Apple Patents

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, tablets and personal computers, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac. It also produces the iPod, Apple Watch and Apple TV, as well as the operating systems and applications that support these devices. The company also sells digital content and applications through its iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store and Apple Music.

Apple Patents by Type

  • Apple Patents Granted: Apple patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Apple Patent Applications: Apple patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Patent number: 9686773
    Abstract: To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9686750
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adaptively adjusting temporal parameters such as e.g., wake-up times of digital tracking algorithms (such as timing, frequency and power control). In one exemplary embodiment, wake-up times for tracking loops are based on success/error metrics (e.g., Block Error Rate (BLER), Bit Error Rate (BER), Packet Error Rate (PER), Cyclic Redundancy Checks (CRC), etc.) of one or more previous discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles. In a second embodiment, wake-up times for tracking loops are based on residual frequency and timing errors, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zhu Ji, Jason Shi, Johnson Sebini, Navid Damji, Li Su
  • Patent number: 9686740
    Abstract: Systems and methods that enhance radio link performance in a multi-carrier environment. A method may be performed by a UE that includes scanning a plurality of carrier components for a primary cell, determining a first bandwidth of the primary cell, scanning for a secondary cell, determining a second bandwidth of the secondary cell, determining a maximum aggregated bandwidth by combining the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth and when the maximum aggregated bandwidth exceeds a bandwidth capability of the UE, performing a cell selection procedure to select one of the primary cell or the secondary cell based on a higher of the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Sreevalsan Vallath, Deepankar Bhattacharjee, Navid Damji, Christian W. Mucke, Rafael L. Rivera-Barreto, Tarik Tabet
  • Patent number: 9684547
    Abstract: Techniques for handling security of an application and its extension are described. In one embodiment, an application manager of an operating system running within a data processing system launches an application in a first sandboxed environment based on a first security profile associated with the application. In response to receiving a request from the application for accessing a function of an application extension that is associated with the application, the application manager launches the application extension in a second sandboxed environment based on a second security profile associated with the application extension. The application manager is to individually enforce security and manage resources of the application and the application extension in the first and second sandboxed environments based on the first and second security profiles, respectively. The second security profile specifies resources fewer than the first security profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Krstic, Damien P. Sorresso, Jason C. Beaver, Sophia Teutschler, Ian J. Baird
  • Patent number: 9681759
    Abstract: A display apparatus, such as a table, for display consumer products, such as electronic devices, is disclosed. The table may include a display cavity for displaying products. The display cavity may include a transparent glass panel defining a top portion thereof so as to allow consumers to view products housed within the display cavity. The table may include a lighting system configured to illuminate at least a portion of the display cavity. The table may also include a cooling system for maintaining or modifying the temperature within the display cavity. A rotatable display panel defining at least a portion of the bottom of display cavity may rotate from the bottom of the table to allow a user can access the products within the display cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Schwalbach, David Samuel Kumka, Sheng Yang, David Benjamin Kosecoff, Cheryl Partido Espiritu, Kully Kraig Mandon, Christopher M. Green, Jonathan P. Siegel
  • Patent number: 9682451
    Abstract: Apparatuses, fixtures, methods, and computer program products for disassembling devices are provided. A disassembly apparatus may include first and second disassembly fixtures and an actuator configured to provide a separation force therebetween. Suction may be employed to respectively engage first and second separable portions of a device with the first and second fixtures. Channels defined in an engagement member and surrounded by a sealing member may facilitate such engagement. Further heaters may be employed to loosen a pressure sensitive adhesive or other bonding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Drew A. Podges
  • Patent number: 9682500
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to insert molding methods. The methods involve partially or fully encasing an insert within a thermoplastic material, forming a composite part that includes the insert and the molded thermoplastic material. Methods described provide a number of improvements over traditional insert molding techniques. In specific embodiments, a two-shot molding process is used whereby a first shot is formed on a first portion of the insert and a second shot is formed on a second portion of the insert. The insert molding processes can be performed using a single mold during the first and second injection molding processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Craig M. Stanley
