Patents by Inventor Steven G. Herbst

Steven G. Herbst 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: 20170093199
    Abstract: A wireless transmitter device is configurable and operable to transfer energy to multiple receiver devices at the same time. The transmitter device is configured to enable one or more sections of a charging surface to transfer energy by selectively choosing one or more conductive traces in the transmitter device based on the position of the receiver device on the charging surface. The size and shape of each section of the charging surface that is used to transfer energy to a receiver device can change dynamically based on each receiver device. Additionally, the process of transferring energy to each receiver device may be adjusted during energy transfer based on conditions specific to each receiver device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Brandon R. Garbus, Steven G. Herbst, Todd K. Moyer, Chad A. Bossetti, Eric S. Jol, Christopher S. Graham
  • Patent number: 9537353
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improved efficiency when an inductive power transmitter associated with an inductive power transfer system experiences a low-load or no-load condition. More particularly, methods and systems for detecting when an inductive power receiver is absent or poorly connected to an inductive power transmitter. The inductive power transmitter includes, in one example, a current peak monitor coupled to an inductive power transmit coil. The current peak monitor waits for a current peak resulting from spatial displacement of a magnetic field source within the inductive power receiver, indicating to the inductive power transmitter that the inductive power receiver is moving, or has moved, toward the inductive power transmitter. Other examples include one or more Hall effect sensors within the inductive power transmitter to monitor for the magnetic field source of the inductive power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Bossetti, Jeffrey M. Alves, Albert J. Golko, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Christopher S. Graham, Steven G. Herbst
  • Publication number: 20160126761
    Abstract: Power management systems for an electronic product demonstration fixture for demonstrating portable electronic devices. The product demonstration fixture may include an exhibition portion and a base portion. A portable electronic device offered for sale may be affixed to the exhibition portion. The base portion may include an electronic display, an auxiliary battery, and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the electronic display upon determining that a battery within the electronic display has fallen below a particular selected level. Similarly the auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the portable electronic device offered for sale upon determining that a battery within the portable electronic device has fallen below a selected level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Emery A. Sanford, David G. Havskjold, Steven G. Herbst, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Jeffery J. Terlizzi, Tyson B. Manullang, Charles A. Schwalbach, Glenn David Henshaw, Vikas Agrawal, Soundararajan Manthiri
  • Publication number: 20160094074
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for communicating across an inductive charging interface. Methods and apparatuses for improved efficiency of power transfer across an inductive charging interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Alves, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Todd K. Moyer, Steven G. Herbst, David W. Ritter, Chad Bossetti, Terry Tikalsky
  • Publication number: 20160073793
    Abstract: A retail electronic product demonstration fixture for demonstrating portable electronic devices. The product demonstration fixture may include an exhibition portion and a base portion. A portable electronic device offered for sale may be affixed to the exhibition portion. The base portion may include an electronic display, an auxiliary battery, and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the electronic display upon determining that a battery within the electronic display has fallen below a particular selected level. Similarly the auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the portable electronic device offered for sale upon determining that a battery within the portable electronic device has fallen below a selected level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Emery A. Sanford, David G. Havskjold, Steven G. Herbst, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Tyson B. Manullang, Charles A. Schwalbach
  • Publication number: 20160064992
    Abstract: A receiver device in an inductive energy transfer system can include a touch sensing device. If the input surface of the touch sensing device is touched, a transmitter device can periodically stop transferring energy to allow the touch sensing device to sense touch samples while inductive energy transfer is inactive. Additionally or alternatively, a transmitter device can produce an averaged duty cycle by transferring energy to the receiver device for one or more periods at a first duty cycle step and for one or more periods at different second first duty cycle step. Additionally or alternatively, a transmitter device can reduce a current level received by a DC-to-AC converter if the current received by the DC-to-AC converter equals or exceeds a threshold. Additionally or alternatively, a transmitter device can ping a receiver device and transfer energy only after a response signal is received from the receiver device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Steven G. Herbst, Scott D. Morrison, Jeffrey M. Alves, Brandon R. Garbus, Jim C. Hwang, Robert S. Parnell, Terry L. Tikalsky
