Patents by Inventor Timothy M. Johnson
Timothy M. Johnson 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: 20230376151Abstract: Sensing circuitry of a first electronic device can be configured to sense a signal transmitted by the second, external electronic device contacting and coupling through the body of the user. The first electronic device can be configured to detect the contact while receiving data from the second device, and determine whether the signal transmitted by the external device corresponds an “intentional touch,” or corresponds to a signal coupling between a different body part and the external device or through a different signal pathway (e.g., electromagnetically, through the air, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Jared L. ZERBE, Brian H. TSANG, Timothy M. JOHNSON, Bryan D. RAINES, Zaid M. NADEEM, Andy J. ZHOU, Xinhao WANG
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Patent number: 11817916Abstract: A first device such as a wristwatch may include a front face at which a display is disposed and a rear face at which a rear housing wall is mounted. Antenna structures may overlap the rear housing wall and may be operable to transmit and receive relatively high frequency signals through the rear housing wall to a communication with a second device such as a wireless power transmitting device for the wristwatch. The second device may also include antenna structures that overlap a top surface housing. Respective sets of magnetic structures may be provided in the first and second devices to align the two devices and to form a reliable wireless communication link between the two devices. The first and second devices may include respective antenna arrays that include pairs of antenna elements that are selectively used to form a reliable wireless communication link.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Hiemstra, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, Timothy B. Ogilvie, Timothy M. Johnson
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Patent number: 11662691Abstract: A wearable device can include an electronic device and a band for securing the electronic device to the user. The electronic device can detect an identification of the band, which can serve as an input to initiate actions performed by the electronic device. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the electronic device. Identification of the band can be performed by components of the electronic device that also serve other purposes. Existing sensors, communication elements, and/or detectors can be used to detect and identity a band provided to the electronic device. The electronic device can respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson
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Patent number: 11658473Abstract: A personal electronic device can include a main printed circuit board having disposed thereon a processing unit, one or more auxiliary circuits coupled to the main printed circuit board by one or more corresponding flexible printed circuits and one or more temperature sensors disposed on one of the flexible printed circuits. A processing unit of the portable electronic device can be configured to monitor the one or more temperature sensors, provide a warning in response to a monitored temperature exceeding a first threshold, and to cause a shutdown of at least a portion of the personal electronic device in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a second threshold. The temperature sensors can be negative temperature coefficient resistors.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Vishal Gupta, Timothy M. Johnson, Sivasankari Krishnanji
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Publication number: 20230062180Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing, a back cover, a structural member, and a sensing circuit. The housing can at least partially define an internal volume of the electronic device and the back cover can define at least a portion of the internal volume and be connected to the housing. The structural member can be disposed against the back cover and at least partially within the internal volume, the structural member including an electronic component. The sensing circuit can be disposed in the internal volume and electrically coupled to the electronic component. The sensing circuit can detect an amount of charge of the electronic component as part of a user proximity sensor of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Tyler S. Atura Bushnell, Andreas J. Koeberl, Eric S. Winokur, Matthew J. Schwendeman, Timothy M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20210359505Abstract: A personal electronic device can include a main printed circuit board having disposed thereon a processing unit, one or more auxiliary circuits coupled to the main printed circuit board by one or more corresponding flexible printed circuits and one or more temperature sensors disposed on one of the flexible printed circuits. A processing unit of the portable electronic device can be configured to monitor the one or more temperature sensors, provide a warning in response to a monitored temperature exceeding a first threshold, and to cause a shutdown of at least a portion of the personal electronic device in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a second threshold. The temperature sensors can be negative temperature coefficient resistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Vishal Gupta, Timothy M. Johnson, Sivasankari Krishnanji
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Publication number: 20210281291Abstract: A first device such as a wristwatch may include a front face at which a display is disposed and a rear face at which a rear housing wall is mounted. Antenna structures may overlap the rear housing wall and may be operable to transmit and receive relatively high frequency signals through the rear housing wall to a communication with a second device such as a wireless power transmitting device for the wristwatch. The second device may also include antenna structures that overlap a top surface housing. Respective sets of magnetic structures may be provided in the first and second devices to align the two devices and to form a reliable wireless communication link between the two devices. The first and second devices may include respective antenna arrays that include pairs of antenna elements that are selectively used to form a reliable wireless communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: Daniel J. Hiemstra, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, Timothy B. Ogilvie, Timothy M. Johnson