  • Patent number: 9683305
    Abstract: A surface treatment for metal surfaces can be used to create one or more desired effects, such as functional, tactile, or cosmetic effects. In one embodiment, the treatment involves selectively masking a portion of the surface using a photolithographic process. The mask can protect the masked portion of the surface during subsequent treatment processes such as texturizing and anodization. The mask can result in the creation of a surface having contrasting effects. A pattern can be formed by the contrasting effects in the shape of a distinct graphic, such as a logo or text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody R. Akana, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masashige Tatebe
  • Patent number: 9683841
    Abstract: Fabrication of an imaging range finder is disclosed. The range finder can be formed of an imaging lens and an array of emitters and photodetectors in optical communication with the lens. The emitters in the array can be formed to emit light that is directed by the lens toward a target object. The photodetectors in the array can be formed to detect light received from the object through the lens and onto the photodetectors. The lens, the array, or both can be movable to adjust the light emitted by the range finder. The range finder can be formed to find the object's range based on characteristics of the emitted light and/or the detected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Emanuel Last
  • Patent number: 9684341
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device having a flexible display device is disclosed. A request to retrieve information from a server over a wireless network is triggered based on flexing the flexible display device and other gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Vartanian
  • Patent number: 9684184
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an actuator module for optical image stabilization of a lens assembly relative to an image sensor in a camera. In some embodiments, the actuator module includes a coil mounting structure. One or more optical image stabilization (OIS) coils is mounted to the coil mounting structure. The actuator module further includes a lens assembly structure configured to hold a lens assembly. One or more autofocus coils is affixed to the lens assembly structure. The actuator module further includes a spring assembly for coupling the coil mounting structure to the lens assembly structure, such that the lens assembly structure is movable relative to the coil mounting structure. The actuator module further includes a plurality of trapezoidal magnets affixed to the lens assembly structure for magnetic interaction with one or more of the one or more optical image stabilization coils and the one or more autofocus coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Douglas S. Brodie, Aurelien R. Hubert
  • Patent number: 9684196
    Abstract: A display device having a flexured element. More particularly, the display device may incorporate a cover glass with one or more flexure bearing sections. The flexure bearing may permit the cover glass to flex and/or bend in response to stresses or strains while still maintaining contact with an attachment point. If the attachment points have different heights, for example, the cover glass may flex at the flexure bearing, thereby permitting the portion of the cover glass between the attachment points to maintain a relatively planar alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Laura M. DeForest, James M. Cuseo
  • Patent number: 9684501
    Abstract: Methods and systems for associating, in a secure manner, a link between web sites (or other network resources) and installed applications. In one embodiment, a signed list of one or more URLs is downloaded and validated to establish an association, which is stored in a data structure, between a first application and a second application. In response to receiving a selection of a URL in the second application, comparing the selected URL to URLs in the data structure and displaying, in the first application, content of the selected URL in response to determining that at least a prefix portion of the selected URL matches one of the URL associated with the first application in the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Falkenburg, Christopher S. Linn, Maciej Stachowiak, Jonathan Grynspan, Andrew R. Whalley, Robert Bradley, Samuel M. Weinig
  • Patent number: 9684516
    Abstract: A processor may include a physical register file and a register renamer. The register renamer may be organized into even and odd banks of entries, where each entry stores an identifier of a physical register. The register renamer may be indexed by a register number of an architected register, such that the renamer maps a particular architected register to a corresponding physical register. Individual entries of the renamer may correspond to architected register aliases of a given size. Renaming aliases that are larger than the given size may involve accessing multiple entries of the renamer, while renaming aliases that are smaller than the given size may involve accessing a single renamer entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Han Lien
  • Patent number: 9684521
