Patents by Inventor Christopher S. Graham

Christopher S. Graham 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).

  • Publication number: 20210035708
    Abstract: A cable can include a cable core surrounded by an outer sleeve having a uniform thickness and further having a first longitudinal section having a first stiffness (e.g., corresponding to a flexible cable), a second longitudinal section having a second stiffness (e.g., corresponding to a rigid cable), and a third longitudinal section between the first and second longitudinal sections, where the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness and where a stiffness of the third longitudinal section varies between the first stiffness and the second stiffness. The second longitudinal section can provide strain relief for the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron A. Oro, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Timothy J. Rasmussen, Paul J. Thompson, Joseph I. Briskey
  • Publication number: 20210036557
    Abstract: This application relates to a wireless charger with reduced heat generation during operation. The wireless charger includes a connector, a charging assembly and a cable connecting the connector and the charging assembly. A converter component has been moved away from the charging assembly, where an electronic device is placed for charging, to the connector. In some embodiments, one or more electromagnetic shielding components protect the components of the wireless charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Grant S. Haug, Christopher S. Graham, Aaron A. Oro, Eric S. Jol, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Timothy J. Rasmussen, Paul J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10910862
    Abstract: Embodiments describe electromagnetic shielding for wireless charging systems. A wireless charging system includes a transmitter coil configured to generate a magnetic flux, a receiver coil positioned coaxial with the transmitter coil to receive the generated magnetic flux, where electrical interaction between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil generates electric fields, a transmitter shield positioned between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil to intercept some of the electric fields directed away from the transmitter coil and allow the magnetic flux to pass through the transmitter shield, and a receiver shield positioned between the transmitter shield and the receiver coil to intercept some of the electric fields directed away from the receiver coil and allow the magnetic flux to pass through the receiver shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shimon Elkayam, Brandon R. Garbus, Christopher S. Graham, Karl Ruben F. Larsson
  • Patent number: 10897148
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging device including: a housing having an outer perimeter and a charging surface within the outer perimeter, the housing including a first wall and a second wall that define an interior cavity; and a transmitter coil arrangement disposed within the interior cavity and below the planar charging surface. The transmitter coil arrangement includes: a plurality of transmitter coils arranged in different layers, each transmitter coil having a first termination end, a second termination end, and a coil of wire that winds from an inner diameter to an outer diameter between the first and second termination ends; where the first termination end of each transmitter coil is disposed within the inner diameter of its respective coil of wire and the second termination end of each transmitter coil is disposed outside the outer diameter of its respective coil of wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Demetrios B. Karanikos, Eric S. Jol, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Stefan A. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 10886769
    Abstract: An electronic device and methods for inductively charging an electronic device using another external electronic device. The electronic device may include an enclosure, a battery positioned within the enclosure, and an inductive coil coupled to the battery. The inductive coil may have two or more operational modes, including a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power and a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power. The electronic device may also have a controller coupled to the inductive coil for selecting one of the operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10886771
    Abstract: An electronic device and methods for inductively charging an electronic device using another external electronic device. The electronic device may include an enclosure, a battery positioned within the enclosure, and an inductive coil coupled to the battery. The inductive coil may have two or more operational modes, including a power receiving operational mode for wirelessly receiving power and a power transmitting operational mode for wirelessly transmitting power. The electronic device may also have a controller coupled to the inductive coil for selecting one of the operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10873204
    Abstract: An inductive coupling assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The system may include an electronic device having an enclosure, and an internal inductive charging assembly positioned within the enclosure. The internal inductive charging assembly may include a receive inductive coil positioned within the enclosure. The system may also include a charger in electrical communication with the internal inductive charging assembly of the electronic device. The charger may include a transmit inductive coil aligned with the receive inductive coil. The transmit inductive coil may be configured to be in electrical communication with the receive inductive coil. Additionally, the system can include an inductive coupling assembly positioned between the electronic device and the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Ibuki Kamei, Timothy J. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10855110
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe a wireless power receiving system for an electronic device includes: a first inductor coil configured to receive power primarily at a first frequency and from magnetic fields propagating in a first direction; and a second inductor coil configured to receive power primarily at a second frequency and from magnetic fields propagating in a second direction, wherein the first frequency is different than the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Wittenberg, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Stefan A. Kowalski, Christopher S. Graham, Morgan T. McClure, Erik G. de Jong, Trevor J. Ness, Peter J. Kardassakis, Jayesh Nath, Adam T. Clavelle, Rex Tyler Ehman
  • Patent number: 10840007
    Abstract: A shield for redirecting magnetic field generated from a plurality of transmitter coils includes a ferromagnetic structure divided into segments by a plurality of boundary regions, each segment comprises a first material having a first magnetic permeability and each boundary region comprises a second material having a second magnetic permeability lower than the first magnetic permeability, where the plurality of boundary regions are configured to resist a propagation of magnetic field from a first area of the ferromagnetic structure to a second area of the ferromagnetic structure, where the first area intercepts the magnetic field generated from at least one active transmitter coil of the plurality of transmitter coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jouya Jadidian, Vaneet Pathak, Martin Schauer, Cheung-Wei Lam, Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Andro Radchenko
  • Patent number: 10840739
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a housing for an electronic device that includes a non-conductive filament wound around a least a first portion of a perimeter of the housing, and a conductive filament wound around a least a second portion of the perimeter of the housing. The non-conductive filament and the conductive filament are adhered together to form the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Slabaugh, Kevin M. Kenney, Michael B. Wittenberg, Erik G. de Jong, Christopher S. Graham
  • Patent number: 10790699
