Patents by Inventor Justin Gregg

Justin Gregg 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: 8588704
    Abstract: A test station may include a test host, a tester, and a test chamber. Multiple devices under test (DUTs) may be placed in the test chamber during device characterization operations. Radio-frequency signals may be conveyed from the tester to the multiple DUTs using a radiated arrangement through an antenna in the test chamber. The tester may broadcast downlink test signals in parallel to the multiple DUTs. The DUTs may simultaneously synchronize with the downlink test signals and measure radio-frequency performance levels while receiving the downlink test signals. The test host may direct the tester to gradually lower its output power level. The DUTs may be used to determine downlink sensitivity by monitoring the measured radio-frequency performance levels as the output power level of the tester is lowered. Simultaneously downlink sensitivity testing may be performed for multiple modulation schemes and data rates for any communications protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Adil Syed, Tomoki Takeya
  • Patent number: 8583062
    Abstract: Electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities are provided. The electronic device may include storage and processing circuitry, power amplifier circuitry, power supply circuitry, etc. The storage and processing circuitry may direct the power amplifier circuitry to operate using a desired gain mode, in a particular radio channel, and at a given output power level. The power supply circuitry may bias the power amplifier circuitry with a power supply voltage. The performance of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by an adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) margin. The power consumption of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by a current savings ratio. A cost function may be calculated by taking the product of the ACLR margin and current savings ratio. A minimum point for each cost function curve may be determined. It is desirable to bias the power amplifier circuitry with a supply voltage corresponding to the minimum point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Donovan, Justin Gregg, Vishwanath Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 8538376
    Abstract: Event-based modes of operation are supported on an electronic device. One or more event-based modes of operation may be automatically or selectively applied to the device when a new life event is detected. The device's previous mode of operation may be backed up to the device or a network location and restored after the event-based mode of operation is no longer applied. The event-based modes of operation may be used to restrict access to certain applications or functionalities on the device, enforce or restrict certain user interface or other types of settings, and add or remove or rearrange the priority of device assets. The new life events associated with event-based modes of operation may be of various types, including location-based events, environment-based events, calendar-based events, news-based events, and usage-based events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Lee, Justin Gregg, Casey Maureen Dougherty
  • Patent number: 8509455
    Abstract: Two or more acoustic transducers share the same acoustic port in a device. The acoustic properties—such as acoustic impedance and frequency response—of the shared acoustic port are matched to each of the two or more acoustic transducers. To accomplish acoustic impedance matching, a separate back volume is provided for each of the acoustic transducers, matched to that transducer. Frequency response matching can be accomplished by the design of the transducer itself, but also by providing an adjacent element in the acoustic system of the transducer. One transducer may serve as an element in the acoustic system of another transducer. Frequency response adjustment of an individual element may also affect acoustic impedance of the entire port-transducer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Michael M. Lee, Chad Seguin
  • Patent number: 8452020
    Abstract: One or more acoustic transducers of a device may be adjusted based on automatic detection of device proximity to the user. In a mobile telephone, when the user is using the receiver and holding the telephone against his/her ear, if the telephone detects that the user has moved the telephone further from his/her ear, the telephone will raise the receiver volume. Similarly, if the user is using the speaker, the telephone will adjust the speaker volume as user distance from the telephone changes. In another embodiment the telephone may fade between the receiver and the speaker. Volume is not the only acoustic property that could be adjusted according to user proximity. Frequency response is another property that could be adjusted, such as using appropriate electronic filtering, or by turning on another transducer that is not otherwise being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Michael M. Lee, Chad Seguin
  • Patent number: 8437715
    Abstract: A device under test (DUT) may be connected to test equipment. The test equipment may include a multi-carrier signal generator and a host computer. The signal generator may provide a multi-carrier test signal that is fed to input-output devices of the DUT. The DUT may tune to a given radio channel on the test signal. The DUT may output an audio signal to the host computer to test for audio quality. Once desired measurements have been taken, the DUT may scan up or down to the next available radio channel on the test signal. The signal generator may not need to be reconfigured between scans, because the test signal contains multiple radio channels. The host computer may run a test program that directs a test program running on the DUT to perform the required tasks during testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Flickinger, Justin Gregg
  • Patent number: 8437793
