Abstract: A method and system for making electronic payments is disclosed herein. The method for making a payment for items being purchased by a customer at a point of sale comprises acquiring and sending a payment pending notification comprising an account number of the customer and a first terminal identification number to a host system. A payment request comprising a total cost of the items, a second terminal identification number, and a control bank card number is then acquired and sent to the host system. The host system associates the customer's account in the host system with the purchase by correlating the first terminal identification number with the second terminal identification number. A payment decision using information in the customer's account is made with the host system and is sent to the point of sale, where the transaction is closed. A system configured to perform the method is also provided.

Abstract: Dual mode headphones, and methods for constructing the same are provided. Headphones can be connected to an electronic device to provide an audio output. The headphones can include a transducer or other component for providing sound waves at appropriate levels near a user's ear. To provide audio as a speaker, however, circuitry in the headphones can include a powered amplifier that may be selectively used. The headphones can be moved between a first, in-ear position and a second, speaker position. A sensor in the headphones can detect the current position of the headphones, and can change the mode of the circuit to correspond to the detected current position. For example, the sensor can change between an in-ear mode in which the amplifier is bypassed and a speaker mode in which the amplifier is powered and used. In some cases, the headphones can include a sensor for preventing the speaker mode when the headphones are positioned near a user's ears.

Abstract: A method and system for making electronic payments is disclosed herein. The method for making a payment for items being purchased by a customer at a point of sale comprises acquiring and sending a payment pending notification comprising an account number of the customer and a first terminal identification number to a host system. A payment request comprising a total cost of the items, a second terminal identification number, and a control bank card number is then acquired and sent to the host system. The host system associates the customer's account in the host system with the purchase by correlating the first terminal identification number with the second terminal identification number. A payment decision using information in the customer's account is made with the host system and is sent to the point of sale, where the transaction is closed. A system configured to perform the method is also provided.

Abstract: Dual mode headphones, and methods for constructing the same are provided. Headphones can be connected to an electronic device to provide an audio output. The headphones can include a transducer or other component for providing sound waves at appropriate levels near a user's ear. To provide audio as a speaker, however, circuitry in the headphones can include a powered amplifier that may be selectively used. The headphones can be moved between a first, in-ear position and a second, speaker position. A sensor in the headphones can detect the current position of the headphones, and can change the mode of the circuit to correspond to the detected current position. For example, the sensor can change between an in-ear mode in which the amplifier is bypassed and a speaker mode in which the amplifier is powered and used. In some cases, the headphones can include a sensor for preventing the speaker mode when the headphones are positioned near a user's ears.

Abstract: A method and system for making electronic payments is disclosed herein. The method for making a payment for items being purchased by a customer at a point of sale comprises acquiring and sending a payment pending notification comprising an account number of the customer and a first terminal identification number to a host system. A payment request comprising a total cost of the items, a second terminal identification number, and a control bank card number is then acquired and sent to the host system. The host system associates the customer's account in the host system with the purchase by correlating the first terminal identification number with the second terminal identification number. A payment decision using information in the customer's account is made with the host system and is sent to the point of sale, where the transaction is closed. A system configured to perform the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for making electronic payments is disclosed herein. The method for making a payment for items being purchased by a customer at a point of sale comprises acquiring and sending a payment pending notification comprising an account number of the customer and a first terminal identification number to a host system. A payment request comprising a total cost of the items, a second terminal identification number, and a control bank card number is then acquired and sent to the host system. The host system associates the customer's account in the host system with the purchase by correlating the first terminal identification number with the second terminal identification number. A payment decision using information in the customer's account is made with the host system and is sent to the point of sale, where the transaction is closed. A system configured to perform the method is also provided.

Abstract: Audio circuits for a mobile terminal include a microphone and an audio signal processing circuit having an input coupled to the microphone. The audio signal processing circuit has a switchable portion and is configured to switch between a voice mode utilizing the switchable portion and a full fidelity mode not utilizing the switchable portion responsive to a mode signal coupled thereto.

Abstract: There are provided systems and techniques for reducing power consumption in video image capture devices. In particular, in some embodiments, a computing system is provided that includes an image capture device and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) filter coupled to the image capture device. The ASIC filter includes an averaging circuit configured to provide an output representing an average value of a first set of values of a pixel grouping and an outlier determining circuit configured to determine if a value of a target pixel is outside a range of values for first set of values of the pixel grouping. A multiplexer is provided and configured to replace the value of the target pixel with the average value if the value of the target pixel is determined to be an outlier.

Abstract: There are provided apparatuses and methods for increasing the pixel density of a digital display through mechanical actuation. In some embodiments, a display device is described having a processor configured to provide an image for display and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores the image and is configured to map the image to a pixel matrix. A display controller is coupled to the memory and configured to sample portions of the image and to store the portions of the image into planes. Each sampled portion comprises a different set of pixels of the pixel matrix. A display is coupled to the display controller and is configured to display the contents of the sampled planes. In particular, the display controller is configured to sequentially provide the sampled planes to the display for sequential display.

Abstract: There are provided systems, devices and methods for controlling backlighting in an electronic device. In one embodiment, an electronic device an electronic device having a processor and a display assembly coupled to the processor. The display assembly being configured to provide visual output. The display assembly includes a backlight layer having one or more light sources. At least one of the one or more light sources is coupled to ground via a switch. The switch is configured to selectively operate the one or more light sources to adjust a brightness of the visual output.

