Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130286236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING CAMERA IMAGE DATA - Systems and methods of adjusting camera image data include receiving image data from a visible light camera module are described. A quality factor of the image data can be determined based on at least one predetermined characteristic. The quality factor can be compared to a predetermined threshold. Image data from a non-visible light camera module can be requested when the quality factor is below the predetermined threshold. Image data from the non-visible light camera module can be received in response to the request. The received image data from the visible light camera module can be augmented with the received image data from the non-visible light camera module to form hybrid image data. The image sensor can be adjusted based on a quality factor of the hybrid image such that the visible light camera captures a subsequent image having a quality factor that meets or is greater than the predetermined threshold. | 10-31-2013 |
20140111135 | SOLAR CELL AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A solar cell and a portable electronic device are provided. The solar cell includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current. The solar cell further includes a positive contact and a negative contact. In addition, the negative contact is configured to couple with an external interface. The portable electronic device includes an energy storage unit. The portable electronic device also includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, a positive contact, and a negative contact. The negative contact of the portable electronic device is configured to couple with an external interface. | 04-24-2014 |
20140146455 | CARRYING CASE FOR CONTROLLING A MOBILE DEVICE - A carrying case for controlling a mobile device is provided, the carrying case comprising: a body enabled to mate with a mobile device to physically protect the mobile device; at least one input device, the body comprising the input device; a processor enabled to control communications with the mobile device; a power interface enabled to receive power from the mobile device to power the processor; and, a data interface enabled for relaying the communications between one or more of the at least one input device and the processor, and the mobile device, for controlling applications at the mobile device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140146464 | CARRYING CASE FOR CONTROLLING A MOBILE DEVICE - A carrying case for controlling a mobile device is provided, the carrying case comprising: a body enabled to mate with a mobile device to physically protect the mobile device; at least one input device, the body comprising the input device; a processor enabled to control communications with the mobile device; a power interface enabled to receive power from the mobile device to power the processor; and, a data interface enabled for relaying the communications between one or more of the at least one input device and the processor, and the mobile device, for controlling applications at the mobile device. | 05-29-2014 |
20140160087 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Gestures with Respect to a Stylus - An apparatus and method pertaining to detecting a user's gesture(s) with respect to a stylus and the wireless transmission of information regarding that gesture. The detected gesture can comprise, for example, movement of a user's finger along the stylus and/or displacement of a user's finger from contact with the stylus. | 06-12-2014 |
20140160088 | ACTIVE STYLUS FORCE SENSING MECHANISM FOR GENERATING A WAKEUP INTERRUPT TO THE CONTROLLER - An active stylus having a control circuit configured to wake up the stylus from a sleep mode to an active mode in response to pressure applied to a tip of the stylus. The stylus includes a force sensor electrically coupled to a power source, an operational amplifier, and a voltage level comparator, the voltage level comparator configured to output a digital wake up interrupt signal when pressure is applied to the tip when the control circuit is in the sleep mode. The operational amplifier is configured to provide an analog signal representative of varying pressure on the tip. This signal is processed by the control circuit such that the stylus goes into the sleep mode after a specified period of time following cessation of variations in the analog signal. | 06-12-2014 |
20140168012 | Method and System for Antenna Alignment - Method, device and computer readable memory aspects describe aligning antennas such as short range communication antennas in communication devices that may be used to transmit and receive electrical power for device charging. A measure of antenna alignment may be determined in response to electrical power received by one of the antennas. A suggested movement is determined for moving at least one of the antennas (e.g. the communication device housing the antenna) for increasing the measure of antenna alignment and the suggested movement is presented in a graphical user interface (GUI). Movement may be suggested along a first plane to maximize antenna alignment followed by movement along a second plane to further maximize antenna alignment. A map may be defined from measured antenna alignment values and movement suggested in response to the map. Maximized antenna alignment may be signalled (e.g. vibration) when the measure of alignment is within a threshold range. | 06-19-2014 |
