Abstract: A force-sensitive display assembly provides a user input that is reliable, consumes a relatively small amount of power, and protects against water, dust, and other environmental ingress. The force-sensitive display may be implemented using a force-sensing substrate, such as a force-sensing resistor (FSR). The FSR provides a change in output resistance in response to a change in pressure applied to the FSR. In an embodiment, the FSR enables detection of a tap input on a display.

Abstract: An electronic assembly that includes a substrate having an aperture which extends through the substrate. The electronic assembly further includes a gull wing electronic package that includes leads which are solder mounted to the substrate such that the gull wing electronic package is within the aperture in the substrate, wherein the aperture is concentric with an exterior of the gull wing electronic package.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing zero-power mode are described herein. A battery-powered apparatus includes a non-removable battery for powering processing circuitry of the apparatus, charging pins to connect the apparatus to a charging source, and control circuitry that is separate from the processing circuitry. The control circuitry can perform operations that detect the charging pins are shorted and activate a timer for a predetermined wait interval. The control circuitry can also, upon expiration of the timer, disconnect the battery from powering the processing circuitry to activate a device zero-power mode. Upon detecting the charging pins are no longer shorted, the control circuitry can resume power to the processing circuitry. The non-removable battery is only powering the control circuitry while the battery is disconnected from the processing circuitry.

Abstract: A smart device for a household consumable includes at least one load sensor configured to measure a current load of a household consumable being supported by the smart device and a processor configured to compare the current load to a previously measured load to determine whether to increment one of a plurality of consumption event counters. The processor is configured to periodically transmit data located in the plurality of consumption event counters.

Abstract: An electronic assembly that includes a substrate having an aperture which extends through the substrate. The electronic assembly further includes a gull wing electronic package that includes leads which are solder mounted to the substrate such that the gull wing electronic package is within the aperture in the substrate, wherein the aperture is concentric with an exterior of the gull wing electronic package.

Abstract: A force-sensitive display assembly provides a user input that is reliable, consumes a relatively small amount of power, and protects against water, dust, and other environmental ingress. The force-sensitive display may be implemented using a force-sensing substrate, such as a force-sensing resistor (FSR). The FSR provides a change in output resistance in response to a change in pressure applied to the FSR. In an embodiment, the FSR enables detection of a tap input on a display.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing zero-power mode are described herein. A battery-powered apparatus includes a non-removable battery for powering processing circuitry of the apparatus, charging pins to connect the apparatus to a charging source, and control circuitry that is separate from the processing circuitry. The control circuitry can perform operations that detect the charging pins are shorted and activate a timer for a predetermined wait interval. The control circuitry can also, upon expiration of the timer, disconnect the battery from powering the processing circuitry to activate a device zero-power mode. Upon detecting the charging pins are no longer shorted, the control circuitry can resume power to the processing circuitry. The non-removable battery is only powering the control circuitry while the battery is disconnected from the processing circuitry.

Abstract: A user interacting with an electronic device can receive suggestions for applications or services that can help the user with a specific task. The user might enter information that can be processed semantically to determine one or more actions, objects, or other types of information useful in discovering related applications or services, which might be local or remote to that device. One or more of these discovered applications or services is selected to suggest to the user based on any number of criteria, such as user behavior, preferences, location, time of day, etc. Using such an approach, a device can utilize a semantic process to attempt to infer an action or intent relating to a simple or complex task, and can discover and suggest applications or services that can assist with that task even where the user is unaware of, or not looking for, such an application or service.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for a multiple contact probe. The multiple contact probe may include a first contact interface and a second contact interface. The first contact interface may be electrically isolated from the second contact interface. A plunger assembly may be slidably engaged between the first contact interface and the second contact interface. The plunger assembly may be slidable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration along a longitudinal direction of the plunger assembly. The plunger assembly may include a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. The first electrical contact may be in electrical contact with the first contact interface and the second electrical contact may be in electrical contact with the second contact interface. A bias element may be engaged with the plunger assembly, for instance, the bias element may be configured to bias the plunger assembly to the extended configuration.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are described for allowing rules that are applied to one device to be applied to another device based on a user's interaction with only the devices. A rule-copy action, such as simultaneous shaking of the two devices, proximity of the two devices to each other, and/or the relative positions of the two devices, may be detected at one of the devices (e.g., a first device to which the user desires the rules or a copy of the rules to apply). In response to the rule-copy action, another device (e.g., a second device configured to operate according to the at least one rule) may be identified. The at least one rule may then be caused to be applied to the first device in response to detection of the rule-copy action, so as to configure the first device to operate according to the at least one rule.

