Apple Inc.

Rishabh Bhargava

Richard Hung Minh Dinh

Daniel William Jarvis

Richard M Mank

Hongli Dai

Meng Chi Lee

Vijayasekaran Boovaragavan

Julian Malinski

Julien Marcil

Steven D Sterz

Soundararajan Manthiri

David M Demuro

Matthew Lee Rogers

Lakshman Rathnam

Joseph R Fisher

Erturk Kocalar

Timothy P Hannon

Doug Farrar

David M DeMuro

Kenji Konanka

Soundarajan Manthiri

Methods and systems for detecting and compensating for expansion of rechargeable batteries over time. An expansion detector may be coupled to or positioned proximate a rechargeable battery to monitor for expansion thereof. After expansion exceeding a selected threshold is detected, the expansion detector may report the expansion to an associated processing unit. The processing unit may undertake to arrest further rechargeable battery expansion by modifying or changing one or more characteristics of charging and/or discharging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery. For example, the processing unit may charge the rechargeable battery at a lower rate or with reduced voltage after detecting expansion.

Methods for determining and controlling battery expansion

An input device with switchable sensor configurations. In one embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which only a subset of its sensor elements are enabled to sense input. In another embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which one or more groupings of its sensor elements are enabled to collectively sense input. In a further embodiment, the input device can operate in a detection mode that switches between sensor configurations to determine a position of an input.

Sensor configurations of an input device that are switchable based on mode

This is generally directed to providing protection circuitry to selectively handle power-providing cables and headset cables that can couple to the same port of an electronic device. In some embodiments, the device can include a Headset Rx chip to communicate with the headset cable and a Power Rx chip to communicate with the power-providing cable. As the Headset Rx chip and the Power Rx chip can be coupled to the same contact of the device's port, these chips may prevent one another from operating correctly or may damage one another. Accordingly, in some embodiments, it can be determined whether a headset cable or a power-providing cable is coupled to the device. When a headset cable is coupled to the device, the protection circuitry can disconnect the Power Rx chip. Similarly, when a power-providing cable is coupled to the device, the protection circuitry can disconnect the Headset Rx chip.

Systems and methods for providing protection circuitry to selectively handle multiple cable-types through the same port

This is directed to processing inputs received from an input mechanism to control media playback operations and volume. The input mechanism can include a first button providing inputs by shorting an electrical circuit, and a second button providing inputs by changing the resistance or tone detected or received by a processor. To process inputs, a processor can first detect and process short events from the first button, and subsequently process button events from the second button.

Detecting and processing button press events for performing electronic device operations

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Oakland, CA, United States of America

Rishabh Bhargava