Patents by Inventor Cortland S. Tolva

Cortland S. Tolva 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: 11664686
    Abstract: A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging mat for charging devices such as a cellular telephone and an earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case receives earbuds and charges the earbuds from a battery. The wireless charging mat supports bidirectional in-band communications between the cellular telephone and the earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case provides the cellular telephone with information on the battery charge level associated with the battery in the earbuds battery case and a battery charge level associated with each earbud in the earbuds battery case. The cellular telephone receives battery charge level information through the wireless charging mat and displays corresponding indicators. The earbuds battery case has a visual output device such as a light-emitting diode that is illuminated to indicate that the earbuds battery case is being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian E. Sun, Gregory H. Nayman, Cortland S. Tolva, Joseph W. Colosimo, Antonio R. De Lima Fernandes, Brandon R. Garbus, Alexei E. Kosut
  • Publication number: 20230021065
    Abstract: A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging mat for charging devices such as a cellular telephone and an earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case receives earbuds and charges the earbuds from a battery. The wireless charging mat supports bidirectional in-band communications between the cellular telephone and the earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case provides the cellular telephone with information on the battery charge level associated with the battery in the earbuds battery case and a battery charge level associated with each earbud in the earbuds battery case. The cellular telephone receives battery charge level information through the wireless charging mat and displays corresponding indicators. The earbuds battery case has a visual output device such as a light-emitting diode that is illuminated to indicate that the earbuds battery case is being charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Adrian E. Sun, Gregory H. Nayman, Cortland S. Tolva, Joseph W. Colosimo, Antonio R. De Lima Fernandes, Brandon R. Garbus, Alexei E. Kosut
  • Patent number: 11368055
    Abstract: A wireless power system may have a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device may have a coil that receives wireless power signals from the wireless power transmitting device and may have a rectifier that produces direct-current power from the received wireless power signals. A charging status indicator may be displayed by the wireless power receiving device during wireless power transmission. Control circuitry in the wireless power receiving device may monitor the output voltage to determine whether wireless power transmission has been lost. The charging status indicator may continue to be displayed for a debounce period following detection of loss of wireless power transmission. The debounce period may be adjusted based on whether power loss is due to user movement of the receiving device or termination of power transmission by the transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Ye, Cortland S. Tolva
  • Patent number: 11271439
    Abstract: A wireless power system may use a wireless power transmitting device to transmit wireless power to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power at a wireless power transmission frequency. Wireless power signals at the wireless power transmission frequency can create interference with a sensitive electrical component in the wireless power receiving device when the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band associated with the component. Measurement circuitry in the wireless power receiving device can measure the wireless power transmission frequency. In response to determining that the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band, the wireless power receiving device may send an in-band wireless power level adjustment request to the wireless power transmitting device. The request causes a frequency adjustment that moves the wireless power transmission frequency out of the sensitive band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Falkenburg, Cortland S. Tolva, James R. Walker, Samuel B. Schaevitz
  • Patent number: 11239695
    Abstract: A wireless power system may have a wireless power transmitting device and wireless power receiving devices. The wireless power transmitting device has wireless power transmitting circuitry with coils to transmit wireless power to wireless power receiving devices. The wireless power receiving devices are placed on the wireless power transmitting device in an order. Batteries in the wireless power receiving devices are charged based at least partly on the order. Power allocation is based on utilization factor information such as information on a power draw associated with each of the power receiving devices. Measurement circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device is used to gather impedance images from the coils. Changes in the impedance images are used to temporarily halt power transmission. Power transmission is resumed depending on whether in-band communications are lost or are maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivasa V. Thirumalai Ananthan Pillai, Marco Rondinini, Michael A. Cretella, Daniel Ye, Cortland S. Tolva
  • Publication number: 20210152036
    Abstract: A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging mat for charging devices such as a cellular telephone and an earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case receives earbuds and charges the earbuds from a battery. The wireless charging mat supports bidirectional in-band communications between the cellular telephone and the earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case provides the cellular telephone with information on the battery charge level associated with the battery in the earbuds battery case and a battery charge level associated with each earbud in the earbuds battery case. The cellular telephone receives battery charge level information through the wireless charging mat and displays corresponding indicators. The earbuds battery case has a visual output device such as a light-emitting diode that is illuminated to indicate that the earbuds battery case is being charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Adrian E. Sun, Gregory H. Nayman, Cortland S. Tolva, Joseph W. Colosimo, Antonio R. De Lima Fernandes, Brandon R. Garbus, Alexei E. Kosut
  • Patent number: 10938253
    Abstract: A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging mat for charging devices such as a cellular telephone and an earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case receives earbuds and charges the earbuds from a battery. The wireless charging mat supports bidirectional in-band communications between the cellular telephone and the earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case provides the cellular telephone with information on the battery charge level associated with the battery in the earbuds battery case and a battery charge level associated with each earbud in the earbuds battery case. The cellular telephone receives battery charge level information through the wireless charging mat and displays corresponding indicators. The earbuds battery case has a visual output device such as a light-emitting diode that is illuminated to indicate that the earbuds battery case is being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian E. Sun, Gregory H. Nayman, Cortland S. Tolva, Joseph W. Colosimo, Antonio R. De Lima Fernandes, Brandon R. Garbus, Alexei E. Kosut
  • Publication number: 20200227953
