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).
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Patent number: 12210696Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2021Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Shapirten Laboratories LLCInventors: Daniel J. Bechstein, Blake R. Marshall, John S. Smith, Vipin Ayanoor-Vitikkate, MohammadAli Khorrami
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Publication number: 20240385697Abstract: A modular electronic device system that can include a computing device in electronic communication with an input device. Various types of sensor contained in either or both of the computing device and input device are used to determine orientation and hinge angle between the computing device and input device. Input settings can be changed according to the data from the various sensors. The input device can also include an elongated tail that is configured to attach to the computing device. The elongated tail can allow multiple physical configurations for ease of use.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Inventors: Santhana K. Balaji, Jaime G. Chavez Ruiz Garza, Blake R. Marshall, Robert U. Liu, Chen Zheng, Ramon Villar Ramirez, Jonathan M. Beard, Adam S. Howell, Taylor H. Gilbert, Alexander L. Jackson, Qigen Ji
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Patent number: 11997777Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin Bechstein, MohammadAli Khorrami, Vipin Ayanoor-Vitikkate, Blake R. Marshall, Zhibin Wang, Ying Cao, Robert Ubo Liu, John Stephen Smith
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Patent number: 11989358Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 26, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11755128Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11670972Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20230152911Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Daniel J. BECHSTEIN, Blake R. MARSHALL, John S. SMITH, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, MohammadAli KHORRAMI
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Patent number: 11526240Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11460933Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20220253162Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 11340716Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20220100290Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20220091685Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20220095443Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin BECHSTEIN, MohammadAli KHORRAMI, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, Blake R. MARSHALL, Zhibin WANG, Ying CAO, Robert Ubo LIU, John Stephen SMITH
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Patent number: 11061490Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bing Jiang, Blake R. Marshall, Indranil S. Sen, Liquan Tan, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Yi Jiang, Mohit Narang
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Patent number: 11031164Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20200326790Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Bing Jiang, Blake R. Marshall, Indranil S. Sen, Liquan Tan, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Yi Jiang, Mohit Narang
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Patent number: 10739871Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bing Jiang, Blake R. Marshall, Indranil S. Sen, Liquan Tan, Reza Nasiri Mahalati, Yi Jiang, Mohit Narang
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Patent number: 10725515Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 10707627Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: 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