Abstract: A portable communication device includes one or more sensors, a pair of electrodes associated with each sensor, and a processing circuit configured to apply a bias supply voltage to the pair of electrodes and to process output signals from the sensors. Each sensor is an ionic liquid sensor tuned for sensing a smell associated with a chemical species. The processing circuit further includes an artificial intelligence engine to enhance smell recognition capabilities of the device.

Abstract: An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (I/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).

Abstract: Acoustic touch sensing systems can include a mechanically integrated structure including multiple acoustic transducers. For example, an annular structure including one or more piezoelectric segments can be fabricated and then coupled to a front crystal/cover glass. A single structure can simplify the structural integration of the device, can provide a mechanically reliable and stable structure for improved structural integrity of the system, and can provide for improved water sealing for a waterproof or water resistant device. The piezoelectric material in the annular structure can be shear poled such that a poling direction of the piezoelectric material can follow the curvature of the annular piezoelectric structure.

Abstract: A device, system, and method uses a high power mode for a cellular connection. The method is performed at a device that is configured to establish a network connection to a network. The method includes detecting a number of at least one event that has occurred over a time period, the at least one event associated with operations used through the network connection, the at least one event indicative of a power to perform the operations that is greater than a predetermined power. When the number is at least a predetermined threshold, the method includes identifying the network connection as being in a high power state. The method includes activating settings when the network connection is in the high power state, the settings reducing a usage of the operations over the network connection.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for securely performing connection release and network redirection in a wireless communication system. A wireless device may establish a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a first cell. The wireless device may receive a RRC connection release message from the first cell. The RRC connection release message may include an indication to redirect the wireless device to a second cell. The RRC connection with the first cell may be released. It may be determined whether security has been established with the first cell when the indication to redirect the wireless device to the second cell is received. A new serving cell may be selected based at least in part on whether security has been established with the first cell when the indication to redirect the wireless device to the second cell is received.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an accessory device for interacting with an electronic device having a touch sensitive surface, is described. The accessory device can include a housing having walls suitable for carrying a processor capable of providing instructions and an interface unit extending through an opening at a distal end of the housing, where the interface unit is capable of interacting with the touch sensitive surface. The accessory device can further include a sensor in communication with the processor and the interface unit, where the sensor is capable of (i) detecting a stimulus generated by the interaction between the interface unit and the touch sensitive surface, and (ii) responding by providing a feedback parameter to the processor that responds by providing a feedback instruction. The accessory device can further include a feedback component that responds to the feedback instruction by transmitting a feedback force to the walls of the housing.

Abstract: A set of user interfaces for a data processing system that operates with two or more display devices coupled to the system. In one embodiment, in response to moving a first window between two displays, the first window is displayed, as it straddles the two displays, differently on the two displays. For example, while a reference point (e.g. a cursor) on the window remains on a first display, a first portion of the window on the first display is displayed normally while a second portion on the second display is displayed with more translucence (more transparency) than the first portion; when the references point crosses to the second display, the first portion becomes more translucent than the second portion.

Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to perform intelligent list reading are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors, receiving a natural-language input corresponding to a domain; providing the natural-language input to an external device; receiving, from the external device, a process flow corresponding to the domain; determining, with the process flow corresponding to the domain, a task associated with the natural-language input; performing the task; and providing an output indicating whether the task has been performed.

Abstract: An electronic device may generate content that is to be displayed on a display. The display may have an array of liquid crystal display pixels for displaying image frames of the content. The display may be operated in at least a normal viewing mode, a privacy mode, an outdoor viewing mode, and a power saving mode. The different view modes may exhibit different viewing angles. In one configuration, the display may include a backlight unit that generates a collimated light source and that includes a switchable diffuser film for selectively scattering the collimated light source depending on the current viewing mode of the display. In another configuration, the display may include a backlight unit that generates a scattered light source that includes a switchable microarray structure such as a switchable mirror structure or a tunable microlens array for selectively collimating the scattered light source depending on the current viewing mode.

