Abstract: Disclosed herein are self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors, such as may include vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes and resonance cavity photodetectors (RCPDs). Structures for the VCSEL diodes and RCPDs are disclosed. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode and an RCPD are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate. In some embodiments, a first and a second VCSEL diode are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate, and an RCPD is formed on the second VCSEL diode. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode may include two quantum well layers, with a tunnel junction layer between them. In some embodiments, an RCPD may be vertically integrated with a VCSEL diode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors, such as may include vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes and resonance cavity photodetectors (RCPDs). Structures for the VCSEL diodes and RCPDs are disclosed. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode and an RCPD are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate. In some embodiments, a first and a second VCSEL diode are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate, and an RCPD is formed on the second VCSEL diode. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode may include two quantum well layers, with a tunnel junction layer between them. In some embodiments, an RCPD may be vertically integrated with a VCSEL diode.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate, a set of light emitters on the substrate and arranged in a plurality of axisymmetric light emitter groups, a set of lenses including a different lens disposed over each axisymmetric light emitter group of the plurality of axisymmetric light emitter groups, and a set of optical fibers. At least one optical fiber in the set of optical fibers has a proximal end, a distal end, and a bend between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end is positioned to receive light, through a respective lens in the set of lenses, from the light emitters of a respective axisymmetric light emitter group in the plurality of axisymmetric light emitter groups.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors, such as may include vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes and resonance cavity photodetectors (RCPDs). Structures for the VCSEL diodes and RCPDs are disclosed. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode and an RCPD are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate. In some embodiments, a first and a second VCSEL diode are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate, and an RCPD is formed on the second VCSEL diode. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode may include two quantum well layers, with a tunnel junction layer between them. In some embodiments, an RCPD may be vertically integrated with a VCSEL diode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors, such as may include vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes and resonance cavity photodetectors (RCPDs). Structures for the VCSEL diodes and RCPDs are disclosed. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode and an RCPD are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate. In some embodiments, a first and a second VCSEL diode are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate, and an RCPD is formed on the second VCSEL diode. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode may include two quantum well layers, with a tunnel junction layer between them. In some embodiments, an RCPD may be vertically integrated with a VCSEL diode.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing and includes radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor carried by the circuit board and operative with each other. A display connector for an LCD connector is mounted on the circuit board and adapted to be connected to a display. Display connection lines are carried by the circuit board and interconnect the display connector and processor for carrying signals from the processor to the display connector and a connected display. Filters are carried by the circuit board and connected to the display connection lines and reduce any interfering energy from the processor and display.

Abstract: A handheld communications device for transmitting an encryption key is provided. The device comprises a display device, and a data processor. The data processor of the handheld communications device is in communication with the display device. The data processor is configured to generate an encryption key, and to vary a visual output of the display device over time in accordance with a bit sequence of the encryption key. The varying visual output comprises a sequence of colors and/or brightness levels output by the display device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a light of changing intensity and changing spectrum as a flash with a camera module having a white-balance routine and an exposure routine, wherein an initial value representative of a color spectrum emitted by the light source is transmitted to the camera module, the light source is turned on, and the camera module is signaled to scan a plurality of images of the scene while the light source is turned on, allowing the white-balance and exposure algorithms to be employed with each image scanned to refine the first initial value to refine the degree of compensation employed in correcting a color and a light level in the last one of the images of the plurality of images scanned.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing and includes radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor carried by the circuit board and operative with each other. A display connector for an LCD connector is mounted on the circuit board and adapted to be connected to a display. Display connection lines are carried by the circuit board and interconnect the display connector and processor for carrying signals from the processor to the display connector and a connected display. Filters are carried by the circuit board and connected to the display connection lines and reduce any interfering energy from the processor and display.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for capturing an image on an electronic device having a flash comprising a first light source and a second light source is presented herein. A detection of a color spectrum of ambient light is made using image data sensed by an image sensor of a camera module. Additionally, a determination of an intensity of a first light when combined with an associated intensity of a second light results in a color spectrum that substantially matches the color spectrum of the ambient light. The flash emits a first light from the first light source of the flash and second light from the second light source of the flash. An image from a camera module is recorded during the emission of the first and second light.

