Apple Patents Granted

Patents granted to Apple by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11997618
    Abstract: A user equipment (UE) is configured to provide a power headroom report (PHR) to a network. The UE receives a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) configuration from a base station of the wireless network, wherein the PUSCH configuration includes a plurality of beams over which PUSCH repetitions should be transmitted, determines at least one power headroom report (PHR) based on a power control parameter set corresponding to at least one of the plurality of beams or PUSCH repetitions and transmits the at least one PHR to the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yushu Zhang, Chunhai Yao, Dawei Zhang, Haitong Sun, Hong He, Seyed Ali Akbar Fakoorian, Sigen Ye, Wei Zeng, Weidong Yang
  • Patent number: 11997620
    Abstract: An apparatus of an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node includes processing circuitry coupled to a memory. To configure the LAB node for inter-IAB node discovery and measurements within an IAB network, the processing circuitry is to encode a first synchronization signal block (SSB-A) for transmission to an access UE using a first frequency resource from a synchronization raster set of frequency resources. A second SSB (SSB-B) is encoded for transmission to a second IAB node using a second frequency resource from an off-raster set of frequency resources. The off-raster set is non-overlapping with the synchronization raster set of frequency resources and the SSB-B being time-division multiplexed with the SSB-A. A measurement report from the second IAB node is decoded. The measurement report is based on the SSB-B and associated with a backhaul link between the IAB node and the second IAB node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dawei Ying, Geng Wu, Lili Wei, Qian Li
  • Patent number: 11997809
    Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for coupling sections of an electronic device together. Sections of an electronic device can be coupled together via “knuckles.” The particular shape and structure of the knuckles can be based on various design considerations. For example, in some embodiments each section can function as an individual antenna. In this case, the knuckles can be designed in order to provide electrical isolation between the sections, thus allowing proper operation of the antennas. For example, the knuckles can be formed from a dielectric material, etc. As another design example, the knuckles can be designed in order to provide increased strength in areas of high strain, and/or to counteract torsional twisting in areas of high impact. As yet another design example, the knuckle can be designed in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing or which otherwise meets cosmetic requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Merz, Daniel Jarvis
  • Patent number: 11996767
    Abstract: A method of adaptively controlling dead time between turn off of a first switching device of an inverter and turn on of a second switching device of the inverter that is a counterpart of the first switching device can include: monitoring a plurality of switching events of at least one of the first and second switching devices, storing for each monitored switching event an indication whether a dead time associated therewith permitted optimal switching, and adaptively controlling the dead time responsive to the stored indications. Monitoring a plurality of switching events of at least one of the first and second switching devices can further include sampling an output voltage of the inverter and comparing the sampled output voltage to one of a high reference voltage corresponding to a high inverter rail voltage and a low reference voltage corresponding to a low inverter rail voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Weihong Qiu, Jun Liu, Jizhen Fu, Zaki Moussaoui
  • Patent number: 11997777
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) robust design for an input device such as a stylus is disclosed. The input device can include one or more components, such as one or more Schottky diodes, that can be damaged by ESD events. To reduce the likelihood of damage to sensitive components, the parasitic capacitance between sensitive conductive paths and reference ground paths of the input device that could otherwise provide electrostatic discharge paths can be reduced (arranging current limiting resistance at specific locations among sensitive components, creating physical separation between sensitive conductive paths and reference ground paths), shielding can be added to shield the sensitive electronics from ESD pulses, and high dielectric breakdown material can be added to prevent ESD pulse entry or exit of not otherwise protected circuit parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin Bechstein, MohammadAli Khorrami, Vipin Ayanoor-Vitikkate, Blake R. Marshall, Zhibin Wang, Ying Cao, Robert Ubo Liu, John Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 11993162
    Abstract: A thermal control system for use during electric battery charging includes a charging station thermally conditioning a fluid and sending the fluid to a charge inlet. The charge inlet thermally conditions the fluid and sends the fluid to one of a thermal loop or a heat exchanger. Another thermal control system includes a charging station thermally conditioning a fluid and sending the fluid to a charge inlet. The charge inlet thermally conditions the fluid and sends the fluid back to the charging station. In another thermal control system, a thermal loop supplies a fluid at a first temperature to a charge inlet. The charge inlet thermally conditions the fluid to a second temperature and returns the fluid to the thermal loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William M. Price, Peteris K. Augenbergs, Wulfer de Bruijn
  • Patent number: 11992116
