Abstract: A method (100) and system (10) for controlling ad-hoc membership in wireless networks to improve battery life includes determining (102) the capabilities of each of the members of a network and upon launching an application at a member, determining (104) a profile of members of the network required to support the application. A master device (12) can optionally disassociate (106) from the slave devices surveyed until an application is launched having a profile requiring a particular slave device. The method can further include associating (108) the members of the network in the profile and temporarily disassociating (110) a remaining group of members of the network. At another step (112), the method can also assign a higher priority to the members meeting the profile and assign a lower priority to the members that are temporarily disassociated and thereby reduce a maintenance cycle by probing the lower priority members less frequently.

Abstract: A charging system (108) supplies a source voltage (Vco, FIG. 5) and a source current (Ico, FIG. 5) to a plurality of battery cells (110). The charging system operates according to a method (200) including the steps of determining (202) a capacity for each of the plurality of battery cells (120 and 130), determining (204) a desired cutoff current (Ico1, FIG. 5) for a select one of the plurality of battery cells (120) having the smallest capacity, determining (206) an optimal source cutoff current according to the capacity of the select one of the plurality of battery cells, adjusting (208) the source current according to the optimal source cutoff current, and periodically applying (209) the source current after reaching the optimal source cutoff current.

Abstract: A charging system (108) supplies a source voltage (Vco, FIG. 5) and a source current (Ico, FIG. 5) to a plurality of battery cells (110). The charging system operates according to a method (200) including the steps of determining (202) a capacity for each of the plurality of battery cells (120 and 130), determining (204) a desired cutoff current (Ico1, FIG. 5) for a select one of the plurality of battery cells (120) having the smallest capacity, determining (206) an optimal source cutoff current according to the capacity of the select one of the plurality of battery cells, adjusting (208) the source current according to the optimal source cutoff current, and upon the source current reaching the optimal source cutoff current, switching out the select one of the plurality of battery cells to allow continued charging of another cell until it is fully charged.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (50) can include a radio frequency transceiver (52), an audio drive circuit (58) coupled to the transceiver, a speaker (10) having a voice coil (16) coupled to the audio drive circuit, and an antenna feed or radiating circuit (20) such as an RFID or NFID circuit coupled to the voice coil for at least radiating or receiving an electromagnetic signal via the voice coil. Such radiating circuits can be coupled to the voice coil using a band pass circuit designed to substantially prevent a radiating signal from the radiating circuit from interfering with audio drive circuit driving the speaker. The wireless communication device can further include an antenna (54) coupled to the radio frequency transceiver. Note, this arrangement can be designed to avoid problems involving electrostatic discharge sensitivity, electromagnetic interference coupling between the antenna and the voice coil, total radiated power, and specific absorption rate.

Abstract: A battery pack (110) having a plurality of cells (103, 105) utilizes a pull up resistor (116) multiplexed between separate voltage supply sources (120, 122) and a single battery contact (106) to monitor individual cell temperatures. A plurality of thermistors (102, 104) are coupled in series between ground potential (108) and the single battery pack contact (106), each thermistor being coupled to one cell of the pack. Individual voltage divider circuits are formed for each thermistor (102, 104) as the pull up resistor (116) is multiplexed between the voltage supply sources (120, 122).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) of generating an array (100, 300, 400) having a reduced number of input/outputs (114, 314, 414). The method includes the steps of, for each array row input/output, grouping (212) at least one set of rows (124, 324, 424) in which the set of rows is coupled to the array row input/output and, for each combination of the array row input/outputs, selectively coupling (216) non-set rows (326, 426) to the array row input/outputs that comprise the combination. At least a portion of a number of rows (110, 310, 410) for the array is equal to the number of rows in each set of rows multiplied by the number of array row input/outputs plus the number of non-set rows coupled to the array row input/output combinations.

Abstract: A device (100) has a charging system (102) for coupling to a charger (103) operating in a vehicle, and a processor coupled to the charging system. The processor is programmed to detect (202) a charging state while a user of the device is operating the vehicle, and detect (204-208) an act by the user to exit the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) for charging a set of batteries. The method includes the steps of charging (314) a first battery (116) with a charging current from a power supply (138), monitoring (316) a parameter of the first battery during the charging step and selectively diverting (318) at least a portion of the charging current used to charge the first battery to charge a second battery (118). The first and second batteries are charged simultaneously after the parameter of the first battery reaches a predetermined threshold. As an example, the parameter can be a battery voltage or a battery temperature rate.

Abstract: A peripheral component (104) is attached to a portable electronic device (102), and indicates an option class of the peripheral component by use of an option select circuit. The option select circuit causes an interrupt to be generated in the portable electronic device, which then determines the option class by changing the logic levels of various option select lines. If an inversion of the logic state of one of the option select lines is detected, then the portable electronic device knows an option select circuit is present, and determines the option class of the peripheral component accordingly.

Abstract: A device (100) comprises a charging system (102) supplying a source voltage and a source current to one or more battery cells (104). The device operates according to a method 200-300 including the steps of tracking (202) when a user removes a charger from the charging system, determining (204-212) a charging profile from the tracking step, and applying (300-312) the charging profile to the charging system to maximize charging of the one or more battery cells.

