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 method on an electronic device is described. A touch screen display of the electronic device is actively controlled in a higher-power mode of operation. The higher-power mode is discontinued to enter a lower-power mode of operation. In the lower-power mode: a first control signal is provided to the touch screen display and a first image is displayed on a first area of the touch screen display; occurrence of a first touch input that corresponds to the first area is determined and in response thereto, a second control signal is provided to the touch screen display and each action icon of a set of action icon is displayed on the touch screen display; occurrence of a second touch input that corresponds to an action icon is determined and in response thereto, an action indication for the current display session is selected and a corresponding selected action is performed.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, and a corresponding magnetic field producing unit, such as a magnet, can be both positioned near a hinge of a hinged device, such that the magnet, in one part of the device, rotates around the Hall effect sensor, in another part of the device. Three positions can, thereby be detected: (1) when the device is closed and the magnet is “above” the sensor, (2) when the device is partially open and the magnet is “to the side” of the sensor, and (3) when the device is fully open and the magnet is “below” the sensor. The hinged device can have the hinge offset slightly to enable the magnet to rotate around the sensor as described. Alternatively, the locations of the magnet and sensor can be reversed.

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: One disclosed method of operation includes obtaining audio data from a plurality of mobile devices, comparing the audio data to at least one stored audio signature, and grouping mobile devices that have audio data containing the at least one stored audio signature. The method may further include sending an invitation message to the grouped mobile devices to enable each mobile device to associate itself to the group. The method may also include providing content to the grouped mobile devices, where the content is related to the at least one stored audio signature. Various applications exist for the grouping of mobile devices based on audio signature, one such application being related to identifying social media groups or communities, or other content, which may be of interest to mobile device users.

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 on an electronic device is described. A touch screen display of the electronic device is actively controlled in a higher-power mode of operation. Actively controlling the touch screen display in the higher-power mode is discontinued to enter a lower-power mode of operation. In the lower-power mode: at least one first control signal is provided to the touch screen display; in response to the at least one first control signal, a first portion of the touch screen display is activated and a first portion of a graphic is displayed on a first area of the touch screen display within the first portion; occurrence of a first user interaction that corresponds to the first portion of the graphic during the display of the first portion of the graphic is determined; and user interaction data is stored for the first portion of the graphic based on the first user interaction determination.

Abstract: A method on an electronic device is described. A set of graphics and a set of stored keywords are received in a higher-power mode of operation, each graphic corresponding to one or more of the stored keywords. The higher-power mode of operation is discontinued to enter a lower-power mode of operation. In the lower-power mode: audio signals are listened for; it is detected whether any keywords of the set of stored keywords are present in the audio signals; detected keywords present in the audio signals are stored; a graphic is selected from the set of graphics based on a comparison between the set of detected keywords and the set of stored keywords; a first portion of the selected graphic is displayed, in response to the at least one control signal, on a first area of a touch screen display that is within a first portion of the touch screen display.

Abstract: A method on an electronic device is described. A touch screen display of the electronic device is actively controlled in a higher-power mode of operation. The higher-power mode is discontinued to enter a lower-power mode of operation. In the lower-power mode: a first control signal is provided to the touch screen display and a first image is displayed on a first area of the touch screen display; occurrence of a first touch input that corresponds to the first area is determined and in response thereto, a second control signal is provided to the touch screen display and each action icon of a set of action icon is displayed on the touch screen display; occurrence of a second touch input that corresponds to an action icon is determined and in response thereto, an action indication for the current display session is selected and a corresponding selected action is performed.

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 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 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 housing comprises a first housing component with a plurality of dovetail protrusions, at least one dovetail protrusion of the plurality having a first pin hole through a thickness of the protrusion, and a second housing component with a plurality of matching dovetail cuts, at least one dovetail cut containing a second pin hole. The housing further has a plurality of pins. The first housing component is mated in a linear direction with the second housing component with each dovetail protrusion aligned to each dovetail cut. The first housing component and second housing component are pressed together to align the first pin holes axially with the second pin holes, and the pins are inserted axially through each axially aligned first pinhole and second pin hole.

