Abstract: A mobile device can include a unibody component (e.g. chassis shell) with at least a co-mold feature that isolates a contiguous portion of the unibody component from an outer portion of the unibody component. For example, the outer portion and the contiguous portion can be made of an electrically conductive material. The co-mold feature can be made of non-conductive material that electrically isolates the contiguous portion from the outer portion. The co-mold feature can be made by co-molding a resin material in a channel cut into a piece of metal and later exposing the cured resin material on two sides.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein integrate a camera with an electronic display. An electronic display includes several layers, such as a cover layer, a color filter layer, a display layer including light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes, a thin film transistor layer, etc. In one embodiment, the layers include a substantially transparent region disposed above the camera. The substantially transparent region allows light from outside to reach the camera, enabling the camera to record an image. In another embodiment, the color filter layer does not include a substantially transparent region, and the camera records the light from the outside colored by the color filter layer. According to another embodiment, while none of the layers include a substantially transparent region, the layers are all substantially transparent, and the camera disposed beneath the layers records light reaching the camera from outside.

Abstract: Presented here are manufacturing techniques to create an irregularly shaped electronic display, including a hollow within which a sensor, such as a camera, can be placed. The manufacturing techniques enable the creation of the hollow anytime during the manufacturing process. The resulting electronic display occupies the full side of the mobile device, with the sensors placed within and surrounded by the display.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern techniques for intelligently switching between multiple sources of USB signals. More specifically, user devices are described that include a physical USB port for receiving a USB connector and one or more wireless transceivers that communicate with an accessory. The wireless transceiver(s) may communicate with the accessory using a USB-based protocol (e.g., Wireless USB). The user devices described herein can intelligently switch between these different sources of USB signals so that USB signals can be simultaneously or sequentially received from a peripheral (via the USB port) and an accessory (via the wireless transceiver(s)). In some embodiments, a switching routine is executed (e.g., by a processor or signal switch) that determines which peripheral and/or accessory is connected to a user device at a given point in time.

Abstract: Presented here are devices and methods to correct ambient light measurements made in the presence of optical elements, such as the curved edge of the cover glass associated with the mobile device. In one embodiment, a film with optical properties is placed within the ambient light sensor to diffuse the high-intensity light beam coming from the optical element. In another embodiment, an aperture associated with the ambient light sensor is disposed to prevent the high-intensity light beam from entering the ambient light sensor. In another embodiment, a processor coupled to the ambient light sensor smooths the peak associated with the high intensity light beam produced by the optical element.

Abstract: Introduced here are methods and systems to create a relief on an electronic display. In one embodiment, the relief is created by micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) placed above a cover layer of the electronic display. Each MEMS when activated can protrude or depress, thus creating the relief on the electronic display. In another embodiment, the relief is created by a plurality of resistors placed beneath the cover layer. The cover layer is made out of an elastically deformable material that, when heated, expands, thus creating a protrusion on the electronic display. Each resistor when activated heats a section of the cover layer, causing the cover layer to protrude.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method of integrating metal elements separated by gaps with a structure that conceals the metal elements and gaps. The method includes treating a metal substrate to a plasma electrolytic oxidation process to form a ceramic layer from a portion of the metal substrate, thereby providing the ceramic layer and an underlying metal portion of the metal substrate. The method further includes etching gap(s) in the underlying metal portion of the metal substrate to form metal elements separated by the gap(s), and backfilling the gap(s) with a non-conductive substance. As such, the metal elements, the non-conductive substance filling the gap(s), and the ceramic layer collectively form a structure whereby the ceramic layer at least partially conceals the metal elements and the gap(s).

Abstract: Presented here are manufacturing techniques to create an irregularly shaped electronic display, including a hollow within which a sensor, such as a camera, can be placed. The manufacturing techniques enable the creation of the hollow anytime during the manufacturing process. The resulting electronic display occupies the full side of the mobile device, with the sensors placed within and surrounded by the display.

Abstract: A handheld device can include an encasing, one or more appurtenances associated with the encasing, communications circuitry contained within the encasing, and antenna elements. The antenna elements can be electrically coupled to the communications circuitry and integrated with the encasing and the one or more appurtenances. The appurtenances can include any of a touch-sensitive display screen, a button, a joystick, a click wheel, a scrolling wheel, a touchpad, a keypad, a keyboard, a microphone, a speaker, a camera, a sensor, a light-emitting diode, a data port, or a power port.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein integrate a camera with an electronic display. An electronic display includes several layers, such as a cover layer, a color filter layer, a display layer including light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes, a thin film transistor layer, etc. In one embodiment, the layers include a substantially transparent region disposed above the camera. The substantially transparent region allows light from outside to reach the camera, enabling the camera to record an image. In another embodiment, the color filter layer does not include a substantially transparent region, and the camera records the light from the outside colored by the color filter layer. According to another embodiment, while none of the layers include a substantially transparent region, the layers are all substantially transparent, and the camera disposed beneath the layers records light reaching the camera from outside.