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a watch body including a touch-sensitive display configured to receive a first input and a first wireless circuit configured to receive a wireless input signal. The wearable electronic device further includes a band coupled to the watch body and configured to attach the watch body to a user and a wireless module coupled to the band and including an input device configured to receive a second input and a second wireless circuit configured to transmit the wireless input signal to the first wireless circuit in response to receiving the second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Perkins, Devon K. Copeland, Erik G. de Jong
  • Patent number: 11997598
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for notification support in extended discontinuous reception mode. A base station and UE may configure eDRX communication. An indication may be received during the eDRX communication. The network may cache the indication. The network may modify the DRX configuration. The network may use a wake up signal. In response, the UE may receive the indication while achieving power savings from the eDRX configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Murtaza A Shikari, Srirang A Lovlekar, Sethuraman Gurumoorthy, Haijing Hu, Fangli Xu, Srinivasan Nimmala, Yuqin Chen, Sree Ram Kodali, Longda Xing, Dawei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11994915
    Abstract: A case can provide a mechanism for securely retaining a stylus with a host device while the stylus is not in use. Such a mechanism can maintain the alignment of the stylus with the host device for attachment, power transfer, and/or communication. The mechanism can further protect the stylus from impact or other external influences. The same mechanism can transition to a lower profile while not retaining the stylus (e.g., while the stylus is in use as an input device for the host device). Such a mechanism can selectably be placed into a configuration that substantially conceals the mechanism, such that it can temporarily appear to be a case or portion of the host device that does not necessarily have a dedicated receptacle for retaining the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammadali Parsian, Nicholas Joseph Ross, Patrick Griffin Skovsted, John Patrick Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11994672
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display that generates light for an optical system that redirects the light towards an eye box. The optical system may include a waveguide, a non-diffractive input coupler, a cross coupler, and an output coupler. The cross coupler may expand the light in a first direction. The cross coupler may perform an even number of diffractions on the light and may couple the light back into the waveguide at an angle suitable for total internal reflection. The output coupler may expand the light in a second direction while coupling the light out of the waveguide. The cross coupler may include surface relief gratings or holographic gratings embedded within the waveguide or formed in a separate substrate. The optical system may direct the light towards the eye box without chromatic dispersion and while supporting an expanded field of view and optical bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Pfeiffer, Francesco Aieta, Se Baek Oh, Friso Schlottau, Adam C. Urness
  • Patent number: 11994865
    Abstract: An autonomous navigation system which enables autonomous navigation of a vehicle along one or more portions of a driving route based on monitoring, at the vehicle, various features of the route as the vehicle is manually navigated along the route to develop a characterization of the route. The characterization is progressively updated with repeated manual navigations along the route, and autonomous navigation of the route is enabled when a confidence indicator of the characterization meets a threshold indication. Characterizations can be updated in response to the vehicle encountering changes in the route and can include a set of driving rules associated with the route, where the driving rules are developed based on monitoring the navigation of one or more vehicles of the route. Characterizations can be uploaded to a remote system which processes data to develop and refine route characterizations and provide characterizations to one or more vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Matthew E Last, Philip J. Sieh, Benjamin Lyon
  • Patent number: 11997609
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques for transmit power control (TPC) in wireless communication systems are described. A described technique performed by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving downlink control information (DCI) messages corresponding to respective physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission occasions; determining power control adjustment states for the PUSCH transmission occasions; and transmitting in the PUSCH transmission occasions in accordance with the power control adjustment states. Determining the power control adjustment states can include selectively applying TPC accumulation. Determining the power control adjustment states can include determining whether a first PUSCH transmission occasion occurs out-of-order with respect to a second PUSCH transmission occasion based on an arrival ordering of the DCI messages, where the first PUSCH transmission occasion occurs before the second PUSCH transmission occasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Toufiqul Islam, Fatemeh Hamidi-Sepehr, Debdeep Chatterjee, Sergey Panteleev
  • Patent number: 11995230
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device selectively de-emphasizes a three-dimensional environment in which content is presented. In some embodiments, an electronic device modifies the boundaries of content in a user interface. In some embodiments, an electronic device shares content with users in a three-dimensional environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley M. Holder, Earl M. Olson, Stephen O. Lemay, Matan Stauber
