The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 2021

Filed:

Mar. 13, 2020
Applicant:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Inventors:

Andrew U. Leopold, San Francisco, CA (US);

Owen D. Hale, Oakland, CA (US);

Daniel W. Jarvis, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

David A. Pakula, San Francisco, CA (US);

James B. Smith, San Francisco, CA (US);

Ian A. Spraggs, San Francisco, CA (US);

Gregory N. Stephens, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/16 (2006.01); H05K 7/02 (2006.01); H01R 12/52 (2011.01); H05K 9/00 (2006.01); H05K 1/18 (2006.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.01); H04R 1/02 (2006.01); H04R 3/00 (2006.01); H02J 7/02 (2016.01); G08B 7/06 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/1684 (2013.01); H01R 12/52 (2013.01); H02J 7/02 (2013.01); H02J 50/10 (2016.02); H04R 1/025 (2013.01); H04R 3/00 (2013.01); H05K 1/18 (2013.01); H05K 7/026 (2013.01); H05K 9/0024 (2013.01); G08B 7/06 (2013.01); H04R 2499/11 (2013.01); H04R 2499/15 (2013.01); H05K 2201/09063 (2013.01); H05K 2201/1003 (2013.01);
Abstract

A distributed auxiliary hub for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The distributed auxiliary hub, located on a stacked circuit assembly, can distribute electrical signals to multiple different destinations. The distributed auxiliary hub is displaced and separate from a main logic board, and as a result, can provide supplemental functions. Although the distributed auxiliary hub is electrically coupled to the main logic board, the distributed auxiliary hub includes dedicated integrated circuits responsible for executing functions related to battery charging and powering of electronic components (e.g., haptic feedback module, speaker module, etc.). As a result, the distributed auxiliary hub, when executing these aforementioned functions, is not reliant upon the main logic board to transmit electrical current to the battery and/or electronic components. The distributed auxiliary hub, when electrically coupled to an external resource, is capable of directly transmitting electrical current to electronic components.


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