Abstract: A strip to point optical communication system (200) for transmitting light between a first housing (102) and a second housing (104) of a device is provided. The strip to point optical communication system (200) includes a point optical communication element (202) that is capable of receiving the light. The point optical communication element (202) is coupled to either the first housing (102) or the second housing (104). The strip to point optical communication system (200) also includes a strip optical communication element (204) that is coupled to either the first housing (102) or the second housing (104) to which the point optical communication element (202) is not coupled. The length of the strip optical communication element (204) corresponds to the travel distance of the first housing (102) and the second housing (104). The strip optical communication element (204) is located to coincide with a travel path of the point optical communication element (202).

Abstract: An energy density diversity antenna (EDA) has a least a pair of antenna elements, whose feeding points are connected to outputs of a hybrid coupler configured such that a sum and a difference signal may exist at the feed points of the antenna elements. First reactive elements are respectively inserted in the antenna elements proximal the respective feed points. The antenna elements are joined at a point distal from the feed points by a second reactive element, and a third reactive element is coupled between feed lines coupled to the feed points at a location between the feed points and the outputs of the hybrid coupler.

Abstract: A point to strip optical communication system (200) for transmitting light between a first housing (102) and a second housing (104) of a device is provided. The point to strip optical communication system (200) includes a point optical communication element (202) that is capable of emitting light. The point optical communication element (202) is coupled to either the first housing (102) or the second housing (104). The point to strip optical communication system (200) also includes a strip optical communication element (204) that is coupled to either the first housing (102) or the second housing (104) to which the point optical communication element (202) is not coupled. The length of the strip optical communication element (204) corresponds to the travel distance of the first housing (102) and the second housing (104). The strip optical communication element (204) is located to coincide with the travel path of the point optical communication element (202).

Abstract: A direct memory access system consists of a direct memory access controller establishing a direct memory access data channel and including a first interface for coupling to a memory. A second interface is for coupling to a plurality of nodes. And a processor is coupled to the direct memory access controller and coupled to the second interface, wherein the processor configures the direct memory access data channel to transfer data between a programmably selectable respective one or more of the plurality of nodes and the memory. In some embodiments, the plurality of nodes are a digital signal processor memory and a host processor memory of a multi-media processor platform to be implemented in a wireless multi-media handheld telephone.

Abstract: The present invention manages data link resources in a wireless communication device by managing the data link resource needs of multiple client applications including the creation and sharing of data link resources. If the requested data link resources can be accommodated by the already established data link resources (106), then one or more of the already established data link resources are shared (108) with the application making the request for data link resources. If the requested data link resources can not be accommodated by the already established data link resources, then the data link resources are upgraded (110) to accommodate the additional requirements of the received request.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for determining a location for each of a plurality of units, which are sub-divided into more than one sub-net groupings, that each include two or more units. Within each sub-net grouping, measured range information between units within the sub-nets and one or more reference units is gathered in at least a selected one of the units. The selected one of the units then estimates a location for each of the units, which minimizes any error in the measured ranges between the units in each of the corresponding sub-nets.

Abstract: Folding wireless communication devices (100, 700) comprise first parts (102, 1002) that are rotatably coupled to second parts (104, 1104). The first parts (102, 1002) can be moved from first positions in which the first parts (102, 1002) overlie the second parts (104, 1104) to second positions in which the first parts (102, 1002) extend upward away from the second parts (104, 1104). The first parts (102, 1002) comprise one or more buttons (302, 304, 306, 308 1010, 1012), e.g., a pair of directional buttons, such as “UP” and “DOWN” control buttons (302, 304, 1010, 1012). Hardware and/or software is used to change the function of the buttons (302, 304, 306, 308 1010, 1012) depending on the position of the first parts (102, 1002).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributed speech recognition serve to mitigate the effect of transmission errors. The method comprises the steps of identifying speech recognition parameters which have been subjected to a transmission error, and processing data to be sent to the speech recognition decoder to ensure that any speech recognition parameters which have been subjected to such an error are excluded from back-end processing. The speech recognition parameters which have been subjected to transmission errors are excluded from back-end processing by replacing those parameters with data which is selected so as to be rejected by the speech recognition decoder as abnormal and/or non-speechlike.

