Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090117951 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USER-SELECTABLE PROGRAMMABLE HOUSING SKIN SENSORS FOR USER MODE OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL - An embodiment relates generally to a method of operating a device. The method includes providing for a plurality of sensors, where each sensor is configured to sense and transmit data values associated with an interaction with the device by a user. A subset of the sensors of the plurality of sensors is associated with a respective facing on a housing of the device. The method also includes operating the plurality of sensors to detect the interaction with the device by the user and receiving sensor data associated with the interaction from the plurality of sensors. The method further includes determining a user mode of the device based on the sensor data associated with the interaction. | 05-07-2009 |
20090147973 | APPARATUS INCLUDING TWO HOUSINGS AND A PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCER - An apparatus ( | 06-11-2009 |
20090160763 | Haptic Response Apparatus for an Electronic Device - A user input for an electronic device includes a haptic feedback layer ( | 06-25-2009 |
20090170571 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PARTIAL FLIP-OPEN ASSIST OF ULTRA THIN CLAM COMMUNICATION DEVICES - A method and apparatus that minimizes the initial effort spent in opening a flip phone during single handed clam operation is disclosed. The method may include applying an initial horizontal external force to move a rotating subassembly or flip to a first position from a close position, and then applying a vertical external force to move the rotating subassembly to an open position. The movement of the flip can be done through straight or curved guided tracks in the base goal posts area. Flip pins will slide into these tracks for flip open and close operation. The initial horizontal external force moves a base pin so as to unlock the flip from the base housing. The unlocking causes the flip to rotate, a cam spring and cam pin forces the rotation of the flip over a partial angle as set by cam pin profile. | 07-02-2009 |
20100045233 | APPARATUS FOR CHARGING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An apparatus ( | 02-25-2010 |
20100151923 | CLAMSHELL PHONE WITH EDGE ACCESS - A handheld communication device ( | 06-17-2010 |
20100167646 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEVICE PAIRING | 07-01-2010 |
20100188807 | Goal Posts Side Key Implementation Scheme for Offset Hinge Clamshell Phone with Thickness Flip Hardware Compartment - A mobile phone or other electronic device is provided with side keys inside the goalpost compartment at a location offset from the axis of rotation to optimize the use of internal limited space inside the goalpost. In the preferred form, side keys comprise keycaps positioned in the goalpost area, while the switches are located inside the hardware compartment and engaged by the keycaps via a pin providing a cam. | 07-29-2010 |
20100271312 | Menu Configuration System and Method for Display on an Electronic Device | 10-28-2010 |
20100271331 | Touch-Screen and Method for an Electronic Device - A touch sensitive display for an electronic device includes a display ( | 10-28-2010 |
20100294938 | Sensing Assembly for Mobile Device - An infrared sensing assembly for allowing detection of a location of an external object, as well as a mobile device employing such an assembly and related methods of operation, among other things, are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensing assembly includes a pyramid-type housing structure having a central surface and multiple outer surfaces each of which extends in an inclined manner away from the central surface. The sensing assembly further includes multiple phototransmitters each positioned proximate to a respective one of the outer surfaces, and a photoreceiver positioned proximate to the central surface, with each respective photoelectric device being oriented so as to correspond to its respective surface. The sensing assembly is operated so that light is emitted from the phototransmitters, reflected by the object, and received by the photoreceiver. By processing signals from the photoreceiver that are indicative of the received light, the external object's location is determined. | 11-25-2010 |
20100295773 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH SENSING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR INTERPRETING OFFSET GESTURES - A method for controlling an electronic device includes providing as part of the electronic device a display screen for displaying content and a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others. Emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters is controlled during each of a plurality of time periods as an external object moves in a first specified pattern of movement and then moves in a second specified pattern of movement which is offset from a generally centered position with respect to the sensing assembly, and measured signals are generated. The measured signals are evaluated to identify the first specified pattern of movement of the object, to detect a reference offset location corresponding to an end of the first specified pattern of movement of the object, and to determine, for each of a group of time periods when the object is moving in the second specified pattern of movement, a corresponding location of the object during that time period. A centering operation is performed in response to the identification of the first specified pattern of movement, wherein the centering operation moves an indicator to an initial predetermined reference location on the display screen, wherein the predetermined reference location is then associated with the reference offset location; and sequential locations of the indicator on the display screen are controlled in accordance with the corresponding determined locations of the object relative to the reference offset location. | 11-25-2010 |
