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).

  • Patent number: 10411509
    Abstract: A system for inductive power transmission includes at least one interface surface and a plurality of triangular coil elements positioned underneath the interface surface such that at least one edge of the respective triangular coil element is adjacent to an edge of at least one other of the triangular coil elements. Each of the triangular coil elements may be operable to inductively transmit power to at least one coil of at least one electronic device and/or inductively receive power from the coil of the electronic device. Each triangular coil element may be operable to detect the proximity of one or more inductive coils of one or more electronic devices and inductively transmit power upon such detection at different frequencies, power levels, and/or other inductive power transmission characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Graham
  • Patent number: 10404089
    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: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Darshan R. Kasar, Christopher S. Graham, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10390594
    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: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10381881
    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: August 13, 2019
    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
  • Publication number: 20190223310
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: James A. Wright, Guanglao Zhang, Raymund W.M. Kwok, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Christopher S. Graham, Matthew D. Hill, Abhijeet Misra
  • Patent number: 10340711
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging device including: a housing having a planar charging surface and one or more walls that define an interior cavity; a transmitter coil arrangement positioned within the interior cavity; and a faraday cage enclosing the transmitter coil arrangement. The faraday cage includes: an electromagnetic shield positioned between the transmitter coil arrangement and the first shell; 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; a ferromagnetic shield positioned between the transmitter coil arrangement and the interconnection structure; and a conductive grounding fence disposed around a perimeter of the interconnection structure and between the electromagnetic shield and the interconnection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    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
  • Publication number: 20190190324
    Abstract: A wireless charging mat and method of operating the same. The wireless charging mat includes a detection system configured to determine a location and an orientation of an electronic device on the wireless charging mat. The location and orientation are determined based on detected locations of one or more structural features of the electronic device. The wireless charging mat is operated according to the detected location and orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Chad A. Bossetti, Christopher S. Graham, David W. Ritter, Todd K. Moyer, Steven G. Herbst, Shimon Elkayam, Nileshbhai J. Shah, Stephen C. Terry, Zaki Moussaoui
  • Patent number: 10327348
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Wright, Guangtao Zhang, Raymund W. M. Kwok, Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Christopher S. Graham, Matthew D. Hill, Abhijeet Misra
  • Patent number: 10320230
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electromagnetic induction-power transfer system. The system may include a charging apparatus including a housing that defines an interface surface. An accessory or induction-power consuming apparatus may be positioned proximate to the interface surface. The housing of the charging apparatus may include a power source and a power-transferring coil coupled to the power source and positioned below the interface surface. A thermal mass may be positioned within the housing and spaced apart from the interface surface. The housing may include a thermal path that is configured to conduct heat from the interface surface to the thermal mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Golko, Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham, Paul J. Thompson, Jeffrey M. Alves, Stephen E. Yao, Makiko K. Brzezinski, Todd K. Moyer, Daniel Wagman, Micah Lewis-Kraus
  • Patent number: 10298075
    Abstract: Connector assemblies may be space efficient, have a high corrosion resistance, are difficult to damage, reduce or prevent moisture leakage into an electronic device housing the connector assembly, are readily assembled, and are reliable. One example may provide an inductive charging port for transferring electrical energy from a first electric device to a second electronic device. As compared to conventional connector inserts and connector receptacles, these inductive charging ports may have a smaller form factor and consume a reduced volume in an electronic device. Corrosion resistance may be provided by including a protective layer or cover portion over what would otherwise be exposed surfaces of a transformer core. O-rings, gaskets, or other structures may be included to reduce moisture leakage into a device. The inductive charging port may include a low number of parts for a simplified assembly, and thermal management of various types may be used to improve reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kallman, Michael B. Wittenberg, Christopher S. Graham
  • Patent number: 10277043
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging device including a housing having a charging surface and first and second walls defining an interior cavity, and a transmitter coil arrangement disposed within the interior cavity and configured to generate a time-varying magnetic flux and an electric field during wireless power transfer, where each of the plurality of transmitter coils has a central axis positioned a lateral distance away from the central axes of all other transmitter coils of the plurality of transmitter coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    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, Stefan A. Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20190110567
    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: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Publication number: 20190097462
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless power receiving module to receive magnetic flux for wireless power transfer. The wireless power receiving module includes a receiver coil comprising a single length of wire wound into a plurality of turns, an electromagnetic receiver shield coupled to a first side of the receiver coil, a ferrite layer coupled to a second side of the receiver coil opposite of the first side, the ferrite layer positioned to redirect magnetic flux during the charging event to improve charging efficiency, and a thermal mitigation shield comprising a thermally conductive layer adhered to an electrically conductive layer where the electrically conductive layer is coupled to ground, and where the ferrite layer is sandwiched between the thermal mitigation shield and the receiver coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Ruben F. Larsson, Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham, Aaron A. Oro
  • Publication number: 20190081517
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a sensor module for a wireless charging device. The sensor module includes a substrate and a plurality of thermal sensor sub-modules formed in and on the substrate, Each thermal sensor sub-module includes a first thermistor and a second thermistor, the first thermistor configured to measure a top surface of the substrate, and the second thermistor configured to measure a bottom surface of the substrate, a first sensor pad and a second sensor pad coupled to respective first and second thermistors, each sensor pad including a first portion and a second portion coupled to a respective thermistor and including a plurality of fins arranged in a fin pattern, and a first through-via and a second through-via, each through-via coupled to a respective terminal of the first thermistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Demetrios B. Karanikos, Eric S. Jol
  • Publication number: 20190074719
    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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20190074706
    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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20190074729
    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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20190074724
    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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: 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: 10206474
    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: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Makiko K. Brzezinski, Christopher J. Walton, Christopher S. Graham, Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10211663
    Abstract: A three-dimensional inductive charging coil assembly and a method of making the same. The method can include patterning a first conductive layer affixed to a first surface of an insulating layer to form a coil configured to transmit or receive power, patterning a second conductive layer affixed to a second surface of the insulating layer opposite the first surface to form a conductive trace element, and electrically coupling the coil and the conductive trace element. The coil, insulating layer, and conductive trace element can be molded (e.g., simultaneously) into a three dimensional shape. In some embodiment, the molding can include a thermoforming process such as compression molding, vacuum forming, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Naoto Matsuyuki, Christopher S. Graham, Makiko K. Brzezinski