  • Patent number: 11995253
    Abstract: A controller may have an input device and a sensor adjacent to the input device. The input device may be a touch sensor, a touch screen display, a button, a rotatable knob, or other device that gathers user input. The input device may be reachable by different users occupying different respective seats. The sensor may be an infrared optical sensor that emits infrared light and measures the emitted infrared light after the emitted infrared light has reflected from the hand of a user. The sensor may determine from these hand measurements which of the different users is supplying user input to the input device. Hand distance information and other information on the current user of the input device may also be gathered. The input device may be deployed by an actuator based on hand speed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arian Behzadi, Jeffrey A Sewell, Andrew W Kooker, Kurt R Stiehl
  • Patent number: 11997591
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for differentiating between licensed and unlicensed bands in a common portion of frequency spectrum to facilitate initial access in a fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless communication system having an NR node. The techniques include an NR generating and UE processing frequency configuration information indicating whether the common portion of frequency spectrum is allocated as a licensed band or an unlicensed band to enable a determination that the frequency spectrum is configured as the licensed band or unlicensed band and thereby facilitate initial access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Hong He, Chunhai Yao, Chunxuan Ye, Dawei Zhang, Haitong Sun, Jie Cui, Oghenekome Oteri, Sigen Ye, Wei Zeng, Weidong Yang, Yang Tang, Yushu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11993118
    Abstract: A motion control system that can detect a change in a an operating characteristic and send a stabilizing command to an actuator system based on the change is described. A motion control component in the system includes a first component with an electropermanent magnet having a coil, differing first and second permanent magnet materials, and differing first and second states. The motion control component includes a second component configured to magnetically interact with the first component to define a damping characteristic that affects motion between the first component and the second component and a controller configured to supply a current pulse to the electropermanent magnet to switch the electropermanent magnet between the first and second states. The electropermanent magnet retains the respective first or second state after cessation of the current pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jack Erdozain, Jr., Jeffrey A. Sewell, Johnny L. Wall, Colin Szechy
  • Patent number: 11995272
    Abstract: Touch sensor panels/screens can include negative temperature coefficient materials in the stack-up and routing traces with expanded areas to reduce thermal drift and minimize the detection of false touches. In some examples, the touch sensor panels/screens can include a plurality of touch electrodes in a first layer. In some examples, the sensor panels/screens can include one or more dielectric materials in a second layer, the one or more dielectric materials including a negative temperature coefficient material. In some examples, the touch sensor panels/screens can include a plurality of routing traces in a third layer, the plurality of routing traces routing the plurality of touch electrodes to a touch controller chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Pokhrel, Nandita Venugopal, Supratik Datta
  • Patent number: 11992337
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device including a housing that is worn by a user and a SMI sensor contained within the housing. The SMI sensor may include an emitter that outputs coherent light toward the skin of a user when the housing is worn by the user. The SMI sensor may also include a detector that detects a portion of the coherent light reflected towards the sensor and generates electrical signals that indicate displacements of the skin based on the portion of coherent light received at the detector. The housing may include a transmitter that is operatively coupled with the SMI sensor and is configured to transmit physiological data to a receiving device based on electrical signals output from the SMI sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Mehmet Mutlu, Mengshu Huang, Stephen E. Dey, Yuhao Pan
  • Patent number: 11995263
    Abstract: A touch screen may be formed from a display and perimeter touch electrodes. Touches detected at one or more of the perimeter touch electrodes can be imputed to touch on a region of the display of the touch screen adjacent to the perimeter touch electrodes. In some examples, the perimeter touch electrodes comprise segmented frit metal arranged around the perimeter of the display (e.g., frit metal used to encapsulate the display). In some examples, the perimeter touch electrodes can be coupled to one or more touch sensing circuits via switching circuitry. In some examples, the switching circuitry can be operated based on control signals shared with the display circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hung Sheng Lin, Jun Qi, Hao-Lin Chiu, Sai-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 11992730
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to sharing workout content on electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D'Auria, Jae Woo Chang, Edward Chao, Nathan De Vries, Michael D. Ford, Colin G. McKinstry
  • Patent number: 11994916
