Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a haptic sensation is disclosed. An acoustic transducer at a first cellular communication device is used to determine a gesture of a user object with respect to a first cellular communication device. The gesture is generally performed in a three-dimensional space of the first cellular communication device. A haptic signal is created that corresponds to the determined gesture and is sent from the first cellular communication device to a second cellular communication device. An actuator at the second cellular communication device is actuated according to the haptic signal to produce a haptic sensation at the second cellular communication device.

Abstract: Method, system and apparatus for cooling a mobile device is provided. The device comprises: a housing comprising one or more apertures; a heat producing device; a cooling apparatus adjacent the heat producing device, the cooling apparatus comprising: an inlet; an outlet; and, a thermal pump configured to: draw air from the inlet to the heat producing device to form heated air, and exhaust the heated air from the outlet; and, one or more carbon nanotubes, a respective entrance of each of the one or more carbon nanotubes located at the outlet of the cooling apparatus, and a respective exit of each of the one or more carbon nanotubes terminating at a respective aperture of the one or more apertures, so that the heated air is vented through the one or more apertures.

Abstract: A mobile computing device may include a biometric sensor in proximity with a color-controlled layer. Where the color of the color-controlled layer may be changed, a processor of the mobile computing device may control the color of the color-controlled layer responsive to sensing various conditions. For example, the color of the color-controlled layer may be controlled, by default, to match the housing of the mobile computing device. Responsive to sensing an approaching user finger, the color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color. The color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color again upon contact of the finger, upon removal of the finger and upon determining authentication success. The color-controlled layer may be structured as a mix of heating elements and thermochromic polymer elements.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method entails capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device, collecting pressure measurements using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device, determining a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements and storing the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ionic ring comprising a number of piezoelectric elements, a piezoelectric device including the ionic ring, and a piezoelectric generator including the ionic ring and host devices incorporating the piezoelectric generator. The piezoelectric generator can be used to generate energy on a portable electronic device in response to mechanical deformation. The generated energy can be used instead of a battery of the portable electronic device or can be used to charge the battery.

Abstract: A device and method to control measurements of light intensity are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors measuring the light intensity at the respective surface location. The device also includes a processor to control operation of the two or more ambient light sensors.

Abstract: A device and method to facilitate display navigation by touch-less gesture are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors measuring light intensity at the respective surface location. The device also includes a processor to detect a gesture as a detected gesture performed by an object in touch-less communication with the device and output a signal corresponding with the detected gesture, and a navigation gesture library to store two or more gestures and corresponding two or more signals, wherein the processor accesses the navigation gesture library when the device is not executing an application with an associated application gesture library.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method entails capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device, collecting pressure measurements using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device, determining a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements and storing the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a haptic sensation is disclosed. An acoustic transducer at a first cellular communication device is used to determine a gesture of a user object with respect to a first cellular communication device. The gesture is generally performed in a three-dimensional space of the first cellular communication device. A haptic signal is created that corresponds to the determined gesture and is sent from the first cellular communication device to a second cellular communication device. An actuator at the second cellular communication device is actuated according to the haptic signal to produce a haptic sensation at the second cellular communication device.

Abstract: An animal monitoring and energy harvesting system includes a wearable or implantable animal monitor sized and shaped to be worn by or implanted in an animal to be monitored. The animal monitor includes a sensor adapted to obtain a set of current animal physiology data associated with the animal, and a sensor processor coupled to the sensor. The sensor processor determines a current state of the animal based upon the set of current animal physiology data. The animal monitoring system also includes an animal monitor server in data communication with the animal monitor. The animal monitor server is configured to receive the current state of the animal. A computing device in data communication with the animal monitor server receives the current state of the animal from the animal monitor server and displays the current state of the animal being monitored.

Abstract: A device and method to detect a gesture performed by an object in touch-less communication with the device are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective first surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors sensing light intensity at the respective first surface location. The device also includes one or more processors to operate one or more light sources at respective second surface locations of the device based on the light intensity sensed by the two or more ambient light sensors, and detect the gesture based on the light intensity sensed by each of the two or more ambient light sensors.

Abstract: A device and method to use a password by touch-less gesture are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors measuring light intensity at the respective surface location. The device also includes a first processor to execute a password application on the device, and a second processor to detect two or more gestures performed by an object in touch-less communication with the device and define or verify a password based on the two or more gestures.

Abstract: A device and method to control measurements of light intensity are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors measuring the light intensity at the respective surface location. The device also includes a processor to control operation of the two or more ambient light sensors.

Abstract: Touchscreen controllers and associated electronic devices are described which prevent eavesdropping of touchscreen activity. In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a touchscreen controller that includes a touch input interface for connecting to a touch-sensitive overlay of a touchscreen display and a touch output interface. The touch output interface provides an output in dependence on touch input received via the touch input interface. The touchscreen controller further includes an orientation sensor control output interface for connecting to one or more orientation sensors and an embedded processor coupled with the touch input interface, the touch output interface and the orientation sensor control output interface. The embedded processor is configured to generate an interrupt output signal for output on the orientation sensor control output interface.

Abstract: A mobile computing device including a biometric scanning interface that changes color in response to a predetermined condition. The biometric scanning interface comprises a layer of heat-sensing elements and a multi-element layer comprising heating elements and thermochromic polymer elements. When the predetermined condition is detected, a driver is adapted to control the thermochromic layer to change color.

Abstract: A device operable using touch-less and touchscreen gestures and a method and system to operate the device are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device and sensing light intensity at the respective surface locations. The device also includes a processor coupled to the two or more ambient light sensors to identify a touch-less gesture based on the light intensity sensed by the two or more ambient light sensors, receive a touchscreen gesture, and operate the device based on the touch-less gesture and the touchscreen gesture.

Abstract: A system and method to control a camera application executed on a device are described. The system includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors measuring light intensity at the respective surface location. The system also includes a processor to determine an adjustment to the camera application based on information resulting from the light intensity measured at each of the respective surface locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a haptic sensation is disclosed. An acoustic transducer at a first cellular communication device is used to determine a gesture of a user object with respect to a first cellular communication device. The gesture is generally performed in a three-dimensional space of the first cellular communication device. A haptic signal is created that corresponds to the determined gesture and is sent from the first cellular communication device to a second cellular communication device. An actuator at the second cellular communication device is actuated according to the haptic signal to produce a haptic sensation at the second cellular communication device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method entails capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device, collecting pressure measurements using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device, determining a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements and storing the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication.

Abstract: A mobile computing device may include a biometric sensor in proximity with a color-controlled layer. Where the color of the color-controlled layer may be changed, a processor of the mobile computing device may control the color of the color-controlled layer responsive to sensing various conditions. For example, the color of the color-controlled layer may be controlled, by default, to match the housing of the mobile computing device. Responsive to sensing an approaching user finger, the color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color. The color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color again upon contact of the finger, upon removal of the finger and upon determining authentication success. The color-controlled layer may be structured as a mix of heating elements and thermochromic polymer elements.