Abstract: A battery charging method (20) can include the steps of setting (20) a maximum charge voltage for a battery (104) and dynamically adjusting (38) the maximum charge voltage for the battery based on at least one among an amount of time the battery is maintained at the maximum charge voltage and an amount of cycles the battery is charged to the maximum charge voltage. The method can further include the step of measuring (36) a temperature of the battery and further dynamically adjusting (38) the maximum charge voltage for the battery based on the temperature of the battery, and/or timer value and/or counter value. Furthermore, the method can also include the step of updating (130) at least one among a counter and a timer each time after a charge is complete.

Abstract: A method (20 or 30) and system (40) for estimating a battery state of charge can include a memory (48) for storing at least one among an impedance value, a plurality of values for V drop 0-1, or a plurality of values for V drop 0-1 normalized for charge or discharge values providing a stored plurality of values. The system can include a processor (44) and can measure at least one among V drop C-0 providing a measured V drop C-0 value and V drop 0-1 for the providing a measured V drop 0-1 value. The processor can be programmed to perform the functions of dividing the V drop C-0 value by the impedance value to estimate a charging current at the battery or comparing the measured V drop 0-1 value with a value among the stored plurality of values to estimate the battery state of charge.

Abstract: A charging system (108) supplies a source voltage (Vco, FIG. 5) and a source current (Ico, FIG. 5) to a plurality of battery cells (110). The charging system operates according to a method (200) including the steps of determining (202) a capacity for each of the plurality of battery cells, determining (204) a desired cutoff current (Ico1, FIG. 5) for a select one of the plurality of battery cells (110A) having the smallest capacity, determining (206) an optimal source current according to the capacity of the select one of the plurality of battery cells, and adjusting (208) the source current according to the optimal source current.

Abstract: An apparatus (102a) for causing an orchestrated rendering of pre-selected data content using a plurality of communications devices (102b-e) is provided. The apparatus includes a signal transmitting circuit (202) for transmitting a performance signal to at least one of the plurality of communications devices, the performance signal including a synchronization instruction. The apparatus additionally includes a synchronization module (208) communicatively connected to the transmitting circuit for generating the synchronization instruction. The synchronization instruction is based upon the pre-selected data content and causes the at least one communications device to perform a designated portion of the data content at a designated time during a rendering of the pre-selected data content.

Abstract: A system (200) includes a visiting wireless device (202) and a host wireless device (206) that communicate with each other. A shared user interface is commonly used by the two devices. During an ongoing interaction between a user of the visiting device (202) and a user of the host device (206), images of each user (106 and 108) are communicated to the other device and both devices display the images of both user. Through updated images communicated back and forth between the devices, the users “virtually” interact with the shared user interface. A permission level restricts the interactions available to the visiting device (202).

Abstract: An electronic device (10) such as a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a two-way radio, a laptop computer, a portable stereo receiver, a portable television, or any combination thereof can include a cover such as a battery door cover (14) having a predetermined thickness and an aperture (16) within the battery door cover serving as an audio port for the electronic device and further constructed to serve as a bottle cap opener. The aperture can be for a high audio port (11) on a speaker phone for example. The aperture can be formed substantially towards an end portion of the battery door cover. The battery door cover can also be made of a rigid material such as plastic, metal or carbon fiber composite and can further include a sharp edge (17) to serve as a cutting instrument. Optionally, the battery door can further include a retractable or removable blade (19).

Abstract: A hazard defense system (100) includes a plurality of defense elements (104), and a controller (112). Each defense element can be located in an area (101) and each element includes at least one sensor (205) for monitoring at least one hazard and defense factor, a transceiver (202), and a processor (203) coupled to the at least one sensor and transceiver. The system is programmed to monitor (302) at least one hazard and defense factor, inform (304) the controller of the at least one defense factor, detect (306) a hazard at one or more defense elements, inform (308) the controller of the hazard, establish (310) an exit strategy at the controller according to the hazard and at least one defense factor, inform (312) the plurality of defense elements of the exit strategy, and direct (314) one or more individuals out of the area according to the exit strategy.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (300) and system (100) for operating a multiple charger. The method can include—in a multiple charger (110) having at least a first switch (134) and a second switch (122) for respectively controlling the flow of current to a first battery (116) and a second battery (118)—charging (312) the first battery by maintaining the first switch in a saturated state and charging (314) the second battery by maintaining the second switch in a saturated state. The first switch and the second switch can be simultaneously maintained (314) in the saturated state at least until the first battery reaches a predetermined charging threshold (412, 414).

Abstract: A battery pack (104) has an inductive charging interface (112) for charging a battery cell (114) upon coupling to an inductive power supply (210). The battery pack is coupled to a mobile communication device via a radio interface (110), through with a voltage level is applied to a charge monitoring circuit (106). When the mobile communication device is powered off, the voltage level wakes up the charge monitoring circuit so that the charging status of the battery cell can be displayed on the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A communication device (102) has a loudspeaker (212) that includes a loudspeaker coil. The loudspeaker is used for playing audio signals and for detecting metal in the vicinity of the loudspeaker. To detect metal the communication device includes a pulse generation circuit (216) for generating pulses that are applied to the loudspeaker, and a pulse measurement circuit (222) for measuring response pulses. If the response pulses indicate metal is in proximity to the loudspeaker, an alert is generated to inform the user of the communication device.