Abstract: This invention is a method of manufacturing printed circuit boards using a contact block packaging to provide and support electrical contact blocks relative to a printed circuit board panel. The contact block packaging is situated adjacent to the printed circuit board panel, so that electrical contact blocks of the contact block packaging are aligned with circuit boards of the printed circuit board panel, but breakaway stems supporting the electrical contact blocks are offset from webbing of the printed circuit board panel. The electrical contact blocks are then soldered to the printed circuit boards. Thereafter, the breakaway stems of the contact block packaging and the webs of the printed circuit board panel are broken, so that the electronic contact blocks are decoupled from the rest of the contact block packaging and the printed circuit boards are decoupled from the rest of the printed circuit board panel.

Abstract: USB bus enumeration and configuration switching in a dual-processor architected device can result in loss of the inter-processor communication link. In order to solve this problem, an apparatus, architecture and method for simplifying the Universal Serial Bus (USB) service enumeration between two processors in a dual-processor architecture device are provided. A USB host (102) is connected to a first processor (201) of the dual-processor device (100) via a USB cable (104). The first processor (201) begins to enumerate services to the connected host (102). When the host sends a set_configuration request (405) to the device (100), the device determines whether the first processor (201) and the second processor (203) have the same configuration sets. The first processor (201) sends a set_configuration request to the second processor (203) to setup the requested services in the second processor.

Abstract: This invention is a portable electronic device (100) including a display (212), an input device (210), a lighting circuit (204), a light sensor (206) and a control circuit (208). The lighting circuit (204) includes a light source (214) to illuminate the display (212) and the input device (210). The light sensor (206) determines the ambient lighting conditions about the display (212) and/or the input device (210) and generates an ambient lighting signal based on the ambient lighting conditions. The control circuit (208) is coupled to the lighting circuit (204) and the light sensor (206) and has a delayed operation mode in which a first activation of the input device (210) illuminates the display (212) without performing any other operation of the device (100) and a second activation of the input device performs an operation of the device other than illuminating the display.

Abstract: A user interface (102) of a portable electronic device (100) includes a plurality of keys (112). The user interface (102) includes a first group of keys representing vowel characters (402), and a second group of keys representing consonant characters (202). The second group of keys is separate from the first group of keys. For the first group of keys, a first key represents leading vowels (422, 424, 426), a second key represents above and below vowels (428, 430), and a third key represents following vowels (432, 434, 436). The second group of keys may be subdivided into phonetic consonant groups (FIGS. 5 & 6) or alphabetic consonant groups (FIGS. 7 & 8).

Abstract: A communication network (FIG. 1) makes available, to a first vending machine (102) of a plurality of vending machines, information from nearby ones of the plurality of vending machines for coordinating product availability and vending machine location. The first vending machine then determines 502 that the desired product is no longer available at the first vending machine. Thereafter, the first vending machine obtains (504–520) the information including a location of the nearby alternate vending machine for the desired product. The first vending machine then conveys (410) the location of the nearby alternate vending machine to a customer who wishes to purchase the desired product.

Abstract: A low-profile, insert molded contact block and corresponding printed circuit board assembly are provided for coupling electronic circuitry disposed on printed wiring boards to external electronic devices. The contact block includes a plurality of L-shaped, metal contacts insert molded into a housing. The housing includes bracing members that circumscribe the metal contacts so that at least a portion of the front and rear faces of the metal contacts are exposed between the bracing members. The contact block may be coupled to a printed wiring board in an automated, reflow solder process utilizing automated pick and place equipment. The contact block is placed on the printed wiring board such that the metal contacts are seated on conductive pads with solder paste disposed thereon. The resulting assembly may then be heated in a reflow oven to permanently affix the metal contacts to the conductive pads. The contact block, which can be on the order of 0.

Abstract: A flexible circuit having improved tear resistance is provided. A flexible circuit, made of polyimide film, includes at least one extension which needs to be folded. To prevent tearing, an annular piece of metal, like an exposed copper pad for example, is placed at the apex of the bend angle. A second metal is then deposited atop the annular piece of metal, thereby reinforcing the annular piece of metal. The reinforced annular piece of metal helps to prevent the flexible circuit from tearing when shearing forces are applied to the extension. Experimental results have shown that the invention provides as much as a 285% increase in tear resistance when compared to prior art flexible circuits.

Abstract: An enhanced “Camel-back” or “Companion” Digital Organizer (CDO) is described that is designed to interface to a cellular telephone. The CDO is preferably implemented as an add-on component which can be easily attached and detached from a phone by a user and, once in place, can dramatically enhance the phone's functionality by converting the phone into a “smart” phone. Exemplary features of the CDO include an ability for the user to initiate a voice call on the phone from the CDO. Preferably, the user may initiate the voice call from any of multiple modules of the user's data, and not merely from a phone-book module. The CDO is also capable of stand-alone use as a personal organizer device, apart from the phone. The CDO preferably includes a docking unit that removably mates to particular model(s) of phones, and a main unit that removably docks to the docking unit.

Abstract: A context sensitive data announcing device includes an ad hoc network interface configured to receive one or more announcements identifying one or more members of an ad hoc network. The device includes a database which contains information regarding the one or more members of the ad hoc network. A processor is configured to extract the information regarding the one or more members from the database using the identifying announcements. The device includes an output for displaying the information regarding the one or more members.

