Apple Patents

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, tablets and personal computers, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac. It also produces the iPod, Apple Watch and Apple TV, as well as the operating systems and applications that support these devices. The company also sells digital content and applications through its iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store and Apple Music.

Apple Patents by Type
  • Apple Patents Granted: Apple patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Apple Patent Applications: Apple patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Publication number: 20240251239
    Abstract: The present application relates to devices and components including apparatuses, systems, and methods for technologies for non-seamless wireless local area access offload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek G. Gupta, Haijing Hu, Shu Guo
  • Publication number: 20240251412
    Abstract: Provided is a method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station (BS), one or more messages comprising: configuration parameters of a plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of cells are to be associated with a plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups comprising: a first PUCCH group comprising an active serving cell, and a secondary PUCCH group comprising a PUCCH secondary cell to be activated; and performing operations during activation of the PUCCH secondary cell based on at least one of a capability of the UE or timing advance group (TAG) configurations in the configuration parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Cui, Dawei Zhang, Hong He, Huaning Niu, Manasa Raghavan, Qiming Li, Seyed Ali Akbar Fakoorian, Xiang Chen, Yang Tang
  • Publication number: 20240251271
    Abstract: Some aspects relate to apparatuses and methods for a wireless system implementing mechanisms to transmit a measurement report using physical layer (L1) carrying a sounding reference signal (SRS) reference signal received power (SRS-RSRP) measurement to provide an indication of cross link interference (CLI) between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE. The first UE can determine a channel state information (CSI) configuration received from the base station; and configure, based on the CSI configuration, a channel measurement resource (CMR) to include a SRS received from the second UE. The first UE can measure the SRS to obtain a SRS-RSRP measurement, generate a measurement report having the SRS-RSRP measurement, and transmit the measurement report to the base station using L1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Haitong SUN, Dawei ZHANG, Wei ZENG, Hong HE, Oghenekome OTERI, Chunxuan YE, Ankit BHAMRI, Manasa RAGHAVAN, Seyed Ali Akbar FAKOORIAN
  • Publication number: 20240251307
    Abstract: Provided is a method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a communication network comprising a radio access network, one or more messages comprising configuration information of at least one network slice and of at least one frequency, wherein the radio access network is associated with a plurality of base stations (BSs) providing a plurality of cells, wherein the configuration information indicates for each of the at least one frequency which one or more slices of the at least one network slice are supported; and selecting, based on the configuration information, a cell from the plurality of cells for camping on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuqin Chen, Alexander Sirotkin, Fangli Xu, Haijing Hu, Naveen Kumar R. Palle Venkata, Pavan Nuggehalli, Ralf Rossbach, Sarma Vangala, Sethuraman Gurumoorthy, Sudeep Manithara Vamanan, Vijay Venkataraman, Zhibin Wu
  • Publication number: 20240248866
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing the connection assignments of a plurality of accessory devices to one or more hub devices. In one example, a user device acting as a leader device receives an assignment request from an accessory device. The user device may obtain information corresponding to hub attributes from the one or more hub devices. The user device may also obtain accessory traits from the accessory device. The user device can compare the accessory traits with the hub attributes to determine a connection score for each hub device. The user device can then assign the accessory device to the hub device with the highest connection score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jared S. Grubb, Robert M. Stewart, Gabriel Sanchez, Zaka ur Rehman Ashraf, David J. Chandler
  • Publication number: 20240251311
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for a network-initiated packet data network connection in communication systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre S. Stojanovski, Muthaiah Venkatachalam
  • Publication number: 20240251369
    Abstract: Some aspects relate to apparatuses and methods for a wireless system supporting two timing advances in a serving cell for a user equipment (UE) communicating with two different transmission reception points (TRPs). The UE can determine that a first timing advance (TA) group (TAG) and a second TAG are configured for a serving cell based on a configuration received from the base station; and further determine a first TA adjustment value based on a first timing advance command (TAC) and a second TA adjustment value based on a second TAC. The UE can select a TAC from the first TAC or the second TAC to be applied to an uplink transmission. The UE can further select, based the selected TAC, a TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG; and transmit the uplink transmission according to the selected TAC with the selected TAG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Haitong SUN, Xiang CHEN, Wei ZENG, Hong HE, Ankit BHAMRI, Dawei ZHANG, Huaning NIU, Oghenekome OTERI
  • Publication number: 20240251281
