Patents by Inventor Blake R. MARSHALL

Blake R. MARSHALL has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11755128
    Abstract: A stylus input device can allow a user to interface with an external electronic device. The stylus can provide an additional or alternative input to the external electronic device in response to a user applying a compressive force to the device housing. The stylus can include multiple sensors to provide a signal in response to the compressive force applied to the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alex J. Lehmann, Qiliang Xu, Blake R. Marshall, Nathaniel M. Parnell, Wesley W. Zuber, Henry N. Tsao, Xiaofan Niu, Pavan Gupta, Nahid Harjee, Paul X. Wang, Brenton A. Baugh
  • Patent number: 11670972
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing coupled to a display window, a battery and a plurality of inductive charging transmit coils coupled to the battery. The plurality of inductive charging coils are positioned within the enclosure to generate an inductive charging region that extends through the display window and across at least a portion of an exterior of the display window. Sensing circuitry is configured to sense a position of a stylus at the display window and a processor is configured to selectively engage and disengage one or more of the plurality of inductive charging transmit coils based on the sensed position of the stylus. The stylus receives power when it is positioned within the inductive charging window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Blake R. Marshall, Marco Soldano, Liquan Tan, Todd K. Moyer, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Victor Luzzato, Wai Man Raymund Kwok
  • Publication number: 20230152911
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for enabling a power efficient stylus for an electronic device are provided. Various components may be provided for providing electrostatic discharge protection of such a stylus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel J. BECHSTEIN, Blake R. MARSHALL, John S. SMITH, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, MohammadAli KHORRAMI
  • Patent number: 11526240
    Abstract: An input device such as a stylus for providing input to a touch-sensitive surface with reduced sensitivity to leakage current variations over temperature is disclosed. A passive stylus may include one or more diodes in parallel with one or more bleed resistors. The non-linear load of the diode and resistor network can be operative to provide a stylus electric field in response to a stimulation signal from an electronic device that can be capacitively coupled to, and sensed by, the electronic device. The signal sensed by the electronic device can be a function of the total leakage current, which can vary greatly as a function of temperature and frequency. In order to improve performance, the diode and resistor network, including the bleed resistor(s) and diodes within that network, can be selected and/or designed to provide a reduced variation in the leakage current and more accurate stylus detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin Bechstein, Ullas Chandra Sekhar Pazhayaveetil, Jason Chueh-Ren Hu, Robert Ubo Liu, Rexford J. Garland, John Stephen Smith, Blake R. Marshall
  • Patent number: 11460933
    Abstract: In some examples, a stylus can include a conductive shield. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a plurality of traces along an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) including the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a shield can coupled to the PCB and disposed around the components of the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow portion into which the stylus circuitry can be disposed and a solid portion that can act as a reference electrode. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow sleeve disposed around the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be attached to the PCB. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be disposed between layers of a housing of the stylus. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be integrated with the stylus housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin Bechstein, John Stephen Smith, Siddharth Shekar, Teera Songatikamas, Elvis Mwenda Kibiti, Jared A. Brauner, Lindsay Diane Rego Corbet, Wang Chung Alston Cheung, Vipin Ayanoor-Vitikkate, Nitin Sitaraman, Joyan Gratian Sanctis, Blake R. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20220253162
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Tactile input can be received at the user's natural grip location. Furthermore, the stylus can effectively distinguish between tactile inputs from a user and disregard sustained tactile inputs that are provided while the user simply holds the stylus at the user's natural grip location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Blake R. MARSHALL, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Wing Kong Low, Izhar Bentov, Ashwin Kumar Asoka Kumar Shenoi, Henry N. Tsao, Supratik Datta, Wesley W. Zuber, Nandita Venugopal, Karan S. Jain
  • Patent number: 11340716
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Tactile input can be received at the user's natural grip location. Furthermore, the stylus can effectively distinguish between tactile inputs from a user and disregard sustained tactile inputs that are provided while the user simply holds the stylus at the user's natural grip location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Blake R. Marshall, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Wing Kong Low, Izhar Bentov, Ashwin Kumar Asoka Kumar Shenoi, Henry N. Tsao, Supratik Datta, Wesley W. Zuber, Nandita Venugopal, Karan S. Jain
  • Publication number: 20220100290
