Patents by Inventor Michael Kerner

Michael Kerner 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: 11946996
    Abstract: Accuracy for detecting and tracking one or more objects of interest can be improved using radar-based tracking systems. In some examples, multiple radars implemented in a device can be used to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, the one or more objects of interest. To disambiguate an object of interest from undesired objects such as the hand of a user, the object of interest can include a transponder that applies a delay element to a signal received from a radar, and thereafter transmits a delayed return signal back to the radar. The delay produced by the delay element can separate the return signal from undesired reflections and enable disambiguation of those signals. Clear identification of the desired return signal can lead to more accurate object distance determinations, more accurate triangulation, and improved position detection and tracking accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, John Zhonghua Wu, Michael Delishansky, Zohar Agon, Shachar Shayovitz, Michael Ney, Shay I. Freundlich
  • Publication number: 20240100088
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel formulations of bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate useful for treating a copper metabolism-associated disease or disorder, such as Wilson disease (WD). For example, this disclosure relates to low dose formulations of bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Lockheart Burt, David Jenson Chen, Todd Anthony Stutzman, Allissa Robin Kerner, Joseph Michael Schnitz, Raj Ramnik Jain
  • Publication number: 20240094374
    Abstract: An electronic device may include sensing circuitry that transmits radar signals and receives reflected signals over a set of antennas. Communications circuitry may use the antennas to transmit communications data subject to a maximum transmit power level. The sensing circuitry may generate Doppler information based on the reflected signals and may detect whether an external object is on a surface of the device based on the Doppler information. When the external object is detected on the surface, the external object is not within a hot-spot cone of the antennas and the communications circuitry may transmit the communications data without reducing the maximum transmit power level. When the external object is detected off the surface, the external object may be within the hot-spot cone and the communications circuitry may transmit the communications data with a reduced maximum transmit power level to satisfy regulatory limits on radio-frequency exposure or absorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Ney, Michael Kerner, Lev Grobman
  • Publication number: 20230296751
    Abstract: An electronic device may include wireless circuitry with a transmit antenna and a receive antenna. Signal bursts may be transmitted by the transmit antenna. A phase shifter may be toggled between a first state that applies a first phase shift and a second state that applies a second phase shift to the signal bursts. The second phase shift may be approximately 180 degrees out-of-phase with the first phase shift. A receive path may receive first reflected signals while the phase shifter is in the first state and second reflected signals while in the second state. The first and second reflected signals may be used to cancel the effects of on-chip leakage or DC offset to recover a signal-of-interest associated with reflection of the signal bursts off an external object. The signal-of-interest may be used to detect a range to the external object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Mark G. Forbes, Ran Forte, Michael Delishansky, Michael Kerner, Bernhard Sogl, Jochen Schrattenecker
  • Publication number: 20230126248
    Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for an intubation positioning device that may be configured to selectively adjust a head, neck, and/or an upper back of a patient lying on a surgical table. The device may comprise a body that may have a top, a bottom, a superior end relative to the neck, and/or an inferior end relative to the neck. The body may include an outer casing that permits expansion and contraction of the body in at least a vertical direction, perhaps via at least two inflatable chambers disposed in the body. At least a part of the superior end may be sized or shaped to receive the head of the patient. The device may include a controller configured to selectively permit entrance of a fluid into the first inflatable chamber and/or the second inflatable chamber that may be independently transitioned between an inflated shape and a deflated shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventor: Michael KERNER
  • Publication number: 20230008446
    Abstract: An electronic device may include communications circuitry, sensing circuitry, and a set of antennas having first and second feeds for covering different polarizations. The communications circuitry may transmit signals with a first polarization using each of the antennas and may concurrently transmit signals with a second polarization using all but a selected one of the antennas. The sensing circuitry may concurrently transmit sensing signals with the first polarization using one of the antennas and may receive sensing signals with the second polarization using the selected antenna. The sensing signals may include chirp signals generated to include muted periods that correspond to a range of frequencies that overlap frequencies at which the wireless circuitry is subject to radio-frequency interference. This may allow for concurrent wireless communications and sensing operations without interference between the communications circuitry and the sensing circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Flavio De Angelis, Gilad Kirshenberg, Mik Cohen, Roman Rainov, Sharad Sambhwani