    Abstract: The present application relates to devices and components, including apparatus, systems, and methods for serving data traffic on an access stratum (AS) radio bearer (RB) using independently configured bearer flows. Having their own resource sets, bearer flows remove the dependency of processing and transmission, and retransmission among different traffic flows assigned to the same AS RB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Amr Abdelrahman Yousef Abdelrahman Mostafa, Christian Hofmann, Panagiotis Botsinis, Sameh M. Eldessoki, Tarik Tabet
  • Publication number: 20240249324
    Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device may obtain an original digital media asset published to a server device along with a distributed ledger that tracks ownership of the original digital media asset. The computing device may generate a customized digital media asset that replaces the original digital media asset, and modify the distributed ledger to indicate the customization or modification of the original digital media asset and identify the customized digital media asset and the ownership thereof. The computing device may publish the customized digital media asset to a server device for distribution. Upon transfer of ownership of the customized digital media asset to a new owner, the distributed ledger may be modified to indicate the new ownership of the customized digital media asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Gaddis, Jeremy J. Templier
  • Patent number: 12044769
    Abstract: An electronic device may include wireless circuitry with sensing circuitry that transmits radio-frequency sensing signals and receives reflected radio-frequency sensing signals. A mixer may generate a series of beat signals based on the sensing signals and the reflected sensing signals. The sensing circuitry may generate a beat phase based on an average of the series of beat signals, a set of phase values based on the series of beat signals, and a phase velocity based on the set of phase values. The sensing circuitry may resolve a phase ambiguity in the beat phase based on the phase velocity to identify a range between the electronic device and an external object. This way may allow the sensing circuitry to generate accurate ranges even in a low signal-to-noise ratio regime, such as when the external object is moving relative to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Avihay Yehezkel, Michael Kerner, Michael Delishansky, Michael Ney, Shachar Shayovitz, Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 12044788
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry that includes first, second, and third antennas used to determine the position and orientation of the electronic device relative to external equipment. The antennas may include patch elements on respective substrates mounted to a flexible printed circuit. Each substrate may include fences of conductive vias that are coupled to ground and that laterally surround the corresponding patch element. Control circuitry may identify phase differences between the first and second antennas and between the second and third antennas and may identify an angle of arrival of received ultra-wideband signals using the phase differences. The control circuitry may compare the phase differences to a set of predetermined surfaces of phase differences to identify environmental loading conditions for the antenna. The control circuitry may correct the angle of arrival using offsets identified based on the environmental loading conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Cooper, Amin Tayebi, Carlo Di Nallo, Zheyu Wang
  • Patent number: 12045598
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for updating application data in snapshots of applications for previewing. Some embodiments update application data by determining when current application data may expire and retrieving updated application data. The application data for various applications in a preview mode may be updated based on an allotted budget. Permission can be selectively granted to applications to obtain updated data so as to control the budget. Application data in the snapshots may appear updated to a user as the user browses the dock without requiring the applications to request updated application data when the user enters the dock, regardless of whether each application is active. Further, some embodiments may generate a snapshot using a layer hierarchy and image layer data generated while the application was last running if the time associated with when the application was last active is later than the time associated with an existing snapshot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Neil G. Crane, Joshua H. Shaffer, Paul W. Salzman, Michael J. Lamb, Austen J. Green
  • Patent number: 12045392
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of defining a custom hand gesture is performed by a device including an image sensor, one or more processors, and non-transitory memory. The method includes receiving a request to define a first hand gesture. The method includes capturing, via the image sensor, a first performance of the first hand gesture. The method includes extracting, from the first performance of the first hand gesture, a first set of features. The method includes defining, based on the first set of features, one or more gesture matching criteria for the first hand gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Salter, Richard Ignatius Pusal Lozada
  • Patent number: 12042255