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Patent number: 11101634Abstract: A personal electronic device can include a main printed circuit board having disposed thereon a processing unit, one or more auxiliary circuits coupled to the main printed circuit board by one or more corresponding flexible printed circuits and one or more temperature sensors disposed on one of the flexible printed circuits. A processing unit of the portable electronic device can be configured to monitor the one or more temperature sensors, provide a warning in response to a monitored temperature exceeding a first threshold, and to cause a shutdown of at least a portion of the personal electronic device in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a second threshold. The temperature sensors can be negative temperature coefficient resistors.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Vishal Gupta, Timothy M. Johnson, Sivasankari Krishnanji
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Patent number: 11081053Abstract: A display may have an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels. Each display pixel may include a drive transistor coupled in series with one or more emission transistors and a respective organic light-emitting diode (OLED). A semiconducting-oxide transistor may be coupled between a drain terminal and a gate terminal of the drive transistor to help reduce leakage during low-refresh-rate display operations. To compensate for variations in the threshold voltage of the semiconducting-oxide transistor, the magnitude of a high voltage level of a scan control signal provided to the gate terminal of the semiconducting-oxide transistor may be adjusted. Sensing circuitry may be used to sense a display current while displaying a calibration image. The sensed display current may be compared to an expected display current associated with the calibration image. Processing circuitry may update the high voltage level based on the actual display current compared to the expected display current.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jiayi Jin, David A. Doyle, Kyung Hoae Koo, Maofeng Yang, Michael H. Lim, Paolo Sacchetto, Timothy M. Johnson, Venkatesh Rajendran, Weijun Yao, Yue Jack Chu
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Patent number: 11056217Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating health research by utilizing one or more wearable sensor devices with a research mode are provided herein. Systems include a wearable sensor device that can pair with a first portable computing device of a user and a second computing device of a researcher in a first and second pairing, respectively. The wearable sensor device obtains one or more health parameters of a user. In one aspect, the wearable sensor device communicates research related and non-research related health information to the first computing device via the first pairing link and communicates only research related health information to the second computing device via the second pairing link. Methods for pairing one or more wearable sensor devices with one or more research computing devices and switching between operating modes to provide additional research related features are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson
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Patent number: 11050463Abstract: A first device such as a wristwatch may include a front face at which a display is disposed and a rear face at which a rear housing wall is mounted. Antenna structures may overlap the rear housing wall and may be operable to transit and receive relatively high frequency signals through the rear housing wall to a communication with a second device such as a wireless power transmitting device for the wristwatch. The second device may also include antenna structures that overlap a top surface housing. Respective sets of magnetic structures may be provided in the first and second devices to align the two devices and to form a reliable wireless communication link between the two devices. The first and second devices may include respective antenna arrays that include pairs of antenna elements that are selectively used to form a reliable wireless communication link.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Hiemstra, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, Timothy B. Ogilvie, Timothy M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20210099203Abstract: A first device such as a wristwatch may include a front face at which a display is disposed and a rear face at which a rear housing wall is mounted. Antenna structures may overlap the rear housing wall and may be operable to transit and receive relatively high frequency signals through the rear housing wall to a communication with a second device such as a wireless power transmitting device for the wristwatch. The second device may also include antenna structures that overlap a top surface housing. Respective sets of magnetic structures may be provided in the first and second devices to align the two devices and to form a reliable wireless communication link between the two devices. The first and second devices may include respective antenna arrays that include pairs of antenna elements that are selectively used to form a reliable wireless communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Daniel J. Hiemstra, Jorge L. Rivera Espinoza, Timothy B. Ogilvie, Timothy M. Johnson
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Patent number: 10879687Abstract: A personal electronic device can include a main printed circuit board having disposed thereon a processing unit, one or more auxiliary circuits coupled to the main printed circuit board by one or more corresponding flexible printed circuits and one or more temperature sensors disposed on one of the flexible printed circuits. A processing unit of the portable electronic device can be configured to monitor the one or more temperature sensors, provide a warning in response to a monitored temperature exceeding a first threshold, and to cause a shutdown of at least a portion of the personal electronic device in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a second threshold. The temperature sensors can be negative temperature coefficient resistors.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Vishal Gupta, Timothy M. Johnson, Sivasankari Krishnanji
