Patents by Inventor Ward C. Travis

Ward C. Travis 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).

  • Electronic device dock with replicating status indicator
    Patent number: 8174380
    Abstract: An adapter may couple an electronic device to a host such as a computer. When coupled in this way, the host may transfer media files to the device. The host may also supply power to the electronic device using power lines in the adapter. The electronic device may have a status indicator such as a light-emitting diode status indicator. The adapter may also have a status indicator. During operation, the electronic device may transmit coded information on the current state of the status indicator in the electronic device by modulating the status indicator or other load in the device at a selected frequency. Control circuitry in the adapter may detect the transmitted state information by monitoring the power lines. The control circuitry may control the status indicator in the adapter so that the status indicator in the adapter replicates the current state of the status indicator in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ward C. Travis, Stanley Rabu, Terry Tikalsky
  • ELECTRONIC DEVICE DOCK WITH REPLICATING STATUS INDICATOR
    Publication number: 20100315210
    Abstract: An adapter may couple an electronic device to a host such as a computer. When coupled in this way, the host may transfer media files to the device. The host may also supply power to the electronic device using power lines in the adapter. The electronic device may have a status indicator such as a light-emitting diode status indicator. The adapter may also have a status indicator. During operation, the electronic device may transmit coded information on the current state of the status indicator in the electronic device by modulating the status indicator or other load in the device at a selected frequency. Control circuitry in the adapter may detect the transmitted state information by monitoring the power lines. The control circuitry may control the status indicator in the adapter so that the status indicator in the adapter replicates the current state of the status indicator in the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Ward C. Travis, Stanley Rabu, Terry Tikalsky