Abstract: A portable electronic device, such as a pager or a mobile station, has a housing and a vibration motor coupled to the housing for imparting vibration to it. Within the device, an electronic audio signal is preferably split into high and low frequency components by parallel filters. Pulses of the low frequency component are rectified, voltages of those rectified pulses are quantified and at least some are converted to pulse widths, and the train of pulse widths is amplified to drive the vibration motor, resonating the housing at in correspondence with the pulse amplitudes of at least some pulses of the original electronic audio signal. Various adaptive schemes are presented to control the number of modulated pulses that drive the vibration motor to enhance the user experience. The vibration motor may act as an audible sub-woofer and/or may provide a bass effect vibration within or beyond the audible range in correspondence to certain spaced pulses of the original audio signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an electrosensory sensation to a body member (120). The apparatus comprises one or more conducting electrodes (106), each of which is provided with an insulator (108). When the body member (120) is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member. A capacitive coupling over the insulator (108) is formed between the conducting electrode (106) and the body member (120). The conducting electrodes are driven by an electrical input which comprises a low-frequency component (114) in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 500 Hz. The capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation. The apparatus is capable of producing the electrosensory sensation independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes (106) or insulators (108).

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an electrosensory sensation to a body member (120). The apparatus comprises one or more conducting electrodes (106), each of which is provided with an insulator (108). When the body member (120) is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member. A capacitive coupling over the insulator (108) is formed between the conducting electrode (106) and the body member (120). The conducting electrodes are driven by an electrical input which comprises a low-frequency component (114) in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 500 Hz. The capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation. The apparatus is capable of producing the electrosensory sensation independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes (106) or insulators (108).

Abstract: The method, terminal and computer program product of the present invention are capable of adjusting the power consumption of short-range communication transceivers, such as RFID, IR transceivers or the like. Energy management of the transceiver is achieved by limiting activation of the transceiver to periods of user-interface illumination. The transceiver, therefore, uses less power because it is only activated by an intentional gesture by the user, i.e., a gesture that will initiate the illumination of a user-interface. In addition, the user of terminal is aware, via observation of the illumination, that the terminal is in an active transceiver reading state and, thus, the invention provides for a safe environment in which inadvertent reading of tags or data communication is lessened.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are provided to sense orientations or sequence of orientations, i.e. gestures, of mobile devices. The orientation or sequence of orientations control components and/or functions of the mobile device. Indications may be provided to a user to inform the user that the mobile device is in a particular orientation, or that the user has successfully performed a sequence of orientations corresponding to a functionality of the mobile device. The orientation or sequence of orientations may be performed while the mobile device is in a locked or idle state in order to control components and/or functions of the mobile device. A low energy sensor may activate the mobile device after a particular orientation is achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of initiating a wireless transfer of data between two electronic devices. In order to make the initiation particularly user friendly, it is proposed that a concept called “hugging” is employed. A hugging state between two electronic devices is assumed to be given if a first electronic device and a second electronic device are determined to undergo a specific motion pattern relative to each other while being at least in close vicinity to each other. Only in case such a hugging state is detected at a first device, a data transfer channel is opened for transferring data between the first device and some other device, e.g. the second device. The invention relates equally to a corresponding device and to a software program product with a corresponding software code.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided to produce tactile feedback from sound. The apparatus is a sound cavity apparatus for a portable communication device and includes: at least one loudspeaker; and at least one cavity. At least one surface of the at least one cavity is configured to vibrate. The sound cavity apparatus is attached to the portable communication device and the sound cavity apparatus is configured to transmit vibration to the portable communication device.

Abstract: A method includes defining a plurality of parameters for a vibration control pulse comprising a start pulse and a stop pulse, and outputting the vibration control pulse to a vibration element to provide tactile feedback.

