Abstract: Techniques for sharing style information between different applications and/or devices are provided. A document is displayed in a first window of a first application. The document includes user-selectable portions that each comprises at least one style information item. A menu is displayed in a second window. The menu provides a mechanism to store at least one style information item from the user-selectable portions. In response to a user selecting a user-selectable portion, menu options are provided in the menu to store at least one style information item for the selected user-selectable portion. The menu options are determined based on the style information item corresponding to the selected user-selectable portion. In response to the user selecting a menu option, the style information item corresponding to the selected menu option is stored.

Abstract: Techniques for sharing design elements between different applications and/or devices are provided. A design element is received from a first application as multiple representations, each of the multiple representations corresponding to a complementary storage format for the design element based on a design element type. The design element is stored as the multiple representations in a centrally stored library, the centrally stored library being shared among a plurality of applications. An indication to use the design element in a second application may be received. At least one of the multiple representations may be returned, as determined by the second application.

Abstract: A system and method for determining replenishment information for capsules as replenishment for a beverage production machine are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the consumption by an infant of beverages produced from capsules in a beverage production machine. Capsule information regarding a plurality of different types of capsules is stored in a server. Further at least one user account including personal information about the infant consuming beverage produced from capsules is stored in said server. A beverage is produced from a capsule and the capsule used therefore by the beverage production machine is identified. The information on the identified capsule is transmitted to the server; such information including at least the date and time the beverage is prepared.

Abstract: Techniques for sharing style information between different applications and/or devices are provided. A document is displayed in a first window of a first application. The document includes user-selectable portions that each comprises at least one style information item. A menu is displayed in a second window. The menu provides a mechanism to store at least one style information item from the user-selectable portions. In response to a user selecting a user-selectable portion, menu options are provided in the menu to store at least one style information item for the selected user-selectable portion. The menu options are determined based on the style information item corresponding to the selected user-selectable portion. In response to the user selecting a menu option, the style information item corresponding to the selected menu option is stored.

Abstract: Techniques for sharing design elements between different applications and/or devices are provided. A design element is received from a first application as multiple representations, each of the multiple representations corresponding to a complementary storage format for the design element based on a design element type. The design element is stored as the multiple representations in a centrally stored library, the centrally stored library being shared among a plurality of applications. An indication to use the design element in a second application may be received. At least one of the multiple representations may be returned, as determined by the second application.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for determining replenishment information for capsules as replenishment for a beverage production machine. Capsule information regarding a plurality of different types of capsules is stored in a server. Further at least one user account including personal information about a person consuming beverage produced from capsules is stored in said server A beverage from a capsule is produced and the capsule used therefore by the beverage production machine is identified. The information on the identified capsule is transmitted to the server. Then at least one type of capsules as replenishment is determined on the basis of the capsule information and the user profile.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the consumption by an infant of beverages produced from capsules in a beverage production machine. Capsule information regarding a plurality of different types of capsules is stored in a server. Further at least one user account including personal information about the infant consuming beverage produced from capsules is stored in said server. A beverage is produced from a capsule and the capsule used therefore by the beverage production machine is identified. The information on the identified capsule is transmitted to the server; such information including at least the date and time the beverage is prepared.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using artwork to develop computer applications in ways that preserve the artwork's appearance and layout, including by importing the artwork and selectively replacing potions with functional components. One embodiment comprises a method for developing an application that involves displaying artwork in a design view area. The method may involve receiving a selection of a component-type for a component to be added and/or receiving a selection of an artwork fragment to be replaced by the component. The method may further involve removing the artwork fragment and inserting the component in its place. Embodiments also facilitate identifying and selecting artwork portions or objects. And, embodiments also provide tools and functions that facilitate the use and management of multiple artwork fragments, for example the use of multiple portions of an artwork to define or be assigned to the different states or parts of a component.

Abstract: Automatic detection and implementation of modifications to an application are described. A new base model of the application is generated using the edited version of the application. This base model is simulated to a selected state, resulting in a new presentation model that includes a tree of multiple objects described by the new base model at the selected state, and a pointer for each node of the tree that points back to the associated node in the new base model. The pointers of each node of the new presentation model are compared to the nodes of the previous presentation model of the application and then replaced with those corresponding nodes in the previous presentation model when the nodes are equivalent. Otherwise, the nodes of the new presentation model are maintained.

Abstract: A development application can be configured to facilitate editing multiple fragments already associated with an interface design simultaneously using a graphic design application, with the fragments arranged in a logical form supported by the graphic design application. The logical form of the artwork fragments as provided to the graphic design application can correspond to the relationship between different elements of the interface design using the respective fragments. Fragments may correspond to different components, parts of components, and part states, for instance. A method can comprise accessing data defining an interface component and comprising a plurality of logically arranged elements of the component. The method can comprise extracting the artwork and arranging the artwork into a form compatible with a graphic design application. The artwork can be edited in a graphic design application and then re-integrated into the data defining the design elements of the interface after editing is complete.

