Patents by Inventor Steve Xing-Fu ZHOU

Steve Xing-Fu ZHOU 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).

  • Reduced energy consumption in a computer system through software and hardware coordinated control of multiple power supplies
    Patent number: 10191535
    Abstract: The embodiments discussed herein relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling power consumption of a computing device in a standby or sleep mode. During the standby or sleep mode an external device can be plugged into the computing device. The external device can be provided power from a standby power supply until a determination is made as to whether a main power supply is operating. The determination can be based on comparing the output of the main power supply to an output of the standby power supply. If the main power supply is operating, a switch in the computing device can close to allow the main power supply to provide power to the external device. Moreover, in some embodiments, the switch can close based exclusively on a current demand of the external device from the standby power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian E. Sun, Bharat K. Patel, Erik A. Gutfeldt, Mark K. Sin, Kim Phuong T. Truong, Steve Xing-Fu Zhou, Asif Iqbal, Paul S. Michelsen, Lee M. Schaff, Steven Ichung Kuo, Chad O. Simpson, Derrick C. Lau
  • Power supply input routing
    Patent number: 9125303
    Abstract: One embodiment of a power supply input routing apparatus can include a multilayer printed circuit board configured to accept only an alternating current (AC) line voltage, return and ground signals. The AC power jumper board can advantageously route AC power from one section of the power supply to another without burdening the power supply design with extra layer requirements or negatively increasing power supply area. Embodiments including an electronic device having a power supply as above are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Fetterman, Kathleen A. Bergeron, John Douglas Field, Edward H. Frank, Michelle R. Goldberg, Harsha Lakshmanan, Manisha P. Pandya, Bharat K. Patel, Deborah Claire Sharrah, Steve Xing-Fu Zhou
  • REDUCED ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN A COMPUTER SYSTEM THROUGH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE COORDINATED CONTROL OF MULTIPLE POWER SUPPLIES
    Publication number: 20150106638
    Abstract: The embodiments discussed herein relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling power consumption of a computing device in a standby or sleep mode. During the standby or sleep mode an external device can be plugged into the computing device. The external device can be provided power from a standby power supply until a determination is made as to whether a main power supply is operating. The determination can be based on comparing the output of the main power supply to an output of the standby power supply. If the main power supply is operating, a switch in the computing device can close to allow the main power supply to provide power to the external device. Moreover, in some embodiments, the switch can close based exclusively on a current demand of the external device from the standby power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Adrian E. SUN, Bharat K. PATEL, Erik A. GUTFELDT, Mark K. SIN, Kim Phuong T. TRUONG, Steve Xing-Fu ZHOU, Asif IQBAL, Paul S. MICHELSEN, Lee M. SCHAFF, Steven Ichung KUO, Chad O. SIMPSON, Derrick C. LAU
  • POWER SUPPLY INPUT ROUTING
    Publication number: 20130314954
    Abstract: One embodiment of a power supply input routing apparatus can include a multilayer printed circuit board configured to accept only an alternating current (AC) line voltage, return and ground signals. The AC power jumper board can advantageously route AC power from one section of the power supply to another without burdening the power supply design with extra layer requirements or negatively increasing power supply area. Embodiments including an electronic device having a power supply as above are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin S. FETTERMAN, Kathleen A. BERGERON, John Douglas FIELD, Edward H. FRANK, Michelle R. GOLDBERG, Harsha LAKSHMANAN, Manisha P. PANDYA, Bharat K. PATEL, Deborah Claire SHARRAH, Steve Xing-Fu ZHOU