Abstract: The disclosed system and methods include a power saving scheduler that maintains timed events in an event table. Each timed event has an associated tolerance period within which the event should begin execution following a trigger, and a timestamp indicating a scheduled execution time for the event. When a device is in a low-power sleep mode, a trigger may wake up the device to a wake state. The power scheduler then accesses the event table of upcoming timed events, and reorders the event table from the event having the shortest tolerance period to the event having the longest tolerance period. Each event for which the timestamp is within the tolerance period as measured from the trigger time is executed. After a plurality of such events are executed, the device may return to the sleep mode.

Abstract: A method of displaying pages of information on an electronic screen may include receiving a first page of information including first text, and rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a first zoom setting. After rendering the first page of information at the first zoom setting, zoom input may be accepted from a user through a user interface, and the first page of information including the first text may be rendered on the electronic screen at a second zoom setting different than the first zoom setting responsive to the zoom input. In addition, a target text size may be saved in electronic memory, and the target text size may represent a size of the first text on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting. A second page of information including second text different than the first text may be received, and a third zoom setting may be determined responsive to the target text size and responsive to the second text.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting electrical contact points on a circuit board from tampering and probing. The system includes a protective cover preventing access to electrical contact points on the circuit board. The protective cover includes: at least one nonconductive material layer, a plurality of electrical contacts coupled to the circuit board, and an irregular resistance pattern joined with the at least one layer of nonconductive material and coupled to the plurality of the electrical contacts. The system further includes a controller that is coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts. The system selects two electrical contacts and determines the resistance between the two electrical contacts. The determined resistance is then compared to a baseline resistance determination for the same set of electrical contacts. A security breach can be identified by a change in resistance from the baseline.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and system of determining the weld bead sequence on a mechanical component is disclosed. In one specific embodiment, the sequence is determined by numerical analysis of a plurality of weld bead sequences to determine the weld bead sequence. Then, after this sequence is determined, a weld overlay is placed onto the mechanical component using the sequence. In particular embodiments, a weld bead sequence is applied to a boiler tube panel wherein the sequence begins at the crown of the tube, progresses down the walls of the tube to the tube and membrane interface, and concludes on the membrane. The new bead sequence reduces residual and distortional stresses as created by applying a weld overlay.

Abstract: In a portrait mode of operation in a mobile communications device a phone camera can be automatically triggered to photograph an image in response to a sensed sound signal,. The portrait mode may be initially activated by the user by depressing a key on the phone keypad and/or a dedicated camera function button. A sound trigger signal can be detected from an input of the phone microphone. An indicator, such as a light emitting diode (LED) can be energized in the portrait mode and viewable from the position of image object. Thus the user can confirm that the portrait mode is operational.

Abstract: An electronic device includes circuitry for carrying out an operation unrelated to camera operation, and camera circuitry for carrying out a camera related operation, the camera circuitry including circuitry for providing autofocus control. The electronic device further includes a camera lens operatively coupled to the camera circuitry, a focus state of the camera lens being controlled by the camera circuitry. In addition, the electronic device includes an operator input operatively coupled to at least the camera circuitry for enabling an operator to provide an input unrelated to focus control of the camera lens in a first operating condition, and to provide a manual focus control input to the camera lens in a second operating condition.

Abstract: An electronic aperture comprises first and second polarizers and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second polarizers. The liquid crystal layer comprises a plurality of liquid crystals having an angular orientation that varies as a function of position. In one exemplary embodiment, the angular orientation of the liquid crystals varies as a function of distance from an optical axis.

Abstract: The disclosed system and methods include a power saving scheduler that maintains timed events in an event table. Each timed event has an associated tolerance period within which the event should begin execution following a trigger, and a timestamp indicating a scheduled execution time for the event. When a device is in a low-power sleep mode, a trigger may wake up the device to a wake state. The power scheduler then accesses the event table of upcoming timed events, and reorders the event table from the event having the shortest tolerance period to the event having the longest tolerance period. Each event for which the timestamp is within the tolerance period as measured from the trigger time is executed. After a plurality of such events are executed, the device may return to the sleep mode.

Abstract: A method for providing battery charge current to a portable electronic device having a rechargeable battery. The method includes the steps of providing a power adaptor which connects to a power supply and converts power from the power supply into a battery charge current; providing a cable operative to deliver the battery charge current from the power adaptor to the portable electronic device to charge the rechargeable battery; and providing radio frequency (RF) signals induced onto the cable to an RF receiver input.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus that can be manipulated to provide multiple views to a single camera module. The apparatus includes a cylindrical rotating prism assembly that can be rotated about its vertical axis. A first reflective surface reflects the field of view of a lens assembly 90° along the vertical axis of the cylindrical rotating prism assembly. The camera module is positioned beneath the cylindrical rotating prism assembly to capture an image reflected by the first reflective surface along the vertical axis of the cylindrical rotating prism assembly. An illumination source is positioned above the cylindrical rotating prism assembly and emits an illumination beam along the same vertical axis that is reflected by a second reflective surface through an illumination aperture that illuminates the field of view. The entire assembly can be rotated to take advantage of multiple lens assemblies.