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing; a wrist band attached to the housing; first and second emitters positioned within the housing and configured to respectively emit, through a back of the housing, a first beam of electromagnetic radiation having a first infrared (IR) wavelength and a second beam of electromagnetic radiation having a second IR wavelength. The second IR wavelength is different from the first IR wavelength. The wearable device also includes a photodetector positioned within the housing and filtered to detect a set of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths including the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength; and a matter differentiation circuit configured to indicate, at least partly in response to signals indicating amounts of the first IR wavelength and the second IR wavelength received by the photodetector, whether the back of the housing is likely proximate to human tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Allec, Albert E. Cerussi, Maximillian C. Bruggeman, Xiyu Duan, Ueyn L. Block
  • Patent number: 12042301
    Abstract: Detecting user contact with one or more electrodes of a physiological signal sensor can be used to ensure physiological signals measured by the physiological signal sensor meet waveform characteristics (e.g., of a clinically accurate physiological signal). In some examples, a mobile and/or wearable device can comprise sensing circuitry, stimulation circuitry, and processing circuitry. The stimulation circuit can drive one or more stimulation signals on one or more electrodes, the resulting signal(s) can be measured (e.g., by the sensing circuitry), and the processing circuitry can determine whether a user is in contact with the electrode(s). Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, mobile and/or wearable device can comprise saturation detection circuitry, and the processing circuitry can determine whether the sensing circuitry is saturated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Shui, Han Bi, Na Huang, Nilay D. Jani
  • Patent number: 12045923
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to generating and modifying virtual avatars. An electronic device having a camera and a display apparatus displays a virtual avatar that changes appearance in response to changes in a face in a field of view of the camera. In response to detecting changes in one or more physical features of the face in the field of view of the camera, the electronic device modifies one or more features of the virtual avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guillaume Pierre André Barlier, Aurelio Guzman, Nicolas Scapel
  • Patent number: 12045014
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and user interfaces for providing clock user interfaces. In some embodiments, methods and user interfaces for providing clock user interfaces displaying simulated emitted light, methods and user interfaces for displaying clock user interfaces including astronomical object, methods and user interfaces for displaying clock user interfaces that include adjustable time indications, methods and user interfaces for displaying clock user interfaces that include multiple calendar systems, methods and user interfaces for displaying clock user interfaces including animated numerals, methods and user interfaces for displaying clock user interfaces with colors that are based on a selected color, and/or methods and user interfaces for displaying clock user interfaces including animated lines are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aurelio Guzman, Kevin W. Chen, Lynnette L. Galloway, Andre R. Jointe, Gilbert E. Kuruneri, Michael T. Nartey, Oladapo Onikuyide, Shedrick W. Turner, Jr., Noah A. Witherspoon, Pani Page
  • Patent number: 12045427
    Abstract: This relates to touch sensor panels/touch screens including touch electrodes in a bar-and-stripe pattern. The bar-and-stripe pattern can improve touch signal levels for touch detection and improve uniformity of touch signal as objects move across the touch sensor panel/touch screen. Touch electrodes in a bar-and-stripe pattern can be formed from metal mesh in one or more layers of metal mesh. In some examples, “stripes” can be formed from groups of touch electrode segments in a first layer of metal mesh and can be interconnected by bridges formed in a second layer of metal mesh, different from the first layer of metal mesh, in the active area of the touch screen. Multiple stripes can be interconnected in the border area and/or in the active area to form a row touch electrode. In some examples, “bars” may also include bridges in the second layer of metal mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Blondin, Xiaoqi Zhou
  • Patent number: 12045601
    Abstract: Implementations described herein provide systems and methods for data management for a plurality of source devices. In one implementation, a policy profile is obtained for data management in a hierarchical environment associated with the source devices. The policy profile includes an action and a priority level. The policy profile is published downstream in the hierarchical environment, and the policy profile deployed at one or more source devices of the plurality of source devices in the hierarchical environment. Data is communicated from the one or more source devices upstream in the hierarchical environment according to the action and the priority level of the policy profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Thaddeus S. Fortenberry, Jonathan P. Gardner
  • Patent number: 12045449
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces for managing user contributions and activity for shared files and folder. With respect to a document, at least a portion of the document is presented. User input in the form of a request to shift the document in a first direction is received. In response to the request passing a predetermined boundary, indications of content contribution attributable to different users is displayed. With respect to one or more digital files, a user input component is presented and is associated with the one or more digital files. User input is received via the user input component. In response to the received user input, an update activity panel is presented which shows multiple activity attributable to different users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Evan S. Torchin, Allen W. Lucas, Jesse W. Bunch, Joseph J. Stelmach, Markus Hagele, Steffen Ryll
  • Patent number: 12045416
