Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device is provided, in which the device detects contact with a user's finger, scans its fingerprint and sets the orientation of the electronic device based on the fingerprint (e.g., whether is from the user's left hand or right hand) and on an angle of the fingerprint with respect to the device. This allows the electronic device to determine its orientation with respect to the user rather than with respect to the environment.

Abstract: An electronic device has an imaging device (such as a still camera or video camera) and is capable of displaying a viewfinder on one side or multiple sides of the device. The device may determine the side or sides on which to display the viewfinder based on factors such as user input, object proximity, grip detection, accelerometer data, and gyroscope data. In one implementation, the device has multiple imaging devices and can select which imaging device to use to capture an image based on the above factors as well.

Abstract: An electronic device has a combination touch sensor (such as a fingerprint reader) and mechanical switch (actuated, for example, by a button press). The electronic device carries out various functions according to whether the touch sensor is being touched, the mechanical switch is being actuated, the electronic device is face up or face down, the state of the electronic device (awake or in sleep mode), and the function that the electronic device is currently carrying out.

Abstract: A modular lighting control system is disclosed for lighting control, modular home electronic devices and home networking of modular electronic devices. The system includes a switch module having one or more magnets, a wireless power transmission coil, an infrared light transmitter and an infrared light receiver and a user interface module having one or more wireless power reception coils, one or more magnets, an infrared light emitter and an infrared light detector. The user interface module can be removably attached to and powered by one or more of the switch modules and communicate with one or more of the switch modules without any mechanical attachment or electrical connection on either the switch module or the user interface module.

Abstract: A method includes receiving sound by a first audio unit installed in an electrical outlet, routing audio data corresponding to the received sound from the first audio unit to a second audio unit installed in a second electrical outlet, and sending the audio data to a mobile device using a wireless link between the mobile device and the second audio unit. Routing the audio data may include receiving the audio data from the first audio unit by a third audio unit and routing the audio data to the second audio unit by the third audio unit serving as a router. The data may be routed using table driven routing, on-demand routing or some other appropriate routing protocol. The method may also include performing voice recognition on the audio data and detecting a command word and routing command word data to the second audio unit.

Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device is provided, in which the device detects contact with a user's finger, scans its fingerprint and sets the orientation of the electronic device based on the fingerprint (e.g., whether is from the user's left hand or right hand) and on an angle of the fingerprint with respect to the device. This allows the electronic device to determine its orientation with respect to the user rather than with respect to the environment.

Abstract: An electronic device has a combination touch sensor (such as a fingerprint reader) and mechanical switch (actuated, for example, by a button press). The electronic device carries out various functions according to whether the touch sensor is being touched, the mechanical switch is being actuated, the electronic device is face up or face down, the state of the electronic device (awake or in sleep mode), and the function that the electronic device is currently carrying out.

Abstract: An electronic device has an imaging device (such as a still camera or video camera) and is capable of displaying a viewfinder on one side or multiple sides of the device. The device may determine the side or sides on which to display the viewfinder based on factors such as user input, object proximity, grip detection, accelerometer data, and gyroscope data. In one implementation, the device has multiple imaging devices and can select which imaging device to use to capture an image based on the above factors as well.

Abstract: A system and method of remote imaging allows a camera module in a modular portable electronic device environment to be removed from a base module without halting an image capture session being displayed on a display of the base module. In an embodiment, image data may be captured by both the camera module and the base module. A hardwired connection connects the devices when the camera module is docked on the base module, while a wireless connection maintains the connection between the devices when the camera module is undocked from the base module during an image capture session.

Abstract: A method includes receiving sound by a first audio unit installed in an electrical outlet, routing audio data corresponding to the received sound from the first audio unit to a second audio unit installed in a second electrical outlet, and sending the audio data to a mobile device using a wireless link between the mobile device and the second audio unit. Routing the audio data may include receiving the audio data from the first audio unit by a third audio unit and routing the audio data to the second audio unit by the third audio unit serving as a router. The data may be routed using table driven routing, on-demand routing or some other appropriate routing protocol. The method may also include performing voice recognition on the audio data and detecting a command word and routing command word data to the second audio unit.

