Abstract: A liquid immersion sensor for a mobile device with at least two acoustic transducers is described. The liquid immersion sensor may include a signal generator having a signal generator output configured to generate a signal for transmission via a first acoustic transducer, and a signal receiver having a signal receiver input configured to receive a delayed version of the generated signal via a second acoustic transducer. The signal receiver includes a signal receiver output. The liquid immersion sensor includes a controller having a first controller input for receiving a reference signal and a second controller input coupled to the signal receiver output. The controller determines a time lag value between the reference signal and the delayed signal and generates a control output signal dependent on the phase difference. The control output signal indicates if the mobile device is immersed in liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an acoustic transducer arrangement configured to transmit at least one acoustic signal and configured to detect a reflection of said at least one acoustic signal, and a controller configured to determine a time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal, the controller further configured to determine at least a first value indicative of temperature based on said time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal and calibration information indicative of a relationship between time-of-flight and temperature in a space the apparatus is located.

Abstract: A controller for a haptic actuator is described. The controller includes a driver which has an output configured to be coupled to a linear resonant actuator in a first mode and a frequency detector having an input configured to be coupled to the haptic actuator in a second mode. The frequency detector is configured to detect a signal generated on the terminals of the haptic actuator in response to an externally applied force and to determine a resonant frequency of the haptic actuator from the generated signal.

Abstract: A hybrid connector for a data cable, including: a galvanic connector having a plurality of connectors configured to make a galvanic connection with a plurality of connectors in a receptacle wherein a first portion of the plurality connectors are power connections and a second portion of the plurality of connectors are data connections; a plurality of millimeter wave wireless transmitter/receivers (TRx) configured to transmit/receive data from/to the hybrid connector; and a plurality of millimeter wave antennas surrounding the galvanic connector each antenna connected to one of the plurality of millimeter wave TRx's, wherein the plurality of millimeter wave antennas are configured to transmit/receive millimeter wave data signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the position of a mobile device in a region of a vehicle cabin are described. The mobile device has a speaker and at least one microphone. The vehicle has an audio system comprising at least two speakers. The mobile device detects first and second acoustic signals respectively transmitted via the first and second vehicle speaker. The acoustic signals comprise a respective detection pattern. The detection patterns are mutually orthogonal. The detected acoustic signals may be compared or correlated with the detection patterns and a respective matched acoustic signal generated. The location of the mobile device within a region of the vehicle cabin may be determined based on the time difference of arrival of the first matched acoustic signal and the second matched acoustic signal. The mode of operation of the mobile device may be set or changed dependent on the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A mobile device comprising an environmental sensor and an electrically actuated membrane is described. The electrically actuated membrane may increase the airflow over the environmental sensor which may improve the response of the sensor to changes in the ambient environment around the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the position of a mobile device in a region of a vehicle cabin are described. The mobile device has a speaker and at least one microphone. The vehicle has an audio system comprising at least two speakers. The mobile device detects first and second acoustic signals respectively transmitted via the first and second vehicle speaker. The acoustic signals comprise a respective detection pattern. The detection patterns are mutually orthogonal. The detected acoustic signals may be compared or correlated with the detection patterns and a respective matched acoustic signal generated. The location of the mobile device within a region of the vehicle cabin may be determined based on the time difference of arrival of the first matched acoustic signal and the second matched acoustic signal. The mode of operation of the mobile device may be set or changed dependent on the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A hybrid connector for a data cable, including: a galvanic connector having a plurality of connectors configured to make a galvanic connection with a plurality of connectors in a receptacle wherein a first portion of the plurality connectors are power connections and a second portion of the plurality of connectors are data connections; a plurality of millimeter wave wireless transmitter/receivers (TRx) configured to transmit/receive data from/to the hybrid connector; and a plurality of millimeter wave antennas surrounding the galvanic connector each antenna connected to one of the plurality of millimeter wave TRx's, wherein the plurality of millimeter wave antennas are configured to transmit/receive millimeter wave data signals.

Abstract: An electric field sensor including a dielectric layer having a plane surface, at least one transceiver antenna disposed on one side of the dielectric layer, the at least one transceiver antenna configured to emit a wave above the plane surface of the dielectric layer and detect an event adjacent the plane surface, an integrated circuit coupled to the at least one transceiver antenna.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an acoustic transducer arrangement configured to transmit at least one acoustic signal and configured to detect a reflection of said at least one acoustic signal, and a controller configured to determine a time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal, the controller further configured to determine at least a first value indicative of temperature based on said time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal and calibration information indicative of a relationship between time-of-flight and temperature in a space the apparatus is located.