    Abstract: A wireless transmitter device is configurable and operable to transfer energy to multiple receiver devices at the same time. The transmitter device is configured to enable one or more sections of a charging surface to transfer energy by selectively choosing one or more conductive traces in the transmitter device based on the position of the receiver device on the charging surface. The size and shape of each section of the charging surface that is used to transfer energy to a receiver device can change dynamically based on each receiver device. Additionally, the process of transferring energy to each receiver device may be adjusted during energy transfer based on conditions specific to each receiver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Brandon R. Garbus, Steven G. Herbst, Todd K. Moyer, Chad A. Bossetti, Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham
  • Patent number: 10727695
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a portable electronic device that includes an inductive charging receiver for receiving power wireless from a charging device. The portable electronic device includes a device housing including a wall having a channel formed in an interior-facing surface of the wall. The portable electronic device also includes an inductive coil assembly for receiving power wirelessly that is coupled to the interior facing surface. The inductive coil assembly is a flat coil that includes concentric loops of electrically conductive material that define a central opening. A first electrical lead extends away from a peripheral portion of the flat coil and a second electrical lead extends from the central opening, into the channel formed in the back wall and beneath one side of the concentric loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Ruben Fredrik Larsson, Christopher S. Graham
  • Publication number: 20200221843
    Abstract: A case a portable listening device. The case includes a housing having an interior space to receive the portable listening device; a lid attached to the housing; a rechargeable battery and first and second wireless power receiving elements configured to receive electric charge from a wireless power transmitter during a charging event. The case further includes switching circuitry that is configured to disable one of the first or second wireless power receiving elements during a charging event when the disabled element is receiving power less efficiently than the other element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10714951
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging device including: a housing having a charging surface and first and second walls that define an interior cavity; a transmitter coil arrangement disposed within the interior cavity, an interconnection structure positioned within the interior cavity below the transmitter coil arrangement, the interconnection structure including a plurality of packaged electrical components mounted on the interconnection structure and configured to operate the plurality of transmitter coils during wireless power transfer, where the plurality of packaged electrical components is located below the transmitter coil arrangement; and a frame comprising a plurality of openings positioned corresponding to the plurality of packaged electrical components, each opening providing space within which a respective packaged electrical device is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Demetrios B. Karanikos, Darshan R. Kasar, Paul J. Thompson, Eric S. Jol, Grant S. Haug, Karl Ruben F. Larsson
  • Patent number: 10699842
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device includes an electronic component that is at least partially encapsulated by an adhesive doped with soft magnetic material that functions as an EMI shield for the electronic component. In various embodiments, an electronic device includes a first magnetic component separated from a second magnetic component by a gap within which is positioned an adhesive doped with soft magnetic material. The doped adhesive is positioned in a magnetic path between the first and second magnetic components and aids in magnetically coupling the first and second magnetic components and/or guides magnetic flux between the first and second magnetic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Karl Ruben K. Larsson, Paul J. Thompson, Eric S. Jol, John S. Mosy, Albert J. Golko, Stephen E. Yao, Makiko K. Brzezinski
  • Patent number: 10693308
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging device including: a housing having a charging surface, the housing including first and second walls defining an interior cavity; a transmitter coil arrangement disposed within the interior cavity; a plurality of cowlings for confining the plurality of planar transmitter coils in their respective positions; an interconnection structure positioned within the interior cavity between the transmitter coil arrangement and the second wall, the interconnection structure including a plurality of packaged electrical components mounted onto the interconnection structure; and a plurality of standoffs coupled to the interconnection structure and configured to electrically couple the transmitter coil arrangement to the plurality of packaged electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham, Darshan R. Kasar, Demetrios B. Karanikos
  • Patent number: 10651685
    Abstract: A wireless transmitter device is configurable and operable to transfer energy to multiple receiver devices at the same time. The transmitter device includes at least one layer of discrete transmitter coils. The wireless transmitter device is configured to enable one or more sections of a charging surface to transfer energy by selectively choosing one or more discrete transmitter coils in the wireless transmitter device based on the position of the receiver device on the charging surface. The size and shape of each section of the charging surface that is used to transfer energy to a receiver device can change dynamically based on each receiver device. Additionally, the process of transferring energy to each receiver device may be adjusted during energy transfer based on conditions specific to each receiver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Steven G. Herbst, Todd K. Moyer, Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham, Christopher M. Pinciuc, Brandon R. Garbus
  • Patent number: 10644754
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the inductive charging of portable electronic devices. In particular, a charging assembly is disclosed that allows a portable electronic device to be charged in multiple orientations with respect to a charging device. The charging assembly includes two or more separate inductive receiving coils. The inductive receiving coils can be arranged orthogonally with respect to one another by wrapping one or more secondary receiving coils around a ferritic core having two legs extending in different directions from a joint region. By orienting the receiving coils orthogonally with respect to one another, the likelihood of at least one of the receiving coils being aligned with a charging field emitted by a charging device increases substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Stefan A. Kowalski, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol, Zaki Moussaoui, Nan Liu
  • Patent number: 10631609
    Abstract: A case a portable listening device. The case includes a housing having an interior space to receive the portable listening device; a lid attached to the housing; a rechargeable battery and first and second wireless power receiving elements configured to receive electric charge from a wireless power transmitter during a charging event. The case further includes switching circuitry that is configured to disable one of the first or second wireless power receiving elements during a charging event when the disabled element is receiving power less efficiently than the other element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10622820
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging transmitter coil includes: a support structure having an outer perimeter surrounding a contact housing and having first and second channels extending from the outer perimeter to the contact housing; first and second contacts positioned within the contact housing; and a wire wound around the outer perimeter of the support structure, the wire having a first end that extends through the first channel and a second end that extends through the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham, Demetrios B. Karanikos