Abstract: A microphone is provided in a mobile terminal and is connected to a current source when the flip portion of the mobile terminal is open and is disconnected from the current source when the flip portion of the phone is closed. The mobile terminal can then infer the position of the flip portion of the housing, e.g., opened or closed, based upon the state of the microphone's current supply circuit, for example by detecting the current flowing through the circuit or a voltage drop across a supply resistor. In addition, an on-hook/off-hook button can be provided to a hands-free accessory without increasing a number of signal lines/connections between the hands-free accessory and the mobile terminal. This can be accomplished, for example, by connecting the on-hook/off-hook button to a switch in the microphone signal line. The switch selectively creates an open in the microphone signal line, which can be detected by the mobile terminal, thereby resulting in an off-hook condition.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus enables an electronic device in communication with an accessory to accurately report a remaining battery life when the accessory provides information relating to a power usage to the electronic device. In one embodiment, the accessory draws power from a battery of the electronic device, and the electronic device is able to more accurately estimate a remaining battery life by considering the power usage information provided from the accessory. The electronic device may thereafter indicate to a user the remaining battery life. In one alternative of this embodiment, the information relating to the power usage is in the form of a current consumption of the accessory. In another embodiment, the electronic device indicates a remaining battery life of a battery of an accessory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a communication device. In a standby mode, a relatively high power clock with a high degree of accuracy is powered down and a lower power, low frequency clock is used to maintain system synchronization. Synchronization means are provided to improve the accuracy of the low frequency clock during the standby mode.