Apple Patents Roundup [September 18]

  • September 19, 2012

Apple has been granted a number of patents from the USPTO on 18the September. I’ve provided brief out lines of some of the Apple patents.


8,269,727

Irregular input identification

BACKGROUND

The subject matter described and claimed herein is related to the subject matter described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,846, issued 27 Nov. 2001, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Integrating Manual Input” by W. Westerman and J. Elias and which is hereby incorporated by reference as well.

The invention relates generally to data input methods and devices for electronic equipment and, more particularly, to methods and devices for discriminating between various inputs to a multi-touch touch-surface input device.

There currently exist many types of input devices for performing operations with an electronic system. These operations often correspond to moving a cursor and/or making selections on a display screen. Illustrative electronic systems include tablet, notebook, desktop and server computer systems, personal digital assistants, audio and video control systems, portable music and video players and mobile and satellite telephones. The use of touch pad and touch screen systems (collectively “touch-surfaces” has become increasingly popular in these types of electronic systems because of their ease of use and versatility of operation.

One particular type of touch-surface is the touch screen. Touch screens typically include a touch panel, a controller and a software driver. The touch panel is characteristically an optically clear panel with a touch sensitive surface that is positioned in front of a display screen so that the touch sensitive surface is coextensive with a specified portion of the display screen’s viewable area (most often, the entire display area). The touch panel registers touch events and sends signals indicative of these events to the controller. The controller processes these signals and sends the resulting data to the software driver. The software driver, in turn, translates the resulting data into events recognizable by the electronic system (e.g., finger movements and selections).

Unlike earlier input devices, touch-surfaces now becoming available are capable of simultaneously detecting multiple objects as they approach and/or contact the touch-surface, and detecting object shapes in much more detail. To take advantage of this capability, it is necessary to measure, identify and distinguish between the many kinds of objects that may approach or contact such touch-surfaces simultaneously. Prior art touch-surface systems (including their supporting software and/or circuitry) do not provide a robust ability to do this. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide methods and devices that identify and discriminate multiple simultaneous hover or touch events such as, for example, two or more closely grouped fingers, palm heels from one or more fingers, fingers from thumbs, and fingers from ears and cheeks.

INVENTION

In one embodiment the invention provides a method to process a proximity image from a multi-touch touch surface. The method includes obtaining a dispersion image having a plurality of pixels, determining an irregularity measure value for the dispersion image and controlling the operation of a multi-touch touch-surface device if the irregularity measure value is above a specified threshold. In one embodiment, the irregularity measure is determined for the entire proximity image. In another embodiment, an irregularity measure is determined for one or more regions within the image (e.g., patches). Device control may be manifested through, for example, changing the device’s operating mode (e.g., off to on) or ignoring the identified irregular object so that it does not cause a change in the device’s operating state.

Illustrative multi-touch touch-surface devices include, but are not limited to, tablet computer systems, notebook computer systems, portable music and video systems and mobile telephones. Methods in accordance with any of the described methodologies may be stored in any media that is readable and executable by a programmable control device such as, for example, by a general purpose computer processor.

 

8,272,048

Restriction of program process capabilities

INVENTION

This document describes systems and methods for restricting program process capabilities. In some implementations, the capabilities are restricted by limiting the rights or privileges granted to an application. A plurality of rules may be established for a program, or for a group of programs, denying that program the right to take actions which are outside of the actions needed to implement its intended functionality. A security policy is implemented to test actions initiated in response to an application against the rules to enable decisions restricting the possible actions of the program. Embodiments are disclosed which process the majority of decisions regarding actions against a security profile through use of a virtual machine. In some embodiments, the majority of decisions are resolved within the kernel space of an operating system.

 

 

Apple Touch Patent

 

 

8,271,812

Hardware automatic performance state transitions in system on processor sleep and wake events

INVENTION

In an embodiment, a power management unit (PMU) may automatically transition (in hardware) the performance states of one or more performance domains in a system. The target performance states to which the performance domains are to transition may be programmable in the PMU by software, and software may signal the PMU that a processor in the system is to enter the sleep state. The PMU may control the transition of the performance domains to the target performance states, and may cause the processor to enter the sleep state. In an embodiment, the PMU may be programmable with a second set of target performance states to which the performance domains are to transition when the processor exits the sleep state. The PMU may control the transition of the performance domains to the second targeted performance states and cause the processor to exit the sleep state.

 

8,271,705

Dual key electronic connector

INVENTION

A connector interface system for a communication device is disclosed. The interface includes a docking connector. The docking connector includes first make/last break contacts that minimize internal damage to the internal electronics. The docking connector also includes specific keying arrangement to prevent noncompliant connectors from being plugged in, and thereby minimizes potential damage to the multi-communication device. The connector interface system also includes a remote connector which provides for the ability to output audio, input audio, provides I/O serial protocol, and to provide an output video. Embodiments of the present invention allow for a standard headphone cable to be plugged in but also for special remote control cables, microphone cables, video cables could be utilized in such a system. The connector interface system also includes a serial protocol to control device features. These controls help a user sort and search for data more efficiently within the device.

 

8,271,670

Method and apparatus for media data transmission

INVENTION

Methods and apparatuses for processing media data transmitted in a data communication medium. A digital processing system is provided with a time related sequence of media data provided to the digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein the set of data indicates a method to transmit the time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, itself, is a time related sequence of data associated with the time related sequence of media data. The time related sequence of media data may be presented and/or stored by the digital processing system.