Abstract: An electronic device including a display, a first user input, for enabling access to a plurality of functions, a second user input, and a controller, operable, in response to an input, to change the mode of operation of the device from a first, active mode of operation, in which the controller is operable to enable a user access to a plurality of functions, to a second, restricted mode of operation in which the controller is operable to disable user access to the plurality of functions, and operable, in response to an input via the second user input, to change the mode of operation of the device from the second, restricted mode of operation to a third, restricted mode of operation in which the controller is operable to disable user access to the plurality of functions and is operable to present information not presentable in the second restricted mode of operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in user interaction. A node and/or other computer might, for instance, come to be juxtaposed with an item, and/or might provide an interface to a user. The interface might, for example, allow the user to navigate among various offerings by moving the node and/or other computer in space. As another example, the interface might operate in a time-based manner. The node and/or other computer might, for instance, perform one or more operations in compliance with selection of one or more offerings by the user.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic device having a built-in compass, comprising: a processing unit for controlling functions of the electronic device; an input device for giving control commands; an acceleration sensor for measuring tilt angle of the electronic device. The processing unit is configured to set a horizontal condition required for the built-in compass, the horizontal condition indicating admissible values of tilt angle of the electronic device, to detect activation of a navigation application on the basis of the input device, to send a control command to the acceleration sensor for measuring a tilt angle of the electronic device when activation of the navigation application is detected, to compare the measured tilt angle with the horizontal condition for the built-in compass, and to calculate a compass direction when, on the basis of the comparison, it is detected that the electronic device meets the horizontal condition required.

Abstract: The method, terminal and computer program product determine the acceleration of a mobile terminal associated with the short-range communication transceiver and adjusts the power consumption of the short-range communication transceiver based upon whether a predefined acceleration threshold has been exceeded. To adjust the power consumption, the frequency at which the transceiver is activated may be altered. Thus, the power consumption of the transceiver may be reduced when the acceleration threshold is exceeded and/or may be increased when the acceleration threshold is not exceeded. Due to the adjustment of power consumption by transceivers, power is conserved in the mobile terminals associated with transceivers, which permits the mobile terminals and the transceivers to operate longer without requiring charging or replacement of the power supply.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic device having a built-in compass, comprising: a processing unit for controlling functions of the electronic device; an input device for giving control commands; an acceleration sensor for measuring tilt angle of the electronic device. The processing unit is configured to set a horizontal condition required for the built-in compass, the horizontal condition indicating admissible values of tilt angle of the electronic device, to detect activation of a navigation application on the basis of the input device, to send a control command to the acceleration sensor for measuring a tilt angle of the electronic device when activation of the navigation application is detected, to compare the measured tilt angle with the horizontal condition for the built-in compass, and to calculate a compass direction when, on the basis of the comparison, it is detected that the electronic device meets the horizontal condition required.

Abstract: The method, terminal and computer program product of the present invention are capable of adjusting the power consumption of short-range communication transceivers, such as RFID, IR transceivers or the like. Energy management of the transceiver is achieved by limiting activation of the transceiver to periods of user-interface illumination. The transceiver, therefore, uses less power because it is only activated by an intentional gesture by the user, i.e., a gesture that will initiate the illumination of a user-interface. In addition, the user of terminal is aware, via observation of the illumination, that the terminal is in an active transceiver reading state and, thus, the invention provides for a safe environment in which inadvertent reading of tags or data communication is lessened.

Abstract: The method, terminal and computer program product determine the acceleration of a mobile terminal associated with the short-range communication transceiver and adjusts the power consumption of the short-range communication transceiver based upon whether a predefined acceleration threshold has been exceeded. To adjust the power consumption, the frequency at which the transceiver is activated may be altered. Thus, the power consumption of the transceiver may be reduced when the acceleration threshold is exceeded and/or may be increased when the acceleration threshold is not exceeded. Due to the adjustment of power consumption by transceivers, power is conserved in the mobile terminals associated with transceivers, which permits the mobile terminals and the transceivers to operate longer without requiring charging or replacement of the power supply.

Abstract: A method and a device for providing an interaction between a user of an electronic device, and the electronic device, said device comprising an user interface and a motion sensor capable of detecting three dimensional motion. In the method; the user provides a gesture by touching the device, said gesture comprising at least one component of the three dimensions. The device detects said gesture and provides a tactile feedback in response to said gesture detection.