    Abstract: Various embodiments for detecting and rejecting false, unintended rotations of rotary inputs of electronic devices are disclosed herein. In one example, an electronic device is provided with an optical detector that measures the distance between the electronic device and the wearer's forearm or hand, and when the distance is smaller than a threshold distance, the turns of the rotary input are false, unintended turns. In another example, a crown of a rotary input includes a plurality of capacitive sensors that detects the presence of a wearer's finger, which when absent, the turns of the rotary input are false turns. In another example, deflections or positions of a shaft of the rotary input are measured and if the deflections/positions indicate an upward force on the rotary input (which are likely caused by the wearer's forearm or hand), the turns of the rotary input are false turns. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Christopher M. Werner, Colin M. Ely, Samuel Weiss
  • Patent number: 12043571
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed therein generally pertain to selectively strengthening glass. More particularly, techniques are described for selectively strengthening cover glass, which tends to be thin, for electronic devices, namely, portable electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Weber
  • Patent number: 12045255
    Abstract: The described embodiments include a computing device that enables the placement of data guards on data items (e.g., files, data in an application, etc.). The data guard is associated with a conflict priority that is used to determine users that are permitted to make changes to the data item. When the data guard has been placed, the data item is visually identified (e.g., when displayed on a display) as being guarded. In addition, the computing device includes various mechanisms for enabling synchronization of data items between computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Scott W. Ryder
  • Patent number: 12043194
    Abstract: A system includes a body structure that defines a enclosure, a support system that is located in the enclosure, and a support structure that includes a top portion and an adjustable support assembly. The top portion is located adjacent to the support system, the adjustable support assembly includes actuators, and the adjustable support assembly is configured to move the top portion with respect to the support system. The system also includes sensors that are configured to generate sensor outputs regarding an environment outside of the system, and a controller that detects an event based on the sensor outputs. In response to the detection of the event, the controller outputs a control signal that controls the adjustable support assembly so that the adjustable support assembly moves at least part of the top portion away from the support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Arturo Llamazares Domper, Nicholas A. White, Alexander M. Zoellner
  • Patent number: 12045615
    Abstract: A system, e.g., a system on a chip (SOC), may include one or more processors. A processor may execute an instruction synchronization barrier (ISB) instruction to enforce an ordering constraint on instructions. To execute the ISB instruction, the processor may determine whether contexts of the processor required for execution of instructions older than the ISB instruction are consumed for the older instructions. Responsive to determining that the contexts are consumed for the older instructions, the processor may initiate fetching of an instruction younger than the ISB instruction, without waiting for the older instructions to retire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Deepankar Duggal, Kulin N Kothari, Mridul Agarwal, Chang Xu, Yanran Yang, Richard F Russo, Yuan C Chou, Douglas C Holman
  • Patent number: 12045451
    Abstract: An electronic device, with a touch-sensitive surface, displays a respective control, which is associated with respective contact intensity criteria, used to determine whether or not a function associated with the respective control will be performed. The device detects a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, corresponding to an interaction with the respective control. In accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device changes the appearance of the respective control to indicate progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria that is used to determine whether or not a function associated with the respective control will be performed. In response to detecting activation of the control, the device performs the function associated with the respective control in accordance with the detected gesture including a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: May-Li Khoe, Matthew I. Brown, Bianca C. Costanzo, Avi E. Cieplinski, Jeffrey T. Bernstein, Julian K. Missig
  • Patent number: 12045941
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of generating an object model is performed at a device including one or more processors and non-transitory memory. The method includes obtaining a point cloud including a plurality of points, wherein each of the plurality of points is associated with a plurality of sets of coordinates in a three-dimensional space at a respective plurality of time periods. The method includes generating an object model including a plurality of vertices corresponding to the plurality of points and a plurality of edges between respective pairs of the plurality of vertices. The method includes generating, based on the sets of coordinates of a particular point, a characterization vector of a particular vertex corresponding to the particular point, wherein the characterization vector includes a joint label and joint data with respect to one or more of the plurality of edges of the particular vertex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Payal Jotwani, Angela Blechschmidt
  • Patent number: 12047821