Abstract: A liquid immersion sensor for a mobile device with at least two acoustic transducers is described. The liquid immersion sensor may include a signal generator having a signal generator output configured to generate a signal for transmission via a first acoustic transducer, and a signal receiver having a signal receiver input configured to receive a delayed version of the generated signal via a second acoustic transducer. The signal receiver includes a signal receiver output. The liquid immersion sensor includes a controller having a first controller input for receiving a reference signal and a second controller input coupled to the signal receiver output. The controller determines a time lag value between the reference signal and the delayed signal and generates a control output signal dependent on the phase difference. The control output signal indicates if the mobile device is immersed in liquid.

Abstract: A controller for a haptic actuator is described. The controller includes a driver which has an output configured to be coupled to a linear resonant actuator in a first mode and a frequency detector having an input configured to be coupled to the haptic actuator in a second mode. The frequency detector is configured to detect a signal generated on the terminals of the haptic actuator in response to an externally applied force and to determine a resonant frequency of the haptic actuator from the generated signal.

Abstract: An environmental parameter sensor for a mobile device is described comprising a first acoustic transducer; a second acoustic transducer arranged at a predetermined distance from the first acoustic transducer; a controller coupled to the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer; wherein the controller is configured to determine at least one of a time-of-flight value and an attenuation value of an acoustic signal between the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer and to determine at least one environmental parameter from the at least one of the time-of-flight value and the attenuation value The environmental parameter sensor may determine environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed, and humidity from acoustic measurements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of predicting an ambient temperature around a mobile device, wherein: a primary temperature sensor comprised in said mobile device measures a first temperature value; at least one secondary temperature sensor comprised in said mobile device measures a second temperature value; a processing unit comprised in said mobile device calculates a first prediction of an ambient temperature around the mobile device in dependence on the first temperature value and at least one parameter which is indicative of a thermal influence of one or more mobile device components on the measurements; the processing unit calculates a second prediction of said ambient temperature in dependence on the second temperature value and said parameter; the processing unit compares the first prediction with the second prediction and adjusts said parameter if the difference between the first prediction and the second prediction exceeds a predefined maximum.

Abstract: A mobile device comprising an environmental sensor and an electrically actuated membrane is described. The electrically actuated membrane may increase the airflow over the environmental sensor which may improve the response of the sensor to changes in the ambient environment around the mobile device.

Abstract: One example discloses a multi-sensor assembly, comprising: a first temperature sensor, having a first thermal profile; a second temperature sensor, having a second thermal profile different from the first thermal profile; wherein the first and second temperature sensors are mounted on a set of lead-frames; wherein the first and second temperature sensors include a first heat path input coupled to an ambient environment, and a second heat path input coupled to at least one of the lead-frames; and wherein the first and second sensors and set of lead-frames are included in a single multi-sensor assembly. Another example discloses a method of manufacture for the multi-sensor assembly.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic pairing device, comprising: an acoustic processor configured to receive a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; a signal comparison module configured to identify a propagation delay or amplitude difference between the first and second acoustic signals; and a pairing module configured to output a pairing signal if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value. Another example discloses a method for acoustic pairing between a first device and a second device, executed by a computer programmed with non-transient executable instructions, comprising: receiving a propagation delay or amplitude difference between a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; pairing the first and second devices if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic pairing device, comprising: an acoustic processor configured to receive a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; a signal comparison module configured to identify a propagation delay or amplitude difference between the first and second acoustic signals; and a pairing module configured to output a pairing signal if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value. Another example discloses a method for acoustic pairing between a first device and a second device, executed by a computer programmed with non-transient executable instructions, comprising: receiving a propagation delay or amplitude difference between a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; pairing the first and second devices if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value.

Abstract: An environmental parameter sensor for a mobile device is described comprising a first acoustic transducer; a second acoustic transducer arranged at a predetermined distance from the first acoustic transducer; a controller coupled to the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer; wherein the controller is configured to determine at least one of a time-of-flight value and an attenuation value of an acoustic signal between the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer and to determine at least one environmental parameter from the at least one of the time-of-flight value and the attenuation value The environmental parameter sensor may determine environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed, and humidity from acoustic measurements.

Abstract: One example discloses a multi-sensor assembly, comprising: a first temperature sensor, having a first thermal profile; a second temperature sensor, having a second thermal profile different from the first thermal profile; wherein the first and second temperature sensors are mounted on a set of lead-frames; wherein the first and second temperature sensors include a first heat path input coupled to an ambient environment, and a second heat path input coupled to at least one of the lead-frames; and wherein the first and second sensors and set of lead-frames are included in a single multi-sensor assembly. Another example discloses a method of manufacture for the multi-sensor assembly.