Patents by Inventor Yafei Bi

Yafei Bi 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: 8803593
    Abstract: One embodiment of an apparatus to control and sense a voltage through a single node can include a comparator to monitor single node voltage, a transistor to discharge voltage through the single node and control logic. The control logic can have at least two operational phases when actively controlling the voltage through the single node. In a first phase, the control logic can configure the comparator to determine if the single node voltage is greater than a reference voltage. In a second phase, the control logic can configure the transistor to discharge voltage through the single node when the comparator has previously indicated that the single node voltage is greater than a reference voltage. The control logic can alternatively execute first and second phases to discharge the voltage to a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Yafei Bi, Mir B. Ghaderi, Wei H. Yao
  • Publication number: 20140168292
    Abstract: An electronic display includes a display panel, which includes an array of pixels and a driver configured to activate and deactivate the emission of light from each of the pixels in the array. The electronic display also includes a panel driver configured to generate and transmit an emission interrupt signal to the driver, wherein the emission interrupt signal causes the driver to deactivate the emission of light from all pixels in the array for a set period of time prior to a refresh of a line of pixels in the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Wei H. Yao, Yafei Bi, Ahmad Al-Dahle
  • Publication number: 20140159764
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided to identify the occurrence, location, and/or severity of a fracture within an integrated circuit, even when the integrated circuit is not accessible to external inspection. One such method includes obtaining a measurement of a property of the integrated circuit through at least one contact of the integrated circuit. The measurement may include a resistance of a resistive pattern in the integrated circuit or a measurement of current-voltage behavior of a power supply of the integrated circuit. The measurement of the property may be compared to an expected baseline property. Based at least in part on this comparison, whether a fracture of the integrated circuit has occurred and a location of the fracture in the integrated circuit may be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Joshua G. Wurzel, Yafei Bi
  • Publication number: 20140062940
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring internal resistance of a display may include supplying the display via a capacitor with a first voltage and a second voltage configured to enable the display to receive touch inputs and display image data, respectively. The method may discharge the capacitor at least three times via a first resistor, a second resistor, and the first resistor and second resistor coupled in parallel with each other. The method may monitor three discharge waveforms that corresponds to when the capacitor discharges from the first voltage to the second voltage via the first resistor, the second resistor, and the first resistor and second resistor coupled in parallel with each other. Based at least in part on the discharge waveforms, the method may determine a chip on glass resistance value and a flex on glass resistance value that correspond to an internal resistance of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Yafei Bi, Mir B. Ghaderi
  • Publication number: 20140062936
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring internal resistance of a display. The method may include supplying the display via a capacitor with a first voltage configured to enable the display to receive one or more touch inputs. After supplying the display with the first voltage, the method may include discharging the capacitor to a second voltage configured to enable the display to display image data. The method may then monitor a discharge waveform that corresponds to when the capacitor discharges from the first voltage to the second voltage. Based at least in part on the discharge waveform, the method may determine a chip on glass resistance value and a flex on glass resistance value that correspond to an internal resistance of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Yafei Bi
  • Publication number: 20140062935
    Abstract: A display screen has pixels, gate lines, data lines, and a number of common electrode lines. Each of the common electrode lines is coupled to a respective group of the pixels. Switch circuits are coupled to the common electrode lines. A control circuit controls the switch circuits so as to equalize the voltages of the common electrode lines to a known voltage when the display screen is turned off. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Yafei Bi
  • Publication number: 20130328847
    Abstract: Methods and devices employing mura prevention circuitry, are provided. In one example, a method may include supplying a first voltage pathway between a common electrode driver and a common electrode of an electronic display device and supplying a second voltage pathway between the common electrode driver and ground. Mura prevention circuitry may be supplied that activates the first voltage pathway when the electronic display device is turned on and an activation gate signal is provided from a gate corresponding to the common electrode driver. Further, the mura prevention circuitry may activate the second voltage pathway when the electronic display device is turned off or no activation gate signal is provided from the gate corresponding to the common electrode driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Hopil Bae, Sang Y. Youn, Yafei Bi, Wei H. Yao, David A. Stronks
  • Publication number: 20130328749