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ultra reliable reporting of secondary cell group (SCG) measurements to a secondary node (SN) used in multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC) operation that specifically account for the possibility of SCG special cell (SpCell) degradation are disclosed herein. A user equipment (UE) may establish a signaling radio bearer (SRB) 3 with the SN. The UE may then identify that a handover condition (which may be associated with SCG SpCell degradation) for the SCG SpCell is met, and accordingly send an SCG measurement report over each of the SRB3 and an SRB1 between the UE and a master node (MN) used in the MR-DC operation. Such information received at the MN is forwarded to the SN. Accordingly, the reception of SCG measurement reports (to enable handover to a new SpCell by the SN) is not solely dependent messages on the SpCell of the SCG alone (using SRB3), improving reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Kulwinder Saini, Vijayant Kumar
  • Patent number: 12044373
    Abstract: A system may have lights produce illumination. A light may be provided with a collimated light source that produces collimated light. The collimated light source may use lenses or reflective optical elements to produce the collimated light. The light may have an array of light elements each of which emits a respective beam of the illumination. Each light element may have a preshaping lens that receives the collimated light and produces corresponding preshaped output light and an output lens that receives the output light from the preshaping lens and produces a corresponding beam of the illumination. An electrically adjustable shutter may be located between each preshaping lens and output lens to adjust the illumination between a low-beam pattern and high-beam pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Tang, Kurt R Stiehl, Clarisse Mazuir, Christopher P Child
  • Patent number: 12047088
    Abstract: A data processing system can include a first IC including one or more A/D converters that receive analog inputs from one or more sensors and generate corresponding digital data, a second IC including one or more processing elements that operate on the digital data, and communication circuitry, coupled between the one or more A/D converters and processing elements, that includes a packetizer on the first IC that receives samples and sample data from the one or more A/D converters and assembles each sample and corresponding sample data into a packet, a primary physical interface on the first IC that communicates the packet to a secondary physical interface on the second IC, and a de-packetizer that on the second IC that receives the packet, de-packetizes it, and delivers the sample and sample data to the one or more processing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jose V Santos Martinez, Yongxuan Hu, Nileshbhai J Shah
  • Patent number: 12043073
    Abstract: A suspension actuator includes an upper mount, a lower mount, a first actuator mechanism, and a second actuator mechanism. The upper mount is connectable to a sprung mass of a vehicle. The lower mount is connectable to an unsprung mass of the vehicle. The first actuator mechanism forms a first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The first actuator mechanism is one of an electromagnetic linear actuator mechanism or a ball screw actuator mechanism. The second actuator mechanism forms a second load path in parallel with the first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The second actuator mechanism is one of a mechanical linear actuator mechanism, an air spring actuator mechanism, or a hydraulic actuator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Hall, Troy A. Carter, Paul J. Keas
  • Patent number: 12046920
    Abstract: A wireless power relay can include a first wireless power receiver (Rx1) configured to receive power from a first wireless power transmitter (Tx1) in another device and a second wireless power transmitter (Tx2) configured to deliver power to a second wireless power receiver (Rx2) in another device. Rx1 may be configured to communicate with Tx1 via a first communication link, and the Tx2 may be configured to receive communication from Rx2 via a second communication link, both employing modulation of the wireless power signal. The relay may further include a power converter with its input coupled to Rx1 and its output coupled to Tx2 and a constant power controller configured to isolate modulated communication between the communication links. Additionally or alternatively, the relay may include circuitry configured to introduce a jamming signal preventing Tx1 from detecting and improperly interpreting signals from the second communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jukka-pekka J. Sjoeroos, Antoin J. Russell, Zaki Moussaoui
  • Patent number: 12043201
    Abstract: A support surface includes a support back, a housing defined within the support back, a restraint having a stowed position disposed within the housing, and a panel or a rail having a stowed position disposed within the housing. The support surface includes an anchor that couples an outer edge of the restraint to an outer edge of the panel or the rail. The panel or the rail is configured to guide the anchor and the restraint in traveling from the stowed positions to a deployed position spaced apart from the housing and the support back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Adam J. Golman, Nathaniel J. Dennis, Jesse T. Buehler, Jonathan O. Sive, Donald R. Monroe, Mikael P. Sedlacek, Arturo Llamazares Domper
  • Patent number: 12047010
