Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. Palm rest areas are formed by a touchpad disposed on the surface of the base assembly. In an alternative embodiment, a touchpad disposed on the base assembly has a width that extends substantially into the palm rests areas of the base assembly.

Abstract: A system for displaying multiple colors individually or in combination with one another. The system may emit red, green and blue light from light emitting diodes and may additionally provide white light to brighten the color provided by the red, green and blue light emitting diodes. The white light source may also be used to increase the power efficiency of the system, thus increasing the lifetime of the system for displaying multiple colors. The white light source may be used to backlight the color provided by the red, green and blue light emitted by the light emitting diodes, or may also be used as an additional light source to the light provided by the red, green and blue light emitting diodes.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. Palm rest areas are formed by a touchpad disposed on the surface of the base assembly. In an alternative embodiment, a touchpad disposed on the base assembly has a width that extends substantially into the palm rests areas of the base assembly.

Abstract: An electromechanical cylinder lock includes an outer lock shell and a rotatable lock barrel located therein which is controlled by dual locking features. A side bar or fence selectively blocks and permits rotation of the barrel with respect to the shell in response to insertion of a key into a keyway in the barrel. A slider bar is movable between a blocking position in which the side bar is prevented from permitting rotation of the barrel, and an unblocking position in which the side bar permits rotation of the barrel. Alternately, a blocking mechanism is provided to block motion of tumbler pins in the cylinder lock. A shape memory alloy actuator, such as a wire made of nitinol, disposed in the barrel is activated by an electric current in response to determination by an electronic control device whether an attempt to open the lock is authorized. Thermal interlock protection from external heating of the lock is also provided.

Abstract: Wireless electronic devices such as cellular telephones may communicate with computing equipment such as servers over a network. Voice telephone calls may be routed over voice links in a voice network and data may be conveyed over data links in a data network. The voice network may be formed using the public switched telephone network. The data network may be formed using the Internet. Cellular base stations may form wireless links with the wireless devices. A server may store information on the current internet protocol address of a wireless device user. The user may place a voice telephone call to an organization. In response to receiving the voice telephone call, a server may automatically transmit information such as web pages or other data that includes interactive on-screen options to the wireless device using the current internet protocol address of the device.

Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.

Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible holes penetrate through at least a portion of the light resistant material in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern.

Abstract: This is directed to dynamic tags or screen savers for display on an electronic device. The tags can include several dynamic elements that move across the display. The particular characteristics of the elements can be controlled in part by the output of one or more sensors detecting the environment of the device. For example, the color scheme used for a tag can be selected based on the colors of an image captured by a camera, and the orientation of the movement can be selected from the output of a motion sensing component. The tag can adjust automatically based on the sensor outputs to provide an aesthetically pleasing display that a user can use as an fashion accessory.

Abstract: An electromechanical cylinder lock includes an outer lock shell and a rotatable lock barrel located therein which is controlled by dual locking features. A side bar or fence selectively blocks and permits rotation of the barrel with respect to the shell in response to insertion of a key into a keyway in the barrel. A slider bar is movable between a blocking position in which the side bar is prevented from permitting rotation of the barrel, and an unblocking position in which the side bar permits rotation of the barrel. Alternately, a blocking mechanism is provided to block motion of tumbler pins in the cylinder lock. A shape memory alloy actuator, such as a wire made of nitinol, disposed in the barrel is activated by an electric current in response to determination by an electronic control device whether an attempt to open the lock is authorized. Thermal interlock protection from external heating of the lock is also provided.

Abstract: An adapter including an associated battery capable of powering an electronic device. The power adapter typically includes the battery as an integral component that is connected to a plug or other interface capable of mating with a power source, such as a wall socket. Thus, the adapter battery may provide power either to operate the device or charge a battery within (or otherwise associated with) the device even if the adapter is not connected to a power source.

Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for related to an electronic device housing having input functionality. Specifically, in one embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing and one or more acoustic transducers positioned within the housing each operative to generate an electrical signal in response to detecting a sound resulting from an impact with the housing. Additionally, the electronic device includes a microprocessor coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers and configured to receive the electrical signals generated by the one or more acoustic transducers. The microprocessor operative to interpret the generated electrical signals as input to the electronic device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow measurement of a user's interaction with the housing of an electronic device. Some embodiments may measure the electrical characteristics of a housing of an electrical device, where the housing is capable of being temporarily deformed by the user's interaction. By measuring the electrical characteristics of the housing, such as the housing's capacitance, the user's interaction with the housing can be measured in a manner that is independent of the user's electrical characteristics and/or in a manner that may allow the pressure applied to the housing to be quantified.

Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.

Abstract: An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible holes penetrate through at least a portion of the light resistant material in a predetermined light-transmissive display pattern.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an input device, such as computer mouse, includes an interface to communicate user interactions to a host system and a display assembly to display an image to a user. In some examples, the display device will include a collimated glass component. A method is disclosed that includes displaying an image at an input device, such as a mouse, and then displaying a second image in response to a user input through the input device.

Abstract: This is directed to rotating an entire user interface of a portable electronic device. In particular, this is directed to defining a UI orientation mode in which a user can direct the device to rotate a UI. When the UI orientation mode is enabled, the electronic device can detect particular inputs, for example based on the outputs of motion sensing components such as an accelerometer and a magnetometer, to determine how to rotate the UI. Once the UI has been rotated to a desired orientation, a user can lock the UI orientation and exit the UI orientation mode.

Abstract: A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion.

Abstract: This is directed to controlling media playback based on particular touch gestures detected by a touch-sensing interface. The electronic device can identify particular touch inputs, such as combinations of tapping and holding a touch sensitive surface, or circular motions. In response to detecting a particular touch gesture, the electronic device can perform a playback operation specifically associated with the detected touch gesture. To provide a consistent user interface with the device, some of the particular touch gestures can match other inputs provided using a button, for example a button integrated on a wired headset. In such an embodiment, the same combination of tapping and holding a touch input and pressing and holding a button can control the same electronic device operations.

Abstract: A device such as a multicolor light emitting diode that emits different colors of light and that may combine the different colors emitted by individual light emitting diodes. The multicolor LED may include a common anode terminal that may be connected to each anode of the individual light emitting diodes. The multicolor LED may be a five terminal multicolor LED. Additionally, the multicolor LED may include two anode terminals, in which the first anode terminal may be a common anode terminal connected to three of the individual color LEDs and the second anode terminal may be connected to an anode of a white LED. In this embodiment, the multicolor LED may be a six terminal multicolor LED.

Abstract: A system for displaying multiple colors individually or in combination with one another. The system may emit red, green and blue light from light emitting diodes and may additionally provide white light to brighten the color provided by the red, green and blue light emitting diodes. The white light source may also be used to increase the power efficiency of the system, thus increasing the lifetime of the system for displaying multiple colors. The white light source may be used to backlight the color provided by the red, green and blue light emitted by the light emitting diodes, or may also be used as an additional light source to the light provided by the red, green and blue light emitting diodes.