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).
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Publication number: 20240028103Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Itay Franko, Derek Iwamoto, Mark Ferdinand Damarillo, William O. Ferry, Yi-Chun Chen
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Patent number: 11703935Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Itay Franko, Derek Iwamoto, Mark Ferdinand Damarillo, William O. Ferry, Yi-Chun Chen
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Publication number: 20220035433Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Itay Franko, Derek Iwamoto, Mark Ferdinand Damarillo, William O. Ferry, Yi-Chun Chen
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Publication number: 20210318738Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 10236697Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 4, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 10229770Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: William P. Cornelius, Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, Min Chul Kim, Nathan N. Ng
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Patent number: 9494989Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, James Orr
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Patent number: 9477437Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
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Publication number: 20160261128Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 9274579Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, James E. Orr
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Publication number: 20150286455Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
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Patent number: 9070199Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
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Publication number: 20150137861Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: William P. Cornelius, Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, Min Chul Kim, Nathan N. Ng
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Publication number: 20140359319Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, James Orr
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Publication number: 20140344615Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, James E. Orr
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Patent number: 8862912Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Paul A. Baker, William O. Ferry, James Orr
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Publication number: 20140280960Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Arulchandran Paramasivam, Barry Twycross, Edward H. Frank, Eric W. Anderson, Fernando A. Urbina, Steven J. Sfarzo, William O. Ferry
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Patent number: 8745430Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, Girault W. Jones
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Publication number: 20140092107Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: William O. Ferry, David J. Redman, Adrian T. Sheppard, Sreeraman Anantharaman
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Patent number: 8683190Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: William P. Cornelius, William O. Ferry, James E. Orr