    Abstract: An electrical system can include a first bidirectional AC-DC converter having an input couplable to a grid connection and an output couplable to a battery and a second bidirectional AC-DC converter having an input couplable to the grid connection or a convenience outlet and an output couplable to the battery. The electrical system can further include a controller that controls the first and second converters to operate in a plurality of modes including a two-stage charging mode in which the first and second converters operate in a forward direction to charge the battery, a single-stage charging mode in which the first converter operates in a forward direction to charge the battery and the second converter operates in a reverse direction to power the convenience outlet, and a non-charging mode in which the first converter is idle and the second converter operates in a reverse direction to power the convenience outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish K. Sahoo, Jie Lu, Brandon Pierquet, Anish Prasai
  • Patent number: 12044875
    Abstract: Light-control panels including layered optical components are described in this application. An example of a light-control panel includes a first glazing layer, a second glazing layer, a third glazing layer, and a fourth glazing layer, a first switchable component extending between the first glazing layer and the second glazing layer, a thermal coating extending between the first glazing layer and the first switchable component, and a second switchable component extending between the third glazing layer and the fourth glazing layer. The second glazing layer and the third glazing layer have an air gap therebetween, such that the air gap forms a space between the second glazing layer and the third glazing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: David E. Kingman, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson, Martin Melcher, Peter F. Masschelein
  • Patent number: 12045099
    Abstract: A desktop computing system having at least a central core surrounded by housing having a shape that defines a volume in which the central core resides is described. The housing includes a first opening and a second opening axially displaced from the first opening. The first opening having a size and shape in accordance with an amount of airflow used as a heat transfer medium for cooling internal components, the second opening defined by a lip that engages a portion of the airflow in such a way that at least some of the heat transferred to the air flow from the internal components is passed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Whang, Christopher J. Stringer, Brett W. Degner, David H. Narajowski, Patrick Kessler, Eric R. Prather, Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski, Adam T. Stagnaro, Daniel L. McBroom, Matthew P. Casebolt, Michael D. McBroom
  • Patent number: 12044391
    Abstract: A system may have an interior region. The system may have lighting that provides illumination for the interior region. The lighting may include light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes arranged in strips or two-dimensional patterns. A gesture sensor such as a touch gesture sensor or proximity gesture sensor may overlap the light-emitting diodes. As gesture input is received over the light-emitting elements, the lighting may toggle the states of the light-emitting elements, turning on elements that are off and turning off elements that are on. The lighting may toggle the states of the elements based on gesture input such as gesture input made along a strip of elements or gesture input involving gestures that pass over a selected set of elements in a two-dimensional array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A Sewell, Arian Behzadi, Clarisse Mazuir
  • Patent number: 12047775
    Abstract: This Application sets forth techniques for cellular service management for a secondary mobile wireless device assisted by a primary mobile wireless device, including provisioning and management of electronic subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) for a secondary mobile wireless device with user authorization obtained via the primary mobile wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Li Li, Abishek Kumar Vaidyanathan, Anish Kumar Goyal, Keizo Marui
  • Patent number: 12045431
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a navigation application with a novel declutter navigation mode. In some embodiments, the navigation application has a declutter control that when selected, directs the navigation application to simplify a navigation presentation by removing or de-emphasizing non-essential items that are displayed in the navigation presentation. In some embodiments, the declutter control is a mode-selecting control that allows the navigation presentation to toggle between normal first navigation presentation and a simplified second navigation presentation, which below is also referred to as a decluttered navigation presentation. During normal mode operation, the navigation presentation of some embodiments provides (1) a representation of the navigated route, (2) representations of the roads along the navigated route, (3) representation of major and minor roads that intersect or are near the navigated route, and (4) representations of buildings and other objects in the navigated scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Berk, Bradley L. Spare, Edward J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 12047101
    Abstract: An electronic device may include wireless circuitry with a transmit antenna that transmits signals and a receive antenna that receives reflected signals. The wireless circuitry may detect a range between the device and an external object based on the transmitted signals and the reflected signals. When the range exceeds a first threshold, the wireless circuitry may use the transmitted signals and received signals to record background noise. When the range is less than a second threshold value, the wireless circuitry may detect the range based on the reflected signals and the recorded background noise. This may allow the range to be accurately measured within an ultra-short range domain even when the device is placed in different device cases, placed on different surfaces, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joonhoi Hur, Jochen Schrattenecker, Bin Xiao, Andre Hanke, Harald Pretl, Rastislav Vazny, Bernhard Sogl, Andreas Menkhoff
