Patents by Inventor Michael Culbert
Michael Culbert 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: 20120117282Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for passing data processed by a DMA controller through a transmission filter. The method includes the DMA controller accessing data for transfer between an origination location in the system and a destination location in the system. The accessed data is passed through the DMA controller before being sent to the destination location. While the data is being passed through the DMA controller, it is passed through a transmission filter for processing. This processing may include the addition or removal of transmission protocol headers and footers, and determination of the destination of the data. This processing may also include hash-based packet classification and checksum generation and checking. Upon completion of the processing, the data is sent directly to a prescribed destination location, typically either a memory circuit or an I/O device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Timothy J. Millet, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
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Patent number: 8099528Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for passing data processed by a DMA controller through a transmission filter. The method includes the DMA controller accessing data for transfer between an origination location in the system and a destination location in the system. The accessed data is passed through the DMA controller before being sent to the destination location. While the data is being passed through the DMA controller, it is passed through a transmission filter for processing. This processing may include the addition or removal of transmission protocol headers and footers, and determination of the destination of the data. This processing may also include hash-based packet classification and checksum generation and checking. Upon completion of the processing, the data is sent directly to a prescribed destination location, typically either a memory circuit or an I/O device.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Millet, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
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Publication number: 20110219247Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Inventors: Guy G. Sotomayor, JR., Keith Cox, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
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Publication number: 20110199226Abstract: A control indication assembly. A first control mounted on a surface of a computer is coupled to a first sensor, to a first sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to the first control when a user-touch occurs to the first sensor, and to a first indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch. A second control mounted on a surface of a display which is coupled to the computer is coupled to a second sensor, to a second sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said second control when said user-touch occurs to the display, and to a second indicator to indicate an occurrence of the user-touch. The first and second control are configured such that the first and second indicator are synchronized to exhibit identical behaviors when the user-touch occurs to either the first control or the second control.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Andrew Gong, Brian Q. Huppi, Christoph H. Krah, Richard D. Cappels, Duncan R. Kerr, Michael Culbert
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Patent number: 7949888Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Keith Cox, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
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Patent number: 7949889Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Guy G. Sotomayor, Jr., Keith Cox, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
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Patent number: 7936348Abstract: A control indication assembly. A first control mounted on a surface of a computer is coupled to a first sensor, to a first sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to the first control when a user-touch occurs to the first sensor, and to a first indicator to indicate an occurrence of said user-touch. A second control mounted on a surface of a display which is coupled to the computer is coupled to a second sensor, to a second sensing circuit to send an electrical signal to said second control when said user-touch occurs to the display, and to a second indicator to indicate an occurrence of the user-touch. The first and second control are configured such that the first and second indicator are synchronized to exhibit identical behaviors when the user-touch occurs to either the first control or the second control.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2006Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Andrew Gong, Brian Q. Huppi, Christoph H. Krah, Richard D. Cappels, Duncan R. Kerr, Michael Culbert
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Publication number: 20110060932Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
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Publication number: 20110038582Abstract: Circuits, apparatus, and methods that provide a connector system that can supply both power and data to a mobile computing or other type of device using a single connection. Further examples also provide a power and data adapter that can provide power and data to a mobile computing device using a single cable. Further examples provide an easy disengagement when a cable connected to the connector is pulled. One such example provides a magnetic connector that uncouples without binding when its cord is pulled. Another example prevents power from being provided at a connector insert until the connector insert is placed in a connector receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: John C. DiFonzo, Chris Ligtenberg, Michael Culbert
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Publication number: 20110001358Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
