener. This arrangement can allow the audio jack to be readily reworkable. The sleeve can be narrow at the enclosure wall for improved ventilation and an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, Ameya V. Nilkanth, James E. Harper, Mariel L. Lanas
  • Publication number: 20200099162
    Abstract: Structures and methods for connector assemblies and their spring-loaded contacts that may resist corrosion, consume a minimal volume in an electronic device, and are readily manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: George Tziviskos
  • Publication number: 20200099163
    Abstract: Structures and methods for connector assemblies and their spring-loaded contacts that can resist corrosion, consume a minimal volume in an electronic device, and are readily manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: George Tziviskos, Vijay Karthik Koneru, Christopher Wiita, Duy P. Le
  • Publication number: 20200099172
    Abstract: Conductive structures that can electrically connect connector receptacles to sections of a device enclosure. The conductive structures can include a compressible material. The compressible material can be at least partially covered with a conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Zhou, Mahmoud R. Amini, James E. Harper, Adam H. Herzog
  • Publication number: 20200099942
    Abstract: Support for additional components may be specified in a coding scheme for image data. A layer of a coding scheme that specifies color components may also specify additional components. Characteristics of the components may be specified in the same layer or a different layer of the coding scheme. An encoder or decoder may identify the specified components and determine the respective characteristics to perform encoding and decoding of image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, Yeping Su, Khaled Mammou, Jungsun Kim, David W. Singer, Fabrice A. Robinet, Guy Cote, Jim C. Chou, Hsi-Jung Wu
  • Publication number: 20200099156
    Abstract: Connectors that support high-speed data transfers and have a high signal quality, good reliability, and are readily manufactured. One example can provide a connector receptacle that supports high-speed data transfers and has a high signal quality by employing connector contacts that include multiple structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Nikhil S. Pansare, William P. Cornelius, Seungyong Baek
  • Publication number: 20200100195
    Abstract: A power control method for device-to-device communication includes dynamically backing off transmit power value for synchronization signals and discovery messages when the distance between the two devices is less than a pre-determined threshold. The threshold distance may correspond to a distance where the receive power may exceed a pre-determined value. Embodiments may loop the transmit power of synchronization signals between a default transmit power value and backed-off values in consecutive slots of each frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dhruv Khati, Shiva Krishna Narra, Sanjeevi Balasubramanian, Anjaneyulu Maganti, Lydi Smaini, Tarik Tabet, Mohit Narang, Tiberiu Muresan
  • Publication number: 20200099150
    Abstract: Sockets that have a simplified design and are readily manufactured, and also provide easy access for users to change cards while allowing the use of thinner device enclosures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, James M. Jeon
  • Publication number: 20200097380
    Abstract: An accessory communication control protocol can facilitate faster and more secure transmission of status updates from an accessory to a controller (or network base station). An accessory can register with a controller, where the controller can provide some subscription and key generation information to the accessory. The accessory can detect changes to characteristics of the accessory and generate a broadcast notification that includes updates to the state of the characteristic. The broadcast notification can also include a counter, a device identifier, and a key. According to timing or rules, the accessory can transmit the broadcast notification to the controller without the need to establish a secure session with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Mathews
  • Publication number: 20200099169
    Abstract: Mechanisms that may help to secure connector inserts in place when they are plugged into a connector receptacle on an electronic device. One example may provide a connector receptacle having a friction mechanism to provide friction between a connector insert and a connector receptacle when the connector insert is inserted in the connector receptacle. Other examples may provide a connector receptacle having a locking mechanism to hinder or prevent extraction of a connector insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, Adam H. Herzog
  • Publication number: 20200096782
    Abstract: A damper arrangement may be used in a camera module that includes a first (e.g., stationary) and a second (e.g., dynamic) component. The second component may hold a lens such that the lens moves together with the second component. The damper arrangement may include an interface member that extends from the first or the second component to at least partially into a viscoelastic material within a volumetric space configured in the first component, the second component, or both. The interface member may include a mounting portion having a thickness and a viscoelastic material section, having a different thickness, that interacts with viscoelastic material to dampen motion of the second component, for example, during operation of a lens actuator to move the second component along an optical axis of the lens. The interface member may be a two-piece interface member, such as a pin soldered into a hole in a plate, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Nicholas D. Smyth, Hao Zheng, Shujun Tang, Zachary W. Birnhaum
  • Publication number: 20200100177
    Abstract: In a method of device-to-device communication, efficient power management is provided when a primary device has a low battery level. The primary device can send synchronization signals and discovery messages to secondary devices by looping through a sequence of transmit power values in a sequence of consecutive frames, where the sequence of transmitting values includes a default power value and a reduced power value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjeevi Balasubramanian, Shiva Krishna Narra, Anjaneyulu Maganti, Tarik Tabet, Lydi Smaini, Dhruv Khati, Mohit Narang, Tiberiu Muresan
  • Publication number: 20200097086
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is described in this disclosure. The portable electronic device can take many forms including for example a smart watch, a smart phone, or a tablet computing device. The portable electronic device can include a device housing component; and a display assembly coupled to the device housing component. The display assembly includes a protective cover that shields a display component from damage. The portable electronic device also includes an actuator configured to apply a vibratory input to the display assembly. In some embodiments, the actuator contacts both the device housing component and the protective cover of the display assembly. In some embodiments, the actuator is affixed only to an interior-facing surface of the display component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Justin D. Crosby, Kevin Truong, Nikolas T. Vitt, Daniel Corona
  • Publication number: 20200099166
    Abstract: Connectors having contacts that can be highly corrosion resistant, can conserve precious materials, and can be readily manufactured. Examples can provide connector contacts that are highly corrosion resistant. These contacts can be formed of a precious metal or a precious-metal alloy. The precious-metal alloy can be a high-entropy alloy. To conserve the precious materials, a contact can be formed by a stamping a structure that becomes the contact, instead of stamping the contact from a structure. The structure can be a rod. To conserve the precious materials, only contacts that convey high voltages, such as power supplies, might be formed of the precious materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Holly M. Ubellacker, Daniel C. Wagman, Jason S. Sloey, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10601335
    Abstract: A power inverter circuit includes a capacitor and a power module. The capacitor includes a positive plate and a negative plate that are spaced apart along opposing sides of the capacitor and extend toward each other along a common side of the capacitor. The power module includes a positive connector and a negative connector that are connected to the positive plate and the negative plate, respectively, and are spaced apart and extend parallel across from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Ruiz, Paul M. White
  • Patent number: 10599868
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a privacy mechanism to protect user data when transmitting the data to a server that estimates a frequency of such data amongst a set of client devices. One embodiment uses a differential privacy mechanism to enhance a user experience by identifying particular websites that exhibit particular characteristics. In one embodiment, websites that are associated with a high resource consumption are identified. High resource consumption can be identified based on threshold of particular resources such as processor, memory, network bandwidth, and power usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Barraclough, Christophe Dumez, Abhishek Bhowmick, Andrew H. Vyrros, Umesh S. Vaishampayan