    Abstract: A stylus input device can allow a user to interface with an external electronic device. The stylus can provide an additional or alternative input to the external electronic device in response to a user applying a compressive force to the device housing. The stylus can include multiple sensors to provide a signal in response to the compressive force applied to the stylus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Alex J. LEHMANN, Qiliang XU, Blake R. MARSHALL, Nathaniel M. PARNELL, Wesley W. ZUBER, Henry N. TSAO, Xiaofan NIU, Pavan GUPTA, Nahid HARJEE, Paul X. WANG, Brenton A. BAUGH
  • Publication number: 20220091685
    Abstract: In some examples, a stylus can include a conductive shield. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a plurality of traces along an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) including the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a shield can coupled to the PCB and disposed around the components of the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow portion into which the stylus circuitry can be disposed and a solid portion that can act as a reference electrode. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow sleeve disposed around the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be attached to the PCB. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be disposed between layers of a housing of the stylus. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be integrated with the stylus housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin BECHSTEIN, John Stephen SMITH, Siddharth SHEKAR, Teera SONGATIKAMAS, Elvis Mwenda KIBITI, Jared A. BRAUNER, Lindsay Diane Rego CORBET, Wang Chung Alston CHEUNG, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, Nitin SITARAMAN, Joyan Gratian SANCTIS, Blake R. MARSHALL
  • Publication number: 20220095443
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) robust design for an input device such as a stylus is disclosed. The input device can include one or more components, such as one or more Schottky diodes, that can be damaged by ESD events. To reduce the likelihood of damage to sensitive components, the parasitic capacitance between sensitive conductive paths and reference ground paths of the input device that could otherwise provide electrostatic discharge paths can be reduced (arranging current limiting resistance at specific locations among sensitive components, creating physical separation between sensitive conductive paths and reference ground paths), shielding can be added to shield the sensitive electronics from ESD pulses, and high dielectric breakdown material can be added to prevent ESD pulse entry or exit of not otherwise protected circuit parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin BECHSTEIN, MohammadAli KHORRAMI, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, Blake R. MARSHALL, Zhibin WANG, Ying CAO, Robert Ubo LIU, John Stephen SMITH
  • Patent number: 11061490
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system may include a wireless power transmitting device such as a tablet computer and a wireless power receiving device such as a computer stylus. A wireless power transmitting capacitor electrode may be formed in the tablet computer. A wireless power receiving capacitor electrode may be formed in the computer stylus. The transmitting capacitor electrode may be driven by a drive signal having a frequency of 900 MHz or greater to produce wireless power. The wireless power may be transmitted from the transmitting capacitor electrode to the receiving capacitor electrode on the stylus via near field capacitive coupling. The transmitting and receiving capacitor electrodes may each include conductive traces on dielectric substrates. The conductive traces may follow meandering paths to maximize the possible capacitive coupling efficiency between the capacitor electrodes and thus the end-to-end charging efficiency of the wireless power transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Jiang, Blake R. Marshall, Indranil S. Sen, Liquan Tan, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Yi Jiang, Mohit Narang
  • Patent number: 11031164
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a receiving element that includes a ferromagnetic structure axially symmetrical around a central axis disposed along a length of the ferromagnetic structure. The ferromagnetic structure includes a groove region defining two end regions on opposing sides of the groove region, where the groove region has a smaller length than the two end regions. The receiving element also includes an inductor coil wound about the groove region of the ferromagnetic structure and in between the two end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Blake R. Marshall, Florence W. Ow, Joel N. Ruscher, Liquan Tan, Aidan N. Zimmerman, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Hao Zhu, Qigen Ji, Madhusudanan Keezhveedi Sampath, Nan Liu, Robert Scritzky, Gianpaolo Lisi
  • Publication number: 20200326790
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system may include a wireless power transmitting device such as a tablet computer and a wireless power receiving device such as a computer stylus. A wireless power transmitting capacitor electrode may be formed in the tablet computer. A wireless power receiving capacitor electrode may be formed in the computer stylus. The transmitting capacitor electrode may be driven by a drive signal having a frequency of 900 MHz or greater to produce wireless power. The wireless power may be transmitted from the transmitting capacitor electrode to the receiving capacitor electrode on the stylus via near field capacitive coupling. The transmitting and receiving capacitor electrodes may each include conductive traces on dielectric substrates. The conductive traces may follow meandering paths to maximize the possible capacitive coupling efficiency between the capacitor electrodes and thus the end-to-end charging efficiency of the wireless power transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Bing Jiang, Blake R. Marshall, Indranil S. Sen, Liquan Tan, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Yi Jiang, Mohit Narang