  • Publication number: 20160064948
    Abstract: Various techniques for temperature management during inductive energy transfer are disclosed. A transmitter device and/or a receiver device can be turned off during energy transfer based on the temperature of the transmitter device and/or of the receiver device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Amaury J. Heresztyn, Keith Cox, Eric S. Jol, Jeffrey M. Alves, Jim C. Hwang, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, John M. Ananny, Nagarajan Kalyanasundaram, Robert S. Parnell, Steven G. Herbst, Todd K. Moyer, Albert J. Golko, Frank Liang
  • Publication number: 20150245722
    Abstract: A retail electronic product demonstration fixture for demonstrating portable electronic devices. The product demonstration fixture may include an exhibition portion and a base portion. A portable electronic device offered for sale may be affixed to the exhibition portion. The base portion may include an electronic display, an auxiliary battery, and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the electronic display upon determining that a battery within the electronic display has fallen below a particular selected level. Similarly the auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the portable electronic device offered for sale upon determining that a battery within the portable electronic device has fallen below a selected level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Emery A. Sanford, David G. Havskjold, Steven G. Herbst, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Tyson B. Manullang, Charles A. Schwalbach
  • Publication number: 20150244341
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improved efficiency of power transfer across an inductive charging interface by adaptively changing the impedance of the receive coil in response to changes in load conditions during inductive power transfer are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: David W. Ritter, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Todd K. Moyer, Jeffrey M. Alves, Steven G. Herbst
  • Publication number: 20150244179
    Abstract: A receiver device in a coupled coil system for wireless energy transfer includes a receiver coil and a load device operatively connected to the receiver coil and configured to receive a signal from the receiver coil. As one example, the load device is a rechargeable battery. An adjusting filter is included in the receiver device and is operatively connected between the receiver coil and the load device. The adjusting filter can be used to transform the effective resistance or impedance of the load as presented to the transformer during energy transfer so that the effective resistant or impedance of the load is maintained at a substantially constant level, and the signal received by the load device is maintained at a substantially constant level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: David W. Ritter, Jeffrey M. Alves, Todd K. Moyer, Steven G. Herbst
  • Publication number: 20150097443
    Abstract: In an inductive energy transfer system, the phase of a signal that is applied to a transmitter coil to transfer energy is adjusted while energy is transferred from the transmitter device to a receiver device. The phase of the signal can be adjusted by changing a state of a DC-to-AC converter from a converting state to a non-converting state. The DC-to-AC converter outputs a signal that is applied to the transmitter coil when the DC-to-AC converter is in a converting state. A signal is not applied to the transmitter coil when the DC-to-AC converter is in a non-converting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Todd K. Moyer, Jeffrey M. Alves, Steven G. Herbst, David W. Ritter, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 8330445
    Abstract: Provided herein are circuits and methods to generate a voltage proportional to absolute temperature (VPTAT) and/or a bandgap voltage output (VGO) with low 1/f noise. A first base-emitter voltage branch is used to produce a first base-emitter voltage (VBE1). A second base-emitter voltage branch is used to produce a second base-emitter voltage (VBE2). The circuit also includes a first current preconditioning branch and/or a second current preconditioning branch. The VPTAT is produced based on VBE1 and VBE2. A CTAT branch can be used to generate a voltage complimentary to absolute temperature (VCTAT), which can be added to VPTAT to produce VGO. Which transistors are in the first base-emitter voltage branch, the second base-emitter voltage branch, the first current preconditioning branch, the second current pre-conditioning branch, and the CTAT branch changes over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventor: Steven G. Herbst
  • Publication number: 20110084681
    Abstract: Provided herein are circuits and methods to generate a voltage proportional to absolute temperature (VPTAT) and/or a bandgap voltage output (VGO) with low 1/f noise. A first base-emitter voltage branch is used to produce a first base-emitter voltage (VBE1). A second base-emitter voltage branch is used to produce a second base-emitter voltage (VBE2). The circuit also includes a first current preconditioning branch and/or a second current preconditioning branch. The VPTAT is produced based on VBE1 and VBE2. A CTAT branch can be used to generate a voltage complimentary to absolute temperature (VCTAT), which can be added to VPTAT to produce VGO. Which transistors are in the first base-emitter voltage branch, the second base-emitter voltage branch, the first current preconditioning branch, the second current pre-conditioning branch, and the CTAT branch changes over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventor: Steven G. Herbst