Patents by Inventor Willis Calkins

Willis Calkins 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).

  • Patent number: 11121560
    Abstract: Techniques of charging electronic devices involve directing electrical power from a first device to the battery of a second device in response to the first device being in a first state, and directing electrical power from the second device to the battery of the first device in response to the first device being in a second state. For example, in response to a connection being established between a first device (e.g., a tablet computer) and a second device (e.g., a monitor), a charger of the first device detects a state of charge of the battery of the first device and a state of charge of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Toshak Singhal, Willis Calkins
  • Patent number: 10802834
    Abstract: A computing system is configured to securely boot different operating systems. The computing system includes one or more processors, a first memory device storing a first firmware element for booting a first operating system, a second memory device storing a second firmware element for booting a second operating system, a first security module configured to provide authentication for booting the first operating system, and a second security module configured to provide authentication for booting the second operating system. The computing system is configured such that, when the first security module is connected to the one or more processors, either the first operating system or the second operating system is selected for booting based on a selection signal, and when the first security module is not connected to the one or more processors, the second operating system is selected for booting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Puneet Kumar, Mark Hayter, Willis Calkins, Duncan Laurie
  • Publication number: 20190377583
    Abstract: A computing system is configured to securely boot different operating systems. The computing system includes one or more processors, a first memory device storing a first firmware element for booting a first operating system, a second memory device storing a second firmware element for booting a second operating system, a first security module configured to provide authentication for booting the first operating system, and a second security module configured to provide authentication for booting the second operating system. The computing system is configured such that, when the first security module is connected to the one or more processors, either the first operating system or the second operating system is selected for booting based on a selection signal, and when the first security module is not connected to the one or more processors, the second operating system is selected for booting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Puneet Kumar, Mark Hayter, Willis Calkins, Duncan Laurie
  • Publication number: 20190074698
    Abstract: Techniques of charging electronic devices involve directing electrical power from a first device to the battery of a second device in response to the first device being in a first state, and directing electrical power from the second device to the battery of the first device in response to the first device being in a second state. For example, in response to a connection being established between a first device (e.g., a tablet computer) and a second device (e.g., a monitor), a charger of the first device detects a state of charge of the battery of the first device and a state of charge of the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Toshak Singhal, Willis Calkins
  • Patent number: 9472975
    Abstract: The embodiments provide a device including an enclosure having circuitry associated with the device and a battery configured to power the circuitry, and a power plug receiving unit configured to receive a power plug of a power charger to charge the battery. The power plug receiving unit includes a ground contact that is exposed through the enclosure for contact with a secondary ground contact of the power plug, and an active electrode configured to receive alternating current (AC) energy from the power charger for charging the battery or powering the circuitry via non-contact coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Calkins, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
  • Patent number: 9368998
    Abstract: The embodiments provide a device including an enclosure having circuitry associated with the device and a battery configured to power the circuitry, and a power plug receiving unit configured to receive a power plug of a power charger to charge the battery. The power plug receiving unit includes a ground contact that is exposed through the enclosure for contact with a secondary ground contact of the power plug, and an active electrode configured to receive alternating current (AC) energy from the power charger for charging the battery or powering the circuitry via non-contact coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Calkins, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla
  • Publication number: 20160164339
    Abstract: The embodiments provide a device including an enclosure having circuitry associated with the device and a battery configured to power the circuitry, and a power plug receiving unit configured to receive a power plug of a power charger to charge the battery. The power plug receiving unit includes a ground contact that is exposed through the enclosure for contact with a secondary ground contact of the power plug, and an active electrode configured to receive alternating current (AC) energy from the power charger for charging the battery or powering the circuitry via non-contact coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Willis CALKINS, Ajay Chandra Venkata GUMMALLA
  • Publication number: 20150249358
    Abstract: The embodiments provide a device including an enclosure having circuitry associated with the device and a battery configured to power the circuitry, and a power plug receiving unit configured to receive a power plug of a power charger to charge the battery. The power plug receiving unit includes a ground contact that is exposed through the enclosure for contact with a secondary ground contact of the power plug, and an active electrode configured to receive alternating current (AC) energy from the power charger for charging the battery or powering the circuitry via non-contact coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Willis Calkins, Ajay Chandra Venkata Gummalla