Abstract: A cover system for a communication device and a case for the communication device are provided. The system comprises: a first cover and a second cover. The first cover has a shape to fit in a recessed region of a case of a communication device, the recessed region bounding a display opening and a speaker opening in the case; a first region adapted to cover the display opening; a second region to enclose the speaker opening; and at least one hole in the second region to provide a conduit through the first cover to the speaker opening. The second cover covers the second region and is shaped to allow ambient air to pass around the second cover to the at least one hole.

Abstract: Disclosed is a keypad and microphone arrangement for a communication device. The arrangement comprises: a key having a cap portion and a stem portion; a base layer attached to the stem portion; a key circuit to recognize activation of the key; a support member to support the key and base layer; a microphone located beneath the support member; a port in the base layer extending from an upper surface of the base, through an interior of the base layer, to a lower surface of the base layer. The support member has an opening extending from its top surface, through its interior, to its bottom surface. There is also an air channel connecting the microphone to ambient air above the cap portion, the air channel comprising the port and the opening. The stem portion and the cap portion are located about the port such that the cap portion extends fully over the port. The arrangement may be used in any communication device having voice reception capabilities.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device is for use with a hearing aid including a hearing aid compatible (HAC) coil. The device may include a portable housing and a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing. The device may also include at least one image capture component and a positioning coil associated therewith and carried by the portable housing. A controller may also be carried by the portable housing for selectively operating the positioning coil for image capture, and for inductively coupling received signals from the wireless receiver to the HAC coil.

Abstract: The invention provides a microphone coupler system for a communication device. The coupler system comprises: a microphone; a printed circuit board (PCB) to connect to the microphone; a platform having an aperture; a boot assembly to enclose the microphone and to direct acoustic signals to the microphone; and an acoustic channel formed in part by the boot assembly and a bottom surface of the platform when the boot assembly is mounted over the microphone and the platform is mounted over the boot assembly. The boot assembly has a coupling section shaped to hold the microphone with the aperture facing upward from the PCB and a lateral rib extending around its exterior to mate with an interior surface of the platform.

Abstract: A cover for a display device and a case for a communication device are provided. The cover comprises: external dimensions shaped to fit said cover in a case for said communication device; a top surface; a bottom surface; a non-opaque region adapted to cover said display device allowing a user to see said display device; and a region defining a top of an enclosure cavity for a speaker associated with said communication device. Sound holes in the cover are preferably present. A recess around the region is provided for fitting with a cover for the recess. A communication device comprising the cover is also provided. The case comprises: an exterior frame; a first opening in the frame; an internal wall defined within the exterior frame; a first cavity located in the internal wall; and an air channel to connect the first cavity to a region in the case.

Abstract: Disclosed is an enclosure for a communication device. The enclosure comprises: a casing for the communication device, the casing having a back side and a casing opening in the back side; a speaker mounted inside the casing and in communication with the casing opening; and a cover shaped to mate with and to cover the casing opening. The cover has: a central portion; a first rail protruding outwardly from a surface of the cover and located in the central portion; a second rail protruding outwardly from the surface and located in the central portion; and a speaker grill having an opening therein providing an air channel for the speaker.

Abstract: The invention provides a communication device comprising: a cover; a printed circuit board; a microphone on the printed circuit board; an antenna located at least in part within the cover; and a RF shield can shaped to fit over the microphone about the PCB. In the device, the cover is shaped to enclose the PCB and the RF shield can. The cover provides pressure on the RF shield can to press inward on the microphone to fixedly attach it to the PCB.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a handheld electronic device. The device comprises a case and an audio transducer. The case has a housing, a cover, an indentation, a first opening and an audio transducer. The housing has a housing surface. The cover has a cover surface with at least a portion of the cover surface being disposed adjacent at least a portion of the housing surface; an elongated channel formed therein opposite the cover surface; an insert; and a lens disposed adjacent to the insert. The indentation is formed in at least one of the housing adjacent the housing surface and the cover adjacent the cover surface and the indentation is disposed between and forms a cavity in the case between at least a portion of the housing adjacent the housing surface and at least a portion of the cover adjacent the cover surface. The cavity is elongated along at least a first axis.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a case for a handheld electronic device and an electronic device. The case comprises: a housing and a lens. The housing has a housing surface; and a first opening in the housing surface. The lens has a cover surface being disposed adjacent at least a portion of the housing surface; an indentation formed in the cover adjacent the cover surface, the indentation being disposed between and forming a cavity in the case between at least a portion of the housing adjacent the housing surface and at least a portion of the cover adjacent the cover surface, the cavity being elongated along at least a first axis; and a second first opening formed in the cover providing fluid communication between the cavity and the cover surface.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device has a case with an elongated cavity formed therein. An audio transducer is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a number of sound openings are formed in the case and are in fluid communication with the cavity and with the atmosphere surrounding the handheld electronic device. The sound openings are generally spaced from a central region of the audio transducer to space the sound openings generally farther from an edge of the case than the audio transducer. The cavity is configured to form a Helmholtz resonator that enables the communication of sound through the cavity between the audio transducer and the sound openings. The spacing of the sound openings from an edge of a case helps a user to form a seal between the case and the user's ear to enable sound from the sound openings to enter the ear and to be perceived by the user.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device has a case with an elongated cavity formed therein. An audio transducer is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a number of sound openings are formed in the case and are in fluid communication with the cavity and with the atmosphere surrounding the handheld electronic device. The sound openings are generally spaced from a central region of the audio transducer to space the sound openings generally farther from an edge of the case than the audio transducer. The cavity is configured to form a Helmholtz resonator that enables the communication of sound through the cavity between the audio transducer and the sound openings. The spacing of the sound openings from an edge of a case helps a user to form a seal between the case and the user's ear to enable sound from the sound openings to enter the ear and to be perceived by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of adjusting a volume level for an audio signal for a communication device to comply with a quality threshold. The method comprises: obtaining a digitized signal value of the audio signal and monitoring for an increase in the volume level. In the method, upon determining that implementing the increase in the volume level would produce an output that would exceed the quality threshold, processing the signal value to produce a first output signal value for the audio signal utilizing a digital signal processing (DSP) device in the communication device, a processing filter defined in the digital signal processing device, a first set of adjustment parameters and the signal value.

