Patent number 20100013309 is for power management and solar cells. It involves methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing circuitry that can be used to control multiple solar cells to generate power for a portable electronic device. For example, in response to determining that one or more of the solar cells is generating a reduce voltage output (e.g., due to a partial obstruction of one or more of the solar cells), the connections among the solar cells can be configured to generate a constant preset voltage, as long as a subset of the solar cells is operating.

The voltage generated by the solar cells can then be boosted to a value suitable for powering the portable electronic device and/or any of its individual components. As another example, the connections among the solar cells can be configured to generate a startup voltage to directly power the portable electronic device and/or any of its components. The inventors are Michael Rosenblatt and Daniel A. Warren.

Here's Apple's background of the invention: "Portable electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, media players (e.g., music, video and/or audio players), and hybrid devices that combine telephone and media playing functionality are known. These devices are sometimes powered by rechargeable batteries such as nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, and rechargeable alkaline batteries.

"The batteries of such devices are often recharged using standard recharging means and methods. For example, the battery of a device can be recharged by plugging a charger into the device and into a conventional alternating current (AC) outlet. As another example, the battery of a device can be charged by plugging the device into another electronic device using a universal serial bus (USB) connection (such as a USB cable or docking station). However, it may be inconvenient for the user to charge the batteries when, for example, the user is on the road. In addition, a typical recharge will power the battery for only a limited amount of run time (e.g., 10 to 24 hours). After the battery has been drained, the user must recharge or replace the battery to continue using the portable electronic device.

"Some portable electronic devices (e.g., calculators) may use solar cells to power the device. Because of the small size of these portable electronic devices, however, the number of solar cells that can be placed on the device is limited. Consequently, while the voltage generated by the solar cells may be enough to power less energy demanding devices, the voltage may be insufficient for portable electronic devices that demand more power.

"Furthermore, as an increasing number of advanced features are packed into these portable electronic devices, larger power sources (e.g., larger batteries and more solar cells) are required to power the devices. Thus, there are competing interests between the portability of these devices and the amount of available power."

Patent number involves methods and an apparatus for processing combination of kinematic inputs. In other words, Apple is eyeing devices such as a computer mouse that can understand gestures in much the same way as the iPhone and iPod touch understand Multi-Touch gestures. Think of a Magic Mouse on s teroids.
Methods and apparatus for processing combinations of force and velocity data generated over a given period of time. In one embodiment, an input device comprising one or more force sensors and one or more motion sensors is manipulated relative to a surface. A receiving system is adapted to receive input sequences or "gestures" which are triggered upon the occurrence of one or more conditions detected by the input device. An application executing in the receiving system may be implemented such that the system responds differently to each specific gesture provided by the user. The inventor is Omar S. Leung.

Patent number 2010017118 is for parking and location processes and alerts. Aspects include using present location information for a mobile device and real-time access to sources of data about future constraints pertaining to the present location to establish the occurrence of a future event. Examples include using a present location of the mobile device to infer a vehicle location, accessing a source of data relating to parking regulations at the present location and setting a reminder for avoiding violation thereof. The mobile device can track a present position and adjust an absolute reminder time to account for travel times.

The travel times can be arrived at by obtaining data concerning public transportation schedules and present locations of elements of such public transportation. Another example aspect includes correlating a user profile concerning parking requirements with a desired destination area and parking regulations pertinent to the area for guiding a user to potential parking locations. The inventor is Casey Maureen Dougherty.

Three Apple patents involve light sensitive displays. Apple's goal is to have a touch screen that doesn't significantly decrease the contrast ratio, does not significantly increase the glare, does not significantly increase the expense of the display, and does not significantly increase the complexity of the display.

Patent number 20100013793 is for a light sensitive display with a pressure sensor. Patent number 2010013794is for a light sensitive display with multiple data set object detection. Patent number 2010013796 is for a light sensitive display with object detection calibration. The inventors on all three patents are Adiel Abileah, Willem De Boer, Richard T. Tuenge and Terrance S. Larsson.

Patent number 2010017591 is for a method for booting an operating system. A method for accelerating an operating system boot process is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, during a first operating system boot, information regarding the physical locations of disk access performed by the operating system to complete the boot are recorded and stored in a control data file. The control data file is used during a second operating system boot to predict which data will be required during the second operating system, and to populate a cache with that data. The cache can then be used to improve the second operating system boot to improve the boot tine. In one embodiment, the information is independent of a file system of the operating system. In another embodiment, the cache can be populated by copying data from a mass storage device to a cache, and when the data is used, it can be moved from the cache to another cache. The inventors are Mike Smith and Joseph Sokol Jr.

Patent number 2010017506 involves systems and methods for monitoring data and bandwidth usage. The invention relates to metering of data usage in a system or device connected to a data service provider. Per the patent, access to a communications network may be provided via a data provider that may charge for access. In some cases, the access fee may be related to the amount of network resources consumed (e.g., amount of data downloaded or bandwidth used). In some cases, a user may have access to a particular amount of data provider resources and be required to pay an additional fee for using resources in excess of the particular amount.

To assist the user in managing his data resource consumption, a resource utilization component may provide different alerts and notices informing the user of current consumption, expected future consumption, and recommendations for reducing data provider resources consumed (e.g., stopping particular processes or data provider requests, such as downloading media). If several electronic devices in a network are connected to the same data provider resources, a network component may manage the data provider resource use among the several electronic devices (e.g., allow only particular users or devices access). The inventor is Anthony Fadell.


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