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Publication number: 20200272106Abstract: A wearable device can include an electronic device and a band for securing the electronic device to the user. The electronic device can detect an identification of the band, which can serve as an input to initiate actions performed by the electronic device. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the electronic device. Identification of the band can be performed by components of the electronic device that also serve other purposes. Existing sensors, communication elements, and/or detectors can be used to detect and identity a band provided to the electronic device. The electronic device can respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20200243012Abstract: A display may have an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels. Each display pixel may include a drive transistor coupled in series with one or more emission transistors and a respective organic light-emitting diode (OLED). A semiconducting-oxide transistor may be coupled between a drain terminal and a gate terminal of the drive transistor to help reduce leakage during low-refresh-rate display operations. To compensate for variations in the threshold voltage of the semiconducting-oxide transistor, the magnitude of a high voltage level of a scan control signal provided to the gate terminal of the semiconducting-oxide transistor may be adjusted. Sensing circuitry may be used to sense a display current while displaying a calibration image. The sensed display current may be compared to an expected display current associated with the calibration image. Processing circuitry may update the high voltage level based on the actual display current compared to the expected display current.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Jiayi Jin, David A. Doyle, Kyung Hoae Koo, Maofeng Yang, Michael H. Lim, Paolo Sacchetto, Timothy M. Johnson, Venkatesh Rajendran, Weijun Yao, Yue Jack Chu
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Patent number: 10691072Abstract: A wearable device can include an electronic device and a band for securing the electronic device to the user. The electronic device can detect an identification of the band, which can serve as an input to initiate actions performed by the electronic device. For example, a type, model, color, size, or other characteristic of a band can be determined and used to select a corresponding action performed by the electronic device. Identification of the band can be performed by components of the electronic device that also serve other purposes. Existing sensors, communication elements, and/or detectors can be used to detect and identity a band provided to the electronic device. The electronic device can respond to the identification of a particular band by performing particular functions, such as changing an aspect of a user interface or altering settings of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20200103444Abstract: A personal electronic device can include a main printed circuit board having disposed thereon a processing unit, one or more auxiliary circuits coupled to the main printed circuit board by one or more corresponding flexible printed circuits and one or more temperature sensors disposed on one of the flexible printed circuits. A processing unit of the portable electronic device can be configured to monitor the one or more temperature sensors, provide a warning in response to a monitored temperature exceeding a first threshold, and to cause a shutdown of at least a portion of the personal electronic device in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a second threshold. The temperature sensors can be negative temperature coefficient resistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Vishal Gupta, Timothy M. Johnson, Sivasankari Krishnanji
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Publication number: 20200106257Abstract: A personal electronic device can include a main printed circuit board having disposed thereon a processing unit, one or more auxiliary circuits coupled to the main printed circuit board by one or more corresponding flexible printed circuits and one or more temperature sensors disposed on one of the flexible printed circuits. A processing unit of the portable electronic device can be configured to monitor the one or more temperature sensors, provide a warning in response to a monitored temperature exceeding a first threshold, and to cause a shutdown of at least a portion of the personal electronic device in response to the monitored temperature exceeding a second threshold. The temperature sensors can be negative temperature coefficient resistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Vishal Gupta, Timothy M. Johnson, Sivasankari Krishnanji
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Publication number: 20200105382Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating health research by utilizing one or more wearable sensor devices with a research mode are provided herein. Systems include a wearable sensor device that can pair with a first portable computing device of a user and a second computing device of a researcher in a first and second pairing, respectively. The wearable sensor device obtains one or more health parameters of a user. In one aspect, the wearable sensor device communicates research related and non-research related health information to the first computing device via the first pairing link and communicates only research related health information to the second computing device via the second pairing link. Methods for pairing one or more wearable sensor devices with one or more research computing devices and switching between operating modes to provide additional research related features are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson
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Patent number: 10460834Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating health research by utilizing one or more wearable sensor devices with a research mode are provided herein. Systems include a wearable sensor device that can pair with a first portable computing device of a user and a second computing device of a researcher in a first and second pairing, respectively. The wearable sensor device obtains one or more health parameters of a user. In one aspect, the wearable sensor device communicates research related and non-research related health information to the first computing device via the first pairing link and communicates only research related health information to the second computing device via the second pairing link. Methods for pairing one or more wearable sensor devices with one or more research computing devices and switching between operating modes to provide additional research related features are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Timothy M. Johnson