Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product to correct for optical distortion in media captured by a camera in a liquid environment. The method includes detecting immersion of an image capturing device in a liquid environment. The method further includes determining a most recent location of the image capturing device and accessing a geographical database to determine a specific liquid environment that is associated with the most recent location. The method further includes automatically retrieving a corrected camera refractive index corresponding to the specific liquid environment. The method further includes intercepting live image data of a current scene that is captured by at least one camera sensor of the image capturing device and applying the corrected camera refractive index to the live image data to correct for an optical distortion in the live image data. The method further includes providing the corrected live image data to an output device.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product to correct for optical distortion in media captured by a camera in a liquid environment. The method includes detecting immersion of an image capturing device in a liquid environment. The method further includes determining a most recent location of the image capturing device and accessing a geographical database to determine a specific liquid environment that is associated with the most recent location. The method further includes automatically retrieving a corrected camera refractive index corresponding to the specific liquid environment. The method further includes intercepting live image data of a current scene that is captured by at least one camera sensor of the image capturing device and applying the corrected camera refractive index to the live image data to correct for an optical distortion in the live image data. The method further includes providing the corrected live image data to an output device.

Abstract: In embodiments of a passive stylus with RFID-enabled sensing, a computing device includes a touchscreen that senses touch contact, and includes an RFID interrogator to interrogate passive RFID tags. The stylus includes a conductive tip designed for interaction with the touchscreen of the computing device. The stylus integrates a pressure sensor that senses pressure when the conductive tip of the stylus contacts the touchscreen. The stylus also includes at least one RFID antenna that is positioned in a body of the stylus to prevent detuning the RFID antenna when the stylus is held for use. The passive RFID tag can receive pressure sensor data from the pressure sensor in the stylus, and the passive RID tag can be read by the RFID interrogator to determine the pressure applied to the conductive tip of the stylus in order determine whether the stylus is contacting the touchscreen or only hovering above it.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electrical power conversion include the provision of a full-bridge tunnel diode inverter topology which provides a balanced push-pull drive voltage and current across the entire transformer primary. Moreover, the full-bridge tunnel diode inverter may avoid operating its tunnel diodes in a high-current/high-voltage state at light loads, unlike a single-diode inverter. The disclosed principles also allow a full-bridge tunnel diode inverter topology that may avoid RF chirps in the tunnel diodes during rising or falling device ramp currents since the primary current passes through two tunnel diodes in series.

Abstract: A method, chopstick stylus apparatus, and a chopstick stylus interfacing system provides both single stylus functionality and dual stylus functionality corresponding to specific touch screen interactions with the chopstick stylus apparatus. A dual stylus detection module (DSDM) executing on a processor of a touch screen computing device receives and/or causes the processor to receive input values that correspond to information representing touch screen interactions detected using a touch screen sensor. The DSDM determines, from the received input values, at least one matching signature from among a plurality of interaction signatures corresponding to different touch screen interactions that can be provided via a chopstick stylus apparatus. The DSDM is able to identify both individual stylus interactions and dual stylus interactions, based on a corresponding matching signature(s).

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing backlight dimming film. These techniques may be performed using a side entry lightguide structure having a receiving side and an output surface. The lightguide structure receives light through the receiving side and redirects the light so that it is output through the output surface. The techniques are also performed relative to a cover screen structure that receives light from the output surface of the lightguide structure and filters the light to display an image. A dimming film is disposed between the output surface of the lightguide structure and the cover screen structure. The dimming film is controlled to block light output from the output surface of the lightguide structure from being received at the cover screen structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electrical power conversion include the provision of a full-bridge tunnel diode inverter topology which provides a balanced push-pull drive voltage and current across the entire transformer primary. Moreover, the full-bridge tunnel diode inverter may avoid operating its tunnel diodes in a high-current/high-voltage state at light loads, unlike a single-diode inverter. The disclosed principles also allow a full-bridge tunnel diode inverter topology that may avoid RF chirps in the tunnel diodes during rising or falling device ramp currents since the primary current passes through two tunnel diodes in series.

Abstract: A touch sensor and RFID apparatus is described. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a passive RFID module disposed proximate to a touch panel, and a control module configured to receive an electrical signal from the passive RFID module. The apparatus may be configured to determine, based on a characteristic of the electrical signal, whether the passive RFID module has been energized by an RFID reader or, in the alternative, has exhibited an impedance change as a result of contact being made with the touch panel. The apparatus may also be configured to operate in a first mode if the passive RFID module is determined to have been energized by an RFID reader, or, in the alternative, operate in a second mode if the passive RFID module is determined to have been energized as a result of contact being made with the touch panel.