    Abstract: A software application includes a plurality of views and an application state. The method includes displaying one or more views, where a respective view includes a respective gesture recognizer having a corresponding delegate to the respective gesture recognizer. The method includes detecting one or more events and processing a respective event of the one or more events using the respective gesture recognizer. The processing of the respective event includes processing the respective event at the respective gesture recognizer in accordance with a respective gesture definition corresponding to the respective gesture recognizer, executing the corresponding delegate to determine one or more values, and conditionally sending information corresponding to the respective event to the software application in accordance with the one or more values determined by the delegate. The method includes executing the software application in accordance with information, received from the respective gesture recognizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Joshua H. Shaffer, Bradford Allen Moore, Jason Clay Beaver
  • Patent number: 9684394
    Abstract: Button functionalities for user interfaces, e.g., for use with a portable multifunction device, are disclosed. Exemplary button functionalities are described for an electronic device with a display, a rotatable and depressible input mechanism, and/or a button. Different device features may be accessed, depending on whether the rotatable and depressible input mechanism or the button is activated, and further depending on whether the activation represents a single press, a double press, or an extended press on the rotatable and depressible input mechanism or the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Patrick Foss, Anton M. Davydov, Dylan Ross Edwards, Imran Chaudhri, Alan C. Dye, Jonathan P. Ive, Stephen O. Lemay, Kevin Lynch, Lawrence Y. Yang, Dennis S. Park
  • Patent number: 9684646
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to implementing changes to a data structure, such as a formula, in a collaborative context. In certain embodiments, collaborative changes made to a formula containing references to other portions of a table are retained or account for when an undo operation is performed. In one aspect, unique identifiers are used to identify and track table features, such as columns, rows, or cells, which may be moved, deleted, or created during a collaborative session. In some instances, collaborative changes may be logged for later application or applied to commands in an undo stack to prevent loss of changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jeremy Coblenz, Shawn Patrick Flisakowski
  • Patent number: 9684436
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing graphical user interfaces are described. To provide greater access and consolidation to frequently used items in the graphical user interface, a userbar is established which includes a plurality of item representations. To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bas Ording, Steven P. Jobs, Donald J. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 9686738
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus that enable and optimize the simultaneous operation of several wireless femtocells having overlapping coverage areas. In one embodiment of the invention, a resource allocation (e.g., time-frequency grid for an OFDM or TDMA based wireless network) governs the simultaneous operation of several femtocells with overlapping coverage areas by specifying uses for resources. A resource allocation unit (RAU) entity is disclosed for managing and modifying resource allocations for femtocells. The community of femtocells can flexibly share resources according to the time-frequency grid, thereby maximizing spectral efficiency without requiring substantial network overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Maik Bienas, Hyung-Nam Choi, Andreas Schmidt, Achim Luft, Markus Mueck
  • Patent number: 9684431
    Abstract: Among other things, a method includes receiving, from a user of a user interface of a media authoring application, first settings specifying a destination for media content authored in the media authoring application, the destination selected from a set of destinations supported by the media authoring application, and second settings specifying a set of media characteristics of media content authored in the media authoring application, and generating data representing a user interface element usable to provide media content authored in the media authoring application to the destination specified in the first settings at the set of media characteristics specified in the second settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Colleen M. Pendergast, Daniel I. Lipton, Giovanni Agnoli, Harita J. Patel
  • Patent number: 9685469
    Abstract: A display may have an array of pixels controlled by display driver circuitry. The pixels may have pixel circuits. In liquid crystal display configurations, each pixel circuit may have an electrode that applies electric fields to an associated portion of a liquid crystal layer. In organic light-emitting diode displays, each pixel circuit may have a drive transistor that applies current to an organic light-emitting diode in the pixel circuit. The pixel circuits and display driver circuitry may have thin-film transistor circuitry that includes transistor such as silicon transistors and semiconducting-oxide transistors. Semiconducting-oxide transistors and silicon transistors may be formed on a common substrate. Semiconducting-oxide transistors may have polysilicon layers with doped regions that serve as gates. Semiconducting-oxide channel regions overlap the gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jungbae Kim, Kyung-Wook Kim, Shih Chang Chang, Ting-Kuo Chang, Ton-Yong Wang
  • Patent number: 9684440