20140198051 | Apparatus and Method Pertaining to the Stylus-Initiated Opening of an Application - A particular application is pre-associated with the detection of a predetermined stylus action that occurs while a given electronic device is in a standby mode of operation. Upon then detecting that predetermined stylus action these teachings provide for responsively opening that particular application. By one approach this opening of the particular application occurs in conjunction with switching the electronic device from the standby mode of operation to the active mode of operation. The pre-association can be based, at least in part, upon an automatic association based upon identifying the most-used application for the electronic device. As another example, the pre-association can be based, at least in part, upon a specific user-based selection. | 07-17-2014 |
20140198080 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Pre-Associated Stylus-Input User Preferences - A control circuit stores profiles of stylus-input user preferences and pre-associates individual ones of those profiles with corresponding different applications. Upon opening one of those applications the control circuit then automatically uses the corresponding pre-associated stylus-input user preferences. So configured, a user's specific preferences regarding how the control circuit will render electronic ink on a display in response to stylus-based input are automatically utilized on an application-by-application basis without requiring the user to access and change global settings for stylus input. | 07-17-2014 |
20140198081 | IMAGE ZOOM CONTROL USING STYLUS FORCE SENSING - The present disclosure provides for an electronic device and method for displaying an image on a screen of the electronic device. In response to a stylus location input, a region of the screen is selected. A first part of the image associated with the selected region of the screen is determined, along with a second part of the image associated with the region of the screen outside of the selected region. In response to a stylus force input, the first part of the image is modified and displayed in the selected region of the screen. The second part of the image is displayed on the screen outside of the selected region. The modified image may be a magnified image, for example. | 07-17-2014 |
20140204126 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Predicted Stylus Movements - An apparatus and method pertaining to the display of a stylus path that includes both a validated portion and a predicted portion. Upon determining an error between subsequent stylus movement and that predicted portion, these teachings provide for morphing a display of the predicted portion to accord with the subsequent stylus movement over time rather than abruptly switching the display to an immediately fully-corrected representation. | 07-24-2014 |
20140210730 | STYLUS BASED OBJECT MODIFICATION ON A TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY - A stylus is used to modify the appearance of objects rendered on a touch-sensitive display. One of a plurality of objects on the display is selected by making contacting the object with the stylus. The stylus tilt and stylus contact pressure are determined. The appearance of the selected object is modified in response to the stylus tilt of the stylus and the stylus contact pressure. | 07-31-2014 |
20140217853 | PIEZOELECTRIC GENERATOR - The present disclosure provides an ionic ring comprising a number of piezoelectric elements, a piezoelectric device including the ionic ring, and a piezoelectric generator including the ionic ring and host devices incorporating the piezoelectric generator. The piezoelectric generator can be used to generate energy on a portable electronic device in response to mechanical deformation. The generated energy can be used instead of a battery of the portable electronic device or can be used to charge the battery. | 08-07-2014 |
20140232698 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Adjusting Textual Graphic Embellishments - Stylus-entered writing is converted into corresponding text and a control circuit then adjusts graphic embellishment of at least a first portion of that text as a function, at least in part, of detected user dynamics as regards user control of the stylus at a time that corresponds to the stylus-entered writing that corresponds to that first portion of the text. By one approach this adjustment reflects a comparison between those detected user dynamics and previously-stored user dynamics profile information. So configured, the resultant recognized text can, via the aforementioned graphic embellishment, convey emotional expression of the writer at the time of writing that text. | 08-21-2014 |
20140333544 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TOUCHSCREEN EAVESDROPPING PREVENTION - Touchscreen controllers and associated electronic devices are described which prevent eavesdropping of touchscreen activity. In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a touchscreen controller that includes a touch input interface for connecting to a touch-sensitive overlay of a touchscreen display and a touch output interface. The touch output interface provides an output in dependence on touch input received via the touch input interface. The touchscreen controller further includes an orientation sensor control output interface for connecting to one or more orientation sensors and an embedded processor coupled with the touch input interface, the touch output interface and the orientation sensor control output interface. The embedded processor is configured to generate an interrupt output signal for output on the orientation sensor control output interface. The interrupt output signal is configured to deactivate the orientation sensor for at least a period of time when the touch-sensitive overlay is activated with touch input. | 11-13-2014 |