 

8,271,470

Auto-activation of fonts

INVENTION

A method and an apparatus that search for font data associated with an electronic document in a system in response to a font request are described. A font search is automatically activated when a requested font is determined not yet registered in a system. As a result of the font search, a requested font may be registered into a system. If a font search cannot locate a requested font in local storages and remote systems, a replacement for the requested font is selected from registered fonts. A replacement font may be one of the registered fonts most similar to the requested font according to a similarity measurement based on font attributes.

 

8,271,114

Protocol for remote user interface for portable media device

INVENTION

Remote user interfaces for portable media devices provided improved access by accessories to media assets and metadata stored in a database of a portable media device, enhancing a user’s ability to control operation of the portable media device using a remote user interface provided by the accessory. In one example, an accessory can determine whether the database of the portable media device was updated while the portable media device was disconnected from the accessory. In a second example, an accessory can create and manage a playlist for the portable media device and can incorporate into the playlist tracks already queued for playback when the accessory connects to the portable media device. In a third example, an accessory can obtain database navigation history and initialize a database navigation interface to match the database navigation history.

 

8,270,915

Antenna and button assembly for wireless devices

INVENTION

An antenna and button assembly is provided for a compact portable wireless device such as a wireless headset for a handheld electronic device. An antenna structure is mounted within a button structure. The button structure includes a switch actuation member that extends past the antenna structure and into engagement with a switch. The switch actuation member may reciprocate within the button structure. A user may press upon an exposed end of the switch actuation member to operate the switch. The switch may be used to control the application of power to the compact portable wireless device or to perform other suitable functions. The button structure may be formed using dielectric materials such as plastic. By forming the button structure from dielectric, clearance is provided between the antenna structure and conductive portions of the compact portable wireless device so that the antenna of the compact wireless device operates properly.

8,270,914

Bezel gap antennas

INVENTION

Electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. A parallel-fed loop antenna may be formed from portions of an electronic device bezel and a ground plane. The antenna may operate in multiple communications bands. An impedance matching circuit for the antenna may be formed from a parallel-connected inductive element and a series-connected capacitive element. The bezel may surround a peripheral portion of a display that is mounted to the front of an electronic device. The bezel may contain a gap. Antenna feed terminals for the antenna may be located on opposing sides of the gap. The inductive element may bridge the gap and the antenna feed terminals. The capacitive element may be connected in series between one of the antenna feed terminals and a conductor in a transmission line located between the transceiver circuitry and the antenna.

 

8,270,809

Previewing effects applicable to digital media content

INVENTION

Systems and apparatus are described to perform methods including receiving input to apply attributes that represent modifications to appearance of content of the video segment, to a video segment. Multiple modified video segments are generated, each modified video segment being associated with a corresponding attribute applicable to the video segment. The appearances of the multiple modified video segments vary based on corresponding attributes. A selection of a modified video segment associated with a first attribute is received, and a first video segment is generated by associating the first attribute with the video segment.

 

8,270,656

Removable ear tip for earphone

INVENTION

An earphone or a removable component for use with an earphone are disclosed. As an example, the removable component can be an ear tip. According to one aspect, an improved ear tip can be provided for use with a headphone. The ear tip is suitable for in-ear operation and has a deformable outer member. The deformable outer member enables the ear tip to readily conform to a user’s ear. The ear tip can also include an inner member to structurally support the outer member and to facilitate attachment to a headphone.

8,270,630

Automatic and dynamic noise cancellation for microphone-speaker combinations

INVENTION

An audio host device has a headset electrical interface in which a reference contact is shared by a microphone and a speaker. A variable or programmable gain amplifier, PGA, has a signal input coupled to a sense point for the reference contact. A first difference amplifier has its inputs coupled to a microphone contact and the PGA through a first gain stage; a second difference amplifier has its inputs coupled to the microphone contact and to the output of the PGA, through a second gain stage having a different gain than the first gain stage; a third difference amplifier has its inputs coupled to the microphone contact and the output of the PGA through a third gain stage having a gain in between that of the first and second gain stages. A controller monitors outputs of the first and second difference amplifiers and changes a gain setting of the PGA. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

8,269,677

Dual-band cavity-backed antenna for integrated desktop computer

INVENTION

An electronic device may have a housing with conductive housing walls. A dielectric antenna window may be formed in an opening in one of the conductive housing walls. A dielectric logo may form the dielectric antenna window. A dielectric support structure may have an outline that matches the dielectric logo. An antenna resonating element for an antenna may be formed on the dielectric support structure. An antenna cavity for the antenna may be formed by a conductive cavity structure. A pattern of voids in the dielectric support structure may reduce dielectric loading for the antenna. The conductive cavity structure may be formed from solderable plated metal. The conductive cavity structure may have a planar lip that is attached to the conductive housing walls using conductive adhesive. Rear wall portions of the conductive cavity structure may be oriented at a non-perpendicular non-zero angle with respect to the planar lip.

 

Sources: USPTO

Posted by | Posted at September 19, 2012 09:56 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Storm is a technology enthusiast, who resides in the UK. He enjoys reading and writing about technology.

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