Apple had 265 patents in future of work during Q1 2024. Apple Inc has filed patents for electronic devices with dual function light transmit and receive pixels for depth sensing and autofocus, a method for adjusting audio components based on target loudness, a computer system displaying graphical elements based on user status and immersion level, a delay-locked loop with coarse tuning circuitry for increased operating frequency range, and systems to detect disconnection of electrical cables between devices compliant with USB standards. GlobalData’s report on Apple gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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Apple grant share with future of work as a theme is 39% in Q1 2024. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Recent Patents
Application: Programmable transmit/receive pixel array and applications (Patent ID: US20240106192A1)
The patent filed by Apple Inc. describes electronic devices with arrays of dual-function light transmit and receive pixels, each including a photodetector (PD) structure and a vertical-cavity, surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) diode in a common stack of epitaxial semiconductor layers. These pixels can be configured by a controller to function as either a light emitter or receiver, allowing for dynamic changes in functionality. The array of pixels can be used for depth sensing or autofocus within an optical display or registered with a camera in the device for similar purposes.
The programmable active optical sensor described in the patent includes an array of pixels with VCSEL diodes and PDs formed in common epitaxial layers, controlled by a controller to switch between light transmission and reception. The structure of the pixels includes specific layers for the PD and VCSEL diode, with electrical biases applied to configure the pixels accordingly. The electronic device incorporating this sensor can utilize the array of pixels for depth sensing, autofocus, and even associating subsets of pixels with different sections of a camera's field of view for enhanced functionality. The patent outlines detailed configurations and processes for optimizing the performance of these dual-function pixels in various applications.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