  • Patent number: 12045275
    Abstract: The content items presented to a user account as part of a media station can be recorded in a content history index, which can be requested and presented to the user account. The content history can enable a user to revisit the content items included in the content history and/or provide feedback regarding the content items. The version of the content item returned to the user can be based on the client device used to request the content item. For example, a user that was presented a content item on their mobile device, can later request to revisit the content item on their PC and receive a version of the content item best suited for presentation by the PC, rather than the version presented on the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Alsina, Kenley Sun, David T. Wilson, Sagar A. Joshi, Nicholas James Paulson, Arvind S. Shenoy
  • Patent number: 12047111
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to reducing insertion loss in a transceiver while improving an operating efficiency of the transceiver. To do so, the transceiver may include isolation circuitry with harmonic distortion rejection circuitry, an electrostatic discharge filter, an out-of-band noise filter, and/or a matching network. In particular, the harmonic distortion rejection circuitry may enable a second harmonic signal to pass from a power amplifier of a transmitter of the transceiver to ground. The electrostatic discharge filter may also provide a path to ground for electrostatic discharge, and the out-of-band noise filter may provide a path to ground for noise signals. The isolation circuitry may substantially remove or decrease interference caused by undesirable signals while reducing a power consumption and thus improving an operating efficiency of the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Saihua Lin
  • Patent number: 12046534
    Abstract: This application relates to modifications and enhancements to assemblies used with integrated circuits. In the described embodiments, multiple thermal components (e.g., vapor chambers, fin stacks, heat pipes) can be used to provide a dual-sided thermal energy extraction solution for a circuit board and an integrated circuit located on the circuit board. The thermal components can provide thermal energy dissipation capabilities for additional heat-generating components on the circuit board. Additionally, multiple plates can provide a compression force used to maintain contact between the integrated circuit and the circuit board, and in particular, between contact pads of the integrated circuit and pins, or springs, of a socket located on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Simon J. Trivett, Brett W. Degner, Mahesh S. Hardikar, Michael E. Leclerc, Eric R. Prather, Kevin J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 12047177
    Abstract: Mobile devices, base stations, and/or relay stations may implement a method for an improved and reliable automatic repeat request feedback indication. A mobile device (UE) may establish communication within a wireless network, and indicate to the network that the UE is a special type device, e.g. a constrained device. The network (base station) may then not send an indication on a physical indicator channel to the UE when certain conditions are met, and instead, the mobile device may interpret control information received from the network on a physical control channel as a negative acknowledgment indication corresponding to an automatic repeat request from the network. The UE may then perform a retransmission according to the interpreted control information. A new control information format may be used to further define how the network and UE implement the automatic repeat request process, to reduce the total number of bits required in the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tarik Tabet, Youngjae Kim, Syed Aon Mujtaba
  • Patent number: 12045440
    Abstract: As computer processing power has increased and mobile devices have proliferated, with users often own multiple devices and utilize larger numbers of tabs in the browsers on their devices. In order to enhance user experience with these developments, tab organization is improved through tab scrolling and tab overviews. Further, users often utilize private browsing sessions when they desire their device to retain less information about their browsing history. Switching between private and regular browsing sessions and having to open, close, and otherwise manage separate sessions can be cumbersome. Switching between private browsing sessions and regular browsing sessions can be performed in an efficient manner that indicates to the user the type of session they are currently in and whether they would like to retain a set of tabs or favorite web pages for a private browsing session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Chanaka G. Karunamuni, Richard R. Dellinger
  • Patent number: D1036290
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, 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
  • Patent number: D1036435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Abidur Rahman Chowdhury, Clara Geneviève Marine Courtaigne, Markus Diebel, Alexandre B. Girard, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, M. Evans Hankey, Anne-Marie Heck, Moises Hernandez Hernandez, Richard P Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Kainoa Kwon-Perez, Nicolas Pedro Lylyk, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang
  • Patent number: D1036471
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Will Chen, Marco Triverio
  • Patent number: D1036488
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Imran Chaudhri, Craig M. Federighi
  • Patent number: D1036502
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: YunJae Kim