    Abstract: This is directed to connecting two or more elements using an intermediate element constructed from a material that changes between states. An electronic device can include one or more components constructed by connecting several elements. To provide a connection having a reduced or small size or cross-section and construct a component having high tolerances, a material can be provided in a first state in which it flows between the elements before changing to a second state in which it adheres to the elements and provides a structurally sound connection. For example, a plastic can be molded between the elements. As another example, a composite material can be brazed between the elements. In some cases, internal surfaces of the elements can include one or more features for enhancing a bond between the elements and the material providing the interface between the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Myers, Mattia Pascolini, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Trent Weber, Robert Schlub, Josh Nickel, Robert Hill, Nanbo Jin, Tang Yew Tan
  • Patent number: 11995171
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to managing access to credentials. In some examples, an electronic device authorizes release of credentials for use in an operation for which authorization is required. In some examples, an electronic device causes display of one or more steps to be taken to enable an input device for user input. In some examples, an electronic device disambiguates between commands to change the account that is actively logged-in on the device and commands to cause credentials to be released from the secure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Van Os, Peter D. Anton, Patrick L. Coffman, Elizabeth Caroline Furches Cranfill, Raymond S. Sepulveda, Chun Kin Minor Wong
  • Patent number: 11995615
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device displays an editable time input element, including a first field and a second field. In some embodiments, the electronic device receives a selection input directed to the editable time input element. In some embodiments, after receiving the selection input, the electronic device receives one or more editing inputs. In some embodiments, in response to receiving the first set of one or more editing inputs, in accordance with a determination that the selection input was a first type of input, the electronic device edits content of the first field based on the one or more editing inputs and in accordance with a determination that the selection input was a second type of input, different from the first type, the electronic device edits content of the first field and the second field based on the one or more editing inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Grant R. Paul, Cas G. Lemmens, Christian X. Dalonzo
  • Patent number: 11995116
    Abstract: A device implementing a multi-user content queue may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive, on the device, a content query and retrieve, from the memory, user account credentials corresponding to user accounts associated with the device. The at least one processor may be further configured to provide, to a server, the user account credentials and the content query. The at least one processor may be further configured to receive, from the server and based on the content query, a user account identifier of one of the user accounts and a content identifier corresponding to content in a content library of the one of the user accounts. The at least one processor may be further configured to utilize the user account identifier and the content identifier for output, by the device, of the content from the content library of the one of the user accounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cody D. Jorgensen, Edward T. Schmidt, Jason P. Ketterman, Michael Gachet
  • Patent number: 11994793
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having one or more end stop bumpers. In some embodiments, the end stop bumper(s) may be at least partially disposed between a suspension platform of a camera and a lateral end stop defined by a stationary structure of the camera. The end stop bumper(s) may be configured to cushion movement of the suspension platform as the suspension platform approaches the lateral end stop. In some embodiments, the end stop bumper(s) may be part of a suspension spring structure coupled to the suspension platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Brad V. Johnson, Nicholas D. Smyth
  • Patent number: 11996707
    Abstract: A wireless power transfer system can include an electronic device including a first wireless power transfer coil and wireless power transfer circuitry coupled to the wireless power transfer coil. The wireless power transfer circuitry can be capable of receiving power and transmitting power wirelessly via the first wireless power transfer coil. The system can further include an accessory device including a second wireless power transfer coil, a rectifier coupled to the second wireless power transfer coil, and an energy storage device coupled to the rectifier by a regulator circuit. The wireless power transfer circuitry can operate in a pulsed or burst wireless power transfer mode to deliver power to the accessory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lixin Shi, Zaki Moussaoui, Weihong Qiu, Zelin Xu, Matthew J Chabalko
  • Patent number: 11995289
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a subscription to a collection of content services and/or applications enables a user to access content through a plurality of content services. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates a process to subscribe to a collection of content services and/or applications. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates a process to unsubscribe from a collection of content services and/or applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nabila Rahman, Josiah Kenneth Slifer, John Nicholas Vidnovic, Bryan James Wegman, Mona Azarians
  • Patent number: 11995457
    Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. Upon receiving a user input requesting that a digital assistant initiate a task, performance of the task is initiated, and a task response is provided. If the digital assistant determines that task is associated with a first user interface, such as a non-digital assistant-specific user interface, the task response is provided using the first user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Neal S. Ellis, Cameron Burgess, Pedro Mari, Michael R. Sumner, Trungtin Tran, James N. Jones
  • Patent number: 11995285
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device emphasizes and/or deemphasizes user interfaces based on the gaze of a user. In some embodiments, an electronic device defines levels of immersion for different user interfaces independently of one another. In some embodiments, an electronic device resumes display of a user interface at a previously-displayed level of immersion after (e.g., temporarily) reducing the level of immersion associated with the user interface. In some embodiments, an electronic device allows objects, people, and/or portions of an environment to be visible through a user interface displayed by the electronic device. In some embodiments, an electronic device reduces the level of immersion associated with a user interface based on characteristics of the electronic device and/or physical environment of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Henderson, Ieyuki Kawashima, Stephen O. Lemay, Israel Pastrana Vicente, Wesley M. Holder, Jeffrey M. Faulkner, William A. Sorrentino, III, Peter D. Anton
  • Patent number: 11995483
    Abstract: An electronic device that is in communication with one or more wearable audio output devices detects occurrence of an event while the one or more wearable audio output devices are being worn by a user. In response to detecting the occurrence of the event, the electronic device outputs, via the one or more wearable audio output devices, one or more audio notifications corresponding to the event, including: in accordance with a determination that the user of the electronic device is currently engaged in a conversation, delaying outputting the one or more audio notifications corresponding to the event until the conversation has ended; and, in accordance with a determination that the user of the electronic device is not currently engaged in a conversation, outputting the one or more audio notifications corresponding to the event without delaying the outputting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Devin W. Chalmers, Sean B. Kelly, Karlin Y. Bark
  • Patent number: 11995783
    Abstract: A first electronic device with one or more processors, memory, one or more cameras, and a display generation component captures, with the one or more cameras, an image of a second electronic device that includes position information displayed via a display generation component of the second electronic device. The position information indicates a location of the second electronic device within an augmented reality environment that includes a physical environment in which the first electronic device and the second electronic device are located. The first electronic device, after capturing the image of the second electronic device that includes the position information, displays, via the display generation component of the first electronic device, one or more virtual objects within the augmented reality (AR) environment using the position information captured from the second electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Praveen Sharma, Fiona P. O'Leary, Joseph A. Malia
  • Patent number: 11996114
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-task machine learning model such as a time-domain deep neural network (DNN) that jointly generate an enhanced target speech signal and target audio parameters from a mixed signal of target speech and interference signal. The DNN may encode the mixed signal, determine masks used to jointly estimate the target signal and the target audio parameters based on the encoded mixed signal, apply the mask to separate the target speech from the interference signal to jointly estimate the target signal and the target audio parameters, and decode the masked features to enhance the target speech signal and to estimate the target audio parameters. The target audio parameters may include a voice activity detection (VAD) flag of the target speech. The DNN may leverage multi-channel audio signal and multi-modal signals such as video signals of the target speaker to improve the robustness of the enhanced target speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Pishehvar, Ante Jukic, Mehrez Souden, Jason Wung, Feipeng Li, Joshua D. Atkins
  • Patent number: 11995301
    Abstract: Methods for displaying user interfaces in a computer-generated environment provide for an efficient and intuitive user experience. In some embodiments, user interfaces can have different immersion levels. In some embodiments, a user interface can have a respective immersion level based on its location in the three-dimensional environment or distance from the user. In some embodiments, a user interface can have a respective immersion level based on the state of the user interface. In some embodiments, a user interface can switch from one immersion level to another in response to the user's interaction with the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hylak, Alexis H. Palangie, Jordan A. Cazamias, Nathan Gitter, Aaron M. Burns
  • Patent number: 11995929
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to support scheduled access control for an electronic lock are described herein. An initiating central wireless device obtains an ephemeral identity resolving key (IRK) to use in resolving an ephemeral resolvable private address (RPA) of a peripheral wireless device. The initiating central wireless device can subsequently connect securely to the peripheral wireless device in order to unlock an electronic lock controlled by the peripheral wireless device to gain access during a scheduled time period. The ephemeral IRK and ephemeral RPA can be used for a limited period of time and/or for a predetermined number of usages during the scheduled time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lochan Verma, Arun Yadav, Joachim S. Hammerschmidt, Ayman F. Naguib, Su Khiong Yong, Yann Ly-Gagnon