  • Publication number: 20230003867
    Abstract: An electronic device may include wireless circuitry with sensing circuitry that transmits radio-frequency sensing signals and receives reflected radio-frequency sensing signals. A mixer may generate a series of beat signals based on the sensing signals and the reflected sensing signals. The sensing circuitry may generate a beat phase based on an average of the series of beat signals, a set of phase values based on the series of beat signals, and a phase velocity based on the set of phase values. The sensing circuitry may resolve a phase ambiguity in the beat phase based on the phase velocity to identify a range between the electronic device and an external object. This way may allow the sensing circuitry to generate accurate ranges even in a low signal-to-noise ratio regime, such as when the external object is moving relative to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Avihay Yehezkel, Michael Kerner, Michael Delishansky, Michael Ney, Shachar Shayovitz, Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 11307299
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to perform sensing applications using communication signals. The first wireless device may determine to perform a sensing application and to perform the sensing application using a communication signal to be transmitted to a second device. In other words, the first wireless device may use a transmission that is scheduled for communication purposes to additionally perform sensing of one or more types. Example sensing or radar-like applications include estimating distance, motion, and/or angle to one or more objects or structures in the vicinity of the first wireless device. After transmitting the communication signal to the second wireless device, the first wireless device may receive a reflection of the communication signal. The first wireless device may use the reflection to perform the sensing application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Patent number: 11271600
    Abstract: A transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes an envelope tracking circuit, wherein the envelope tracking circuit includes an envelope circuit configured to generate, based on a baseband signal, an envelope signal indicating a temporal course of the baseband signal's envelope. Further, the envelope tracking circuit includes a bandwidth reduction circuit configured to generate a bandwidth reduced envelope signal based on the envelope signal, and a DC-to-DC converter configured to generate a supply voltage for a power amplifier of the transmitter based on the bandwidth reduced envelope signal. The transmitter additionally includes a predistortion circuit configured to generate a predistorted baseband signal based on the baseband signal and an adjustable predistortion configuration. The predistortion circuit is further configured to adjust the predistortion configuration based on the bandwidth reduced envelope signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Belitzer, Yaron Yoffe, Yaniv Cohen, Michael Kerner
  • Patent number: 11271590
    Abstract: Some embodiments enable improved packet error rate (PER), signal to noise ratio (SNR), channel capacity, aggregated throughput, and communication range in wireless communication systems. For example, an electronic device includes a buffer that stores a first descrambled bit estimate sequence. The electronic device further includes an encoder that receives a descrambling sequence and generates an encoded descrambling sequence and a multiplier circuit that receives a bit estimate sequence and the encoded descrambling sequence and generates a second descrambled bit estimate sequence. The electronic device also includes an adder circuit that combines the first descrambled bit estimate sequence and the second descrambled bit estimate sequence and a decoder that decodes the combined descrambled bit estimate sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Koby Vainapel, Shay Gershoni
  • Patent number: 11237247
    Abstract: A transceiver having quantization noise compensation is disclosed. The transceiver includes transmitter and receiver circuits. The transmitter is configured to receive and quantize a digital signal to generate a quantized signal. The quantized signal is then converted into an analog transmit signal and transmitted as a wireless signal. The receiver circuit is configured to receive a reflected version of the wireless signal and generate an analog receive signal based thereon. The analog receive signal is converted into a digital receive signal. Thereafter, the receiver cancels quantization noise from the digital receive signal to produce a digital output signal that can be utilized for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Publication number: 20210405174
    Abstract: Accuracy for detecting and tracking one or more objects of interest can be improved using radar-based tracking systems. In some examples, multiple radars implemented in a device can be used to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, the one or more objects of interest. To disambiguate an object of interest from undesired objects such as the hand of a user, the object of interest can include a transponder that applies a delay element to a signal received from a radar, and thereafter transmits a delayed return signal back to the radar. The delay produced by the delay element can separate the return signal from undesired reflections and enable disambiguation of those signals. Clear identification of the desired return signal can lead to more accurate object distance determinations, more accurate triangulation, and improved position detection and tracking accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Michael KERNER, John Zhonghua WU, Michael DELISHANSKY, Zohar AGON, Shachar SHAYOVITZ, Michael NEY, Shay I. FREUNDLICH
