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).
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Publication number: 20200112195Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
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Patent number: 10601468Abstract: 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 primary receiving coil. 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: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Stefan A. Kowalski, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
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Publication number: 20200091755Abstract: An inductive charging dock is disclosed that includes a charging dock housing defining an interior volume. The inductive charging dock housing is configured to support a portable electronic device during a wireless charging operation and includes a radio frequency (RF) transparent window. An induction coil is disposed within the interior volume and configured to generate a magnetic flux that exits the charging dock housing through the RF transparent window.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Karl Ruben Fredrik Larsson, Paul J. Thompson, Christopher S. Graham
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Patent number: 10594159Abstract: Methods and systems for improved efficiency when an inductive power transmitter associated with an inductive power transfer system experiences a low-load or no-load condition. More particularly, methods and systems for detecting when an inductive power receiver is absent or poorly connected to an inductive power transmitter. The inductive power transmitter includes, in one example, a current peak monitor coupled to an inductive power transmit coil. The current peak monitor waits for a current peak resulting from spatial displacement of a magnetic field source within the inductive power receiver, indicating to the inductive power transmitter that the inductive power receiver is moving, or has moved, toward the inductive power transmitter. Other examples include one or more Hall effect sensors within the inductive power transmitter to monitor for the magnetic field source of the inductive power receiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Chad A. Bossetti, Jeffrey M. Alves, Albert J. Golko, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Christopher S. Graham, Steven G. Herbst
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Publication number: 20200083745Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2018Publication date: March 12, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Karl Ruben Fredrik Larsson, Christopher S. Graham
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Publication number: 20200083736Abstract: An inductive coil capable of providing power to the battery is described. The inductive coil is formed of a length of a wire having a conductive core capable of carrying an electrical current. The conductive core is surrounded by an insulating layer that electrically isolates the conductive core. Portions of the length of wire include a magnetically permeable material that is plated on an exposed surface of the conductive core.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2018Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Christopher S. GRAHAM, Karl Ruben F. LARSSON
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Publication number: 20200014236Abstract: A charging assembly for wireless power transfer. In embodiments, the charging assembly comprises a housing, a cap structure, a ferrimagnetic sleeve, an inductive coil, a magnet, a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and a four-pin connector extending from a bottom surface of the PCBA. A ridge of the cap structure can be coupled to a lip of the housing. The housing can include a bottom housing surface having an aperture, and a sidewall extending between the bottom housing surface and the lip that extends outward from the sidewall along a perimeter of the housing parallel to the bottom housing surface. The four-pin connector can extend through the aperture of the housing. Some embodiments are directed to a charging device that incorporates the charging assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Paul J. Thompson
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Patent number: 10524372Abstract: An enclosure is formed by coupling an outer cover to a back enclosure piece. The enclosure defines an interior volume for receiving components of an electronic device. The back enclosure piece is formed from a metal frame component and a non-metal outer cover. A metal layer overlaps the metal frame component and the outer cover within the interior volume. The metal layer has a thickness that provides support and shatter resistance to the non-metal outer cover. The metal layer can form an inductor of a wireless power transfer circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James A. Wright, Guangtao Zhang, Raymund W. M. Kwok, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Christopher S. Graham, Matthew D. Hill, Abhijeet Misra
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Publication number: 20190393730Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20190393726Abstract: A system for inductive power transmission includes a curved interface surface and a plurality of coil elements positioned underneath the curved interface surface. Each of the plurality of coil elements is positioned such that at least one edge of the respective coil element is adjacent to an edge of at least one other of the plurality of coil elements. And, each of the plurality of coil elements is positioned in a plane different from planes in which adjacent coil elements are positioned. Each of the plurality of coil elements are operable to at least one of: inductively transmit power to at least one coil of at least one electronic device; or inductively receive power from the at least one coil of the at least one electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Graham
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Publication number: 20190386507Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
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Patent number: 10505386Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
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Patent number: 10498159Abstract: This application relates to inductive charging coil configurations. In particular, the wireless charging coil configurations are arranged in a shape and size suitable for utilizing available space within a device housing. In some embodiments, wires making up the charging coil have varying diameters configured to optimize the size and shape of the charging coil so that available space can be fully utilized.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher S. Graham, Stephen E. Yao
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Publication number: 20190363577Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Scott W. Slabaugh, Kevin M. Kenney, Michael B. Wittenberg, Erik G. de Jong, Christopher S. Graham
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Publication number: 20190363565Abstract: Embodiments describe a portable electronic device that includes a housing having an interface surface and an inductor coil disposed within the housing and comprising a conductive wire wound in a plurality of turns about a center point and in increasing radii such that the inductor coil is substantially planar. The portable electronic device further includes charging circuitry coupled to the inductor coil and configured to operate the inductor coil to wirelessly receive power and wirelessly transmit power, control circuitry coupled to the charging circuitry and configured to instruct the charging circuitry to operate the inductor coil to wirelessly receive power and to wirelessly transmit power, and a device detection coil coupled to the control circuitry and configured to detect the presence of an external device on the charging surface, the device detection coil is configured to operate at a different frequency from the inductor coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Grant S. Haug, Aaron A. Oro, Benjamin J. Pope, Sherry Lee, Tang Yew Tan, Richard Hung Minh Dinh
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Patent number: 10491041Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 5, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20190335868Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
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Publication number: 20190326782Abstract: A wireless power transmission system has a wireless power receiving device that is located on a charging surface of a wireless power transmitting device. The receiving device has a wireless power receiving coil and the transmitting device has a wireless power transmitting coil array. Control circuitry in the transmitting device uses inverter circuitry to supply alternating-current signals the coil array, thereby transmitting wireless power signals. Measurement circuitry coupled to the coil array makes impulse response measurements while the control circuitry uses the inverter circuitry to apply impulse signals to each of the coils. The control circuitry analyzes output from the measurement circuitry to detect the presence of a metal foreign object on the charging surface. In response to such a detection, the control circuitry reduces the power of subsequent impulse signals to minimize physical vibration and audible noise generated in the system by the metal foreign object.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2018Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Matthew G. Czapar
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Publication number: 20190319475Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Brandon R. Garbus, Steven G. Herbst, Todd K. Moyer, Chad A. Bossetti, Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham
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Patent number: 10424962Abstract: A charging assembly for wireless power transfer. In embodiments, the charging assembly comprises a housing, a cap structure, a ferrimagnetic sleeve, an inductive coil, a magnet, a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and a four-pin connector extending from a bottom surface of the PCBA. A ridge of the cap structure can be coupled to a lip of the housing. The housing can include a bottom housing surface having an aperture, and a sidewall extending between the bottom housing surface and the lip that extends outward from the sidewall along a perimeter of the housing parallel to the bottom housing surface. The four-pin connector can extend through the aperture of the housing. Some embodiments are directed to a charging device that incorporates the charging assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Paul J. Thompson