Abstract: The invention provides a microphone coupler system for a communication device. The coupler system comprises: a microphone; a printed circuit board (PCB) to connect to the microphone; a platform having an aperture; a boot assembly to enclose the microphone and to direct acoustic signals to the microphone; and an acoustic channel formed in part by the boot assembly and a bottom surface of the platform when the boot assembly is mounted over the microphone and the platform is mounted over the boot assembly. The boot assembly has a coupling section shaped to hold the microphone with the aperture facing upward from the PCB and a lateral rib extending around its exterior to mate with an interior surface of the platform.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microphone coupler and coupler system for a communication device. The system comprises: a printed circuit board; a microphone having a port facing towards the printed circuit board and aligned with an opening through the printed circuit board; and a microphone coupler for the microphone. The coupler comprises: a conduit having an internal channel therein, a distal end, a proximal end, a first opening in the distal end connecting to the internal channel and a second opening in the proximal end connecting to the internal channel. In the system, the proximal end of the coupler is locatable about the opening of the printed circuit board to have the second opening mated to the opening of the printed circuit board; and the distal end of the coupler extends towards an end of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of adjusting an audio signal for a communication device. The method comprises: identifying a characteristic associated with the signal and identifying its quality threshold; identifying a first set of adjustment parameters for the signal when the threshold is exceeded; and identifying a second set of adjustment parameters when it is not exceeded. Also, the device: monitors for a current setting value for the characteristic; and detects whether the current setting value is above or below the quality threshold. If the value is above, then the device produces a first output signal value utilizing a DSP, a processing filter defined in the DSP, values of the first set of adjustment parameters and the signal value. If the value is below, the device produces a second output signal value utilizing the DSP, the filter, values of the second set of adjustment parameters and the signal value.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device is for use with a hearing aid including a hearing aid compatible (HAC) coil. The device may include a portable housing and a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing. The device may also include at least one image capture component and a positioning coil associated therewith and carried by the portable housing. A controller may also be carried by the portable housing for selectively operating the positioning coil for image capture, and for inductively coupling received signals from the wireless receiver to the HAC coil.

Abstract: A peripheral for an electronic device having a speaker is provided. The peripheral includes an input device for placement proximal to the speaker for receiving audio information from the speaker. The peripheral includes an output device connected to the input device that is positioned distal from the input device and away from electromagnetic signals generated by the device. The output device presents the audio information to a hearing aid proximal to the output device. The output device is positioned at a distance such that the electromagnetic signals experienced by the input device is less than the signals experienced by the hearing aid. As a result, deleterious effects of signals otherwise experienced by the hearing aid are reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a communication device and a microphone coupler. The device comprises: a microphone; a printed circuit board (PCB) to connect to the microphone; a boot assembly to enclose the microphone and to direct acoustic signals to the microphone; a platform; a housing to enclose the PCB, the microphone, the platform and the boot assembly and to provide an opening to access the microphone; and an acoustic channel connecting the microphone to the opening in the housing. In the device, part of the acoustic channel is formed by a channel formed when the above noted components are assembled together.

Abstract: The invention provides a microphone coupler for a microphone located within a housing of a portable communication device and a device incorporating the coupler. The coupler comprises a body section and a conduit or just a conduit. The body section is shaped to fit around the microphone and is defined by one or more walls and within the walls an interior cavity is defined. One wall has a port in through connecting to the cavity. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the microphone and provides a space between the microphone and the body section. The conduit has an internal channel, a distal end, a proximate end and openings at each end connecting to the channel. For the conduit, the proximate end is connected to the body section and the second opening mates with the port.

Abstract: A cover for a display device and a case for a communication device are provided. The cover comprises: external dimensions shaped to fit said cover in a case for said communication device; a top surface; a bottom surface; a non-opaque region adapted to cover said display device allowing a user to see said display device; and a region defining a top of an enclosure cavity for a speaker associated with said communication device. Sound holes in the cover are preferably present. A recess around the region is provided for fitting with a cover for the recess. A communication device comprising the cover is also provided. The case comprises: an exterior frame; a first opening in the frame; an internal wall defined within the exterior frame; a first cavity located in the internal wall; and an air channel to connect the first cavity to a region in the case.