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving and displaying images or sending the images for display include images having multiple key images of an object. Each key image depicts a perspective view of an item from a different angle around the object. The multiple key images are displayed in a gallery view. During the gallery view, multiple supplementary images are received or sent. Each supplementary image includes a perspective view of the object from an angle between adjacent angles used for the key images. After transmission of at least some of the supplementary images, the key images and the supplementary images are mixed into a rotational view of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Maxim V. Stepanov, Christian E. Porter
  • Patent number: 9684942
    Abstract: Video data and auxiliary data may be sent between a processor and a display device via a single cable using a link aggregator. As such, the link aggregator may receive a first parallel signal that may include the video data and a second parallel signal that may include auxiliary data from the processor. The link aggregator may then send the first parallel signal and the second parallel signal as an aggregated signal to the display device. Upon receiving the aggregated signal at the display device, the link aggregator may de-aggregate the aggregated signal into the first parallel signal and the second parallel signal. The link aggregator may then send the first parallel signal and the second parallel signal to a timing controller of the display device, such that the timing controller may display the video data using the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sreeraman Anantharaman, Colin Whitby-Strevens
  • Patent number: 9684801
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program that provides data protection for a device when synchronizing a set of keychains stored on the device with a set of other devices. The program receives keychain data for synchronizing the set of keychains stored on the device with the set of other devices. The keychain data is specified as belonging to a protection domain. The program determines whether a set of conditions defined for the protection domain is satisfied. When the set of conditions is determined as satisfied, the program allows access to the keychain data in order to process the keychain data and synchronize the set of keychains stored on the device with the set of other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Brouwer, Dallas B. De Atley, Mitchell D. Adler
  • Patent number: 9684999
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing easily computable representations of dynamic objects so that a graphic systems' physics engine can more accurately and realistically determine the result of physical actions on, or with, such dynamic objects. More particularly, disclosed techniques generate a convex decomposition of an arbitrarily complex polygonal shape that is then simplified in a manner that preserves physically significant details, resulting in an object having a relatively small number of convex shapes that cover the original polygonal shape. The salience of a physically significant detail may be controlled via a threshold value which may be user or system specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Domenico P. Porcino, Jacques P. Gasselin de Richebourg, Norman N. Wang, Timothy R. Oriol
  • Patent number: 9685004
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of image processing in an augmented reality application is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing at least one image of a real environment; performing image processing in an augmented reality application with the at least one image employing visualization of overlaying digital information with visual impressions or the image of the real environment and employing vision-based processing or tracking; and adjusting at least one of a parameter and operating flow of the vision-based processing or tracking depending on at least one of the following: a usage of the image processing, a usage of the visualization, a visually perceivable property of the digital information or the real environment, a property of a display device employed in the visualization, or a manner in which a user is viewing the visualization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lejing Wang, Selim BenHimane
  • Patent number: 9685425
    Abstract: An integrated circuit package may have a package substrate with a surface to which an integrated circuit die is soldered. A first set of contacts on the package substrate may mate with contacts on the integrated circuit die. Solder may be used to connect the integrated circuit die to the first set of contacts. A covering material such as a plastic mold cap may be used to cover the integrated circuit die and the first set of contacts. The mold cap may have a rectangular shape or other footprint. A rectangular ring-shaped border region or a border region of other shapes may surround the mold cap and may be free of mold cap material. A second set of contacts on the package substrate may be formed on the surface in the border region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Matthias Sauer
  • Patent number: 9684429
    Abstract: An electronic device displays a first application on the touch-sensitive display, the first application being one of a plurality of concurrently open applications on the electronic device. The device detects a first input and in response, displays a multitasking user interface that is configured to select an open application for viewing and is also configured to select one of a plurality of contactable users to communicate with. The multitasking user interface includes a set of open application affordances, wherein activation of a respective open application affordance selects a corresponding open application in the plurality of concurrently open applications for viewing, and a first set of contactable-user affordances, wherein activation of a respective contactable-user affordance initiates a process for communicating with a corresponding contactable-user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Imran Chaudhri
