Patents by Inventor William O. Ferry

William O. Ferry 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: 20240028103
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for saving power on a bus interface are described. A system includes a host, a device, and a repeater interposed between the host and the device. While the host and device are in a low-power state, the repeater monitors a first bus to determine if the device has woken up. When the repeater detects a remote wake-up event initiated by the device, the repeater generates an interrupt which is sent to the host. The host responds to the interrupt by initiating a resume wake-up event procedure that assumes the device is still asleep. In this way, the host is able to stay in the low-power state longer while also using a wake-up procedure that does not require the host to be aware of the existence of the repeater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Itay Franko, Derek Iwamoto, Mark Ferdinand Damarillo, William O. Ferry, Yi-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 11703935
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for saving power on a bus interface are described. A system includes a host, a device, and a repeater interposed between the host and the device. While the host and device are in a low-power state, the repeater monitors a first bus to determine if the device has woken up. When the repeater detects a remote wake-up event initiated by the device, the repeater generates an interrupt which is sent to the host. The host responds to the interrupt by initiating a resume wake-up event procedure that assumes the device is still asleep. In this way, the host is able to stay in the low-power state longer while also using a wake-up procedure that does not require the host to be aware of the existence of the repeater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Itay Franko, Derek Iwamoto, Mark Ferdinand Damarillo, William O. Ferry, Yi-Chun Chen
  • Publication number: 20220035433
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for saving power on a bus interface are described. A system includes a host, a device, and a repeater interposed between the host and the device. While the host and device are in a low-power state, the repeater monitors a first bus to determine if the device has woken up. When the repeater detects a remote wake-up event initiated by the device, the repeater generates an interrupt which is sent to the host. The host responds to the interrupt by initiating a resume wake-up event procedure that assumes the device is still asleep. In this way, the host is able to stay in the low-power state longer while also using a wake-up procedure that does not require the host to be aware of the existence of the repeater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Itay Franko, Derek Iwamoto, Mark Ferdinand Damarillo, William O. Ferry, Yi-Chun Chen
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10229770
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may reduce the number of connector receptacles that are needed on an electronic device. One example may provide a unified connector and circuitry that may be capable of communicating with more than one interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William P. Cornelius, Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, Min Chul Kim, Nathan N. Ng
  • Patent number: 9494989
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide for the powering of active components in connector inserts at each end of a cable may in various ways. For example, where a host is coupled to a device that is not self-powered, the host may provide power for circuitry at each end of the cable. In various embodiments of the present invention, the device may request higher voltage from the host, such that more power can be delivered. In these cases, the device may regulate the voltage received from the host to a lower voltage, and then provide the lower voltage to circuitry at one or both ends of the cable. Where the host is connected to a device that is self-powered, the host and the self-powered device may power their respective connector insert circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, James Orr
  • Patent number: 9477437
    Abstract: An electronic device selectively couples a head with links in a graphics processing unit to a currently selected display port in a pair of display ports. During operation, control logic in the electronic device monitors a pair of configuration signals from the pair of display ports, where the pair of configuration signals correspond to physical connections to the pair of display ports. Then, the control logic determines a selection control signal based on the monitored pair of configuration signals, a policy setting and a default display port, where the selection control signal specifies the currently selected display port. Moreover, the control logic provides the selection control signal to a multiplexer in the electronic device. Next, the multiplexer selectively couples the head with the links in the graphics processing unit to the currently selected display port based on the selection control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9274579
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow signals that are compliant with multiple standards to share a common connector on an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that provides signals compatible with a legacy standard in one mode and a newer standard in another mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, James E. Orr
  • Publication number: 20150286455
    Abstract: An electronic device selectively couples a head with links in a graphics processing unit to a currently selected display port in a pair of display ports. During operation, control logic in the electronic device monitors a pair of configuration signals from the pair of display ports, where the pair of configuration signals correspond to physical connections to the pair of display ports. Then, the control logic determines a selection control signal based on the monitored pair of configuration signals, a policy setting and a default display port, where the selection control signal specifies the currently selected display port. Moreover, the control logic provides the selection control signal to a multiplexer in the electronic device. Next, the multiplexer selectively couples the head with the links in the graphics processing unit to the currently selected display port based on the selection control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