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Patent number: 7841776Abstract: Circuits, apparatus, and methods that provide a connector system that can supply both power and data to a mobile computing or other type of device using a single connection. Further examples also provide a power and data adapter that can provide power and data to a mobile computing device using a single cable. Further examples provide an easy disengagement when a cable connected to the connector is pulled. One such example provides a magnetic connector that uncouples without binding when its cord is pulled. Another example prevents power from being provided at a connector insert until the connector insert is placed in a connector receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: John C. DiFonzo, Chris Ligtenberg, Michael Culbert
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Patent number: 7802120Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
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Publication number: 20100235012Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2009Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventors: Keith Cox, Gaurav Kapoor, Michael Culbert
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Patent number: 7788516Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert, Keith A. Cox
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Publication number: 20100117579Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to manage working states of a data processing system. At least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data processing system with one or more sensors (e.g., physical sensors such as tachometer and thermistors, and logical sensors such as CPU load) for fine grain control of one or more components (e.g., processor, fan, hard drive, optical drive) of the system for working conditions that balance various goals (e.g., user preferences, performance, power consumption, thermal constraints, acoustic noise). In one example, the clock frequency and core voltage for a processor are actively managed to balance performance and power consumption (heat generation) without a significant latency. In one example, the speed of a cooling fan is actively managed to balance cooling effort and noise (and/or power consumption).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Michael Culbert, Keith Alan Cox, Brian Howard, Josh de Cesare, Richard Charles Williams, Dave Robbins Falkenburg, Daisie Iris Huang, Dave Radcliffe
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Publication number: 20100091025Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for seamlessly migrating a user visible display stream sent to a display device from one rendered display stream to another rendered display stream are described. For one embodiment, mirror video display streams are received from both a first graphics processing unit (GPU) and a second GPU, and the video display stream sent to a display device is switched from the video display stream from the first GPU to the video display stream from the second GPU, wherein the switching occurs during a blanking interval for the first GPU that overlaps with a blanking interval for the second GPU.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Mike Nugent, Thomas Costa, Eve Brasfield, David Redman, Amanda Rainer, Tim Millet, Geoff Stahl, Adrian Sheppard, Ian Hendry, Ingrid Aligaen, Kenneth C. Dyke, Chris Niederauer, Michael Culbert
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Publication number: 20100085290Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for improving the response time of displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The method includes receiving a target picture frame and comparing it to a current picture frame. If the comparison shows that a display may be unable to transition from a current pixel intensity level to a target pixel intensity level within a specified time period, then the pixels that correspond to those current pixel intensities that may not be reach target pixel intensities may be overdriven. This overdriving of one or more pixels may allow the pixel to reach the target pixel intensity within the specified time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael Culbert, Timothy J. Millet
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Publication number: 20100082849Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for passing data processed by a DMA controller through a transmission filter. The method includes the DMA controller accessing data for transfer between an origination location in the system and a destination location in the system. The accessed data is passed through the DMA controller before being sent to the destination location. While the data is being passed through the DMA controller, it is passed through a transmission filter for processing. This processing may include the addition or removal of transmission protocol headers and footers, and determination of the destination of the data. This processing may also include hash-based packet classification and checksum generation and checking. Upon completion of the processing, the data is sent directly to a prescribed destination location, typically either a memory circuit or an I/O device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Millet, David G. Conroy, Michael Culbert
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Publication number: 20100080563Abstract: Circuits, apparatus, and methods that provide a connector system that can supply both power and data to a mobile computing or other type of device using a single connection. Further examples also provide a power and data adapter that can provide power and data to a mobile computing device using a single cable. Further examples provide an easy disengagement when a cable connected to the connector is pulled. One such example provides a magnetic connector that uncouples without binding when its cord is pulled. Another example prevents power from being provided at a connector insert until the connector insert is placed in a connector receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: John C. DiFonzo, Chris Ligtenberg, Michael Culbert
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Publication number: 20100060792Abstract: A media processing system with an improved method and device for rotating a video image is provided. Embodiments of the media processing system include a video decoder with the ability to output decoded video in a landscape or portrait orientation. In some embodiments, the video output orientation is based on the physical orientation of the display as indicated by an electronic sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Barry Corlett, David G. Conroy, Timothy J. Millet, Michael Culbert