  • Patent number: 11995446
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to protecting branch prediction information. In various embodiments, an integrated circuit includes branch prediction logic having a table that maintains a plurality of entries storing encrypted target address information for branch instructions. The branch prediction logic is configured to receive machine context information for a branch instruction having a target address being predicted by the branch prediction logic, the machine context information including a program counter associated with the branch instruction. The branch prediction logic is configured to use the machine context information to decrypt encrypted target address information stored in one of the plurality of entries identified based on the program counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Myers, Jeffry E. Gonion, Yannick L. Sierra, Thomas Icart
  • Patent number: 11994760
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display, a display cover layer, and an image transport layer formed from a coherent fiber bundle. The coherent fiber bundle may be placed between the display and the display cover layer. A gap may separate the coherent fiber bundle from the display cover layer. Adhesive in the gap may attach the coherent fiber bundle to the display cover layer. Molded polymer may be coupled to a bent edge of the display, a portion of the display with backside contacts, or components coupled to the backside contacts or other portions of the display. The molded polymer may support the coherent fiber bundle relative to the cover layer. The molded polymer may be molded to an inner surface of the cover layer and may be used to receive fasteners or otherwise facilitate mounting of housing structures and components in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Barrett, Timothy D. Burks, Tyler R. Kakuda
  • Patent number: 11994906
    Abstract: Flexible electronic devices may be provided. A flexible electronic device may include a flexible display, a flexible housing and one or more flexible internal components configured to allow the flexible electronic device to be deformed. Flexible displays may include flexible display layers, flexible touch-sensitive layers, and flexible display cover layers. The flexible housing may be a multi-stable flexible housing having one or more stable positions. The flexible housing may include a configurable support structure that, when engaged, provides a rigid support structure for the flexible housing. The flexible internal components may include flexible batteries, flexible printed circuits or other flexible components. A flexible battery may include flexible and rigid portions or may include a lubricious separator layer that provides flexibility for the flexible battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Franklin, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Stephen Brian Lynch, John P. Ternus, Justin R. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 11996711
    Abstract: A charger for a battery power system can include first and second switching bridges with inputs couplable to an AC source, at least one transformer having two or more primary windings (connected in series and coupled to the switching bridges) and at least two secondary windings, and second rectifier/chargers, each coupled to at least one of the secondary windings and couplable to at least one battery. The switching bridges may be respectively operable during positive and negative half cycles of the AC source to deliver an AC voltage to the transformer. The rectifier/chargers may be operable in a first mode to receive an AC voltage from the transformer and deliver a DC voltage for charging the respective battery. In some multi-battery embodiments, the rectifier/chargers may also be operable in a second mode to deliver an AC voltage from a respective battery to the transformer to balance charge between the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish K. Sahoo, Brandon Pierquet
  • Patent number: 11996190
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aggregating and sharing wellness data. The wellness data can be received by a user device from any number of sensors external or internal to the user device, from a user manually entering the wellness data, or from other users or entities. The user device can securely store the wellness data on the user device and transmit the wellness data to be stored on a remote database. A user of the device can share some or all of the wellness data with friends, relatives, caregivers, healthcare providers, or the like. The user device can further display a user's wellness data in an aggregated view of different types of wellness data. Wellness data of other users can also be viewed if authorizations from those users have been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aroon Pahwa, Rebecca L. Weber, Divya Nag, Christopher D. Soli, Lawrence Y. Yang, Stephen O. Lemay, Kevin M. Lynch, Stacey F. Lysik, Dylan R. Edwards, Zachury B. Minjack, Zachery W. Kennedy, Adam L. Beberg, Dennis S. Park, Afshad M. Mistri, Anton M. Davydov, Jay K. Blahnik, Christine M. Eun, James H. Foster, Stephanie M. Greer, Daniel S. Keen, Natalia C. Maric, Gregory B. Novick, Michael O'Reilly, Donald W. Pitschel
  • Patent number: 11997496