  • Patent number: 10739871
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission system may include a wireless power transmitting device such as a tablet computer and a wireless power receiving device such as a computer stylus. A wireless power transmitting capacitor electrode may be formed in the tablet computer. A wireless power receiving capacitor electrode may be formed in the computer stylus. The transmitting capacitor electrode may be driven by a drive signal having a frequency of 900 MHz or greater to produce wireless power. The wireless power may be transmitted from the transmitting capacitor electrode to the receiving capacitor electrode on the stylus via near field capacitive coupling. The transmitting and receiving capacitor electrodes may each include conductive traces on dielectric substrates. The conductive traces may follow meandering paths to maximize the possible capacitive coupling efficiency between the capacitor electrodes and thus the end-to-end charging efficiency of the wireless power transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Jiang, Blake R. Marshall, Indranil S. Sen, Liquan Tan, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Yi Jiang, Mohit Narang
  • Patent number: 10725515
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a receiving element that includes a ferromagnetic structure axially symmetrical around a central axis disposed along a length of the ferromagnetic structure. The ferromagnetic structure includes a groove region defining two end regions on opposing sides of the groove region, where the groove region has a smaller length than the two end regions. The receiving element also includes an inductor coil wound about the groove region of the ferromagnetic structure and in between the two end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Blake R. Marshall, Florence W. Ow, Joel N. Ruscher, Liquan Tan, Aidan N. Zimmerman, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Hao Zhu, Qigen Ji, Madhusudanan Keezhveedi Sampath, Nan Liu, Robert Scritzky, Gianpaolo Lisi
  • Patent number: 10707627
    Abstract: Hybrid connectors that may transfer power and data with a variety of electronic devices having different types of connector interfaces, may consume a minimal amount of surface area, depth, and volume in an electronic device, and may be readily manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Blake R. Marshall, Liquan Tan, Florence W. Ow, Alex C. Yeung, John Raff, Robert Scritzky, Wei-Hsuan Chen, Eric S. Jol, Madhusudanan Keezhveedi Sampath, Nan Liu, Gianpaolo Lisi, YiBo Liu
  • Publication number: 20200099245
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing coupled to a display window, a battery and a plurality of inductive charging transmit coils coupled to the battery. The plurality of inductive charging coils are positioned within the enclosure to generate an inductive charging region that extends through the display window and across at least a portion of an exterior of the display window. Sensing circuitry is configured to sense a position of a stylus at the display window and a processor is configured to selectively engage and disengage one or more of the plurality of inductive charging transmit coils based on the sensed position of the stylus. The stylus receives power when it is positioned within the inductive charging window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Joel N. Ruscher, Blake R. Marshall, Marco Soldano, Liquan Tan, Todd K. Moyer, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Victor Luzzato, Wai Man Raymund Kwok
  • Patent number: 10585502
    Abstract: Input device power consumption can be reduced with a magnetic drive system. In some examples, the input device can include a transformer configured to generate a desired high output voltage from logic-level input pulses. In some examples, the distributed capacitance and associated resonance of the transformer can act as a low-pass filter, and can create a relatively clean output waveform from input logic signal waveforms. In some examples, the transformer can be an autotransformer. In some examples, to stabilize an amplitude of the output by sampling the output of the transformer and adjusting the input to the transformer based on the sampled output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nussbaum, Blake R. Marshall, Jason P. Marini, Li-Quan Tan
  • Publication number: 20200012358
    Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Tactile input can be received at the user's natural grip location. Furthermore, the stylus can effectively distinguish between tactile inputs from a user and disregard sustained tactile inputs that are provided while the user simply holds the stylus at the user's natural grip location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Blake R. MARSHALL, Reza NASIRI MAHALATI, Wing Kong LOW, Izhar BENTOV, Ashwin Kumar ASOKA KUMAR SHENOI, Henry N. TSAO, Supratik DATTA, Wesley W. ZUBER, Nandita VENUGOPAL, Karan S. JAIN
  • Publication number: 20190278349
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a receiving element that includes a ferromagnetic structure axially symmetrical around a central axis disposed along a length of the ferromagnetic structure. The ferromagnetic structure includes a groove region defining two end regions on opposing sides of the groove region, where the groove region has a smaller length than the two end regions. The receiving element also includes an inductor coil wound about the groove region of the ferromagnetic structure and in between the two end regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Blake R. Marshall, Florence W. Ow, Joel N. Ruscher, Liquan Tan, Aidan N. Zimmerman, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Hao Zhu, Qigen Ji, Madhusudanan Keezhveedi Sampath, Nan Liu, Robert Scritzky, Gianpaolo Lisi