  • Patent number: 9685486
    Abstract: A display may have an array of pixels formed from organic light-emitting diodes of different colors. Each organic light-emitting diode may have an anode, a cathode, and an emissive layer between the anode and cathode. To prevent undesired color shifts with off-axis viewing angles, evaporated color filters may be formed on the cathode in alignment with the light-emitting diodes. The color filters may include red color filters that overlap the red diodes but not the green and blue diodes, may include red, blue, and green filters that overlap respective red, green, and blue diodes, or may include an orange filter that overlaps red and green diodes and a blue filter that overlaps blue diodes. The color filters may serve as a capping layer for the diodes or a capping layer that is separate from the color filters can be incorporated into the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang Ohk Cheon, Rui Liu, Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9685635
    Abstract: A display may have thin-film transistor circuitry on a substrate. An array of organic light-emitting diodes may be formed on the thin-film transistor circuitry. The organic light-emitting diodes may have anodes, cathodes, and emissive material located between the anodes and cathodes. A circular polarizer may be formed over the array of organic light-emitting diodes. The circular polarizer may include a linear polarizer and a quarter wave plate. The linear polarizer may be formed from one or more film layers having narrowband dichroic dyes so that the polarizer exhibits transmission peaks aligned with a selected subset of wavelengths and absorbance notches corresponding to the selected subset of wavelengths. The selected subset of wavelengths may cover the ranges where the light-emitting diodes are outputting light. Configured in this way, the polarizer will exhibit enhanced luminance at the desired wavelengths while suppressing ambient light reflections at other wavelengths in the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques P. Drolet
  • Patent number: 9685880
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a winding portion and a core portion. The winding portion can be embedded within a plurality of layers of a system printed circuit board. The core portion can be located within one or more elements of the power conversion device that are separate from the system printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Sunil M. Akre
  • Patent number: 9686681
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing efficient communications between two mobile stations served by the same base station or relay station are provided. A base station maintains information identifying which mobile stations it is serving. When a connection is set up between two mobile stations, if they are both being served by the same base station, the base station forwards traffic directly between the two mobile stations without forwarding it on to higher level network entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hang Zhang, Peiying Zhu, Wen Tong, Nimal Gamini Senarath, Derek Yu
  • Patent number: 9685557
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating thin-film transistors (TFTs) for an LCD having an array of pixels. The method includes depositing a first photoresist layer over a portion of a TFT stack. The TFT stack includes a conductive gate layer, and a semiconductor layer. The method also includes doping the exposed semiconductor layer with a first doping dose. The method further includes etching a portion of the conductive gate layer to expose a portion of the semiconductor layer, and doping the exposed portion of the semiconductor layer with a second doping dose. The method also includes removing the first photoresist layer, and depositing a second photoresist layer over a first portion of the doped semiconductor layer in an active area of the pixels to expose a second portion of the doped semiconductor layer in an area surrounding the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ho Yu, Young Bae Park, Shih Chang Chang, Ting-Kuo Chang, Shang-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 9685814
    Abstract: An inductive charging system can include a transmitter device and a receiver device. The transmitter device may be adapted to detect when a receiver coil in the receiver device is coupled to a transmitter coil in the transmitter device. For example, the current input into a DC-to-AC converter in the transmitter device can be measured and coil coupling detected when the current equals or exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Todd K. Moyer, Chad A. Bossetti, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 9685690
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display. A display cover layer and a transparent inner display member may overlap a display pixel layer. The display pixel layer may have an array of display pixels for displaying images for a user. A touch sensor layer may be interposed between the display pixel layer and the transparent display member. A ferromagnetic shielding layer may be mounted below the display pixel layer. A flexible printed circuit containing coils of metal signal lines that form a near-field communications loop antenna may be interposed between the ferromagnetic shielding layer and the display pixel layer. A non-near-field antenna such as an inverted-F antenna may have a resonating element mounted on an inner surface of the display cover layer. The resonating element may be interposed between the transparent display member and the display cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Miroslav Samardzija, Yiren Wang, Yuehui Ouyang, Joseph Hakim, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Ruben Caballero, Siwen Yong, Erik G. de Jong