  • Patent number: 9070199
    Abstract: An electronic device selectively couples a head with links in a graphics processing unit to a currently selected display port in a pair of display ports. During operation, control logic in the electronic device monitors a pair of configuration signals from the pair of display ports, where the pair of configuration signals correspond to physical connections to the pair of display ports. Then, the control logic determines a selection control signal based on the monitored pair of configuration signals, a policy setting and a default display port, where the selection control signal specifies the currently selected display port. Moreover, the control logic provides the selection control signal to a multiplexer in the electronic device. Next, the multiplexer selectively couples the head with the links in the graphics processing unit to the currently selected display port based on the selection control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
  • Publication number: 20150137861
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may reduce the number of connector receptacles that are needed on an electronic device. One example may provide a unified connector and circuitry that may be capable of communicating with more than one interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William P. Cornelius, Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, Min Chul Kim, Nathan N. Ng
  • Publication number: 20140359319
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide for the powering of active components in connector inserts at each end of a cable may in various ways. For example, where a host is coupled to a device that is not self-powered, the host may provide power for circuitry at each end of the cable. In various embodiments of the present invention, the device may request higher voltage from the host, such that more power can be delivered. In these cases, the device may regulate the voltage received from the host to a lower voltage, and then provide the lower voltage to circuitry at one or both ends of the cable. Where the host is connected to a device that is self-powered, the host and the self-powered device may power their respective connector insert circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, James Orr
  • Publication number: 20140344615
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow signals that are compliant with multiple standards to share a common connector on an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that provides signals compatible with a legacy standard in one mode and a newer standard in another mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, James E. Orr
  • Patent number: 8862912
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide for the powering of active components in connector inserts at each end of a cable may in various ways. For example, where a host is coupled to a device that is not self-powered, the host may provide power for circuitry at each end of the cable. In various embodiments of the present invention, the device may request higher voltage from the host, such that more power can be delivered. In these cases, the device may regulate the voltage received from the host to a lower voltage, and then provide the lower voltage to circuitry at one or both ends of the cable. Where the host is connected to a device that is self-powered, the host and the self-powered device may power their respective connector insert circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, James Orr
  • Publication number: 20140280960
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically allocating resources to a plurality of controllers are disclosed. In one embodiment, the controllers comprise multiple types of Universal Serial Bus compliant controllers. When a USB-compliant device is detected, one or more determinations are made regarding the detected device such as the supported data transfer speed capabilities. Based on the one or more determinations, the device is directed to an appropriate controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Arulchandran Paramasivam, Barry Twycross, Edward H. Frank, Eric W. Anderson, Fernando A. Urbina, Steven J. Sfarzo, William O. Ferry
  • Patent number: 8745430
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates synchronization between a first component and a second component connected to the first component via an interface in a computer system. During an active state of the interface, the system uses a local time base in the second component to generate a local clock signal that tracks a host clock signal from the first component. Next, during an inactive state of the interface, the system uses the local time base to maintain the local clock signal at the second component. Finally, during a subsequent active state of the interface after the inactive state, the system adjusts the local clock signal to remove clock drift between the local clock signal and the host clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, Girault W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20140092107
    Abstract: An electronic device selectively couples a head with links in a graphics processing unit to a currently selected display port in a pair of display ports. During operation, control logic in the electronic device monitors a pair of configuration signals from the pair of display ports, where the pair of configuration signals correspond to physical connections to the pair of display ports. Then, the control logic determines a selection control signal based on the monitored pair of configuration signals, a policy setting and a default display port, where the selection control signal specifies the currently selected display port. Moreover, the control logic provides the selection control signal to a multiplexer in the electronic device. Next, the multiplexer selectively couples the head with the links in the graphics processing unit to the currently selected display port based on the selection control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
  • Patent number: 8683190
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow signals that are compliant with multiple standards to share a common connector on an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that provides signals compatible with a legacy standard in one mode and a newer standard in another mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, James E. Orr