    Abstract: Test systems are provided for performing testing and calibration operations on wireless circuitry in electronic devices. The electronic devices may include cellular telephones and other portable electronic devices. Wireless circuitry in a device may include a radio-frequency transceiver that is controlled based on radio-frequency transceiver control signals. The wireless circuitry may also include power amplifier circuitry. The power amplifier circuitry may receive radio-frequency signals from the transceiver and may produce correspondingly amplified radio-frequency output signals for wireless transmission with an antenna. The power amplifier circuitry may be powered by a bias voltage. The test systems may provide the electronic device with a transmit power request that directs the electronic device to produce a desired output power. The test systems may measure the actual resulting power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Donovan, Justin Gregg
  • Patent number: 8432267
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a mobile device to set an alarm based on an external request is described. In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile device receives the external request which includes a set of one or more parameters at least partially defining the alarm and a set of one or more actions to take upon the alarm triggering. Upon determining that the external request is trusted, the mobile device automatically sets the alarm on the mobile device according to the set of parameters included in the request. Upon the alarm triggering, the mobile device performs the set of actions included in the external request. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lee, Justin Gregg, Chad Seguin
  • Patent number: 8422968
    Abstract: Wireless circuitry in an electronic device may contain radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and power amplifier circuitry that transmits radio-frequency signals through an antenna. A tap and power detector that are interposed in the radio-frequency signal path between the power amplifier circuitry and the antenna may be used to make output power measurements. Control circuitry may control the wireless circuitry in an open-loop control regime in which output power adjustments are based on a requested power without using the output power measurements. The control circuitry may also control the wireless circuitry in a closed-loop control regime in which the output power measurements serve as a source of real time feedback to determine whether to increase or decrease the output power. The output power may be controlled using linear transition zone power control curves in a transition zone between the open-loop regime and the closed-loop regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Donovan, Justin Gregg
  • Patent number: 8374815
    Abstract: A test system may include multiple test stations. Electronic devices may be tested using the test system. Each test station may include a test unit such as a radio-frequency tester that can make wireless and wired radio-frequency signal measurements on devices under test. The test stations may be configured to perform pass-fail testing on devices under test during manufacturing. One or more selected devices under test that have passed the pass-fail tests may be retested using the test stations. Multiple tests may be performed at a given test station using the same selected device under test. Gathered test data may be analyzed to determine whether the test stations have sufficient accuracy and precision or need to be recalibrated or taken offline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Tomoki Takeya, Adil Syed
  • Patent number: 8358787
    Abstract: A portable handheld test fixture has an acoustic port, e.g. a speaker port, a microphone, and/or an earpiece/receiver port. Once the media device has been installed onto the test fixture, the port becomes acoustically coupled to a respective acoustic aperture of the media device that is associated with a speaker, a microphone, or an earpiece/receiver as the case may be. A sound test tool, e.g. a reference sound source and/or a sound pressure level, SPL, meter, has an input or output sound port that can be removably coupled to the acoustic port of the test fixture. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Lee, Chad G. Seguin, Bob Burrough, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Cyril Labidi, Daniel Farrell, Justin Gregg, Tony Aghazarian, Tang Yew Tan, Christian Paez
  • Patent number: 8351979
    Abstract: A portable handheld electronic device contains a camera lens and accelerometer to allow a user to control voicemail and call features by swiping his finger across the camera lens and/or tapping the device. Therefore, the user can comfortably input commands into the device with a single hand and without needing to move the phone away from his ear to apply these inputs. In another embodiment, the camera lens can also be used to control navigation of the display screen or a displayed document of the device. For example, if a user wishes to shift a scrollbar for a page displayed on the screen downwards to view the bottom of the page, the user should move his finger over the camera lens in an analogous downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad G. Seguin, Justin Gregg, Michael M. Lee
  • Publication number: 20120319697
    Abstract: Wireless electronic devices may include a transceiver, an antenna resonating element coupled to the transceiver via a transmission line path, transceiver and antenna impedance matching circuits, and other circuitry. The transceiver and the impedance matching circuits may be formed on a first substrate. The antenna resonating element may be formed using a second substrate. The antenna resonating element may be decoupled from the first substrate during testing. First and second sets of test points may be formed at first and second locations long the transmission line path. During testing, a test probe may mate with the first set of test points, whereas an impedance adjustment circuit that serves to electrically isolate the antenna impedance matching circuit from the transceiver may mate with the second set of test points. The impedance adjustment circuit need not be used if the antenna impedance matching circuit is decoupled from the transceiver during testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Joshua G. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20120287792