Abstract: A loudspeaker comprises the casing (22) of a portable electronic device, having mounted thereon a sound generating element (21) which may be a transparent cover for a display. The sound generating element (21) is driven to generate sound by a piezoelectric actuator (1) extending along a sector of a circle and coupled at one end (7) to the casing (22) by a first block (24) and at the other end (8) to the edge (26) of the sound generating element (21) by a second block (25). The first block (24) and the second block (25) each have stop surfaces spaced apart from each other and capable of engaging each other to limit the amount of relative movement of the ends (7) and (8) of the actuator (1) to prevent damage to the actuator (1). The sound generating element (21), the first and second blocks (24) and (25) and the actuator (1) form an assembly which may be manufactured for subsequent assembly to the casing (22).

Abstract: A loudspeaker comprises a region devoid of electroacoustic transducers and at least two groups of electroacoustic transducers at the periphery of the region. Each of the groups is configured to produce a different sound field representative of an audio signal and each of the groups comprise a different set of transducers. This allows a more compact loudspeaker to be provided because the transducers can be located around the periphery of a visual display screen. Sound quality is not compromised because groups of transducers forming a subset of the totality of transducers are used for each sound signal, thereby avoiding alias beams.

Abstract: A camera comprises an image sensor arranged to generate an image signal, and a lens arrangement, which focuses an image onto the image sensor, the focus being variable in accordance with a control signal applied thereto. In the case that a piezoelectric actuator experiencing hysteresis is used to drive movement of the lens arrangement to vary the focus of the image, autofocusing is achieved by applying a control signal to the piezoelectric actuator with a value at an extreme of a predetermined range and subsequently changing the control signal monotonically across the predetermined range to determine a position at which the focus quality is at an acceptable level. Thus, this position may be returned to despite the hysteresis.

Abstract: A loudspeaker comprises a sound generating element mounted on a support structure, and two rotary actuators I mounted at opposing edges of the sound generating element. The actuators are operable to drive motion of the sound generating element relative to the support structure including a component of rotation. The loudspeaker produces a greater sound output than if driven at one edge only, and is particularly suitable for use in a portable electronic device such as a mobile telephone, in which case the support structure may be a portion of the casing of the, device and the sound generating element maybe a transparent panel covering a display device.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system is described including an array of electro-acoustic transducers capable of generating steerable beams of sound and additional transducers adapted to reproduce low frequency sound being placed at the perimeter of said array.

Abstract: A housing that protects a ceramic actuator from excessive and damaging displacement comprises a protective structure arranged to limit the motion of the actuator by contacting at least one section of said actuator between fixed and moving terminals of said actuator. A suspension system for a lens holder of a miniature camera actuated by a ceramic actuator comprises four pivotally connected link elements in form of a parallelogram connected between a housing and the lens holder.

Abstract: A camera comprises: a support structure 100; a lens holder 120 holding at least one lens 121; a suspension 130 for mounting said lens holder 120 on the support structure 100 to allow relative movement of the lens holder 120 and the support structure; and an actuator for moving said lens holder 120. The suspension 130 includes two link elements 133, 135 each connected at a first end to the support structure 100 by a pivotal connection and at the other, second end to the lens holder 120 by a pivotal connection, the pivotal connections allowing pivoting of the respective link element 133, 135 around a respective pivot axis, all the pivot axes being parallel, and the extent of the two link elements 133, 135 perpendicular to their respective pivot axes being parallel and of equal length.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprising a continuous piezoelectric element (10) extending alternately back and forth to form a plurality of parallel, straight portions (14) arranged in a stack with intermediate linkage portions (15) at alternate ends the straight portions (14). Each straight portion (14) is constructed and arranged with electrodes (12, 13) to bend, on activation, in the stacking direction in which the straight portions (14) are stacked with opposite curvature in two halves (16, 17) of the straight portion (14) to create displacement between the ends of the straight portion (14) in the stacking direction adding in series through the stack. The continuous nature of the piezoelectric element (10) eases manufacture. Devices with two types of construction are disclosed. Firstly, the continuous piezoelectric element (10) may have a bender construction such as a bimorph bender construction.

Abstract: An audio system for producing a plurality of surround-sound channels in response to an audio input signal, comprising in a single enclosure an amplifier system adapted to receive surround sound input signals and a plurality of electro-acoustic transducers arranged in part as phased array and adapted to emit surround sound based on said surround sound input signals, wherein the enclosure includes at least one left and at least one right electro-acoustic transducer and filters to divert low-frequency content of said input signals for emission through said left and right transducers.