Search Patents
  • Apparatus and method for increasing a digital camera image capture rate by delaying image processing
    Patent number: 5867214
    Abstract: An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate comprises an imaging device for capturing raw image data, a frame buffer for receiving the image data, a first RAM spooler for transferring the raw image data to a RAM disk, a first flash spooler for transferring the raw image data from the RAM disk to a flash memory, an image processor for processing and compressing the raw data, a second RAM spooler for storing the compressed image data into the RAM disk, and a second flash spooler for transferring the compressed image data from the RAM disk to the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Mike M. Masukawa
  • Execution control for processor tasks
    Patent number: 7805727
    Abstract: Method, system and means are provided for simultaneous activation/deactivation of a set of tasks by a processor, each of the tasks normally executed in a sequential fashion by one or more processors. A list of tasks to be activated/deactivated is stored, including the timing relationship for the activation process. The list is then implemented as frame numbers for activation and requested state in the actual task list. The executing processor compares the requested state to the actual state for each task, and if different, compares the value of the activation frame with the current frame. If the current frame equals or exceeds the activation frame, then the requested active state is transferred to the actual state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Hugh B. Svendsen
  • Converged computer I/O system and bridging mechanism for peer-to-peer communication
    Patent number: 8976799
    Abstract: A high-speed I/O interface that allows a number of native I/O formats to be encapsulated into PCIe Vendor Defined Messages (“VDMs”) for transfer over a single physical medium, preferably optical, and is thus referred to as the converged I/O (“CIO”) interface. The devices can be designed to provide synchronization (time value, frequency, and phase) among a network of routers, with signal paths of several meters, thereby providing an accurate time base suitable for exacting audiovisual applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Baker, Michael W. Murphy, Eric Werner Anderson, Colin Whitby-Strevens, David Ferguson, Keith Diefendorff, Ron Hochsprung, William Cornelius
  • Cooperative evidence gathering
    Patent number: 10198773
    Abstract: In an approach to cooperative evidence gathering, a first computing device receives a request for data corresponding to an event, where a second computing device detecting the event initiates the request for data. The first computing device aggregates data from one or more sensors, the one or more sensors associated with one or more first computing devices within a proximity of a location of the event. The first computing device determines whether at least a portion of the aggregated data is applicable to the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Justin G. Manweiler, Jan S. Rellermeyer, Eric J. Rozner, James Xenidis
  • System and method for displaying and manipulating image data sets
    Patent number: 5917488
    Abstract: A system for displaying and manipulating image data sets includes a display device, a memory, and a processing unit. The memory includes a view management unit that generates a graphical window showing thumbnail representations of programmed groups. A method for displaying and manipulating image data sets includes the steps of generating a first graphical window showing thumbnail representations of programmed groups, generating a second graphical window showing thumbnail representations of data objects contained in a programmed group selected from the first graphical window, and invoking an application program in response to the selection of a thumbnail representation of a data object from the second graphical window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, John Y. Wang, Manchuen Dino Tang
  • System and method for managing utilization of a battery
    Patent number: 6233016
    Abstract: A power supply provides a voltage to a digital camera. If the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined threshold, a voltage sensor generates a signal to a power manager. In response, the power manager configures the camera into a lower power consumption state. As the power source weakens further, the power manager continues to place the camera into a lower and lower power consumption state, until the power source is exhausted. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of monitoring the power source's voltage, generating a signal if that voltage falls below a pre-determined threshold, and reducing the camera's power consumption in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Scott F. Fullam
  • System and method for managing utilization of a battery
    Patent number: 5963255
    Abstract: A power supply provides a voltage to a digital camera. If the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined threshold, a voltage sensor generates a signal to a power manager. In response, the power manager configures the camera into a lower power consumption state. As the power source weakens further, the power manager continues to place the camera into a lower and lower power consumption state, until the power source is exhausted. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of monitoring the power source's voltage, generating a signal if that voltage falls below a pre-determined threshold, and reducing the camera's power consumption in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Scott F. Fullam
  • Removable computer core with retractable handle mechanism
    Patent number: 6565167
    Abstract: A computer system comprising a casing enclosing a computer core unit and a latching system including a handle mechanism for removably securing the computer core unit within the casing; wherein the handle mechanism is configured in a first position for securing the core unit into the casing and in a second position for removing the core unit from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Miller, Steve Holmes, Matt Rohrbach, Rick Mariano, Sung Kim, Perry Anderson, Eric Knopf
  • Elimination of visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor
    Patent number: 5809178
    Abstract: A method and system eliminates visible quantizing artifacts in a digital image. The present invention eliminates visible artifacts by determining a function descriptive of a noise model for an input source of image data, utilizing a critical noise/quantizing factor in conjunction with the noise model function to determine a quantization function, and deriving optimum coding for the image data from the quantization function to produce digital image data lacking visible quantization artifacts. The critical noise/quantizing factor is a constant value found to be a value of 3/8. The present invention further includes deriving inverse coding for the optimum coding to allow processing of the digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, George W. Dalke
  • Audio functional unit and system and method for configuring the same
    Patent number: 5689534
    Abstract: The audio system having a master clock, a serial port clocked according to a serial clock from the audio system, a programmable audio functional circuitry programmable and operable at a plurality of sample rates, and a rate selection control logic which sense a ratio between the serial clock and the master clock. The serial clock is derived from the master clock. The rate selection control logic reprograms the audio functional circuitry based on the ratio, to operate at one of the plurality of sample rates in response to a change in the clock rate of the serial clock, such that the audio functional circuitry operates at another of the plurality of sample rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, David F. Wilson, William V. Oxford
  • Method and system for coherent image group maintenance in memory
    Patent number: 6141044