    Abstract: A wireless power system may use a wireless power transmitting device to transmit wireless power to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power at a wireless power transmission frequency. Wireless power signals at the wireless power transmission frequency can create interference with a sensitive electrical component in the wireless power receiving device when the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band associated with the component. Measurement circuitry in the wireless power receiving device can measure the wireless power transmission frequency. In response to determining that the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band, the wireless power receiving device may send an in-band wireless power level adjustment request to the wireless power transmitting device. The request causes a frequency adjustment that moves the wireless power transmission frequency out of the sensitive band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: David R. Falkenburg, Cortland S. Tolva, James R. Walker, Samuel B. Schaevitz
  • Patent number: 10608474
    Abstract: A wireless power receiving device may have wireless power receiving circuitry with a coil and rectifier. The wireless power receiving circuitry receives wireless power signals and uses the rectifier to supply a corresponding output. The output is characterized by a current, a voltage, and a power equal to a product of the current and voltage. The output of the rectifier is supplied to a direct-current-to-direct-current power regulator integrated circuit, which supplies direct-current power to a system load and battery. A controller integrated circuit directs the power regulator circuit to dither the current while monitoring for a peak in the power. If the power regulator circuit dithers the current satisfactorily, the wireless power receiving circuitry may be operated at the peak power. If the power regulator circuitry does not dither the current in response to being directed to dither the current, a wireless power transmission level may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel B. Schaevitz, Cortland S. Tolva, James R. Walker
  • Patent number: 10594170
    Abstract: A wireless power system may use a wireless power transmitting device to transmit wireless power to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power at a wireless power transmission frequency. Wireless power signals at the wireless power transmission frequency can create interference with a sensitive electrical component in the wireless power receiving device when the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band associated with the component. Measurement circuitry in the wireless power receiving device can measure the wireless power transmission frequency. In response to determining that the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band, the wireless power receiving device may send an in-band wireless power level adjustment request to the wireless power transmitting device. The request causes a frequency adjustment that moves the wireless power transmission frequency out of the sensitive band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Falkenburg, Cortland S. Tolva, James R. Walker, Samuel B. Schaevitz
  • Publication number: 20200076248
    Abstract: A wireless power system may have a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device may have a coil that receives wireless power signals from the wireless power transmitting device and may have a rectifier that produces direct-current power from the received wireless power signals. A charging status indicator may be displayed by the wireless power receiving device during wireless power transmission. Control circuitry in the wireless power receiving device may monitor the output voltage to determine whether wireless power transmission has been lost. The charging status indicator may continue to be displayed for a debounce period following detection of loss of wireless power transmission. The debounce period may be adjusted based on whether power loss is due to user movement of the receiving device or termination of power transmission by the transmitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Ye, Cortland S. Tolva
  • Publication number: 20200059113
    Abstract: A wireless power system may have a wireless power transmitting device and wireless power receiving devices. The wireless power transmitting device has wireless power transmitting circuitry with coils to transmit wireless power to wireless power receiving devices. The wireless power receiving devices are placed on the wireless power transmitting device in an order. Batteries in the wireless power receiving devices are charged based at least partly on the order. Power allocation is based on utilization factor information such as information on a power draw associated with each of the power receiving devices. Measurement circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device is used to gather impedance images from the coils. Changes in the impedance images are used to temporarily halt power transmission. Power transmission is resumed depending on whether in-band communications are lost or are maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Srinivasa V. Thirumalai Ananthan Pillai, Marco Rondinini, Michael A. Cretella, Daniel Ye, Cortland S. Tolva
  • Publication number: 20190081499
    Abstract: A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging mat for charging devices such as a cellular telephone and an earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case receives earbuds and charges the earbuds from a battery. The wireless charging mat supports bidirectional in-band communications between the cellular telephone and the earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case provides the cellular telephone with information on the battery charge level associated with the battery in the earbuds battery case and a battery charge level associated with each earbud in the earbuds battery case. The cellular telephone receives battery charge level information through the wireless charging mat and displays corresponding indicators. The earbuds battery case has a visual output device such as a light-emitting diode that is illuminated to indicate that the earbuds battery case is being charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Adrian E. Sun, Gregory H. Nayman, Cortland S. Tolva, Joseph W. Colosimo, Antonio R. De Lima Fernandes, Brandon R. Garbus, Alexei E. Kosut
  • Publication number: 20190067995
    Abstract: A wireless power receiving device may have wireless power receiving circuitry with a coil and rectifier. The wireless power receiving circuitry receives wireless power signals and uses the rectifier to supply a corresponding output. The output is characterized by a current, a voltage, and a power equal to a product of the current and voltage. The output of the rectifier is supplied to a direct-current-to-direct-current power regulator integrated circuit, which supplies direct-current power to a system load and battery. A controller integrated circuit directs the power regulator circuit to dither the current while monitoring for a peak in the power. If the power regulator circuit dithers the current satisfactorily, the wireless power receiving circuitry may be operated at the peak power. If the power regulator circuitry does not dither the current in response to being directed to dither the current, a wireless power transmission level may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Samuel B. Schaevitz, Cortland S. Tolva, James R. Walker
  • Publication number: 20190068003
    Abstract: A wireless power system may use a wireless power transmitting device to transmit wireless power to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power at a wireless power transmission frequency. Wireless power signals at the wireless power transmission frequency can create interference with a sensitive electrical component in the wireless power receiving device when the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band associated with the component. Measurement circuitry in the wireless power receiving device can measure the wireless power transmission frequency. In response to determining that the wireless power transmission frequency lies in a sensitive frequency band, the wireless power receiving device may send an in-band wireless power level adjustment request to the wireless power transmitting device. The request causes a frequency adjustment that moves the wireless power transmission frequency out of the sensitive band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: David R. Falkenburg, Cortland S. Tolva, James R. Walker, Samuel B. Schaevitz