Patents by Inventor Steven P. Hier

Steven P. Hier 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).

  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED POWER DELIVERY BETWEEN DEVICES
    Publication number: 20210318738
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhanced power delivery between devices. In one embodiment, the power delivery is enhanced relative to legacy capabilities, and a source device negotiates with a sink device to establish a high-voltage (HV) power contract. In one variant, such HV operation enables power delivery greater than the legacy USB-C standard maximum of 20 V and 100 W. In one implementation, the source, sink, and/or source and sink collectively ensure that multiple criteria relating to power delivery are met for the interface (i.e., source, the sink, and the interposed cable or power delivery medium). Multiple conditions, including enclosure construction compliance and device capabilities, must be cleared to ensure safety while operating beyond standard maximums. If the criteria are met, HV validation is complete, and the source may offer HV operation to the sink to establish the HV contract. Additional fail-safe mechanisms enable the HV contract to discontinue upon triggering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. JACKSON, Alexei E. KOSUT, William O. FERRY, Reese A. SCHREIBER, Breton M. SAUNDERS, Corey LANGE, David G. CONROY, Srivatsav VENKATESAN, Steven P. HIER, Carlos M. CALDERON
  • Charge storage and power routing for dongles and adapters
    Patent number: 10236697
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus where a dongle or adapter may provide continuous power in the event of a disconnection of a charging device. One example may provide a dongle having a charge storage circuit. A charging device connected to the dongle may be used to power an accessory also connected to the dongle. Following a disconnection of the charging device, the dongle may use the charger storage circuit to provide power to the accessory for a first duration. After the first duration, a host device also connected to the dongle may provide power to the accessory via the dongle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Johnston, Neal V. Cecil, Robert Il McKeever, William O. Ferry, Steven P. Hier, Clinton Bauder, Aaron J. Barber, Reese A. Schreiber
  • POWER ROUTING FOR DONGLES AND ADAPTERS
    Publication number: 20160261128
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus where a dongle or adapter may provide continuous power in the event of a disconnection of a charging device. One example may provide a dongle having a charge storage circuit. A charging device connected to the dongle may be used to power an accessory also connected to the dongle. Following a disconnection of the charging device, the dongle may use the charger storage circuit to provide power to the accessory for a first duration. After the first duration, a host device also connected to the dongle may provide power to the accessory via the dongle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Johnston, Neal V. Cecil, Robert McKeever, II, William O. Ferry, Steven P. Hier, Clinton Bauder, Aaron J. Barber, Reese A. Schreiber