    Abstract: A method and system for maintaining coherent image relationships within identified image groups in a memory system of a digital image capture device includes storing a plurality of groups of related images on a removable storage device in a hierarchical manner, and providing an alias identifier for an image file when the removable storage device has reached its storage capacity, wherein the alias identifier identifies the image file stored in a storage device of the digital image capture device. The method and system further includes providing the image file with a same file name and a substitute extension designation to correlate the image file on the storage device with an empty file of the same name on the removable storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Mike Masukawa
  • System and method for conserving power within a backup battery device
    Patent number: 5784629
    Abstract: A system and method for conserving power within a backup battery device comprises a main battery for generating a main operating voltage and a secondary operating voltage, a switching device for connecting the main operating voltage to a secondary power bus which powers a memory device, and a power manager for sensing whenever the main battery drops to a first threshold voltage, whereupon the power manager connects the secondary operating voltage to the secondary power bus if the memory device contains data, and disconnects the main operating voltage from the secondary power bus. The backup battery generates the secondary operating voltage whenever the power manager senses that the main battery has reached a second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Scott F. Fullam
  • System and method for double fault protection within a digital camera device
    Patent number: 5949160
    Abstract: The invention comprises a battery coupled to a power bus, an external power connector coupled to the power bus for receiving an external power plug, and two switching devices for disconnecting the battery from the power bus when the external power plug is coupled to the connector. The battery supplies power to the camera unless the external power plug is coupled to the connector. Upon coupling of the external power plug to the connector, the two switching devices, which are positioned in series between the negative terminal of the battery and the system ground, are opened. The opening of the two switching devices disconnects the battery from the power bus and connector to prevent damage which could be caused by applying an externally supplied voltage from the external power plug across the positive and negative terminals of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Scott F. Fullam
  • Apparatus and method for allocating processing time in a frame-based computer system
    Patent number: 5628013
    Abstract: In a computer system having a digital signal processor for processing tasks in real-time within a series of frames, a method is described for determining whether there is enough processing time available within each frame to process the task such that the frame's total processing time is not exceeded. First, the task's processing time requirement is determined. The time for executing the current task list is then calculated. Next, the remaining amount of processing time available in the frame is determined. This is accomplished by subtracting the current task list execution time from the frame's total processing time. The new task is installed in the task list if the frame's available processing time is at least as great as the task's required processing time. Otherwise, the task is not installed in the task list and an error indication is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, A. Phillip Sohn, Hugh B. Svendsen
  • Apparatus and method for increasing a digital camera image capture rate by delaying image processing
    Patent number: RE39213
    Abstract: An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate comprises an imaging device for capturing raw image data, a frame buffer for receiving the image data, a first RAM spooler for transferring the raw image data to a RAM disk, a first flash spooler for transferring the raw image data from the RAW disk to a flash memory, an image processor for processing and compressing the raw data, a second RAM spooler for storing the compressed image data into the RAM disk, and a second flash spooler for transferring the compressed image data from the RAM disk to the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Mike M. Masukawa
  • System and method for using a scripting language to set digital camera device features
    Patent number: RE40865
    Abstract: A system and method for using scripts and selectable feature parameters to configure digital camera device features. The digital camera includes memory storing scripts for providing digital camera device features, an interface enabling a user to modify feature settings, a port connectable to a host computer for modifying or adding scripts to the memory, and a script manager for interpreting the scripts and the feature settings. The digital camera further includes an imaging device for generating a digitized image, and image processors for enhancing the digitized image according to the scripts and the selected feature settings. The digital camera still further includes command handlers for configuring the imaging device and the image processors according to the scripts and the feature settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Apparatus and method for rotating the display orientation of a captured image
    Patent number: RE42639
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises an image sensor, an orientation sensor, a memory and a processing unit. The image sensor is used for generating captured image data. The orientation sensor is coupled to the image sensor, and is used for generating signals relating to the position of the image sensor. The memory, has an auto-rotate unit comprising program instructions for transforming the captured image data into rotated image data in response to the orientation sensor signals. The processing unit, executes program instructions stored in the memory, and is coupled to the image sensor, the orientation sensor and the memory. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of: generating image data representative of an object with an image sensor; identifying an orientation of the image sensor relative to the object during the generating step; and selectively transferring the image data to an image processing unit in response to the identifying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Apparatus and method for handling digital image data
    Patent number: RE42779
    Abstract: An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate comprises an imaging device for capturing raw image data, a frame buffer for receiving the image data, a first RAM spooler for transferring the raw image data to a RAM disk, a first flash spooler for transferring the raw image data from the RAM disk to a flash memory, an image processor for processing and compressing the raw data, a second RAM spooler for storing the compressed image data into the RAM disk, and a second flash spooler for transferring the compressed image data from the RAM disk to the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Mike M. Masukawa
  • Electronic device with graphical user interface
    Patent number: D873284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Dascola, Lynne Devine, Alan C. Dye, Julian Hoenig, Jonathan P. Ive, Chanaka Karunamuni, William McMillan Tyler, Marcel van Os, Wan Si Wan, Christopher Wilson, Eric Lance Wilson, Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniele De Iuliis, Markus Diebel, M. Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Joe Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Housing module for an electronic device
    Patent number: D947849
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Eric Wesley Bates, Abidur Rahman Chowdhury, Clara Geneviève Marine Courtaigne, Markus Diebel, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, M. Evans Hankey, Matthew David Hill, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Benjamin Jordan Kallman, Duncan Robert Kerr, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Sung-Ho Tan, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
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