Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower housing slidably coupled to an upper housing, the lower and upper housings being movable between a closed position and an open position, and a holster sized and shaped for holding the device in a holster position. The device also includes a first position sensor to detect proximity of at least one positioning object and output a first sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the first position sensor, a second position sensor to detect proximity of the at least one positioning object and output a second sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the second position sensor. The first and second sensor output signals cooperate to indicate whether the portable electronic device is in one of the open position, the closed position and the holster position.

Abstract: In some aspects, a portable electronic device is provided having a slidable upper housing movable relative to a lower housing between an open position and a closed position, and a front bezel. The front bezel holds the components of the portable electronic device together and covers up at least some of the fasteners used to attach components of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit connector structure and assembly method. A panel with a back side that is parallel to a first plane and a flexible printed circuit backer that has a base and a backing structure. The base is attached to the back side of the panel. The backing structure depends from the base and extends along a second plane that forms an angle with the first plane. A first flexible circuit side of the flexible printed circuit is attached to a first side and an opposite second side of the backing structure. The flexible printed circuit has exposed conductors on a second flexible circuit side that is opposite the first flexible circuit side.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a housing for an electronic device. The housing comprises: a back housing defining an interior compartment of the device; a receptacle to receive a first locking feature from a cover for the electronic device; and at least one moveable second locking feature in the receptacle to engage the first locking feature to hold the cover to the back housing. In the back housing the second locking feature is selectively moved from a first engaged position with the first locking feature to a second disengaged position with the first locking feature when a predefined force is applied at a specific location at the back housing or the cover.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower housing slidably coupled to an upper housing, the lower and upper housings being movable between a closed position and an open position, and a holster sized and shaped for holding the device in a holster position. The device also includes a first position sensor to detect proximity of at least one positioning object and output a first sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the first position sensor, a second position sensor to detect proximity of the at least one positioning object and output a second sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the second position sensor. The first and second sensor output signals cooperate to indicate whether the portable electronic device is in one of the open position, the closed position and the holster position.

Abstract: A dampening assembly for a portable electronic device includes a housing. The housing includes a top portion and a bottom portion. A pivot arm is pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the housing. A reservoir is defined between the top portion and the bottom portion. The reservoir includes at least one of a fluid and a viscous material. A first portion of the pivot arm is disposed within the reservoir. A second portion of the pivot arm extends through and above the top portion of the housing.

Abstract: A rotatable coupling mechanism includes an annular base member and a first annular member. A second annular member is mechanically coupled to the annular base member. A resilient member is disposed between the first annular member and the second annular member.

Abstract: An electronic mobile device includes a base and a pivotable assembly that is pivotable relative to the base. A linkage connects to the pivotable assembly so as to be pivotable about a first axis and connects to the base so as to be pivotable about a second axis. As such, the pivotable assembly is pivotable relative to the base about the first axis and the second axis. The electronic mobile device further includes a guide mechanism that includes a guide path defined by one of the base and the pivotable assembly. The guide mechanism further includes a guide member supported by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly. The guide member moves along the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots relative to the base to inhibit the pivotable assembly from simultaneously pivoting about both the first axis and the second axis.

Abstract: In some aspects, a portable electronic device, having a rear housing, an upper housing coupled to the rear housing and slideable relative thereto between a closed position and an open position, an antenna, and at least one element coupled to the antenna and configured to perform at least one of inhibiting low frequency shift and increasing high frequency sensitivity of the antenna.

Abstract: A portable electronic device (200), including a first housing (204), a second housing (202) slidably coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing movable between a closed position, an open position and a transition position between the open position and the closed position, at least one input device (212), and at least one position sensor (230, 232) operable to detect whether the portable electronic device is in the open position, the closed position or the transition position. When the at least one position sensor detects the transition position, the at least one input device is disabled.

Abstract: An electronic mobile device includes a base that defines a guide path and a translation support that is pivotally supported by the base. The electronic mobile device further includes a movable assembly translatably connected to the translation support opposite the base. The movable assembly includes a guide follower that follows the guide path. As such, the movable assembly translates relative to the translation support as the movable assembly and the translation support pivot relative to the base to move the movable assembly to a plurality of operating configurations relative to the base.

Abstract: A dampening assembly for a portable electronic device includes a housing. The housing includes a top portion and a bottom portion. A pivot arm is pivotably coupled to the bottom portion of the housing. A reservoir is defined between the top portion and the bottom portion. The reservoir includes at least one of a fluid and a viscous material. A first portion of the pivot arm is disposed within the reservoir. A second portion of the pivot arm extends through and above the top portion of the housing.

Abstract: An air dampening assembly for an electronic device comprises a base member. A first piston housing is disposed on the base member. A second piston housing is disposed on the based member opposite the first piston housing. A sliding member is disposed between the first and second piston housing. A first piston is disposed on a first elongated member of the sliding member. The first piston housing is configured to receive the first piston. A second piston is disposed on a second elongated member of the sliding member. The second piston housing is configured to receive the second piston.

Abstract: An electronic mobile device includes a base and a pivotable assembly that is pivotable relative to the base. A linkage connects to the pivotable assembly so as to be pivotable about a first axis and connects to the base so as to be pivotable about a second axis. As such, the pivotable assembly is pivotable relative to the base about the first axis and the second axis. The electronic mobile device further includes a guide mechanism that includes a guide path defined by one of the base and the pivotable assembly. The guide mechanism further includes a guide member supported by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly. The guide member moves along the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots relative to the base to inhibit the pivotable assembly from simultaneously pivoting about both the first axis and the second axis.

Abstract: A rotatable coupling mechanism includes an annular base member and a first annular member. A second annular member is mechanically coupled to the annular base member. A resilient member is disposed between the first annular member and the second annular member.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower housing slidably coupled to an upper housing, the lower and upper housings being movable between a closed position and an open position, and a holster sized and shaped for holding the device in a holster position. The device also includes a first position sensor to detect proximity of at least one positioning object and output a first sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the first position sensor, a second position sensor to detect proximity of the at least one positioning object and output a second sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the second position sensor. The first and second sensor output signals cooperate to indicate whether the portable electronic device is in one of the open position, the closed position and the holster position.

Abstract: In some aspects, a portable electronic device is provided having a slidable upper housing movable relative to a lower housing between an open position and a closed position, and a front bezel. The front bezel holds the components of the portable electronic device together and covers up at least some of the fasteners used to attach components of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises a lower housing including a battery compartment. An upper housing is coupled to the lower housing and is slidable relative thereto in a first linear direction between a closed position and an open position. A battery cover is configured to engage the lower housing and move generally in the first linear direction relative to the lower housing from an unlatched position to a latched position in which the battery cover interlocks with the lower housing and encloses the battery compartment. The battery cover may comprise at least one of a post element or a beam element and the lower housing may comprise at least one of the other of the post element or the beam element. The post and beam elements are configured to interlock with one another when the battery cover is in the latched position.