  • Publication number: 20210382138
    Abstract: A transceiver having quantization noise compensation is disclosed. The transceiver includes transmitter and receiver circuits. The transmitter is configured to receive and quantize a digital signal to generate a quantized signal. The quantized signal is then converted into an analog transmit signal and transmitted as a wireless signal. The receiver circuit is configured to receive a reflected version of the wireless signal and generate an analog receive signal based thereon. The analog receive signal is converted into a digital receive signal. Thereafter, the receiver cancels quantization noise from the digital receive signal to produce a digital output signal that can be utilized for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Patent number: 11184055
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to perform multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions using a reduced number of antennas (e.g., a number of transmit antennas that is smaller than a number of layers of the MIMO transmission). The MIMO transmission may communicate multiple streams of data to a second wireless device. The MIMO transmission may further be used for sensing applications, e.g., based on reflection of the MIMO transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ran Shimon, Michael Kerner, Mik Cohen
  • Publication number: 20210336658
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to perform multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions using a reduced number of antennas (e.g., a number of transmit antennas that is smaller than a number of layers of the MIMO transmission). The MIMO transmission may communicate multiple streams of data to a second wireless device. The MIMO transmission may further be used for sensing applications, e.g., based on reflection of the MIMO transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ran Shimon, Michael Kerner, Mik Cohen
  • Patent number: 11041948
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for performing ranging wireless communication in a secure manner. A first wireless device may receive a plurality of independent sequences from a second wireless device. The first wireless device may perform a combined channel estimate using the sequences. The first wireless device may estimate the distance (or angle/direction, among various possibilities) between the two devices based on the combined channel estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ayelet Shahar-Doron, Michael Kerner, Gilad Kirshenberg
  • Patent number: 11032167
    Abstract: A precursor rejection filter is disclosed. A digital filter is coupled to receive packets from a data source. The filter may operate in one of a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the filter may receive communications packets. When operating in the second mode, the filter may receive sensing packets. Furthermore, when operating in the second mode, the filter may cause a precursor of the equivalent impulse response of the transmitter to be attenuated without attenuating the main lobe of the equivalent impulse response of the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shachar Shayovitz, Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 11012262
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to perform improved channel estimates for sensing applications such as ranging. The wireless device may determine noise characteristics, e.g., a spectrum of the variance of noise on a channel and may use the noise characteristics to estimate a response of an analog front end of the wireless device. The wireless device may correct a channel estimate based on the estimated response of the analog front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuval Avner, Michael Kerner, Ran Forte
  • Publication number: 20210041549
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to perform sensing applications using communication signals. The first wireless device may determine to perform a sensing application and to perform the sensing application using a communication signal to be transmitted to a second device. In other words, the first wireless device may use a transmission that is scheduled for communication purposes to additionally perform sensing of one or more types. Example sensing or radar-like applications include estimating distance, motion, and/or angle to one or more objects or structures in the vicinity of the first wireless device. After transmitting the communication signal to the second wireless device, the first wireless device may receive a reflection of the communication signal. The first wireless device may use the reflection to perform the sensing application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Publication number: 20200412391
    Abstract: A transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes an envelope tracking circuit, wherein the envelope tracking circuit includes an envelope circuit configured to generate, based on a baseband signal, an envelope signal indicating a temporal course of the baseband signal's envelope. Further, the envelope tracking circuit includes a bandwidth reduction circuit configured to generate a bandwidth reduced envelope signal based on the envelope signal, and a DC-to-DC converter configured to generate a supply voltage for a power amplifier of the transmitter based on the bandwidth reduced envelope signal. The transmitter additionally includes a predistortion circuit configured to generate a predistorted baseband signal based on the baseband signal and an adjustable predistortion configuration. The predistortion circuit is further configured to adjust the predistortion configuration based on the bandwidth reduced envelope signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander BELITZER, Yaron YOFFE, Yaniv COHEN, Michael KERNER