Abstract: The computational resources needed to perform processes such as image recognition can be reduced by determining appropriate frames of image information to use for the processing. In some embodiments, infrared imaging can be used to determine when a person is looking substantially towards a device, such that an image frame captured at that time will likely be adequate for facial recognition. In other embodiments, sound triangulation or motion sensing can be used to assist in determining which captured image frames to discard and which to select for processing based on any of a number of factors indicative of a proper frame for processing.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are described for allowing rules that are applied to one device to be applied to another device based on a user's interaction with only the devices. A rule-copy action, such as simultaneous shaking of the two devices, proximity of the two devices to each other, and/or the relative positions of the two devices, may be detected at one of the devices (e.g., a first device to which the user desires the rules or a copy of the rules to apply). In response to the rule-copy action, another device (e.g., a second device configured to operate according to the at least one rule) may be identified. The at least one rule may then be caused to be applied to the first device in response to detection of the rule-copy action, so as to configure the first device to operate according to the at least one rule.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are described for allowing rules that are applied to one device to be applied to another device based on a user's interaction with only the devices. A rule-copy action, such as simultaneous shaking of the two devices, proximity of the two devices to each other, and/or the relative positions of the two devices, may be detected at one of the devices (e.g., a first device to which the user desires the rules or a copy of the rules to apply). In response to the rule-copy action, another device (e.g., a second device configured to operate according to the at least one rule) may be identified. The at least one rule may then be caused to be applied to the first device in response to detection of the rule-copy action, so as to configure the first device to operate according to the at least one rule.

Abstract: Electronic devices can identify other nearby devices, and determine the relative positions of those devices, using a combination of techniques. Various devices are able to project one or more instances of a unique identifier, such as a barcode, which can be imaged by other devices. The devices also can communicate position and/or orientation information over a wireless sideband channel. By combining the information relating to the projected identifier with information collected over the sideband channel, devices can automatically determine the location of various devices and associate a user or device identity with those devices. A user of a device then can view relative locations of those devices on a display element, including information about the user of the device. Further, the relative position determinations can enable a user to perform certain functions with respect to another device based at least in part upon the position and/or identity of that device.

Abstract: A portable or mobile computing device, such as a smart phone or portable media player, can be used to control one or more electronic devices over an appropriate wireless channel. In one example, a user can utilize a smart phone as a mouse for a notebook computer or Internet-capable television. The user can move the portable device on a surface and press appropriate selectable elements on the portable device, as if the user is using a wireless mouse. The portable device can send the commands over the wireless channel to the electronic device, which can provide inputs and/or control signals to the electronic device. In some embodiments, the user can take advantage of the processing capability of the portable device to work directly with elements such as a wireless keyboard and wireless monitor, without the need for a notebook or other such computing element therebetween.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are described for allowing rules that are applied to one device to be applied to another device based on a user's interaction with only the devices. A rule-copy action, such as simultaneous shaking of the two devices, proximity of the two devices to each other, and/or the relative positions of the two devices, may be detected at one of the devices (e.g., a first device to which the user desires the rules or a copy of the rules to apply). In response to the rule-copy action, another device (e.g., a second device configured to operate according to the at least one rule) may be identified. The at least one rule may then be caused to be applied to the first device in response to detection of the rule-copy action, so as to configure the first device to operate according to the at least one rule.

Abstract: An electronic device including two or more display elements can provide enhanced functionality with improved rates of power consumption. A user can cause information that does not change rapidly to be provided or moved to a relatively static display element, such as an electronic ink display, which enables that information to be displayed for a period of time with little additional power consumption. Similarly, content (e.g., video) that changes rapidly can be displayed on a relatively dynamic display element, such as and LCD or OLED display. Each display can be touch sensitive, such that a user can move content between the displays by pressing on, or making a motion in contact with, at least one of the displays. Various modes can be activated which cause certain types of content to be displayed on the dynamic and/or static display element.

Abstract: The computational resources needed to perform processes such as image recognition can be reduced by determining appropriate frames of image information to use for the processing. In some embodiments, infrared imaging can be used to determine when a person is looking substantially towards a device, such that an image frame captured at that time will likely be adequate for facial recognition. In other embodiments, sound triangulation or motion sensing can be used to assist in determining which captured image frames to discard and which to select for processing based on any of a number of factors indicative of a proper frame for processing.

Abstract: The computational resources needed to perform processes such as image recognition can be reduced by determining appropriate frames of image information to use for the processing. In some embodiments, infrared imaging can be used to determine when a person is looking substantially towards a device, such that an image frame captured at that time will likely be adequate for facial recognition. In other embodiments, sound triangulation or motion sensing can be used to assist in determining which captured image frames to discard and which to select for processing based on any of a number of factors indicative of a proper frame for processing.

Abstract: The computational resources needed to perform processes such as image recognition can be reduced by determining appropriate frames of image information to use for the processing. In some embodiments, infrared imaging can be used to determine when a person is looking substantially towards a device, such that an image frame captured at that time will likely be adequate for facial recognition. In other embodiments, sound triangulation or motion sensing can be used to assist in determining which captured image frames to discard and which to select for processing based on any of a number of factors indicative of a proper frame for processing.