Abstract: An electronic device for manipulating graphical user interface elements has a touch-sensitive display (touch screen) and a touch-sensitive surface (touch pad). The electronic device displays at least two graphical user elements (data icon, program icon, application window, digital photograph, etc.) on the touch screen. A user touches a first element using either the touch screen or the touch pad. This touch user interaction selects the first element and “anchors” it while a user's slide interaction on the other touch-sensitive surface manipulates the second, non-selected element. The slide contact can be interpreted by the electronic device as a drag, push, rotate, or pixel-based move (e.g., zoom in/out) relative to the first element. Various features of the slide movement, such as the speed, the length, the pressure, the direction, and/or the pattern may affect the manipulation of the second element.

Abstract: An improved mobile electronic device 100 with a unique thin and cost-effective form and design can have a large display 170 in the outward surface of a flip 102, a large full qwerty keypad 138 in the outward surface of a base 108, and a touchpad 186 in the inward surface of the flip. This arrangement provides useful zooming functionality and magnification techniques, as well as the ability to navigate the display using the touchpad while assuring that the full view of the display is not blocked. This arrangement also accommodates changing the mode of the touchpad from a navigation mode to a zoom mode and vice versa.

Abstract: An electronic handset device includes a panel pivotally coupled to a base housing portion wherein the panel is pivotal between closed and opened configurations relative to the base housing portion. A movable housing portion is slidably coupled to the panel and is pivotal in unison with the panel. A user interface on the panel is concealed by the movable housing portion when the movable housing portion slides to a closed configuration relative to the panel, and the user interface is exposed when the movable housing portion slides to an opened configuration relative to the panel.

Abstract: An improved mobile electronic device 100 with a unique thin and cost-effective form and design can have a large display 170 and a large full qwerty keypad 138 on the outward surface and can have a capacitive touchpad 186 on the inward surface of the flip 102 or slide that facilitates navigation on the display and can detect and recognize the flip or slide position within the mobile electronic device. A pattern of capacitive traces or wires 202 can be laid out within the layers of a printed circuit board to detect a user's finger gestures without enlarging or adversely impacting the size of the mobile electronic device. The attractive mobile electronic device can also provide for the use of a speaker port 196 underneath a removable battery door 194 and a way to seal a port under a battery door for audio enhancement.

Abstract: A mobile phone or other electronic device is provided with an improved friction hinge with a radial range of motion greater than 180 degrees and with detents at both ends of travel. The friction hinge can include an asymmetrical cam in conjunction with a single tab on a follower. Advantageously, the electronic device with the improved friction hinge can allows a full 360 degree range of motion with any number of detents at any radial position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a torsion spring mechanism that supports and guides a flexible printed circuit for use in an electronic device with a sliding motion. The spring mechanism includes a first segment and a second segment that are joined by a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a predetermined spring constant and is capable of exerting a force. When the force of the torsion spring is unreleased the sliding housing is closed and when the force of the torsion spring is released the sliding housing is opened. An electrically conducting flexible printed circuit is at least partially supported by both the first and second segments while freely traversing the torsion spring length with an unsupported portion enough to provide adequate movement of the flexible printed circuit about the torsion spring length. In this way, a spring compartment within the device being approximately 5 millimeters in depth may support and protect the unidirectional torsion spring mechanism and flexible printed circuit.

Abstract: An improved mobile electronic device 100 with a unique thin and cost-effective form and design can have a large display 170 in the outward surface of a flip 102, a large full qwerty keypad 138 in the outward surface of a base 108, and a touchpad 186 in the inward surface of the flip. Advantageously, the mobile electronic device is movable to seven different orientations for providing different modes in partially open positions. The mobile electronic device can have a single accelerometer 206, such as located in the flip, or two accelerometers 130 with one accelerometer in the flip and one in the base, to accurately detect the orientation, flip angle, and mode of the mobile electronic device.