    Abstract: A display is disclosed that includes a transparent substrate and a plurality of pixel transistors that are formed on the transparent substrate to generate an image for display. A transistor drive circuit is used to drive the pixel transistors to generate the image. The transistor drive circuit may include a gate driver. Further, a test circuit may be used to: adjust voltages that are applied by the gate driver to a pixel transistor; and determine the voltage of the gate driver when a current spike has occurred to the pixel transistor which causes the pixel transistor to turn on. Once this threshold voltage for the gate driver to turn on the pixel transistor has been determined, it may be stored in a storage device for future use by the gate driver. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC
    Inventors: Shafiq M. Jamal, Yafei Bi, Hopil Bae, Sang Y. Youn
  • Publication number: 20130328799
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for increasing uniformity between displays incorporating components from different manufacturers. Incorporating components from different manufactures in different displays may cause the different displays to appear differently even under similar conditions. By modifying the operating parameters used to drive the display according to performance characteristics for various conditions, displays incorporating components from different manufacturers may be configured to produce a substantially similar picture under similar conditions. The various conditions may include stimulus information, such as temperature or touch activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yafei Bi, Thomas J. Wilson, Wei H. Yao, Hopil Bae
  • Publication number: 20130321378
    Abstract: A display system has a display panel in which there are a first subset of pixels and a second subset of pixels. A first common voltage generation circuit drives a first common voltage line that is coupled to the first subset, and a second common voltage generation circuit drives a second common voltage line that is coupled to the second subset. A difference circuit has an input coupled to a first node of a pixel in the first subset, and a further input coupled to a first node of a pixel in the second subset. The difference circuit generates a sensed pixel signal difference. The second common voltage generation uses the sensed difference to compensate for pixel leakage differences between the pixels of the first and second subsets. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shafiq M. Jamal, Yafei Bi
  • Publication number: 20130278581
    Abstract: Methods and devices employing circuitry for quickly discharging pixels of a display before the display is turned off are provided. In one example, a method may include receiving at the electronic display a signal indicating the electronic display will be powered off within a period of time. The method may also include, in response to the signal, causing a frame of pixel data originating from the electronic display to be stored in pixels of the electronic display before the electronic display is powered off. Storing the frame of pixel data in the pixels may inhibit image artifacts from occurring on the electronic display when the electronic display is powered back on in the future.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Brian J. Conner, Hopil Bae, Yafei Bi
  • Publication number: 20130229164
    Abstract: One embodiment of an apparatus to control and sense a voltage through a single node can include a comparator to monitor single node voltage, a transistor to discharge voltage through the single node and control logic. The control logic can have at least two operational phases when actively controlling the voltage through the single node. In a first phase, the control logic can configure the comparator to determine if the single node voltage is greater than a reference voltage. In a second phase, the control logic can configure the transistor to discharge voltage through the single node when the comparator has previously indicated that the single node voltage is greater than a reference voltage. The control logic can alternatively execute first and second phases to discharge the voltage to a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ahmad AL-DAHLE, Yafei BI, Mir B. GHADERI, Wei H. YAO
  • Publication number: 20130194284
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to gamma bus wiring techniques that saves space in a display such as a liquid crystal display. In certain embodiments, a voltage offset associated with gamma bus amplifiers configured to provide analog voltage levels to a pixel may reduce at least some of the visual performance characteristics of the attached display when it transitions between different voltage values provided by different gamma bus amplifiers. The voltage offsets associated with the gamma bus amplifiers may be distributed between multiplexers that are coupled to gamma bus amplifiers by interlacing the wires routed from a resistor string to the multiplexers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Yafei Bi
  • Patent number: 8473069
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods enable robust, reliable control for implantable medical devices, including cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices. Integrated circuits in the devices have minimized interfaces, can derive power from the interface signals, and have high voltage and latch-up protection. A device lead has a power generation circuit and a switching circuit using cascaded PMOS transistors for operating with a stable voltage despite fluctuations in the supplied voltage. The lead has control electronics that provide a very low impedance between an electrode and a lead conductor during most of the duration of a pacing pulse, but during a brief initial portion of the pacing pulse, provide a very high impedance to permit charging up a power supply that is local to the control electronics. A method of stabilizing the external impedance and a system for fault detection and fault recovery for an implantable device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Yafei Bi, Haifeng Li, Mark Zdeblick, Todd Thompson, Robert Leichner