Abstract: A system and method of circuit board and device construction provide an RF testing connection for thin devices that lack space between their printed circuit board (PCB) and their housing for a test connection. In particular, in designs wherein the device PCB lies against the rear housing of the device, the use of a dedicated test connector on the back of the main PCB is problematic, but a circuit configuration is provided such that a removable test connection can be used without affecting the operation of the device or the configuration of the PCB itself.

Abstract: An enhanced portable communication device includes a one-piece metal back plate with integral antennas. The one-piece metal back plate includes four integral antennas in an embodiment, forming an antenna pair at each end of the device. A printed circuit board (PCB) of the device is configured to drive one or more of the antennas capacitivly or, in an embodiment, via a direct feed.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a modular device system includes a base device configured to accept multiple modules at once. The system further includes thin modules designed to stack upon one another on the base device to provide extended functionality. In an embodiment, an alignment mechanism is provided to allow multiple modules to be easily stacked such that their stacking also provides convenient electrical interconnection between the modules and the base device.

Abstract: A more efficient component shielding system is provided for a portable electronic device. The system includes a metal shield covering multiple electronic components on the device PCB, including two or more electronic components requiring shielding. The metal shield includes a top portion and one or more descending side walls encompassing the periphery of the metal shield except at one or more edges where the metal shield contacts the housing. In addition, one or more internal walls attached to the shield top portion form internal walls separating the two or more electronic components requiring shielding from one another. In an embodiment, a plurality of spring clips soldered to the PCB are used to hold the side walls and internal walls to the PCB.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a modular device system includes a base device configured to accept multiple modules at once. The system further includes thin modules designed to stack upon one another on the base device to provide extended functionality. In an embodiment, an alignment mechanism is provided to allow multiple modules to be easily stacked such that their stacking also provides convenient electrical interconnection between the modules and the base device.

Abstract: A display protection system for use in a portable electronic device includes first and second lenses overlaying the device display. The first lens includes an aperture over a lens sensor mounted in the device, whereas the second lens includes an opaque region in that same area. In this way, the lens sensor may detect the presence or absence of the secondary lens and adjust touch sensor behavior accordingly.

Abstract: A transparent lens and differing plastic material housing is provided that includes a transparent lens including a front surface, a rear surface, and a perimeter edge, the perimeter edge including a flange, a plastic housing affixed to the perimeter edge flange having a different material than the transparent lens, a portion that is tangent to the front surface of the transparent lens; and a portion that is tangent to the rear surface of the transparent lens.

Abstract: A system and method of networking in a portable device in a modular device environment detects connection of a second device to the portable device, and configures the second device to form a parallel network connection with the portable device. In an embodiment, the second device is configured to form a direct WiFi connection to the portable device when the devices are separated.

Abstract: A method of making a device housing involves providing a transparent lens with a front surface and a rear surface, and a stepped flange along at least a portion of the lens perimeter. The method includes injecting plastic onto the transparent lens perimeter, including the stepped flange, the plastic forming a plastic feature that has a front surface that is tangent to the front surface of the transparent lens, a rear surface that is tangent to the rear surface of the transparent lens, and that extends outward from the sides of the transparent lens away from a device width center line. The plastic feature is molded to the rear surface of the transparent lens at at least one of two ends of the device housing, and the plastic encapsulates a stepped middle surface of the transparent lens flange. A device housing that is made by this method is also included.

Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device is provided, in which the device detects contact with a user's finger, scans its fingerprint and sets the orientation of the electronic device based on the fingerprint (e.g., whether is from the user's left hand or right hand) and on an angle of the fingerprint with respect to the device. This allows the electronic device to determine its orientation with respect to the user rather than with respect to the environment.