    Abstract: Wireless electronic devices may include wireless communications circuitry such as a transceiver, antenna, and other wireless circuitry. The transceiver may be coupled to the antenna through a bidirectional switch connector. The switch connector may mate with a corresponding radio-frequency test probe that is connected to radio-frequency test equipment. When the test probe is mated with the switch connector, the transceiver may be decoupled from the antenna. During transceiver testing, radio-frequency test signals may be conveyed between the test unit and the transceiver using the test probe. During antenna testing, radio-frequency test signals may be conveyed between the test unit and the antenna using the test probe. Transceiver testing and antenna testing may, if desired, be conducted in parallel using the test probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Joshua G. Nickel, Fernando Urioste, Justin Gregg, Adil Syed, Jason Sloey, Jonathan Haylock
  • Patent number: 8290179
    Abstract: Two or more acoustic transducers share the same acoustic port in a device. The acoustic properties—such as acoustic impedance and frequency response—of the shared acoustic port are matched to each of the two or more acoustic transducers. To accomplish acoustic impedance matching, a separate back volume is provided for each of the acoustic transducers, matched to that transducer. Frequency response matching can be accomplished by the design of the transducer itself, but also by providing an adjacent element in the acoustic system of the transducer. One transducer may serve as an element in the acoustic system of another transducer. Frequency response adjustment of an individual element may also affect acoustic impedance of the entire port-transducer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Michael M. Lee, Chad Seguin
  • Patent number: 8290537
    Abstract: A portable telephony device has a mobile phone housing. Integrated in the housing are memory to store a telephony module, an earphone type detect module, a headphone port, and a processor. The headphone port may be a wired headset jack to receive a mating wired headset plug, or it may be a communications subsystem that makes a wireless connection with a wireless headset. The earphone type detect module, when executed by the processor, is to determine what type of earphone or headset is connected to the headphone port. The telephony module when executed by the processor is to adjust a sidetone function of the device as a function of the determined type of earphone, and apply sidetone in accordance with said adjusted sidetone function. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Lee, Justin Gregg, Chad G. Seguin
  • Publication number: 20120234096
    Abstract: A body has a first portion whose exterior surface is similar to that of a corresponding, first portion of a portable media device. An acoustic aperture is formed at a location that is similar to that of a built-in earpiece, speaker, or microphone aperture in the media device. An acoustic port is formed in the exterior surface of the body, and is adapted to be coupled to a sound test tool. An internal cavity acoustically couples the acoustic port to the acoustic aperture. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Michael M. Lee
  • Publication number: 20120231744
    Abstract: A test station may include a test host, a tester, and a test chamber. Multiple devices under test (DUTs) may be placed in the test chamber during device characterization operations. Radio-frequency signals may be conveyed from the tester to the multiple DUTs using a radiated arrangement through an antenna in the test chamber. The tester may broadcast downlink test signals in parallel to the multiple DUTs. The DUTs may simultaneously synchronize with the downlink test signals and measure radio-frequency performance levels while receiving the downlink test signals. The test host may direct the tester to gradually lower its output power level. The DUTs may be used to determine downlink sensitivity by monitoring the measured radio-frequency performance levels as the output power level of the tester is lowered. Simultaneously downlink sensitivity testing may be performed for multiple modulation schemes and data rates for any communications protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Adil Syed, Tomoki Takeya
  • Publication number: 20120231745
    Abstract: A test station may include a test host, a signal generator, and a test chamber. Multiple devices under test (DUTs) may be placed in the test chamber during device characterization operations. Radio-frequency signals may be conveyed from the signal generator to the multiple DUTs using a radiated arrangement through an antenna in the test chamber. The signal generator may broadcast downlink test signals. The DUTs may synchronize with the downlink test signals and measure radio-frequency performance levels while receiving the downlink test signals. The test host may direct the signal generator to gradually lower its output power level. The DUTs may be used to determine downlink sensitivity by monitoring the measured radio-frequency performance levels as the output power level of the signal generator is lowered. Downlink sensitivity testing may be performed across any desired radio-frequency bands and channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Adil Syed, Vishwanath Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20120221277
    Abstract: Calibration equipment for calibrating multiple test stations in a test system is provided. Each test station may include a test unit, a test chamber with an over-the-air antenna, and a radio-frequency (RF) cable that connects the test unit to the test chamber. Reference devices under test (DUTs) may be used to calibrate uplink and downlink path loss (e.g., OTA path loss, RF cable path loss, and variations of the test unit) associated with each test station. The reference DUTs may calibrate each test station at desired frequencies to generate a path loss table. Once calibrated, the test chambers may be used during production testing to test factory DUTs. During production testing, the transmit/receive power efficiency of each factory DUT may be calculated based on values in the path loss table to determine whether a particular production DUT is a passing or failing DUT according to pass/fail criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Justin Gregg, Tomoki Takeya, David A. Donovan