20140364055 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING A CARRYING CASE USING ORIENTATION SIGNATURES - A device for detecting a carrying case using orientation signatures, and method therefor, is provided. The device includes: at least one orientation sensor; a memory storing one or more carrying-case insertion signatures; and, a processor configured to: receive output from the at least one orientation sensor as a function of time; and place the device in a carrying case mode when a time-dependent pattern in the output matches the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures. | 12-11-2014 |
20140370870 | METHOD OF PROCESSING AN INCOMING COMMUNICATION SIGNAL AT A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A mobile communication device and method of communication is disclosed. A communication signal having a message class is received at the mobile communication device conveyed by a vehicle. A message class of the received communication at the mobile communication device is obtained. A station of motion of the vehicle is determined at the mobile communication device. The message class and the determined state of motion is used to select an action to relay the communication to a driver of the vehicle. | 12-18-2014 |
20140375786 | OBTAINING A BIOMETRIC IMAGE AND HANDLING DAMAGED BIOMETRICS - Inspired by Shack Hartmann Wavefront Patterns, a device may obtain three dimensional images for use in authentication. Since such images can have high resolution, damage in, for instance, skin on a finger may be recorded and used as part of a temporary template image. In future authentication attempts, an aged version of the temporary template image may be used. Additionally, reference points on the damage may be employed when authenticating. | 12-25-2014 |
20150009290 | COMPACT LIGHT MODULE FOR STRUCTURED-LIGHT 3D SCANNING - A compact light module is disclosed. Multiples of such compact light modules may be used when implementing structured-light 3D scanning with a mobile computing device. In particular, a first compact light module may be adapted to diffuse light in a first pattern of parallel lines of light and a second compact light module may be adapted to diffuse light in a second pattern of parallel lines of light, the second pattern of parallel lines of light being generally perpendicular to the first pattern of parallel lines of light. A processor may control activation of the first compact light module, the second compact light module and a photography subsystem to obtain a plurality of images. The processor may then process the plurality of images to construct a three dimensional image of an object to be scanned. | 01-08-2015 |
20150015540 | OPERATING A DEVICE USING TOUCHLESS AND TOUCHSCREEN GESTURES - A device operable using touch-less and touchscreen gestures and a method and system to operate the device are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device and sensing light intensity at the respective surface locations. The device also includes a processor coupled to the two or more ambient light sensors to identify a touch-less gesture based on the light intensity sensed by the two or more ambient light sensors, receive a touchscreen gesture, and operate the device based on the touch-less gesture and the touchscreen gesture. | 01-15-2015 |
20150022635 | USING MULTIPLE FLASHES WHEN OBTAINING A BIOMETRIC IMAGE - A mobile communication device may have a photography subsystem, multiple light sources on a posterior side and an image signal processor (ISP). The ISP may control the photography subsystem and the timing of the flashing of the multiple light sources to obtain multiple images. From the multiple images, the ISP may construct a three-dimensional biometric. | 01-22-2015 |
20150028186 | BACKLIGHT FOR TOUCHLESS GESTURE DETECTION - A device and method to detect a gesture performed by an object in touch-less communication with the device are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective first surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors sensing light intensity at the respective first surface location. The device also includes one or more processors to operate one or more light sources at respective second surface locations of the device based on the light intensity sensed by the two or more ambient light sensors, and detect the gesture based on the light intensity sensed by each of the two or more ambient light sensors. | 01-29-2015 |
20150029085 | Apparatus and Method Pertaining to the Use of a Plurality of 3D Gesture Sensors to Detect 3D Gestures - A device having at least two 3-dimensional gesture sensors that employ differing gesture-sensing modalities as compared to one another further includes a control circuit that operably couples to both of these 3-dimensional gesture sensors and employs both to detect three-dimensional gestures. By one approach the control circuit employs both sensors in a temporally-overlapping manner to reliably and accurately detect the 3D gesture. As another illustrative example, the control circuit may employ different sensors during different portions of a given 3D gesture to detect those corresponding portions of the 3D gesture. | 01-29-2015 |
