Steven C Austin

US Patent:

6486636, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

Apr 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/126070

Inventors:

Dale F. Stolitzka - Los Altos CA
Steven E. Austin - Penn Valley CA

Assignee:

Analog Devices, Inc. - Norwood MA

International Classification:

H02J 700

US Classification:

320134, 320128

Abstract:

A rechargeable battery measurement and calibration system for use with a removable battery pack suitably used to power a mobile computer locates current measurement and battery status intelligence outside of the battery pack, thereby reducing the cost, complexity, and power consumption of the battery pack when compared with prior art systems. A system host controls the measurement and calibration of the battery system; the host requests current measurements under both zero-current and non-zero calibration current conditions, with the resulting calibration values enabling linearity errors that might otherwise be present in the current measurements to be totally and easily identified and accounted for in a fuel gauge measurement. The present system complies with the SBS-IF specification for Smart Battery systems.

US Patent:

56130104, Mar 18, 1997

Filed:

Mar 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/219996

Inventors:

Lawrence F. Heyl - Mountain View CA
Steven E. Austin - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04R 300

US Classification:

381117

Abstract:

An open-loop speaker amplifier and a dynamic range reduction circuit are disclosed. The speaker amplifier includes a bridge driver and a bridge circuit. The bridge circuit includes a first set of switches and a second set of switches. When the first set of switches are activated, a positive current flows through a speaker load. When the second set of switches are activated, a negative current flows through the speaker load. The bridge driver generates a pulse width modulated signal and a delayed pulse width modulated signal to drive the first and second set of switches of the bridge circuit responsive to a modulation signal. The modulation signal maybe for example, a plurality of pulse code modulated samples representing sound. The dynamic range reduction circuit modifies a selected signal to reduce the dynamic range of the sound reproduced based on the modulation signal. The selected signal is either the modulation signal or a reference signal.

US Patent:

54246784, Jun 13, 1995

Filed:

Feb 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/190794

Inventors:

Lawrence F. Heyl - Mountain View CA
Mark C. Gurries - San Jose CA
Steven E. Austin - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H03F 114

US Classification:

330 51

Abstract:

A technique is provided for substantially reducing clicks and pops caused by power cycling, in particular, the power cycling conservation strategy used in a portable computer. More specifically, an audio amplifier arrangement for a computer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes a differential amplifier having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. A sound output connector may be connected to the output terminal through a signal path. First switching circuitry is responsive to a first mute signal for connecting together the first input terminal and the second input terminal through a low-impedance path. As a result, an output signal produced by the differential amplifier is essentially forced to zero. When power is removed from or applied to the differential amplifier, however, its behavior is not entirely predictable, and the output signal produced cannot be guaranteed to remain zero throughout the power-down transition. Therefore, further in accordance with the invention, second switching circuitry is responsive to a second mute signal for substantially interrupting the signal path by switching a high impedance into the signal path.

US Patent:

56400810, Jun 17, 1997

Filed:

May 13, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/242319

Inventors:

Steven E. Austin - Fremont CA
James J. Blanc - San Mateo CA
David B. Townsley - Cupertino CA
Stephen J. Kim - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H02J 700

US Classification:

320 48

Abstract:

A novel battery monitoring device is described. The monitoring device determines amount of battery self-discharge, determines amount of battery discharge from a monitoring circuit, determines amount of battery discharge from a host device when the host device is in a first power consumption mode, and determines amount of battery discharge from the host device when the host device is in a second power consumption mode. The first mode causes greater discharge of the battery during a given period of time than the second mode.

US Patent:

53980034, Mar 14, 1995

Filed:

Mar 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/219956

Inventors:

Lawrence F. Heyl - Mountain View CA
Steven E. Austin - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H03F 338

US Classification:

330 10

Abstract:

An open-loop speaker amplifier and a dynamic range reduction circuit are disclosed. The speaker amplifier includes a bridge driver and a bridge circuit. The bridge circuit includes a first set of switches and a second set of switches. When the first set of switches are activated, a positive current flows through a speaker load. When the second set of switches are activated, a negative current flows through the speaker load. The bridge driver generates a pulse width modulated signal and a delayed pulse width modulated signal to drive the first and second set of switches of the bridge circuit responsive to a modulation signal. The modulation signal may be, for example, a plurality of pulse code modulated samples representing sound. The dynamic range reduction circuit modifies a selected signal to reduce the dynamic range of the sound reproduced based on the modulation signal. The selected signal is either the modulation signal or a reference signal.

US Patent:

56002823, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/483287

Inventors:

Steven E. Austin - Fremont CA
James J. Blanc - San Mateo CA
Stephen J. Kim - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H03B 524

US Classification:

331111

Abstract:

A low power consumption oscillator circuit. The oscillator circuit comprises a capacitor coupled to a first resistor that is capable of delaying discharge of the capacitor. The oscillator circuit further comprises a first inverter coupled to the capacitor and having a first input. The first inverter is capable of applying charge to the capacitor when a first voltage potential on the first input is above a first threshold voltage of the first inverter. The first inverter is capable of removing charge from the capacitor when a second voltage potential on the first input is below a second threshold voltage of the first inverter. The oscillator circuit further comprises threshold detection circuitry having a second circuitry is coupled to the first input of the first inverter, and the second input is coupled to the capacitor. The threshold detection circuitry is capable of applying the first voltage potential on the first input when a third voltage potential on the second input is below a third threshold voltage of the threshold detection circuitry. The threshold detection circuitry is capable of applying the second voltage potential on the first input when a fourth voltage potential on the second input is above the third threshold voltage of the threshold detection circuitry.

US Patent:

20230045946, Feb 16, 2023

Filed:

Mar 2, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/685195

Inventors:

- San Francisco CA, US
Matthew Hickman - San Francisco CA, US
Steven Austin - Brooklyn NY, US
Benjamin Shen - San Francisco CA, US

International Classification:

G06Q 20/34
G06Q 20/22
G06Q 20/06
G06Q 20/40

Abstract:

Particular embodiments determine, at least in part by a computing device of a payment service, to associate a data object with a user account that is associated with a stored balance managed by the payment service. The computing device associates an amount of the data object with a distinct stored balance associated with the user account. The distinct stored balance is associated with a condition of use. The computing device monitors transaction data associated with users of the payment service. The computing device identifies, from the transaction data, a transaction associated with an identifier associated with the user account. Based on a determination that the transaction satisfies the condition of use, processing payment for the transaction using at least a portion of the distinct stored balance prior to using the stored balance.