20100295781 | Electronic Device with Sensing Assembly and Method for Interpreting Consecutive Gestures - A method for interpreting at least two consecutive gestures includes providing a sensing assembly having at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others, and controlling emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters during each of a plurality of time periods. During each of the plurality of phototransmitters and for each of the plurality of time periods, a corresponding measured signal is generated which is indicative of a respective amount of infrared light which originated from that phototransmitter during that time period and was reflected by the external object prior to being received by a photoreceiver. The measured signals are evaluated to identity a first gesture, and the electronic device is controlled in response to identification of the first gesture according to a first mode of operation. A parameter of a second gesture is also determined, and the electronic device is controlled in response to the determined parameter of the second gesture according to a second mode of operation. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299390 | Method and System for Controlling Data Transmission to or From a Mobile Device - Methods of operating mobile or other electronic devices so as to achieve a transmission of data between those devices, and related systems and components, are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a first mobile device so as to achieve a transmission of data from the mobile device to an additional electronic device includes tracking a positional variation of an object situated proximate a display screen of the mobile device by determining locations of the object over time using a sensing assembly of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a point or region on the display screen based upon the tracked positional variation of the object, identifying an image portion corresponding to the point or region, where the data is associated with the image portion, and transmitting the data from the mobile device, whereby the data is capable of being received by the additional electronic device. | 11-25-2010 |
20100299642 | Electronic Device with Sensing Assembly and Method for Detecting Basic Gestures - An electronic device and method are described for detecting a predefined gesture that is a specified pattern of movement of an external object relative to the electronic device. The method includes providing as part of the electronic device a sensing assembly including at least one photoreceiver and a plurality of phototransmitters, wherein each phototransmitter is positioned to emit infrared light away from the electronic device about a corresponding central transmission axis, wherein each central transmission axis is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others. The emission of infrared light by each of the phototransmitters is controlled during each of a plurality of sequential time periods, and wherein the external, object moves in the specified pattern of movement during the plurality of sequential time periods. For each of the plurality of phototransmitters and for each of the plurality of sequential time periods, a corresponding measured signal indicative of a respective amount of infrared light which originated from that phototransmitter during that time period and was reflected by the external object prior to being received by the photoreceiver is generated, and the measured signals are evaluated to detect the predefined gesture. | 11-25-2010 |
20110148752 | Mobile Device with User Interaction Capability and Method of Operating Same - In one embodiment a method of operating a mobile device includes sensing either an orientation or a movement of the mobile device, determining a command based on the sensed orientation or sensed movement, sensing a proximity of an object in relation to at least a portion of the mobile device, and executing the command upon the proximity of the object being sensed. In another embodiment, a method of operating a mobile device governs a manner of interaction of the mobile device relative to one or more other mobile devices. In at least some embodiments, at least one of the mobile devices includes an accelerometer and an infrared proximity sensor, and operation of the mobile device is determined based upon signals from those components. | 06-23-2011 |
20110273378 | MOBILE DEVICE WITH TEMPERATURE SENSING CAPABILITY AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - The present invention relates to electronic devices such as mobile devices, and methods of operating such devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device includes first and second temperature sensors positioned at different respective locations on the electronic device and at least one processing device. The first and second temperature sensors respectively output first and second signals indicative of the respective temperatures experienced at those respective sensors. The at least one processing device (i) receives the first and second signals respectively from the first and second temperature sensors respectively and generates based thereon an indication of a difference or a relationship between the first and second temperatures, and (ii) determines an operational context of the electronic device based at least in part upon the difference. In an additional embodiment, other sensor information from one or more other sensors is taken into account in determining the operational context. | 11-10-2011 |
20120169612 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A TOUCH AND NUDGE INTERFACE - An apparatus can include an apparatus housing, a substantially planar touch surface coupled to the apparatus housing, and a plurality of oblique sensors coupled to the touch surface. Each oblique sensor of the plurality of oblique sensors can have a sensor surface substantially oblique to the touch surface. The plurality of oblique sensors can detect a touch force parallel to the touch surface. | 07-05-2012 |
20120252230 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICES - A method and apparatus couple portable communication devices. The apparatus ( | 10-04-2012 |
20120275089 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICES - A method and apparatus mechanically couple portable communication devices. The apparatus can include a first shaft having a first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft end, and a second shaft end. The apparatus can include a first portable communication device having a first housing coupled to the first shaft end where the first housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing width. The apparatus can include a second portable communication device that can have a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with a first portable communication device communication signal interface and can have a second housing that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis. The first shaft length can be at least as long as the first housing width. | 11-01-2012 |