Abstract: In embodiments of a passive stylus with RFID-enabled sensing, a computing device includes a touchscreen that senses touch contact, and includes an RFID interrogator to interrogate passive RFID tags. The stylus includes a conductive tip designed for interaction with the touchscreen of the computing device. The stylus integrates a pressure sensor that senses pressure when the conductive tip of the stylus contacts the touchscreen. The stylus also includes at least one RFID antenna that is positioned in a body of the stylus to prevent detuning the RFID antenna when the stylus is held for use. The passive RFID tag can receive pressure sensor data from the pressure sensor in the stylus, and the passive RID tag can be read by the RFID interrogator to determine the pressure applied to the conductive tip of the stylus in order determine whether the stylus is contacting the touchscreen or only hovering above it.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method performed by an electronic device for determining a seating position of a person in a vehicle, the method comprises capturing at least one image of an environment of a vehicle, detecting, from the at least one captured image, an orientation of a retraining device within the vehicle, and determining the seating position of a person within the restraining device based on the orientation of the restraining device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Abstract: In embodiments of battery charging interrupt, a device (102) includes a capacitive touch interface (104), a battery (110), and a charging circuit (108) that charges the battery when the device is coupled to a power supply (114). A touch detection system (106) detects a conductive contact on the capacitive touch interface of the device, and the touch detection system determines a level of noise on the capacitive touch interface. The level of noise may increase due to the conductive contact on the touch interface while charging the battery. A device controller (126) determines a charge level of the battery. The device controller can then interrupt charging the battery when the level of the noise exceeds a noise level threshold (128) and when the charge level of the battery exceeds a minimum charge level.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method performed by an electronic device for determining a seating position of a person in a vehicle, the method comprises capturing at least one image of an environment of a vehicle, detecting, from the at least one captured image, an orientation of a retraining device within the vehicle, and determining the seating position of a person within the restraining device based on the orientation of the restraining device.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing backlight dimming film. These techniques may be performed using a side entry lightguide structure having a receiving side and an output surface. The lightguide structure receives light through the receiving side and redirects the light so that it is output through the output surface. The techniques are also performed relative to a cover screen structure that receives light from the output surface of the lightguide structure and filters the light to display an image. A dimming film is disposed between the output surface of the lightguide structure and the cover screen structure. The dimming film is controlled to block light output from the output surface of the lightguide structure from being received at the cover screen structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Abstract: A touch sensor integrated with a keyboard spacebar. A touchpad zone can be defined on a portion of a planar surface of a spacebar. The touchpad zone can be configured to detect movement of a human appendage across the touchpad zone, or above the touchpad zone, and generate a corresponding signal from the keyboard that causes corresponding movement of a cursor presented on a display. In another embodiment, a touchpad can be positioned over the spacebar. The touchpad can be slidably engaged to the keyboard to facilitate user positioning of the touchpad over a desired portion of the spacebar.

Abstract: A touch sensor and RFID apparatus is described. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a passive RFID module disposed proximate to a touch panel, and a control module configured to receive an electrical signal from the passive RFID module. The apparatus may be configured to determine, based on a characteristic of the electrical signal, whether the passive RFID module has been energized by an RFID reader or, in the alternative, has exhibited an impedance change as a result of contact being made with the touch panel. The apparatus may also be configured to operate in a first mode if the passive RFID module is determined to have been energized by an RFID reader, or, in the alternative, operate in a second mode if the passive RFID module is determined to have been energized as a result of contact being made with the touch panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a device is provided herein. During operation, a user's headset is tapped upon in order to control a device. More particularly, a user's headset (or the device itself) uses circuitry that allows the headset or the device to detect user taps (for example on either earpiece of the connected 3.5 mm jack stereo headset, or the housing of the headset). The taps serve as user inputs to control the device. Because a user can control a device simply by tapping upon a headset, the device can be accessed without necessitating the need to wake the device to access control functions (e.g., music control functions).

Abstract: A method and system for determining a camera-to-display latency of an electronic device (100) having a camera (134) and touch-sensitive display (108) are disclosed. In one example embodiment, the method (500) includes receiving (511) first light (136) at the camera, and essentially simultaneously receiving second light (138) at a first photosensitive structural portion (102, 602). The method (500) further includes detecting (512) a first simulated touch input at the display (108) in response to a first actuation of the first photosensitive structural portion (102, 602), receiving third light (140) at a second photosensitive structural portion (104, 604), the third light being generated based at least indirectly upon the received first light (136), detecting (514) a second simulated touch input at the display (108) as a result of the receiving of the third light (140), and determining the camera-to-display latency based at least indirectly upon the touch inputs (516).