20150029086 | BACKLIGHT FOR TOUCHLESS GESTURE DETECTION - A device and method to detect a gesture performed by an object in touch-less communication with the device are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective first surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors sensing light intensity at the respective first surface location. The device also includes one or more processors to control one or more light sources at respective second surface locations of the device based on the light intensity sensed by the two or more ambient light sensors, calibrate the two or more ambient light sensors based on the one or more light sources, and detect the gesture based on the light intensity sensed by each of the two or more ambient light sensors. | 01-29-2015 |
20150033191 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANIPULATING AN OBJECT IN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT - An electronic device, method and interface for the device, for performing an action with a processor through a three-dimensional desktop environment is disclosed. A three-dimensional desktop environment is generated by a display and projected into a real space. At least one ultrasonic transducer propagates an ultrasonic pulse into the real space and receives a reflection of the ultrasonic pulse from a user object in the real space. A user action of the user object within the three-dimensional desktop environment is determined using the reflection of the ultrasonic pulse. The processor performs the action based on the determined user action. | 01-29-2015 |
20150049011 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE PROCESSING - A system and method of controlling displayed three-dimensional visual content is disclosed. A signal is received from a user operated adjustment device, the signal being generated by a physical movement of the adjustment device by the user, wherein the signal corresponds to a desired adjustment of the displayed three-dimensional content. A value of an image-generation parameter of the three-dimensional visual content is adjusted corresponding to the signal received from the adjustment device. A physical parameter of a display device that displays the three-dimensional visual content is changed based on the adjusted value of the image-generation parameter in order to implement the desired adjustment of the displayed three-dimensional visual content. | 02-19-2015 |
20150062090 | FUNCTION SELECTION BY DETECTING RESONANT FREQUENCIES - A function of an electronic device is selected by detecting a resonant frequency generated by a tapping on a selection region of a device housing. The function of the device is selected based on the detected resonant frequency. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062321 | DEVICE CONTROL BY FACIAL FEATURE RECOGNITION - An electronic device is controlled by scanning a face at an ultrasonic frequency, by at least one audio speaker. Facial features are mapped based on the scanning and repetitive movements of the facial features are detected by mapping the facial features over time. Future locations of the facial features are predicted based on the detecting of the repetitive movements. Control movements of the facial features are detected based on the mapping of the facial features and the predicting of the future locations of the facial features. The electronic device is controlled based on the detecting of the control movements. | 03-05-2015 |
20150072738 | THREE DIMENSIONAL HAPTICS HYBRID MODELING - A method and apparatus for producing a haptic sensation is disclosed. An acoustic transducer at a first cellular communication device is used to determine a gesture of a user object with respect to a first cellular communication device. The gesture is generally performed in a three-dimensional space of the first cellular communication device. A haptic signal is created that corresponds to the determined gesture and is sent from the first cellular communication device to a second cellular communication device. An actuator at the second cellular communication device is actuated according to the haptic signal to produce a haptic sensation at the second cellular communication device. | 03-12-2015 |
20150078634 | MULTICOLOR BIOMETRIC SCANNING USER INTERFACE - A mobile computing device may include a biometric sensor in proximity with a color-controlled layer. Where the color of the color-controlled layer may be changed, a processor of the mobile computing device may control the color of the color-controlled layer responsive to sensing various conditions. For example, the color of the color-controlled layer may be controlled, by default, to match the housing of the mobile computing device. Responsive to sensing an approaching user finger, the color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color. The color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color again upon contact of the finger, upon removal of the finger and upon determining authentication success. The color-controlled layer may be structured as a mix of heating elements and thermochromic polymer elements. | 03-19-2015 |
20150078635 | STRUCTURE FOR MULTICOLOR BIOMETRIC SCANNING USER INTERFACE - A mobile computing device including a biometric scanning interface that changes color in response to a predetermined condition. The biometric scanning interface comprises a layer of heat-sensing elements and a multi-element layer comprising heating elements and thermochromic polymer elements. When the predetermined condition is detected, a driver is adapted to control the thermochromic layer to change color. | 03-19-2015 |