Abstract: A current measuring system for measuring current from a conductor comprises a first and second circuit and a current measurer connected to a conductor connected to a first power source. The first circuit comprises an inverting operational amplifier, which generates a first threshold signal when current flows into the first power source. The second circuit comprises a biasing circuit and a non-inverting operational amplifier, which generates the first threshold signal at the second output when current flows out of the first power source.

Abstract: An electronic personal dosimeter (EPD) smart accessory system is described. The system includes a first component configured to be attachable to the EPD and a second component configured to be attachable to safety glasses. The first component includes an ambient light sensor and a first communication module. The ambient light sensor detects light from a light-emitting diode (LED) of the EPD to detect a warning signal from the EPD. The second component includes a feedback mechanism and a second communication module. The first communication module establishes a short range wireless communication connection with the second communication module, and transmits a signal to cause the second component to turn on the feedback mechanism when the warning signal from the EPD is detected.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus configured to monitor status of a relay, the monitoring apparatus comprising: a connector, for mating with corresponding pins of the relay; a microcontroller unit (MCU), for detecting a status of the relay from the pins of the relay; and a Near Field Communication (NFC) unit, for reporting the status of the relay to a NFC reader.

Abstract: A system and method for short-range wireless peer-to-peer file sharing is provided. A consolidated catalog of accessible files stored both locally and remotely is sent by a first computing device to a peer computing device over a short-range wireless communications link. The first device receives a request from the peer device to retrieve a selected file. When this selected file is determined to be remotely stored, the first device obtains authentication credentials sufficient to permit access by the peer device to the selected file stored remotely at another device, and sends the authentication credentials to the peer device over the short range wireless communications link so that the peer device can directly retrieve the selected file from the other device using the authentication credentials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: The present application describes power management devices, systems and methods. In an embodiment, a power management controller is configured to: determine that a secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds a default power threshold defined in a default power scheme; monitor internal power requirements associated with on-board functions of an electronic device and determine that internal power requirements satisfy predetermined criteria; and in response to determining that the secondary electronic device requires an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold and that the internal power requirements satisfy the predetermined criteria, adjust a power scheme associated with the port and implemented by the power limiter to provide, to the secondary electronic device, an amount of power that exceeds the default power threshold.

Abstract: A device, system and method for charging a battery are provided. The device comprises: a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port; a battery in communication with the USB port; and, circuitry in communication with the USB port and the battery, the circuitry configured to: transmit a power control signal over the USB port, the power control signal comprising data indicative of one or more of a power, a voltage and a current to be received over the USB port to charge the battery; and, responsively receive the power for charging the battery over the USB port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: A device for detecting a carrying case, and methods there for, are provided. The device includes: an orientation sensor; a near field communication (NFC) reader; and, a processor configured to place the device in a carrying case mode when an orientation of the device is within a given angular range as determined using the orientation sensor, and the NFC reader detects an NFC tag.

Abstract: In one embodiment, for example, a method of short range wireless peer-to-peer file sharing is provided. The method includes establishing a short range wireless communications link between a local computing device and a peer computing device and transmitting to the peer computing device over the short range wireless communications link a consolidated catalog of accessible files stored locally in the local computing device, remotely in a remote computing device, or both. The method further includes receiving from over the short range wireless communications link a request by the peer computing device to retrieve a selected one of the files. The method includes responding to a determination that the selected one of the files is stored remotely in the remote computing device by facilitating the retrieval by the peer computing device of the selected one of the files from the remote computing device for delivery to the peer computing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voice control of a mobile device are provided. The method establishes a connection between the mobile device and a voice-control module. Responsive to establishing the connection, the mobile device enters into an intermediate mode; and the voice-control module monitors for verbal input comprising a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands. The voice-control module sends instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received; and the mobile device acts on the received instructions. An apparatus/voice control module (VCM) for voice control of a mobile device, wherein the VCM includes a connection module configured for establishing a connection between the VCM and the mobile device; a monitoring module configured for monitoring for a verbal command from among a set of predetermined verbal commands; and a communications module configured for sending instructions to the mobile device related to the verbal command received.

Abstract: A control circuit (comprising, for example, a part of a charging hub for a portable electronic communications device) that is not configured to support USB On-The-Go-compatible Host Negotiation Protocol is operably coupled to a USB-ID connector and is configured to transmit an identifier via that USB-ID connector to prompt a USB device in function mode to serve as a USB host. A locally-available power supply can then serve to provide power to that USB device notwithstanding the latter's role as the host.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control accessories are disclosed. An example method includes establishing a first close-proximity communication connection via a first protocol by providing connection information via a second close-proximity communication connection via a second protocol, obtaining configuration information via the second close-proximity communication connection, and configuring a response to an event associated with the second close-proximity communication connection.

Abstract: A device, method and system for efficiently powering a near field communication device are provided. The device comprises: a module configured to: exchange data with a near field communication (NFC) device; and transmit energy to the NFC device; and, a processor configured to: receive, using the module, energy data from the NFC device, the energy data comprising data for determining a difference between a current energy level of an energy storage apparatus at the NFC device and a given amount of energy for performing a given function at the NFC device; determine the difference from the energy data; and, transmit, using the module, an amount of energy corresponding to the difference, to the NFC device.

Abstract: Methods and devices for identifying contactless gestures are described. In one example, the present disclosure describes a method of detecting a contactless gesture on an electronic device. The electronic device has an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and an electromagnetic radiation receiver. The electromagnetic radiation receiver is configured for receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted from the electromagnetic radiation transmitter and reflected by an object.

Abstract: A device for providing notifications while mated with a carrying case is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a first detector configured to detect when the device is mated with a carrying case, the carrying case having an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the indicator is hidden in the closed configuration and at least partially exposed in the open configuration; a second detector configured to detect when the carrying case is in the open configuration; and, a processor configured to place the indicator in a given notification mode when the first detector detects that the device is mated with the carrying case and the second detector detects that the carrying case is in the open configuration.

Abstract: A wireless device for providing notifications associated with a mobile electronic device is provided. The device comprises: an indicator; a body enabled to mate with a mobile electronic device, the body comprising the indicator such that when the body is mated to the mobile electronic device, the indicator is not obscured by the body; an induction device for wirelessly receiving signals from the mobile electronic device to control the indicator; and, a circuit connecting the induction device to the indicator, the circuit enabled to receive the signals and control the indicator in response thereto.

Abstract: A first device is wirelessly charged by a second device. Bi-directional communication is performed between the first device and the second device during the wireless charging, where the bi-directional communication includes messaging from the second device to the first device, the messaging including information other than information relating to wireless charging.

Abstract: A charger that is part of a system including an electronic appliance wirelessly charges a first device. During the wireless charging, the charger sends, to the first device, a first message. In response to the first message, the electronic appliance receives a second message requesting a specified action by the electronic appliance.

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.