Abstract: A radio frequency coil assembly for an MRI system. A support structure extends between a first end and a second end in a first direction and between an inner surface and an opposite outer surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The support structure has channels that extend into the support structure in the second direction. An RF coil is configured to transmit and/or receive RF signals. The RF coil is supported by the outer surface of the support structure. The channels are at least partially positioned between the support structure and the RF coil in the first direction and are configured to convey a cooling medium to cool the support structure in use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mid fed traveling wave antenna, which includes a signal feed point including a pair of terminals adapted for receiving a differential signal. The mid fed traveling wave antenna further includes a first transmission line branch extending from the signal feed point in a first direction, and a second transmission line branch extending from the signal feed point in a second direction, where each of the first transmission branch and the second transmission branch is terminated by a reflective termination. In at least one embodiment, the first transmission line branch and the second transmission line branch each have a respective length, where the length of the second transmission line branch is different than the length of the first transmission line branch.

Abstract: A first electronic device uses a first wireless link to connect wirelessly to an audio source device, and a second wireless link to connect to a second electronic device. In some cases, the first electronic device and the second electronic device can be worn by, or mounted to, a user. Upon receiving audio from the audio source device, the first electronic device extracts stereo channels from the received audio, and transmits at least one of the channels to the second electronic device. In some embodiments, an antenna of the first electronic device and an antenna of the second electronic device create a coaxial antenna pair. Alternately or additionally, each antenna, when worn by or mounted to a user, propagates an electric field in a direction generally normal to the user's head. In turn, this generates a creeping wave that travels along a surface, such as the surface of the user's head.

Abstract: A first electronic device uses a first wireless link to connect wirelessly to an audio source device, and a second wireless link to connect to a second electronic device. In some cases, the first electronic device and the second electronic device can be worn by, or mounted to, a user. Upon receiving audio from the audio source device, the first electronic device extracts stereo channels from the received audio, and transmits at least one of the channels to the second electronic device. In some embodiments, an antenna of the first electronic device and an antenna of the second electronic device create a coaxial antenna pair. Alternately or additionally, each antenna, when worn by or mounted to a user, propagates an electric field in a direction generally normal to the user's head. In turn, this generates a creeping wave that travels along a surface, such as the surface of the user's head.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mid fed traveling wave antenna, which includes a signal feed point including a pair of terminals adapted for receiving a differential signal. The mid fed traveling wave antenna further includes a first transmission line branch extending from the signal feed point in a first direction, and a second transmission line branch extending from the signal feed point in a second direction, where each of the first transmission branch and the second transmission branch is terminated by a reflective termination. In at least one embodiment, the first transmission line branch and the second transmission line branch each have a respective length, where the length of the second transmission line branch is different than the length of the first transmission line branch.

Abstract: An antenna system for reception and transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals and a method for tuning the antenna system are provided. The antenna system includes a ground plane, a first element and a second element. The first element includes a driven unbalanced antenna element that resonates within at least one predetermined first frequency band to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals modulated at one or more frequencies within the at least one predetermined first frequency band. The second element is non-resonating within the at least one predetermined first frequency band and is located within an antenna volume of the first element to create a partial loop response within the antenna volume of the first element by capacitively coupling to the first element when connected to the ground plane.

Abstract: An antenna system for reception and transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals and a method for tuning the antenna system are provided. The antenna system includes a ground plane, a first element and a second element. The first element includes a driven unbalanced antenna element that resonates within at least one predetermined first frequency band to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals modulated at one or more frequencies within the at least one predetermined first frequency band. The second element is non-resonating within the at least one predetermined first frequency band and is located within an antenna volume of the first element to create a partial loop response within the antenna volume of the first element by capacitively coupling to the first element when connected to the ground plane.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conducting communication between mobile devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of achieving communications between first and second mobile devices that are in proximity with one another includes transmitting a first signal from the first mobile device and receiving a first reflected signal at that mobile device, the first reflected signal being the first signal reflected by an object in proximity to that mobile device. The method also includes transmitting a second signal from the first mobile device for receipt by the second mobile device upon being reflected by the object, and receiving a confirmation signal from the second mobile device in response to the second signal. The method further includes achieving a paired relationship of the first mobile device relative to the second mobile device, whereby because of the paired relationship the first and second mobile devices are capable of additional communications therebetween.

Abstract: A method and a wireless device (120, 122) utilize auxiliary information associated with an emergency alert system alert message to direct a user of the wireless device (120, 122) to safety. A wireless communication system (102) wirelessly transmits an emergency alert system (EAS) alert message to a wireless device (120, 122). The wireless communication system (102) also wirelessly transmits an augmented EAS alert message to the wireless device (120, 122). The augmented EAS alert message includes auxiliary information that provides information to the wireless device (120, 122) to direct a user of the wireless device (120, 122) to move at least one of toward a safe zone (150) and away from a danger zone (158). The auxiliary information in the augmented EAS alert message is optionally adjusted based on any combination of: the location of the wireless device, the safe zone, and the danger zone, and the logistics of a vicinity affected by the danger zone.