Abstract: A method and location determination module is provided for determining a location of one of a plurality of units using neighbor lists. Each unit is communicatively coupled to at least some of the other plurality of units, where at least some of the plurality of units are reference units, whose locations are known. The units communicate with other nearby units within communication range, to establish neighbor lists. A unit to be located then identifies an aggregate value corresponding to the number of occurrences of the reference units in the neighbor list of the unit to be located and the neighbor lists of each of a group of associated units. The location of the unit to be located is then determined, based upon the known locations of the reference units and the number of identified occurrences of the reference units in the corresponding neighbor lists.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism (300, 400) and method (500) for rotating at least a first and second housing elements (120, 220) of a device (100) with respect to one another. The first and second housing elements (120, 240) have a common axis of rotation (190), which is substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the device (100). The mechanism (300, 400) includes a wheel (310, 410) having a rounded outer edge (312, 412), which engages a rounded surface (144) of a first housing element (220), which extends at least partly around the axis of rotation (190). The wheel (310, 410) is coupled to the second housing element (120) at a center point (316, 416) about which the wheel (310, 410) is adapted to rotate. The wheel (310, 410) further includes a contact point (318, 418) offset from a center point (316, 416).

Abstract: A method for sending messages from a particular device to one or more other devices communicants (300) uses the relative geographic location of the targeted devices as addressing criteria. The particular device forms or joins a network of potential communicants, and exchanges information to determine their relative geographic location with respect to that of the particular device (310, 320). The relative geographic location is preferably defined by a directional component and a range component. The communication device then selects for communication those devices that meet specific criteria, such as a specific direction and range, and transmits a message to the selected devices (330, 332, 334, 336).

Abstract: A latch mechanism (1200) comprises a resilient wire (404) supported proximate its first end (412) and second end (414) by a support structure (406). The latch mechanism (1200) also includes one or more hook shaped catches (218) that have cammed outer surfaces (302) and wire engaging openings (304). To engage the latch mechanism (1200) the resilient wire (404) is urged against the cammed outer surfaces (302) bending the resilient wire (404) and allowing the resilient wire to rebound into the wire engaging openings (304). To disengage the latch mechanism the resilient wire (404) is deflected, e.g., by pushing a moveable manual actuator (408) that is engaged with the wire, in order to release the resilient wire (404) from the wire engaging openings (304) of the catches (218).

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism and method for rotating at least a first and second housing elements (120, 220) of a device (100) with respect to one another. The first and second housing elements (120, 220) have a common axis of rotation (270), which is substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the device (100). The mechanism includes a first transport (302), a second transport (304), a tension device (306), and an engagement member (400). The first and second transports (302, 304) selectively engage contact elements (308, 310) of the first and second housing elements (120, 220) and selectively travel about a ring path as the first and second housings rotate relative to one another.

Abstract: An electronic device with a force sensing key (200) has a switch (280), a first force sensing region (290) for acquiring a first force value, a second force sensing region (290) for acquiring a second force value, and a processor for determining a selected function for the key (200) based upon the first force value and the second force value when the switch (280) is activated. The first force sensing pad (290) and the second force sensing pad (290) use a partially resistive material (250) that exhibits a force-to-voltage response value. By forming the switch (280) as a dome (225) switch, the force sensing key (200) provides crisp tactile feedback to a user. The force sensing key (200) can be configured for a variety of applications and user preferences by varying the architecture of the actuator (270).

Abstract: A secure memory and processing system is disclosed for use in various types of communication devices. The secure processing system provides for the encryption and storage of sensitive data in a storage medium external to the secure processing system. The encrypted data is decrypted with encryption logic circuitry within the secure memory and transferred to a zeroizable memory for use by a host processor. The secure memory uses a laser-scribed encryption key coupled to encryption logic circuitry within the secure memory for encrypting and decrypting the sensitive information.

Abstract: A method 29 is disclosed of protecting against the mistaken dialing of a cellular telephone 10 by an inadvertent keystroke. A user may inadvertently place a telephone call or activate another function by accidentally pressing a key 15 on a cellular phone 10 while it is in a standby mode. If the key 15 pressed remains depressed for over a predetermined amount of time, the cellular phone 10 disregards the action and places the phone back in the standby mode. While in the locked mode, the cellular telephone 10 may receive a call, then upon termination of the call, the cellular telephone 10 will display a query to the user if it should be in locked mode or active mode.