Abstract: A muting system (10) according to the present invention enables wireless communication devices (16,18) that enter a silent zone to generate a silent zone advisory message (64) and subsequently mute the wireless communication devices (16, 18). A muting device (14) remotely instructs the wireless communication devices (16, 18) to enter a silent mode. A digital information system (20) maintains muting status information that includes information such as the event description, location, and duration in a categorized formation. The digital information center (20) remotely communicates the muting status information to the wireless communication devices (16, 18) so that the wireless communication devices (16, 18) can generate a silent zone advisory message to communicate the status information to callers while the devices are muted.

Abstract: A battery protection circuit is provided that includes current monitoring circuit. The current monitoring circuit senses current flowing from a rechargeable cell. When the current exceeds a maximum value, the current monitoring circuit actuates, whereby opening a transistor. The transistor has a resistor coupled in parallel. When the transistor opens, current is forced through the resistor coupled in parallel with the transistor, thereby limiting the current to a maximum value. When the voltage across the resistor exceeds a predetermined threshold, an overcurrent condition is simulated in the lithium ion protection IC. The overcurrent condition causes a disconnect switch to open, thereby disconnecting the cell(s) from the external terminals. The circuit additionally includes three current blocking elements coupled between charging terminals and the cells to ensure that fault conditions occurring within the charger do not adversely affect the performance of either the cells or a host electronic device.

Abstract: A communication system provides real-time communication service such as instant messaging service and group chat service to a plurality of subscribers. The plurality of subscribers generates a plurality of real-time communication messages during a real-time communication session. The mobile station generates a message creation reference associated with a real-time communication message composed by one of the plurality of subscribers. The mobile station transmits the message creation reference and the real-time communication message so that the real-time communication message is arranged relative to the plurality of real-time communication messages during the real-time communication session based on the message creation reference.

Abstract: This invention is a wireless communication device (100) including a first housing (220) with a housing support (250), a second housing (120) positioned about the housing support, or a portion thereof, so that the second housing may rotate around the housing support, and an interchangeable bezel (130) having input keys (132) and output functionality effectuated by light emitting diodes (136).

Abstract: This invention includes a circuit for the prevention of acoustic feedback between an electronic device and an audio accessory. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit prevents audio feedback between a cellular telephone and a speakerphone accessory. The circuit includes a current limiting device coupled serially in the receive (Rx) line. The current limiting device is actuated via a delay circuit coupled between the current limiting device and the transmit (Tx) line. When a bias current is presented to the Tx line, the bias propagates through the delay circuit, thereby actuating the current limiting device a predetermined time after the presentation of the bias. The circuit keeps the Rx line open long enough for the phone to deactivate its internal microphone.

Abstract: An electrode alignment device and weld head for automated welding machines includes a base member, a gap wheel, an electrode holder and a coupling rod. The gap wheel includes a plurality of graduations, where each graduation corresponds to a predetermined electrode spacing for an automated welding process. In one embodiment, the graduations in the gap wheel comprise pairs of apertures, with a first aperture for engaging an alignment post on the base member, and a second aperture for engaging an alignment post on the electrode holder. Among the graduations, the spacing between the first and second apertures is different. As such, the electrode spacing may easily and accurately be changed by disengaging the coupling rod, rotating the gap wheel to the proper graduation, and reengaging the coupling rod.

Abstract: A phone holder, or cradle, is provided having a latching mechanism that remains in an open position until a push button falls within a predetermined height of the cradle. Once this occurs, a hooked member is released from a stop coupled to a slide within the cradle, thereby allowing the hooked member to mate with a détente in an electronic device. In one embodiment, the latching mechanism includes a hooked member having a clasp, a slide, a push button with an inclined plane for actuating the slide and a plurality of springs. The latching mechanism prevents the clasp from riding along, and potentially marring, the surface of the electronic device.

Abstract: A battery charging circuit having two levels of safety protection is provided. The circuit is said to have “two levels” of safety because if any one component fails (either as a short circuit or as an open circuit) the remainder of the charging circuit ensures that a rechargeable battery coupled to the circuit will not be overcharged. The circuit includes both hardware and firmware protection components, with a microprocessor providing the firmware protection. Overvoltage protection, voltage regulation and current regulation are provided, along with a microprocessor capable of sensing a plurality of voltages across the circuit. The overvoltage protection, voltage regulator and current regulator each include safety actuation points. In parallel, the microprocessor may isolate a rechargeable battery from the cell if voltage and current minimums and maximums are exceeded.

Abstract: A method to store information in an address book (122) is provided. The method includes the steps of creating a record for each call placed by a subscriber, each record including one or more telephone numbers (404), determining if the telephone number(s) of the record matches one of a plurality of telephone numbers stored within the address book (406); and storing the telephone number(s) in the address book (412). A system and computer program are also disclosed to store information in the address book.

Abstract: A charger having an adjustable connector accommodates a plurality of electronic devices having different form factors. In one embodiment, the charger includes at least one pocket for receiving an electronic device, like a cellular telephone. Within the pocket, an electronic connector capable of supplying power to the electronic device is mounted atop an optionally detachable adjustable connector support member. The adjustable connector support module has cantilever arms that have protrusions disposed thereon. The cantilever arms are preloaded against adjustment tracks that include a series of ratchet grooves. By applying a lateral force against the adjustable connector support module, the connector may be moved laterally from a first position to a second position. Where the adjustable connector support module is detachable from the charger, the adjustable connector support module may be coupled to a connector base member by way of snap features that engage travel rails on the connector support member.