Abstract: A device interconnection system uses an indexed carrier to locate an array of contacts on an array of solder pads on a printed circuit board. In an embodiment, the PCB is indexed to a device housing in the same manner that it is indexed to the carrier, allowing the array of contacts to match and protrude through an array of holes in the housing. In a further embodiment, the housing is substantially metallic, and the array of holes in the housing are located in an insulating plate formed in the housing.

Abstract: A modular portable device system includes two devices configured to be attached to each other to form a more powerful combined device. The combined device is still generally sized to fit a user's pocket, purse, briefcase, backpack etc. The first device is a stand-alone capable high function device configured to mate with and connect to an add-on device to gain specific supplemental functionality. The base device includes a circular camera protrusion sized to fit in a corresponding camera opening in the add-on device, as well as one or more alignment sockets. In this way, when the camera protrusion is located in the camera opening and the one or more alignment sockets are mated to a corresponding one or alignment pins on the add-on device, the two devices are electrically connected and physically aligned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a hardware feature of an electronic device includes the electronic device detecting 302 a predetermined motion of the electronic device and measuring 304, in response to detecting the predetermined motion, an orientation of the electronic device. The method further includes the electronic device activating 306, based on the orientation, a hardware feature from a plurality of selectable hardware features of the electronic device, wherein each selectable hardware feature can be activated based on different orientations of the electronic device.

Abstract: A device housing assembly has a display module including a front pane and a rear pane, the rear pane having a section longer than the front pane in at least one direction. The housing assembly further has a transparent lens and plastic housing, the transparent lens having a front and rear surface; and an adhesive between the front transparent pane and the rear surface of the transparent lens. The housing includes a support structure molded to the rear surface of the transparent lens positioned proximally to the longer section of the rear pane and adjacent to the front pane of glass, the structure providing mechanical support for the rear pane.

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: 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 portable device system and method allow extended user input. The system includes a first device and a second device, the devices being attachable via a plurality of magnetic attachment points (magnets or magnetically responsive attachment points) on each. In a first configuration, the devices are held together by all of the magnetic attachment points, and in this configuration an extended user input facility on the second device is not user-accessible. In a second configuration, the devices are connected by only a subset of the magnetic attachment points, and in this second configuration the extended user input facility is user-accessible. A Hall Effect sensor on the first device and sensor magnet on the second device are positioned to overlap when the devices are connected in the second configuration in order to alert the first device that the second device has been attached in the extended input mode.

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: A system and method of tuning an antenna of a portable device in a modular device system using a device ID associated with second device to tune one or more antennas of a first device. In an embodiment, the first device resolves the device ID of the second device to a set of tuning parameters which improve tuning of the antenna of the first device in the presence of the second device. In a further embodiment, the first device may also tune an antenna of the second device to improve its performance in the presence of the first device.

Abstract: A modular device system includes a base device and additional functionality modules that are separately dockable to the base device to form a single device. The base device includes one or more speakers and one or more microphones. For each device, its multiple speakers and microphones are driven independently of the other device when the devices are not docked together. However, when one of the additional functionality modules is docked to the base device, a predetermined optimized audio configuration specific to the particular additional functionality module is set for the combined device.

Abstract: A high-efficiency mounting system is provided for attaching the lens and display of a portable electronic device. The described mounting system uses a three-layer adhesive system to provide a product having minimal borders outside of the display area while also providing the ability to remove the display assembly without damaging it, allowing reworkability of one of the most expensive parts of the 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: A modular portable device system and method allow extended user input. The system includes a first device and a second device, the devices being attachable via a plurality of magnetic attachment points (magnets or magnetically responsive attachment points) on each. In a first configuration, the devices are held together by all of the magnetic attachment points, and in this configuration an extended user input facility on the second device is not user-accessible. In a second configuration, the devices are connected by only a subset of the magnetic attachment points, and in this second configuration the extended user input facility is user-accessible. A Hall Effect sensor on the first device and sensor magnet on the second device are positioned to overlap when the devices are connected in the second configuration in order to alert the first device that the second device has been attached in the extended input mode.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a modular portable device includes a first module acting as a traditional high-function phone or “smartphone” and a second module that adds enhanced functionality to the first module. When the modules are separated, they may operate independently of each other. In an embodiment, when the first module and the second module are docked together and a voice call is placed with the first module, the earpiece speaker, microphone, and cellular connection of the first module are utilized. During the voice call, a Bluetooth connection between the first module and the second module may be established in anticipation of an undocking event to eliminate a delay in audio transfer from the first module to the second module.

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: A modular portable device interconnection system includes a magnetic attachment point on a first portable device and a corresponding magnetically responsive attachment point on a second portable device. The magnetic attachment point includes a plated annular magnet, an electrically conductive pin extending through the magnet and an electrically insulating layer insulating the electrically conductive pin from the magnet. The magnetically responsive attachment point includes a ferromagnetic annulus, plated or otherwise conductive, configured and located to mate with the annular magnet when the first and second devices are placed together. In this configuration, the electrically conductive pin and electrically insulating layer extend through both the magnet and the ferromagnetic annulus, forming a shielded electrically conductive pathway between the devices. This pathway is suitable for RF signals but may also be used for other AC signals or DC signals.

Abstract: A battery packaging technique for a portable communications device encloses two or more RF transmission lines under or within a metallic side seal of a battery pack of the device. The RF transmission lines are controlled in this manner during assembly and are well-constrained across the width and thickness of the pack, but at the same time are free to slide along the length of the battery to allow for easy assembly to the device. The metallic side seal may comprise a metal foil, and in an embodiment the RF transmission lines are color-coded so that they can be accurately assembled to the finished device.

Abstract: A system and method for thermal mitigation in a portable electronic device provide an adaptive processor temperature threshold based on the presence or absence of a second device connected to the portable electronic device. In an embodiment, the processor is a multi-core processor, and one or more cores are dedicated to the control of the second device when the second device is connected to the portable electronic 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 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.