Abstract: An electronic device includes an audio capture device, one or more physical sensors or context sensors, and one or more processors. A method of operating the electronic device includes receiving audio input, identifying a device command from the audio input, and detecting one or more multi-modal social cues from an environment about the electronic device. Where the one or more multi-modal social cues match one or more predefined criteria, the method executes a control operation in response to the device command.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing and one or more processors. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The one or more processors can receive, with a communication circuit, an incoming communication from a remote communication device and determine whether a person is within a thermal reception radius of the at least one proximity sensor component. Where the person is not within the thermal reception radius, the one or more processors can perform a control operation in response to receiving the incoming communication.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing. One or more processors are operable with a plurality of proximity sensor components that can be disposed behind a grille defining a plurality of reception beams with at least a first reception beam oriented at least partially in a first direction and at least a second reception beam oriented at least partially in a second direction. The one or more processors can detect a person is within a thermal reception radius along the first direction, and can determine whether another person is within the thermal reception radius along the second direction. Where only the person is within the thermal reception radius, the electronic device can operate in a first mode of operation. When the person and another person are within the thermal reception radius, the electronic device can operate in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A method in an electronic device includes receiving, with an audio capture device such as a microphone, a request for navigational information. One or more processors of the electronic device then identify a transit mode. The one or more processors also detect, with one or more sensors, one or more contextual cues from an environment about the electronic device. The contextual cues can include a geo-location, transit mode, bearing, or other factors. The one or more processors then provide a navigation information response that is a function of the transit mode and the one or more contextual cues to a user interface of the electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a user interface, and one or more processors operable with the user interface. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. At least one proximity detector component can be operable with the one or more processors and can include a signal emitter and a corresponding signal receiver. The one or more processors can actuate the at least one proximity detector component when the at least one proximity sensor component receives the infrared emission from the object, thereby causing the signal emitter to transmit a beacon having a unique identifier encoded therein. The beacon allows the device to determine the number and identity of other devices or persons within a thermal detection radius.

Abstract: A method in an electronic device includes receiving, with an audio capture device such as a microphone, a request for navigational information. One or more processors of the electronic device then identify a transit mode. The one or more processors also detect, with one or more sensors, one or more contextual cues from an environment about the electronic device. The contextual cues can include a geo-location, transit mode, bearing, or other factors. The one or more processors then provide a navigation information response that is a function of the transit mode and the one or more contextual cues to a user interface of the electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing and one or more processors. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The one or more processors can receive, with a communication circuit, an incoming communication from a remote communication device and determine whether a person is within a thermal reception radius of the at least one proximity sensor component. Where the person is not within the thermal reception radius, the one or more processors can perform a control operation in response to receiving the incoming communication.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an audio capture device, one or more physical sensors or context sensors, and one or more processors. A method of operating the electronic device includes receiving audio input, identifying a device command from the audio input, and detecting one or more multi-modal social cues from an environment about the electronic device. Where the one or more multi-modal social cues match one or more predefined criteria, the method executes a control operation in response to the device command.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing and one or more processors. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The one or more processors can receive, with a communication circuit, an incoming communication from a remote communication device and determine whether a person is within a thermal reception radius of the at least one proximity sensor component. Where the person is not within the thermal reception radius, the one or more processors can perform a control operation in response to receiving the incoming communication.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing. One or more processors are operable with a plurality of proximity sensor components that can be disposed behind a grille defining a plurality of reception beams with at least a first reception beam oriented at least partially in a first direction and at least a second reception beam oriented at least partially in a second direction. The one or more processors can detect a person is within a thermal reception radius along the first direction, and can determine whether another person is within the thermal reception radius along the second direction. Where only the person is within the thermal reception radius, the electronic device can operate in a first mode of operation. When the person and another person are within the thermal reception radius, the electronic device can operate in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a user interface, and one or more processors operable with the user interface. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. At least one proximity detector component can be operable with the one or more processors and can include a signal emitter and a corresponding signal receiver. The one or more processors can actuate the at least one proximity detector component when the at least one proximity sensor component receives the infrared emission from the object, thereby causing the signal emitter to transmit a beacon having a unique identifier encoded therein. The beacon allows the device to determine the number and identity of other devices or persons within a thermal detection radius.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing and one or more processors. At least one proximity sensor component is operable with the one or more processors and can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The one or more processors can receive, with a communication circuit, an incoming communication from a remote communication device and determine whether a person is within a thermal reception radius of the at least one proximity sensor component. Where the person is not within the thermal reception radius, the one or more processors can perform a control operation in response to receiving the incoming communication.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to automatically determine an audio path for a peripheral speaker. A wireless device uses particular wireless-communication methods or techniques, referred to as an audio path, to wirelessly communicate audio data to a speaker system for playback by a peripheral speaker. The device selects an audio path and attempts to send audio data representing known audio to the speaker system using the selected audio path. If a microphone of the device receives the known audio, then the device determines that the selected audio path is supported by the speaker system and thus can be used to communicate audio data to the peripheral speaker. However, if the microphone does not receive the known audio, then the device repeats the selecting of an audio path and attempting to send audio data to the speaker system using the newly selected audio path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for displaying notification information are disclosed. A computing device that is showing a breathing view on its touch screen display, detects a peek request event, such as a press and hold on the display. If the user then swipes one direction (e.g., up to a notification target), the computing device launches the notification intent (e.g., the full text message in the text messaging application). However, if the user swipes another direction (e.g., down to a plurality of notification icons), the computing device displays a notification curtain (e.g., a list of various notifications and links to each associated application).

Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling module (100) and a method for forming the cooling module (100). The cooling module (100) is effective in reducing the temperature of heat-generating components mounted on the cooling module (100). The cooling module (100) includes a housing (105), a pressure relief mechanism (200), and a shearing surface (201). The housing (105) includes a cooling material (121) disposed therein. The pressure relief mechanism (200) is disposed within the housing (105) and covers the opening (203) to provide a seal that seals the housing (105). The shearing surface (201) is effective to break the seal upon exceeding a predetermined pressure within the housing (105).

Abstract: The device (10) includes a semiconductor die (12) positioned to receive a fluid cooling medium (45) and a power input lead (25) attached to the semiconductor die. The power input lead having a characteristic such that at a first temperature a first current flows between the semiconductor die and the power input lead and at a second temperature a second current flows between the semiconductor die and the power input lead.

Abstract: The filter includes a housing (13) defining a cavity (14). The housing has a fluid inlet orifice (22) and a fluid ou let orifice (24) therein. At least one resonator (16), which is sized to receive and pass a radio frequency signal, is disposed in the cavity. A dielectric fluid (18) fills the cavity. The fluid inlet orifice is configured to supply a first quantity of the dielectric fluid to the cavity and the fluid outlet orifice is configured to remove a second quantity of the dielectric fluid from the cavity, so that the dielectric fluid is continuously replaced.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a first housing (10) defining a first chamber (26), the first chamber sized to enclose an electronic device. The first housing has an inner surface (22) and an outer surface (24), and at least a portion of the first housing is transparent. A light-generating device (14) is disposed at least in part between the inner surface and the outer surface of the transparent portion of the first housing. The light-generating device has a first end and a second end. The first end is responsive to electrical signals (18) and the second end is responsive to optical signals (20). When a first electronic device (45) is disposed in the first chamber, the first electronic device transmits electrical signals to the first end, the second end translates the electrical signals to optical signals and transmits the optical signals through the outer surface.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, the foregoing needs are addressed by a splicing tool for joining a first tube and a second tube, including a first member and a second member which are moveably coupled. The first member has a first handle section and a first mold section. The first mold section has a first groove. The second member has a second handle section and a second mold section. The second mold section has a second groove. The first groove sized to receive at least a portion of a first tube, at least a portion of a second tube and a bonding material. The bonding material attaches the first tube to the second tube when the first and second grooves are substantially aligned and heat is applied to the bonding material.

Abstract: The method includes providing a substrate (18) having a semiconductor die (12) thereon, the semiconductor die having a major surface (23); disposing an input region (24) an active region (32) and a conductive region (34) on the major surface, the conductive region electrically coupling the input region and the active region; providing an inductive metal region (42) in communication with the input region, the inductive metal region sized to allow real-time iterative tuning of the electronic device; and receiving a fluid by a nozzle (60), the nozzle atomizing the fluid and discharging the fluid onto the major surface.