  • Patent number: 9686556
    Abstract: System and method for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding pipeline used to encode image data. In embodiments, the video encoding pipeline includes bit-rate statistics generation that is useful for controlling subsequent bit rates and/or determining encoding operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jim C. Chou, Weichun Ku
  • Patent number: 9686061
    Abstract: International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Advanced technology, also known as 4th Generation (4G) targets to support up to 100 MHz BW. LTE currently supports single carrier bandwidths of up to 20 MHz. The present application describes a multi-carrier approach in which some embodiments of the invention provide a simple solution of aggregating multiple single carrier bandwidths to obtain a wider bandwidth (>20 MHz). Such an approach may extend Long Term Evolution (LTE) bandwidth to greater than that provided by a single carrier, yet maintain full backward compatibility with technologies that predate 4G technology and utilize smaller, single carrier bandwidths. More generally, embodiments of the invention can apply to other communication standards than only LTE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jianglei Ma, Hang Zhang, Ming Jia, Wen Tong, Hua Xu, Peiying Zhu
  • Patent number: 9686076
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for storing and controlling access control clients. In one embodiment, transmitting and receiving devices ensure that only one copy of an eSIM is active at any time. Specifically, each transferred eSIM is encrypted for the destination device; the eSIM from the source device is deleted, deactivated, or otherwise rendered unusable. Various aspects of network infrastructure are also described, including electronic Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) appliances, and mobile devices. Various scenarios for transfer of eSIMs are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jerrold Von Hauck, David T. Haggerty, Kevin McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 9686469
    Abstract: A digital camera having a plurality of photography modes, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system for imaging a scene onto the image sensor; an image capture control for initiating an image capture operation; a photography mode user interface for selecting between a plurality of photography modes, the photography modes having associated image capture and image processing settings; a power control for turning the digital camera on or off, wherein when the camera is in an off state and the power control is activated with a first activation pattern the digital camera is turned on and set to operate in a default photography mode and when the power control is activated with a second activation pattern the digital camera is turned on and set to operate in a previously selected photography mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Razavi, Bruce H. Pillman, Kenneth A. Parulski
  • Patent number: 9685981
    Abstract: Systems and method for improving operation of a radio frequency system are provided. One embodiment provides a radio frequency system that includes a first amplifier unit with a first logic gate, which receives an input analog electrical signal and a first bit of an amplifier control signal that enables or disables the first amplifier unit, and a first switching power amplifier that generates a first output analog electrical signal when enabled. The radio frequency system further includes a second amplifier unit with a second logic gate, which receives the input analog electrical signal and a second bit of the amplifier control signal that enables or disables the second amplifier unit, and a second switching power amplifier that generates a second output analog electrical signal when enabled. The first amplifier unit and the second amplifier unit are electrically coupled to enable the first output analog electrical signal and the second output analog electrical signal to be combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ehsan Adabi, Albert C. Jerng
  • Patent number: D789800
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Cernokus, Mark T. Uyeda
  • Patent number: D789822
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Marc A. Newson, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D789924
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D789926
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Steven P. Jobs, Duncan Robert Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Douglas B. Satzger, Calvin Q. Seid, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D789927
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D789934
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Akana, Molly Anderson, Bartley K. Andre, Shota Aoyagi, Anthony Michael Ashcroft, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, M. Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Duncan Robert Kerr, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Benjamin Andrew Shaffer, Mikael Silvanto, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whang, Rico Zörkendörfer
  • Patent number: D789960
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Sebastian Johannes Bauer, Jonathan Dascola, Craig M. Federighi, Christopher Foss, Jonathan P. Ive, Chanaka Karunamuni, Stephen O. Lemay
  • Patent number: D789964
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Apodaca, Imran Chaudhri, Raymond Sepulveda
  • Patent number: D789969
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Imran Chaudhri, Jonathan P. Ive
  • Patent number: D789989
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel van Os, Chun Kin Minor Wong