Abstract: A portable communication device (100, 800, 900) has an antenna element (102, 1206). The antenna element forms a slot (104, 1208) which is used as a slot antenna. The device is configured such that the slot facilitates operation of a user interface element through the slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hearing aid compatible wireless electronic device is disclosed. The apparatus may include a lower housing having a wireless transceiver, upper housing including an earpiece, hinge assembly, and a pair of reactive matching element along with predefined placement of the wireless transceiver. The reactive matching element can be implemented at different chassis inductances to achieve hearing aid compatibility within other design constraints. Implemented as a switched circuit or reactance filter circuit to create a reactance appropriate for a band of operation during transmission in that band.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and electronic device with mitigated lossy antenna resonance are disclosed. A transceiver chassis may connect to a wireless network. A slider chassis may move relative to the transceiver chassis between an open position and a closed position. A first temporary grounding connection between the slider chassis and the transceiver chassis may connect in a closed position. A second temporary grounding connection between the slider chassis and the transceiver chassis of the slider phone may connect in the open position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conducting communication between mobile devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of achieving communications between first and second mobile devices that are in proximity with one another includes transmitting a first signal from the first mobile device and receiving a first reflected signal at that mobile device, the first reflected signal being the first signal reflected by an object in proximity to that mobile device. The method also includes transmitting a second signal from the first mobile device for receipt by the second mobile device upon being reflected by the object, and receiving a confirmation signal from the second mobile device in response to the second signal. The method further includes achieving a paired relationship of the first mobile device relative to the second mobile device, whereby because of the paired relationship the first and second mobile devices are capable of additional communications therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for automatically selecting which mobile communication device among two or more related mobile communication devices may establish communication or authorize a transaction for particular services or goods with an unrelated third communication device. The described method includes a first mobile communication device detecting the presence of a related second mobile communication device and authorizing a communication with a third unrelated entity, such as that of a vendor, based on the presence of the related second mobile communication device. Also described is a method of a first mobile communication device including detecting the presence of a related second mobile communication device and restricting wireless communication with a unrelated third communication device, such as that of a vendor.

Abstract: Performance of a radio device is optimized by estimating if the device is inside a building. One or more sensors on the radio device are used to measure an environmental quantities relating to the environment of the radio device. The likelihood of the radio device being inside a building is inferred from these measurements. The operation of the radio device then is controlled accordingly. For example, if the radio device is determined to be inside a building, a low operating frequency may be selected for the radio device if a wide area network connection is required, while a high operating frequency may be selected if a local connection is required. An environmental quantity may be, for example, a satellite signal, ambient light, temperature, RF energy, or the response to a test signal emitted by the radio device.

Abstract: A portable communication device (100, 800, 900) has an antenna element (102, 1206). The antenna element forms a slot (104, 1208) which is used as a slot antenna. The device is configured such that the slot facilitates operation of a user interface element through the slot.

Abstract: These various embodiments are suitable for use with a personally portable apparatus (200) that is configured and arranged to render selected content into a perceivable form for an end user of that personally portable apparatus. These teachings generally provide for gathering (101) information regarding this end user (wherein this information does not simply comprise specific instructions to the personally portable apparatus via some corresponding user interface). These teachings then provide for inferring (103) from this information a desired end user rendering modality (that is, as desired by that end user) for the selected content and then automatically selecting (105), as a function (at least in part) of that desired end user rendering modality, a particular rendering method from amongst a plurality of differing candidate rendering methodologies to employ when rendering the selected content perceivable to the end user at the personally portable apparatus.

Abstract: Upon determining (101) that a given end user content delivery apparatus (200) that is presently delivering content using a first end user-perceivable modality is about to change to delivery of the content using a second end-user perceivable modality that is different from the first end user-perceivable modality, selecting (102) a particular alert modality (from amongst a plurality of available candidate different alert modalities for the given end user content delivery apparatus) to be employed to alert the end user regarding the change from the first end user-perceivable modality to the second end user-perceivable modality as a function, at least in part, of a measure of saliency as pertains to each of the plurality of available candidate different alert modalities.

Abstract: A bus interface and corresponding method is provided for conveying communication signals supporting multiple modes, where at least two of the modes have distinct operational communication signal levels. The bus interface is adapted to convert the communication signals between communication signals having distinct signal levels, and communication signals having compatible signal levels. Where in at least some instances, the conveyed communication signals are converted from communication signals having distinct signal levels to communication signals having compatible signal levels, and then back to communication signals having distinct signal levels, after the communication signals having compatible signal levels are transmitted and received via one or more associated communication paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hearing aid compatible wireless electronic device is disclosed. The apparatus may include a lower housing having a wireless transceiver, upper housing including an earpiece, hinge assembly, and a pair of reactive matching element along with predefined placement of the wireless transceiver. The reactive matching element can be implemented at different chassis inductances to achieve hearing aid compatibility within other design constraints. Implemented as a switched circuit or reactance filter circuit to create a reactance appropriate for a band of operation during transmission in that band.