Abstract: Weaving equipment may include warp strand positioning equipment that positions warp strands and weft strand positioning equipment that inserts weft strands among the warp strands to form fabric. The fabric may include insulating strands and conductive strands. Conductive strands may run orthogonal to each other and may cross at open circuit and short circuit intersections. The fabric may be formed using pairs of interwoven warp and weft strands. Conductive warp and weft strands may be interposed within the pairs of strands. The fabric may be a single layer fabric or may contain two or more layers. Stacked warp strands may be formed between pairs of adjacent insulating warp strands. The stacked warp strands may include insulating and conductive strands. Touch sensors and other components may include conductive structures that are formed from the conductive strands in the fabric.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a media compositing method that performs automated processes (1) to analyze the media content pieces (MCPs) to define one or more MCP groups, and (2) produces a user interface (UI) layout that identifies the defined MCP groups as groups for which the method can display composite presentations (e.g., video presentations). To define the MCP groups, the method of some embodiments uses one or more media grouping templates (MGTs). In some embodiments, the method can define multiple MGT instances for an MGT. For instance, in some embodiments, the MGTs include (1) location-bounded MGTs (e.g., videos and/or photos captured within a region with a particular radius), (2) time-bounded MGTs (e.g., videos and/or photos captured within a particular time range and/or date range), (3) time-bounded and location-bounded MGTs (e.g., mornings at a beach), (4) content-defined MGTs (e.g., videos and/or photos containing smiles), and (5) user-metadata based MGTs (e.g.

Abstract: A method performed by a user equipment (UE) connected to a network that utilizes a first bandwidth for a plurality of network operations and assigns the UE a second bandwidth, within the first bandwidth, to utilize for communication with the network. The method including determining a third bandwidth within the first bandwidth that is narrower than the first bandwidth and wider than the second bandwidth and includes the second bandwidth, monitoring the third bandwidth for at least one reference signal transmitted by the network, and determining at least one value that corresponds to the connection between the UE and the network based on the at least one reference signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predictive head-tracked binaural audio rendering in which a rendering device renders multiple audio streams for different possible head locations based on head tracking data received from a headset, for example audio streams for the last known location and one or more predicted or possible locations, and transmits the multiple audio streams to the headset. The headset then selects and plays one of the audio streams that is closest to the actual head location based on current head tracking data. If none of the audio streams closely match the actual head location, two closest audio streams may be mixed. Transmitting multiple audio streams to the headset and selecting or mixing an audio stream on the headset may mitigate or eliminate perceived head tracking latency.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to a battery that includes a battery cap with one or more cut-out sections. The battery cap may be used to at least partially cover a circuit board that is proximate an end of a battery cell. In various examples, the cut-out sections may be configured to accommodate one or more cell tabs of the battery that protrude above the circuit board.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an apparatus for controlling the motion of a camera component. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an actuator module. The actuator module includes a plurality of magnets. Each magnet of the plurality of magnets is poled with magnetic domains substantially aligned in the same direction throughout each magnet. The apparatus further includes a coil rigidly disposed around a lens. Each magnet of the plurality of magnets contributes to the forces to adjust focus of the lens based on Lorentz forces generated from the coil.

Abstract: Various customization options are provided for customizing a 3D avatar of a head. Features of the head and assets corresponding to the features can be customized using blend shapes. An amount of storage for the plurality of blend shapes is minimized by determining overlapping blend shapes that can be reused for a plurality of different assets. Further, techniques are provided for dynamic changes to an avatar in accordance with selected features and assets.

Abstract: Methods and systems include reducing or mitigating interference by sweeping multiple beams used to communicate between a wireless network base station and an electronic device. The multiple beams include beams having different sidelobe directions. The electronic device selects, using a processor of the electronic device, a beam from the multiple beams. Furthermore, selecting the beam includes selecting the beam having a lowest level of interference of the multiple beams due to a sidelobe direction of the beam. The electronic device then communicates with the wireless network base station using the selected beam.

Abstract: A device in an automated environment can detect patterns in the user's interactions with accessories in the automated environment and can provide feedback to the user based on the patterns. Examples include: suggesting automation of particular actions based on the patterns; suggesting actions that conform to the pattern when the user performs part of the pattern; or suggesting changes to a pattern to conform to a preferred pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently managing switching power of bit lines. In various embodiments, a first bit line in a memory array is pre-charged in multiple discrete steps, rather than in one continuous step. For a read operation that completed and read a logic low level from a first storage node, the first bit line is pre-charged from a ground reference level to a first power supply voltage. Similarly, a second bit line corresponding to a second storage node storing an inverse voltage level of the first storage node is pre-charged from a larger second power supply voltage to the smaller first power supply voltage. When the first time interval has elapsed, the first and second bit lines are pre-charged from the first power supply voltage to the second power supply voltage during a second time interval. Discrete steps are also used for pre-charging after write operations.