Patents by Inventor Keith Cox

Keith Cox 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: 20110185208
    Abstract: A data processing system that uses memory power reduction in a sleep state. The system can include a volatile memory and at least one data input peripheral and a logic circuit that is configured to manage power consumption of the data processing system for a sleep of the system. The logic circuit can be coupled to the volatile memory and can be configured to turn off power to the volatile memory in response to an event, occurring during the sleep state, but to otherwise remain in the sleep state. The sleep state can be an ACPI complaint S3 sleep state in which the volatile memory, such as DRAM, is powered off after a period of user inactivity during the S3 sleep state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Derek Iwamoto, Steven J. Sfarzo, Ryan Schmidt, Derrick Carty, Keith Cox
  • Patent number: 7949889
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a data processing system are described. One or more constraint parameters of a system are monitored. The data processing system is forced into an idle state for a first portion of a time while allowed to operate for a second portion of the time based on the one or more constraint parameters, wherein the system is forced into the idle state in response to comparing a target idle time to an actual idle time. The target idle time of the system is determined, in one embodiment, based on the one or more constraint parameters. The actual idle time of the system may be monitored to take into account interrupts which disrupt an idle time and idle times resulting from no software instructions to execute. The system may be allowed to operate based on comparisons of the target idle time and the actual idle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy G. Sotomayor, Jr., Keith Cox, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
  • Patent number: 7949888
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a data processing system are described. A constraint parameter of a system operating at a first frequency and a first voltage is monitored. The system is, based on the monitoring of the constraint parameter, forced into an idle state while operating at a second frequency and a second voltage. The idle state prevents instructions from being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
  • Publication number: 20110093132
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system that manages the temperature of a component in an electronic device. During operation, the system receives, from the component, a temperature offset of the component and a thermal state boundary associated with the temperature offset. Next, the system uses the temperature offset and the thermal state boundary to control the temperature of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Cheng P. Tan, Keith A. Cox, Robert B. Sexton, Joseph J. Castro, Bryan R. Hoover
  • Publication number: 20110060932
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a system that leverage intermediate power margins are described. One or more subsystems of the system are operated at one or more performance points. A power consumed by the one or more subsystems at each of the one or more performance points is measured. An operational power of the one or more subsystems at the one or more performance points is determined. The one or more subsystems are operated at well-known conditions at the one or more performance points. The operational power may be adjusted based on data associated with the one or more subsystems. The operational power is provided to a power lookup table. The power is distributed among the one or more subsystems based on the operational power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
  • Publication number: 20110001358
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to dynamically redistribute power in a system that includes a plurality of subsystems are described. A load profile of the system is identified. The power is redistributed between the subsystems while tracking the load profile. The load profile may be an asymmetric, or a balanced load profile. The load profile is identified based on a utilization factor for each of the subsystems. In one embodiment, the power used by each of the subsystems is sensed by one or more sensors or predicted or estimated. A utilization factor, which may be a ratio of the actual power used by the subsystem to the power allocated to the subsystem, is calculated. The load profile is determined using the utilization factor of each of the subsystems. A power weighting arrangement between the subsystems, for example, a power distribution table, is selected based on the load profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
  • Patent number: 7802120
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to dynamically redistribute power in a system that includes a plurality of subsystems are described. A load profile of the system is identified. The power is redistributed between the subsystems while tracking the load profile. The load profile may be an asymmetric, or a balanced load profile. The load profile is identified based on a utilization factor for each of the subsystems. In one embodiment, the power used by each of the subsystems is sensed by one or more sensors or predicted or estimated. A utilization factor, which may be a ratio of the actual power used by the subsystem to the power allocated to the subsystem, is calculated. The load profile is determined using the utilization factor of each of the subsystems. A power weighting arrangement between the subsystems, for example, a power distribution table, is selected based on the load profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
  • Publication number: 20100235012
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to automatically adjust a thermal requirement of a data processing system are described. One or more conditions associated with a data processing system are detected. A temperature requirement for the data processing system is determined based on the one or more conditions. The performance of the data processing system may be throttled to maintain a temperature of the data processing system below the temperature requirement. Detecting the one or more conditions associated with the data processing system may include determining a location of the data processing system based on a measured motion, a state of a peripheral device, a position of one portion of the data processing system (e.g., a lid) relative another portion of the data processing system (e.g., a bottom portion), a type of application operating on the data processing system, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Gaurav Kapoor, Michael Culbert
  • Patent number: 7788516
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a system that leverage intermediate power margins are described. One or more subsystems of the system are operated at one or more performance points. A power consumed by the one or more subsystems at each of the one or more performance points is measured. An operational power of the one or more subsystems at the one or more performance points is determined. The one or more subsystems are operated at well-known conditions at the one or more performance points. The operational power may be adjusted based on data associated with the one or more subsystems. The operational power is provided to a power lookup table. The power is distributed among the one or more subsystems based on the operational power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