  • Publication number: 20130083457
    Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing a display panel or other patterned device using outer resistive trace(s) patterned on the display panel or other patterned device are provided. Such a system, for example, may include resistance detection circuitry, a grinder, and data processing circuitry. The resistance detection circuitry may detect a resistance of a resistive trace disposed around a display panel. The grinder may grind a first edge of the display panel such that at least part of the resistive trace is grinded away as the first edge of the display panel is grinded. The data processing circuitry may control the grinder to stop grinding the first edge of the display panel when the resistance of the at least one resistive trace increases to a particular resistance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Grey Wurzel, Yafei Bi, Wei H. Yao
  • Publication number: 20130082843
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for detecting display panel or other patterned device fractures or microfractures using outer resistive trace(s) on the display panel or the other patterned device. To provide just one example, a system may include a display and data processing circuitry. The display may include a display panel with an outer resistive trace disposed near edges of the display panel. The display may include discontinuity detection circuitry that can detect the occurrence of a discontinuity of the outer resistive trace. The data processing circuitry may determine whether the display panel is likely to suffer a catastrophic failure based at least in part on the occurrence of the discontinuity. The data processing circuitry may also cause the display to display a user warning when the display panel is likely to suffer the catastrophic failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Grey Wurzel, Yafei Bi, Wei H. Yao
  • Publication number: 20130082973
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to a display deformation detection system that detects display deformations based upon changes in resistance and/or capacitance. In one embodiment, a method includes measuring a baseline comprising a baseline resistance or a baseline capacitance or both of a conductive mesh disposed within or overlaid on the display panel. The method further includes detecting a change in the baseline resistance or the baseline capacitance or both and calculating a change location where the change in the baseline resistance or the baseline capacitance or both occurred. The method also includes calculating a magnitude of the change in the baseline resistance or the baseline capacitance or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Grey Wurzel, Ahmad Al-Dahle, Yafei Bi
  • Publication number: 20130082997
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating whether a display panel is of specified dimensions are provided. Such a system, for example, may include resistance detection circuitry that detects a resistance of at least one resistive trace disposed around a display panel or other patterned device. Data processing circuitry may determine, based at least in part on the detected resistance, whether the display panel is of a specified size or whether the display panel has specified dimensions, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the system may determine whether a touch sensor panel (e.g., a single-sided indium tin oxide (SITO) or double-sided indium tin oxide (DITO) touch sensor panel), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a printed circuit board (PCB), or any other suitable patterned device, is of a specified size or has specified dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Grey Wurzel, Yafei Bi, Wei H. Yao
  • Publication number: 20130076648
    Abstract: Reducing or eliminating the effects of noise that can be generated by a power system of a touch screen device, such as a gate line voltage system that applies voltage to gate lines of the touch screen, is provided. In one example, a power supply, such as a charge pump, can be disabled during active touch sensing, such that noise from the charge pump is not generated during touch sensing. In some examples, a voltage regulator can help to maintain the gate voltage level at or above a desired threshold. In some cases, noise entering the touch sensing system can have a lasting effect on noise-sensitive components, even after the noise source is disabled. In these cases, a post-noise stabilizing system can be included to stabilize, reset, etc., noise-sensitive components of the touch sensing system, which can help to reduce or eliminate the lasting effect of noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Christoph Horst KRAH, Kevin J. White, Yafei Bi
  • Patent number: 8187161
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention enable robust, reliable control functionality for effectors present on intraluminal, e.g., vascular leads, as well as other types of implantable devices. Aspects of the invention include implantable integrated circuits that have self-referencing and self-clocking signal encoding, and are capable of bidirectional communication. Also provided by the invention are effector assemblies that include the integrated circuits, as well as implantable medical devices, e.g., pulse generators that include the same, as well as systems and kits thereof and methods of using the same, e.g., in pacing applications, including cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Proteus Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: Haifeng Li, Mark Zdeblick, Lawrence Arne, Yafei Bi, Nilay Jani, Jonathan Withrington