Abstract: A transmit-received (TR) switch is designed such that the receiver-side shunt PIN diode acts as a switchable shunt diode while the switch operates in transmit mode and acts as a limiter while the switch operates in receive mode. This is achieved using a DC Schottky diode between the receiver-side shunt network and the biasing network. While the switch operates in receive mode, received radio frequency (RF) signals that exceed a power threshold cause the Schottky diode to become forward biased, causing the shunt PIN diode to act as a limiter that protects the receiver from excessively high RF signal power. This approach affords a high level of protection using a small number of components and without adding insertion loss to the RF signal path.

Abstract: A semiconductor device architecture includes a silicon substrate having sidewalls that are passivated by encapsulating the sidewalls in dielectric materials having high electric field strength. Encapsulating all the sidewalls using high field strength dielectric materials eliminates electrical paths in air or vacuum and confines the electric fields in these high field strength materials, increasing the breakdown voltage relative to unencapsulated devices and allowing the device to withstand greater standoff voltages. In some cases, encapsulating the sidewalls in this manner can allow the device to withstand voltages of 500V or greater.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first diode coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal, a second diode coupled between the first terminal and a third terminal, and a bias circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to bias the first diode on and the second diode off in a first switch state and to bias the first diode off and the second diode on in a second switch state, the bias circuit including a voltage converter configured to convert a fixed voltage to an intermediate voltage and a current source coupled in series with the voltage converter.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first diode coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal, a second diode coupled between the first terminal and a third terminal, and a bias circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to bias the first diode on and the second diode off in a first switch state and to bias the first diode off and the second diode on in a second switch state, the bias circuit including a voltage converter configured to convert a fixed voltage to an intermediate voltage and a current source coupled in series with the voltage converter.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling current in an electronic device may involve sensing a first voltage, the first voltage representing a battery voltage. The first voltage can be compared to a cutoff voltage. A current may be provided to power a display based on the comparison of the first voltage to the cutoff voltage.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic device having a touch-sensitive display includes determining a first value representative of force applied by an actuator to a touch-sensitive input device of an electronic device, controlling the actuator to modulate the force on the touch-sensitive input device for providing tactile feedback, determining a second value representative of force applied by the actuator to the touch-sensitive input device, and adjusting control of the actuator to adjust a subsequent force applied by the actuator based on a difference between the first value and the second value.

Abstract: A method includes determining first respective values representative of forces applied by a plurality of actuators to a touch-sensitive input device of an electronic device, controlling the actuators to cause the actuators to change the forces applied to the touch-sensitive input device, determining second respective values representative of the forces applied by the actuators to the touch-sensitive input device, and determining when there is a fault based on a change from the first respective values to the second respective values.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling current in an electronic device may involve sensing a first voltage, the first voltage representing a battery voltage. The first voltage can be compared to a cutoff voltage. A current may be provided to power a display based on the comparison of the first voltage to the cutoff voltage.

Abstract: A method of controlling a backlight for illuminating an electronic device, includes: receiving, at a processor of the electronic device, a first input indicating a first user-specified light level of the backlight, the first user-specified light level of the backlight being in association with a first ambient light level, receiving, at the processor, a second input indicating a second user-specified light level of the backlight, the second user-specified light level of the backlight being in association with a second ambient light level, determining a current ambient light level, and controlling the backlight as a function of the current ambient light level, the first user-specified light level of the backlight and the second user-specified light level of the backlight.

Abstract: An assembly for a device having camera functionality, such as a portable wireless device, provides for affixation of an external camera lens to the device. A magnetic coupler is positioned at the device. The magnetic coupler exerts magnetic forces that affix the external camera lens in position. Removal forces in excess of the magnetic forces are applied to remove the external lens out of the affixation at the device.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one antenna carried by the portable housing, and at least one capacitive proximity sensor carried by the portable housing and configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a wireless transmitter carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one antenna, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter and the at least one capacitive proximity sensor. The controller may be configured to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from the at least one antenna based upon the at least one capacitive proximity sensor.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one antenna carried by the portable housing, and at least one capacitive proximity sensor carried by the portable housing and configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a wireless transmitter carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one antenna, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter and the at least one capacitive proximity sensor. The controller may be configured to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from the at least one antenna based upon the at least one capacitive proximity sensor.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one antenna carried by the portable housing, and at least one capacitive proximity sensor carried by the portable housing and configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a wireless transmitter carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one antenna, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter and the at least one capacitive proximity sensor. The controller may be configured to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from the at least one antenna based upon the at least one capacitive proximity sensor.

Abstract: A method includes applying a lip, comprised of a first material, along at least a portion of an actuator of an electronic device, and applying a coating, comprised of an elastic material, to cover a part of the actuator, the coating disposed to facilitate actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic device having a touch-sensitive display includes determining a first value representative of force applied by an actuator to a touch-sensitive input device of an electronic device, controlling the actuator to modulate the force on the touch-sensitive input device for providing tactile feedback, determining a second value representative of force applied by the actuator to the touch-sensitive input device, and adjusting control of the actuator to adjust a subsequent force applied by the actuator based on a difference between the first value and the second value.

Abstract: A method includes determining first respective values representative of forces applied by a plurality of actuators to a touch-sensitive input device of an electronic device, controlling the actuators to cause the actuators to change the forces applied to the touch-sensitive input device, determining second respective values representative of the forces applied by the actuators to the touch-sensitive input device, and determining when there is a fault based on a change from the first respective values to the second respective values.

Abstract: A method includes applying a lip, comprised of a first material, along at least a portion of an actuator of an electronic device, and applying a coating, comprised of an elastic material, to cover a part of the actuator, the coating disposed to facilitate actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A chip-scale package and method of manufacturing a chip-scale package are provided. The chip-scale package includes a mounting portion defined by a plurality of metal layers formed on each of a plurality of semiconductor regions for mounting a device thereto. The mounting portions are formed on a first side of the plurality of semiconductor regions. The chip-scale package further includes a backside metal surface formed on each of a second side of the plurality of semiconductor regions, with the plurality of semiconductor regions providing electrical connection between the mounting portions and the backside metal surfaces.

Abstract: A heterojunction P—I—N diode switch comprises a first layer of doped semiconductor material of a first doping type, a second layer of doped semiconductor material of a second doping type and a substrate on which is disposed the first and second layers. An intrinsic layer of semiconductor material is disposed between the first layer and second layer. The semiconductor material composition of at least one of the first layer and second layer is sufficiently different from that of the intrinsic layer so as to form a heterojunction therebetween, creating an energy barrier in which injected carriers from the junction are confined by the barrier, effectively reducing the series resistance within the I region of the P—I—N diode and the insertion loss relative to that of homojunction P—I—N diodes.