  • Publication number: 20100211700
    Abstract: Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Joshua de Cesare, Keith Cox, Kenneth C. Dyke
  • Patent number: 7721124
    Abstract: A signaling circuit may be implemented with a connection comprised of signal lines having predefined signals and/or functions. The predefined signals and/or functions may be defined by an individual entity or standards organization. The signaling circuit transmits information in addition to the predefined signals and/or functions. The information may be transmitted from a second device, such as a visual display screen, to a first device, such as a computing device, using at least one signal line in the connection. The information may include information about the state or status of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Keith A. Cox
  • Patent number: 7711864
    Abstract: Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua de Cesare, Keith Cox, Kenneth C. Dyke
  • Publication number: 20100094582
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed to estimate temperature at one or more critical points in a data processing system comprising modeling a steady state temperature portion of a thermal model at the one or more critical points using regression analysis; modeling the transient temperature portion of the thermal model at the one or more critical points using a filtering algorithm; and generating a thermal model at the one or more critical points by combining the steady state temperature portion of the thermal model with the transient temperature portion of the thermal model. The thermal model may then be used to estimate an instantaneous temperature at the one or more critical points or to predict a future temperature at the one or more critical points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Gaurav Kapoor, Vaughn Arnold
  • Publication number: 20100081961
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for testing the health status, gender, and body composition of living fish as well as time of death for dead fish. The apparatus consists of two series of needles that are mounted to a measuring device that is capable of simultaneously measuring the distance between the two sets of needles and the impedance of a whole fish. The method includes applying needles to the fish, passing an electrical current between the needles, determining impedance for tissue of the fish between the needles, measuring the distance between the two needles and correlating the determined impedance and needle distance measurement with the health status, gender and body composition of living fish and dead fish and time of death of dead fish.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Marlin Keith Cox
  • Publication number: 20090299543
    Abstract: A thermal manager has a digital filter whose input is to receive raw temperature values from a sensor and whose output is to provide processed or filtered temperature values according to a filter function that correlates temperature at the sensor with temperature at another location in the device. The thermal manager has a look-up table that further correlates temperature at the sensor with temperature at said another location. The look-up table contains a list of processed temperature sensor values, and/or a list of temperatures representing the temperature at said another location, and their respective power consumption change commands. The thermal manager accesses the look-up table using selected, filtered temperature values, to identify their respective power consumption change commands. The latter are then evaluated and may be applied, to mitigate a thermal at said another location. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Andrew Bradley Just, Matthew G. Watson, Eric Albert, David Powers, Daniel Ariel West, Donald J. Novotney, Michael F. Culbert
  • Publication number: 20090177907
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a data processing system are described. One or more constraint parameters of a system are monitored. The data processing system is forced into an idle state for a first portion of a time while allowed to operate for a second portion of the time based on the one or more constraint parameters, wherein the system is forced into the idle state in response to comparing a target idle time to an actual idle time. The target idle time of the system is determined, in one embodiment, based on the one or more constraint parameters. The actual idle time of the system may be monitored to take into account interrupts which disrupt an idle time and idle times resulting from no software instructions to execute. The system may be allowed to operate based on comparisons of the target idle time and the actual idle time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Guy G. Sotomayor, JR., Keith Cox, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
  • Publication number: 20090177422
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a data processing system are described. A constraint parameter of a system operating at a first frequency and a first voltage is monitored. The system is, based on the monitoring of the constraint parameter, forced into an idle state while operating at a second frequency and a second voltage. The idle state prevents instructions from being executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Keith Cox, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
  • Patent number: 7504800
    Abstract: Circuitry and techniques for managing a power supply are disclosed. A processor-controlled switch is employed to control the delivery of power to conductors that provide power to an external electronic device wherein the processor controls the switch opening and the switch opening based not only on contemporaneous parameter measurements but also on state information known to the processor. The management circuit can control the power supply without requiring the use of an additional sense wire between the management circuit and the external electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Culbert, Keith Cox
  • Publication number: 20090063715
    Abstract: Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Joshua de Cesare, Keith Cox, Kenneth C. Dyke
  • Publication number: 20080298945
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the use of a dual Selective Compliant Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) robot. In some embodiments two SCARAs are provided, each including an elbow joint, wherein the two SCARAs are vertically stacked such that one SCARA is a first arm and the other SCARA is a second arm, and wherein the second arm is adapted to support a first substrate, and the first arm is adapted to extend to a full length when the second arm supports the first substrate, and wherein the first substrate supported by the second arm is coplanar with the elbow joint of the first arm, and the second arm is further adapted to move concurrently in parallel (and/or in a coordinated fashion) with the first arm a sufficient amount to avoid interference between the first substrate and the elbow joint of the first arm. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Keith Cox, Marvin L. Freeman, Jason M. Schaller, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Jeffrey A. Brodine