    Abstract: A device providing temporary pairing for wireless devices may include a memory and at least one processor configured to receive a request to temporarily pair with a wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to pair with the wireless device, wherein the pairing comprises generating a link key for connecting to the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to the wireless device using the link key. The at least one processor may be further configured to initiate a timer upon disconnecting from the wireless device. The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically and without user input, delete the link key when the timer reaches a timeout value without having reconnected to the wireless device using the link key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Natalia A Fornshell, Aarti Kumar, Robert D. Watson, Ariane Cotte, Bob Bradley, Marc J. Krochmal, Kang Sun, Chen Ganir, Sarang S. Ranade, Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 11994694
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first array of emitters disposed on a substrate and configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. A second array of microlenses is positioned on the substrate in alignment with the respective beams of the emitters, having respective sag profiles that vary over an area of the substrate. The second array includes at least first microlenses in a central region of the substrate and second microlenses in a peripheral region of the substrate, such that the first microlenses have respective first focal powers, while the second microlenses have respective second focal powers, which are less than the first focal powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Roei Remez, Keith Lyon, Niv Gilboa, Ronen Akerman, Scott T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11997581
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to enabling direct wireless device-to-device communication between sleepy end devices (SEDs) of a mesh (e.g., Thread®) network. A router may forward packets between end devices of the mesh network. However, if the router is not available, SEDs may not be able to communicate with each other using a mesh protocol. Embodiments presented herein enable end devices of the mesh network to communicate directly, without a router. Some embodiments are directed to changing a role of an end device to temporarily act as a router for a particular target end device. The role change may be based on a trigger event and may be temporary until a target action is performed by the target end device. In some embodiments, the end devices continue to operate as SEDs and use coordinated sampled listening techniques to communicate via the mesh protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Vijayakumari Mahasenan, Sarvesh Kumar Varatharajan, Venkateswara Rao Manepalli, Yaranama Venkata Ramana Dass
  • Patent number: 11997608
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for selecting a low power measurement mode (LPM mode). A wireless device may enter an idle mode, determine that it is stationary, and enter an LPM mode. In the LPM mode, the wireless device may perform cell measurements at a reduced frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sundarraman Balasubramanian, Vijay Venkataraman, Alosious Pradeep Prabhakar, Nordine Kadri, Ali Ehsan, Omar Ali, Youcef Benalia, Jordi Agud Ruiz
  • Patent number: 11997463
    Abstract: A method performed by a programmed processor, the method including receiving an input noise signal, generating, using a machine learning model that has an input based on the input noise signal, a mono audio signal that includes a sound and a spatial parameter for the mono audio signal, and generating spatial audio data by spatially encoding the mono audio signal according to the spatial parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Sheaffer, Yelena V. Menyaylenko
  • Patent number: D1028757
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Abidur Rahman Chowdhury, Clara Geneviève Marine Courtaigne, Markus Diebel, Alexandre B. Girard, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, M. Evans Hankey, Anne-Marie Heck, Moises Hernandez Hernandez, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Kainoa Kwon-Perez, Nicolas Pedro Lylyk, Marc A. Newson, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang
  • Patent number: D1028758
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Abidur Rahman Chowdhury, Clara Geneviève Marine Courtaigne, Markus Diebel, Alexandre B. Girard, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, M. Evans Hankey, Anne-Marie Heck, Moises Hernandez Hernandez, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Kainoa Kwon-Perez, Nicolas Pedro Lylyk, Marc A. Newson, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang
  • Patent number: D1028941
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Abidur Rahman Chowdhury, Clara Geneviève Marine Courtaigne, Markus Diebel, Alexandre B. Girard, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, M. Evans Hankey, Anne-Marie Heck, Moises Hernandez Hernandez, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Kainoa Kwon-Perez, Nicolas Pedro Lylyk, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang
  • Patent number: D1028976
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Marine C. Bataille, Jeremy Bataillou, Abidur Rahman Chowdhury, Clara Geneviève Marine Courtaigne, Markus Diebel, Alexandre B. Girard, Jonathan Gomez Garcia, M. Evans Hankey, Anne-Marie Heck, Moises Hernandez Hernandez, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Julian Jaede, Duncan Robert Kerr, Kainoa Kwon-Perez, Nicolas Pedro Lylyk, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Clement Tissandier, Eugene Antony Whang
  • Patent number: D1029028
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Freddy Anzures, Imran Chaudhri, Alan C. Dye, Bradley William Griffin, Jonathan P. Ive, Tiffany Jon, Chanaka Karunamuni, Nicholas V. King, Daamun Mohseni, Hoan K. Pham, William McMillan Tyler, Wan Si Wan, Giancarlo Yerkes
  • Patent number: D1029030
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alan C. Dye, Behkish Johnnie Manzari, Grant R. Paul, William A. Sorrentino, III, Andre Souza Dos Santos