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 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 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.

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: 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. The keypad can have a camera 156 and flash 154 with a light barrier 158. A clear moldprint keypad can be used with graphics 148 on the backside of the keypad. The keypad can be positioned over a series of switches 162 or domes. The keypad 138 can further be recessed below the rim 136 of the housing 134 of the base so that the keypad will not contact a table or desk and be inadvertently activated if the keypad is placed face down. The moldprint keypad can be used to minimize wear of the graphics 148 and can have a specific textured pattern over the flash which can act as a lens to maximize light.

Abstract: An image capture device and related method are described. The image capture device includes one or more touch-detecting surfaces for detecting both a first and a second touch. The touch-detecting surfaces can be a touch screen, a touch pad, or a combination of the two. A processor in communication with the one or more touch detecting surfaces controls the execution of an auto-focus operation in response to the first touch and an image capture operation in response to the second touch.

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: 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 comprising a first housing and a second wherein, the first and second housings have outward surfaces. One of the outward surfaces includes an electronic display and the other of the outward surfaces includes a keyboard or other input device. A hinge couples the two housing elements together. In a collapsed orientation the outward surfaces of the housing elements are exposed and face away from each other. In a fully deployed orientation, the display and the keyboard are in a side by side orientation. In a partially deployed orientation, the housing containing the display surface is angled away from the housing containing the keypad and the housing containing the keypad acts as a base to hold the angled display open for viewing purposes.

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: One or more chambers of a multi-chamber vacuum processing apparatus are provided with a high gas flow conductance path to an exhaust volume of the apparatus that is maintained at high vacuum with a high vacuum pump. Separate pumps for the one or more chambers are made unnecessary by providing such chambers with a protective deposition shield or shield set that is configured to substantially protect walls of the chamber and the gas flow conductance path from deposition and to partially impede the gas flow from the chamber through the gas flow conductance path to the exhaust volume so that the chamber can be operated at a higher pressure than that of the exhaust volume and the chambers can be operated at different pressures and without cross-contamination. Preferably, a nested set of chamber shields is used. A controller is programmed to control the processing of wafers in the chambers by controlling the supply of process gas into the chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a wafer handling system that manipulates semiconductor wafers. The invention includes an end effector having a vacuum chuck, an internal vacuum plenum, and flow diverters positioned within the vacuum plenum that define vacuum distribution channels coupled in fluid communication with vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The invention also includes a vacuum chuck having flow diverters positioned in one or more internal vacuum plenums that are in fluid communication with the vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The flow diverters adjust the vacuum pressure supplied to the vacuum ports such that, as vacuum ports are occluded by the wafer, the vacuum pressure is preferentially applied to unblocked vacuum ports for increasing the attractive force applied to unengaged portions of the wafer. The apparatus of the present invention has particularly utility for securing thin semiconductor wafers with a significant warpage.

Abstract: One or more chambers of a multi-chamber vacuum processing apparatus are provided with a high gas flow conductance path to an exhaust volume of the apparatus that is maintained at high vacuum with a high vacuum pump. Separate pumps for the one or more chambers are made unnecessary by providing such chambers with a protective deposition shield or shield set that is configured to substantially protect walls of the chamber and the gas flow conductance path from deposition and to partially impede the gas flow from the chamber through the gas flow conductance path to the exhaust volume so that the chamber can be operated at a higher pressure than that of the exhaust volume and the chambers can be operated at different pressures and without cross-contamination. Preferably, a nested set of chamber shields is used. A controller is programmed to control the processing of wafers in the chambers by controlling the supply of process gas into the chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a wafer handling system that manipulates semiconductor wafers. The invention includes an end effector having a vacuum chuck, an internal vacuum plenum, and flow diverters positioned within the vacuum plenum that define vacuum distribution channels coupled in fluid communication with vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The invention also includes a vacuum chuck having flow diverters positioned in one or more internal vacuum plenums that are in fluid communication with the vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The flow diverters adjust the vacuum pressure supplied to the vacuum ports such that, as vacuum ports are occluded by the wafer, the vacuum pressure is preferentially applied to unblocked vacuum ports for increasing the attractive force applied to unengaged portions of the wafer. The apparatus of the present invention has particularly utility for securing thin semiconductor wafers with a significant warpage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a wafer handling system that manipulates semiconductor wafers. The present invention includes an end effector having a vacuum chuck, an internal vacuum plenum, and a plurality of flow diverters positioned within the vacuum plenum to define vacuum distribution channels in fluid communication with respective vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The present invention also includes a vacuum chuck having flow diverters positioned in one or more internal vacuum plenums which are in fluid communication with the vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The flow diverters of the vacuum chucks adjust the vacuum pressure supplied to the vacuum ports such that, as vacuum ports are occluded by the wafer, the vacuum pressure is preferentially applied to unblocked vacuum ports for increasing the attractive force applied to unengaged portions of the wafer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a wafer handling system that manipulates semiconductor wafers. The present invention includes an end effector having a vacuum chuck, an internal vacuum plenum, and a plurality of flow diverters positioned within the vacuum plenum to define vacuum distribution channels in fluid communication with respective vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The present invention also includes a vacuum chuck having flow diverters positioned in one or more internal vacuum plenums which are in fluid communication with the vacuum ports of the vacuum chuck. The flow diverters of the vacuum chucks adjust the vacuum pressure supplied to the vacuum ports such that, as vacuum ports are occluded by the wafer, the vacuum pressure is preferentially applied to unblocked vacuum ports for increasing the attractive force applied to unengaged portions of the wafer.