Abstract: Presented here are devices and methods to correct ambient light measurements made in the presence of optical elements, such as the curved edge of the cover glass associated with the mobile device. In one embodiment, a film with optical properties is placed within the ambient light sensor to diffuse the high-intensity light beam coming from the optical element. In another embodiment, an aperture associated with the ambient light sensor is disposed to prevent the high-intensity light beam from entering the ambient light sensor. In another embodiment, a processor coupled to the ambient light sensor smoothes the peak associated with the high intensity light beam produced by the optical element.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a handheld device including communications circuitry operable to process communications signals, antenna elements electrically coupled to the communications circuitry and operable to wirelessly communicate radio signals capable of being processed by the communications circuitry, and a touch-sensitive display screen including conductive elements having dual functionality to sense touch inputs and operate as the plurality of antenna elements to wirelessly communicate radio signals capable of being processed by the communications circuitry.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein integrate a camera with an electronic display. An electronic display can include several layers, such as a cover layer, a color filter layer, a display layer including light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes, a thin film transistor layer, etc. A processor initiates light emission from a plurality of display elements. The processor can suspend the light emission from the plurality of display elements for a period of time imperceptible to a human observer. The processor initiates a camera to capture an image during the period of time the plurality of display elements are suspended. The processor can capture a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of pixels and produce an image comprising depth information.

Abstract: The disclosed techniques include a method of integrating antenna elements separated by concealed antenna breaks with an encasing. The method can include forming a continuous non-conductive coating on a conductive substrate. The continuous non-conductive coating has sufficient thickness and hardness to remain intact when gaps are etched in the conductive substrate to form separate conductive regions. The method also includes etching the gaps in the conductive substrate to form the conductive regions on the continuous non-conductive coating, and backfilling the gaps with a non-conductive substance such that the conductive regions, the non-conductive substance separating the conductive regions, and the continuous non-conductive coating collectively form a continuous encasing.

Abstract: A handheld device can include an encasing, communications circuitry contained within the encasing, and a display screen associated with the encasing. The display screen can include a light emitting panel, a transparent panel, and an antenna panel disposed between the light emitting panel and the transparent panel. The antenna panel can include at least one antenna element electrically coupled to the communications circuitry. The antenna element is at least semitransparent to light emitted from the light emitting panel.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein involve combining images to generate a wide view image of a surrounding environment. Images can be recorded using an stand-alone imaging device having wide angle lenses and/or normal lenses. Images from the imaging device can be combined using methods described herein. In an embodiment, a pixel correspondence between a first image and a second image can be determined, based on a corresponding overlap area associated with the first image and the second image. Corresponding pixels in the corresponding overlap area associated with the first image and the second image can be merged based on a weight assigned to each of the corresponding pixels.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein integrate a camera with an electronic display. An electronic display includes several layers, such as a cover layer, a color filter layer, a display layer including light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes, a thin film transistor layer, etc. In one embodiment, the layers include a substantially transparent region disposed above the camera. The substantially transparent region allows light from outside to reach the camera, enabling the camera to record an image. In another embodiment, the color filter layer does not include a substantially transparent region, and the camera records the light from the outside colored by the color filter layer. According to another embodiment, while none of the layers include a substantially transparent region, the layers are all substantially transparent, and the camera disposed beneath the layers records light reaching the camera from outside.

Abstract: A handheld device can include antenna elements and a housing. The housing can include a processor, communications circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of antenna elements and the processor, and memory including instructions executable by the processor. The executable instructions can cause the handheld device to estimate a geographic location of the handheld device, configure the communications circuitry and/or the antenna elements for a communications resource. The communications resource can be selected based on the geographic location of the handheld device. The handheld device can be further caused to enable access to a wireless network by using the communication circuitry and the antenna elements as configured in accordance with the communications resource.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern techniques for intelligently switching between multiple sources of USB signals. More specifically, user devices are described that include a physical USB port for receiving a USB connector and one or more wireless transceivers that communicate with an accessory. The wireless transceiver(s) may communicate with the accessory using a USB-based protocol (e.g., Wireless USB). The user devices described herein can intelligently switch between these different sources of USB signals so that USB signals can be simultaneously or sequentially received from a peripheral (via the USB port) and an accessory (via the wireless transceiver(s)). In some embodiments, a switching routine is executed (e.g., by a processor or signal switch) that determines which peripheral and/or accessory is connected to a user device at a given point in time.

Abstract: Presented here are manufacturing techniques to create an irregularly shaped electronic display, including a hollow within which a sensor, such as a camera, can be placed. The manufacturing techniques enable the creation of the hollow anytime during the manufacturing process. The resulting electronic display occupies the full side of the mobile device, with the sensors placed within and surrounded by the display.