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 light emitter/sensor includes a lamp, a light sensor, a light guide, and a light controller. The light guide has a pair of opposite ends and is optically-coupled to the lamp and the light sensor at one of the ends. The light guide is configured to convey light emitted from the lamp to the other end of the light guide, and from that other end to the light sensor. The light controller is coupled to the lamp and the light sensor and is configured to flash the lamp and to determine the intensity of light at that other end of the light guide, via the light guide and the light sensor, during an interval between the flashes.

Abstract: A light emitter/sensor includes a lamp, a light sensor, a light guide, and a light controller. The light guide has a pair of opposite ends and is optically-coupled to the lamp and the light sensor at one of the ends. The light guide is configured to convey light emitted from the lamp to the other end of the light guide, and from that other end to the light sensor. The light controller is coupled to the lamp and the light sensor and is configured to flash the lamp and to determine the intensity of light at that other end of the light guide, via the light guide and the light sensor, during an interval between the flashes.

Abstract: A portable computing device includes a housing having an external surface, and an event notifier, a display device, and a light controller disposed within the housing. The event notifier includes an event notification lamp, and a light conduit terminating at the external surface for conveying light between the event notification lamp and the external surface. The display device includes illumination means for improved visualization of information rendered on the display device. The light controller is coupled to the event notifier and the illumination means. The light controller is configured to determine the intensity of ambient light external to the housing via the light conduit, and to adjust the intensity of light emitted by the illumination means in accordance with the determined ambient light intensity.

Abstract: In a portable computing device that includes a backlit device having a variable-intensity backlight, a light sensor, and a light controller coupled to the light sensor and the backlight, a method for controlling the intensity of light produced by the backlight involves the steps of (1) with the ambient light sensor determining the ambient light level at the computing device; and (2) with the light controller automatically adjusting the intensity of light produced by the backlight in accordance with the determined light level.

Abstract: In a handheld computing device that includes a backlit display having a variable-intensity backlight, a method for controlling the intensity of light produced by the backlight involves the following steps. The computing device also includes user data input means, and data processing means coupled to the user data input means and the backlit display. The data processing means includes at least one software application that is configured to display information on the display. The method involves the steps of (1) setting the intensity to a first intensity level and activating one of the software applications; and (2) setting the intensity to a minimum intensity level, less than the first intensity level, after expiry of a predetermined elapsed time of non-activity from the user data input means. The predetermined elapsed time is based on the activated software application.

Abstract: In a handheld computing device that includes a backlit display having a variable-intensity backlight, and a function key, a method for controlling an intensity of light produced by the backlight involves the steps of (1) setting the intensity to a first level sufficient for viewing information on the display under first ambient lighting; and (2) upon activation of the function key, setting the intensity to a second level sufficient for viewing information on the backlit display under second ambient lighting that is different than the first ambient lighting.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a portable computing device, involves the steps of (1) maintaining a table comprising stimulus/response data for possible hardware components that may be interfaced in the computing device; (2) performing one manufacturing step in the manufacture of the portable computing device by interfacing one of the possible hardware components with one other component of the computing device; and (3) performing one other manufacturing step in the manufacture by: (i) applying a stimulus to the interfaced hardware component, and reading a response from the interfaced hardware component in response to the applied stimulus; (ii) identifying the interfaced hardware component from a correlation of the response with the stimulus/response data; and (iii) saving the identification as configuration data in the computing device.

Abstract: A handheld computing device includes a system motherboard; and a display secured to the system motherboard. The display comprises a display panel, and a circuit board carrying display electronics for the display panel. The system motherboard includes a cavity, and the display electronics extend from the circuit board into the cavity. Preferably, the cavity comprises an aperture, and the display electronics are compactly disposed on the circuit board within a common area that is aligned with the aperture.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a gamma setting of a display for a mobile device is disclosed. The display has two brightness settings, where the two brightness settings include a transmissive mode setting and a reflective mode setting. The method includes: a) changing the display to a selected brightness setting; and b) changing the gamma setting of the display to a predetermined gamma setting corresponding to the selected brightness setting. The predetermined gamma setting optimizes an image on the display at the selected brightness setting. The method also includes switching a back light connected to the display, where the back light is switched to the on position in the transmissive setting and to the off position in the reflective setting.