Abstract: A current measuring system for measuring current from a conductor comprises a first and second circuit and a current measurer connected to a conductor connected to a first power source. The first circuit comprises an inverting operational amplifier, which generates a first threshold signal when current flows into the first power source. The second circuit comprises a biasing circuit and a non-inverting operational amplifier, which generates the first threshold signal at the second output when current flows out of the first power source.

Abstract: An electronic personal dosimeter (EPD) smart accessory system is described. The system includes a first component configured to be attachable to the EPD and a second component configured to be attachable to safety glasses. The first component includes an ambient light sensor and a first communication module. The ambient light sensor detects light from a light-emitting diode (LED) of the EPD to detect a warning signal from the EPD. The second component includes a feedback mechanism and a second communication module. The first communication module establishes a short range wireless communication connection with the second communication module, and transmits a signal to cause the second component to turn on the feedback mechanism when the warning signal from the EPD is detected.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus configured to monitor status of a relay, the monitoring apparatus comprising: a connector, for mating with corresponding pins of the relay; a microcontroller unit (MCU), for detecting a status of the relay from the pins of the relay; and a Near Field Communication (NFC) unit, for reporting the status of the relay to a NFC reader.

Abstract: An electronic personal dosimeter (EPD) smart accessory system is described. The system includes a first component configured to be attachable to the EPD and a second component configured to be attachable to safety glasses. The first component includes an ambient light sensor and a first communication module. The ambient light sensor detects light from a light-emitting diode (LED) of the EPD to detect a warning signal from the EPD. The second component includes a feedback mechanism and a second communication module. The first communication module establishes a short range wireless communication connection with the second communication module, and transmits a signal to cause the second component to turn on the feedback mechanism when the warning signal from the EPD is detected.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus configured to monitor status of a relay, the monitoring apparatus comprising: a connector, for mating with corresponding pins of the relay; a microcontroller unit (MCU), for detecting a status of the relay from the pins of the relay; and a Near Field Communication (NFC) unit, for reporting the status of the relay to a NFC reader.

Abstract: A system and method for short-range wireless peer-to-peer file sharing is provided. A consolidated catalog of accessible files stored both locally and remotely is sent by a first computing device to a peer computing device over a short-range wireless communications link. The first device receives a request from the peer device to retrieve a selected file. When this selected file is determined to be remotely stored, the first device obtains authentication credentials sufficient to permit access by the peer device to the selected file stored remotely at another device, and sends the authentication credentials to the peer device over the short range wireless communications link so that the peer device can directly retrieve the selected file from the other device using the authentication credentials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: The present application describes power management devices, systems and methods. In an embodiment, a power management controller is configured to: determine that a secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds a default power threshold defined in a default power scheme; monitor internal power requirements associated with on-board functions of an electronic device and determine that internal power requirements satisfy predetermined criteria; and in response to determining that the secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold and that the internal power requirements satisfy the predetermined criteria, adjust a power scheme associated with the port and implemented by the power limiter to provide, to the secondary electronic device, an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: A device, system and method for charging a battery are provided. The device comprises: a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port; a battery in communication with the USB port; and, circuitry in communication with the USB port and the battery, the circuitry configured to: transmit a power control signal over the USB port, the power control signal comprising data indicative of one or more of a power, a voltage and a current to be received over the USB port to charge the battery; and, responsively receive the power for charging the battery over the USB port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: A device for changing communications of an audio port between an applications processor and an audio processor is provided. The device comprises: an audio port configured to connect with an external accessory; an applications processor configured to implement a digital communication protocol; an audio processor configured to process audio data; and, a switch configured to change communications of the audio port between the applications processor and the audio processor based on an electrical configuration of the audio port, the electrical configuration changing according to the external accessory.

Abstract: A system and method for short-range wireless peer-to-peer file sharing is provided. A consolidated catalog of accessible files stored both locally and remotely is sent by a first computing device to a peer computing device over a short-range wireless communications link. The first device receives a request from the peer device to retrieve a selected file. When this selected file is determined to be remotely stored, the first device obtains authentication credentials sufficient to permit access by the peer device to the selected file stored remotely at another device, and sends the authentication credentials to the peer device over the short range wireless communications link so that the peer device can directly retrieve the selected file from the other device using the authentication credentials.

Abstract: A device for detecting a carrying case, and methods there for, are provided. The device includes: an orientation sensor; a near field communication (NFC) reader; and, a processor configured to place the device in a carrying case mode when an orientation of the device is within a given angular range as determined using the orientation sensor, and the NFC reader detects an NFC tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: In one embodiment, for example, a method of short range wireless peer-to-peer file sharing is provided. The method includes establishing a short range wireless communications link between a local computing device and a peer computing device and transmitting to the peer computing device over the short range wireless communications link a consolidated catalog of accessible files stored locally in the local computing device, remotely in a remote computing device, or both. The method further includes receiving from over the short range wireless communications link a request by the peer computing device to retrieve a selected one of the files. The method includes responding to a determination that the selected one of the files is stored remotely in the remote computing device by facilitating the retrieval by the peer computing device of the selected one of the files from the remote computing device for delivery to the peer computing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: A control circuit (comprising, for example, a part of a charging hub for a portable electronic communications device) that is not configured to support USB On-The-Go-compatible Host Negotiation Protocol is operably coupled to a USB-ID connector and is configured to transmit an identifier via that USB-ID connector to prompt a USB device in function mode to serve as a USB host. A locally-available power supply can then serve to provide power to that USB device notwithstanding the latter's role as the host.

Abstract: The present application describes power management devices, systems and methods. In an embodiment, a power management controller is configured to: determine that a secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds a default power threshold defined in a default power scheme; monitor internal power requirements associated with on-board functions of an electronic device and determine that internal power requirements satisfy predetermined criteria; and in response to determining that the secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold and that the internal power requirements satisfy the predetermined criteria, adjust a power scheme associated with the port and implemented by the power limiter to provide, to the secondary electronic device, an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold.

Abstract: A device, system and method for charging a battery are provided. The device comprises: a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port; a battery in communication with the USB port; and, circuitry in communication with the USB port and the battery, the circuitry configured to: transmit a power control signal over the USB port, the power control signal comprising data indicative of one or more of a power, a voltage and a current to be received over the USB port to charge the battery; and, responsively receive the power for charging the battery over the USB port.