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 function of an electronic device is selected by detecting a resonant frequency generated by a tapping on a selection region of a device housing. The function of the device is selected based on the detected resonant frequency.

Abstract: An electronic device is controlled by scanning a face at an ultrasonic frequency, by at least one audio speaker. Facial features are mapped based on the scanning and repetitive movements of the facial features are detected by mapping the facial features over time. Future locations of the facial features are predicted based on the detecting of the repetitive movements. Control movements of the facial features are detected based on the mapping of the facial features and the predicting of the future locations of the facial features. The electronic device is controlled based on the detecting of the control movements.

Abstract: A carrying case for controlling a mobile device is provided, the carrying case comprising: a body enabled to mate with a mobile device to physically protect the mobile device; at least one input device, the body comprising the input device; a processor enabled to control communications with the mobile device; a power interface enabled to receive power from the mobile device to power the processor; and, a data interface enabled for relaying the communications between one or more of the at least one input device and the processor, and the mobile device, for controlling applications at the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling displayed three-dimensional visual content is disclosed. A signal is received from a user operated adjustment device, the signal being generated by a physical movement of the adjustment device by the user, wherein the signal corresponds to a desired adjustment of the displayed three-dimensional content. A value of an image-generation parameter of the three-dimensional visual content is adjusted corresponding to the signal received from the adjustment device. A physical parameter of a display device that displays the three-dimensional visual content is changed based on the adjusted value of the image-generation parameter in order to implement the desired adjustment of the displayed three-dimensional visual content.

Abstract: An electronic device, method and interface for the device, for performing an action with a processor through a three-dimensional desktop environment is disclosed. A three-dimensional desktop environment is generated by a display and projected into a real space. At least one ultrasonic transducer propagates an ultrasonic pulse into the real space and receives a reflection of the ultrasonic pulse from a user object in the real space. A user action of the user object within the three-dimensional desktop environment is determined using the reflection of the ultrasonic pulse. The processor performs the action based on the determined user action.

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 control 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, calibrate the two or more ambient light sensors based on the one or more light sources, and detect the gesture based on the light intensity sensed by each of the two or more ambient light sensors.

Abstract: A device having at least two 3-dimensional gesture sensors that employ differing gesture-sensing modalities as compared to one another further includes a control circuit that operably couples to both of these 3-dimensional gesture sensors and employs both to detect three-dimensional gestures. By one approach the control circuit employs both sensors in a temporally-overlapping manner to reliably and accurately detect the 3D gesture. As another illustrative example, the control circuit may employ different sensors during different portions of a given 3D gesture to detect those corresponding portions of the 3D gesture.

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 mobile communication device may have a photography subsystem, multiple light sources on a posterior side and an image signal processor (ISP). The ISP may control the photography subsystem and the timing of the flashing of the multiple light sources to obtain multiple images. From the multiple images, the ISP may construct a three-dimensional biometric.

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 compact light module is disclosed. Multiples of such compact light modules may be used when implementing structured-light 3D scanning with a mobile computing device. In particular, a first compact light module may be adapted to diffuse light in a first pattern of parallel lines of light and a second compact light module may be adapted to diffuse light in a second pattern of parallel lines of light, the second pattern of parallel lines of light being generally perpendicular to the first pattern of parallel lines of light. A processor may control activation of the first compact light module, the second compact light module and a photography subsystem to obtain a plurality of images. The processor may then process the plurality of images to construct a three dimensional image of an object to be scanned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining an image at a mobile communication device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cover for the mobile communication device. The cover includes an imaging device and a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate content from the imaging device to the mobile communication device. The cover includes a solid member and a flexible member configured to bend relative to the solid member to support the cover at a support structure. The cover may be placed at a location remote from the mobile communication device, obtain the image at the remote location and communicate the image to the mobile communication device using a wireless communication link.

Abstract: A device and method to detect a gesture made by an object in touch-less communication with the device 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 configured to measure light intensity at the respective surface location. The device also includes a processor configured to detect the gesture based on a comparison of the light intensity measured at each of the respective surface locations at two or more time instants or measurement cycles.

Abstract: A method and system to control an alarm application being executed by a device using a touch-less gesture are described. The system includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations on a same side of a 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 detect a gesture as a detected gesture based on the light intensity measured by the ambient light sensors and output a control signal to the alarm application based on the detected gesture, wherein at least one other gesture also corresponds with the control signal.

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 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 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 detect a gesture by an object in touch-less communication are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device and measuring light intensity at the respective surface locations, two or more infrared illuminators that emit infrared light, and two or more infrared receivers that measure reflectance resulting from the infrared light encountering the object. The device also includes a processor to determine the gesture based on the light intensity from each of the two or more ambient light sensors and the reflectance from the two or more infrared receivers.

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.