Abstract: A printed circuit board with an acoustic channel for a microphone and a portable electronic device having such a printed circuit board are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a microphone assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a board body having at least one signal trace, the printed circuit board defining an acoustic channel within the board body which extends between a microphone aperture in the board body and a plurality of inlet openings in the board body.

Abstract: A communication device and method for adapting to audio accessories are provided. The communication device includes a memory; a first microphone, a connector for receiving data from an accessory device having a second microphone, and a processor interconnected with the memory, the microphone and the connector. The processor is configured to receive audio input and, when the audio input originated at the second microphone, to automatically apply equalization settings corresponding to the second microphone.

Abstract: A communication device and method for adapting to audio accessories are provided. The communication device includes a memory; a first microphone, a connector for receiving data from an accessory device having a second microphone, and a processor interconnected with the memory, the microphone and the connector. The processor is configured to receive audio input and, when the audio input originated at the second microphone, to automatically apply equalization settings corresponding to the second microphone.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of determining microphone polarity in a headset. By being able to detect the polarity of the microphone within the headset, a portable electronic device may be compatible with any headset and is not limited to use with a specific headset. By applying a detection signal over one of lines within a headset cable, a return signal may be sensed on one of the other lines to determine which of the lines is the ground line and which line is the microphone line.

Abstract: A circuit, device and method for controlling an output signal of an amplifier are provided. The output signal may be controlled through a first stage located before a digital to analog converter and/or a second stage located after it. The first stage boosts the digital signal to match with the full signal range of the converter. For the second stage, the circuit comprises: a first resistor coupled to an output of the amplifier in series, the first resistor having a resistance value Rs; a second resistor coupled to the first resistor in series, the second resistor having a resistance value Rp; and an output terminal for a transducer connected to the electronic device, the output terminal connected in parallel to the second resistor. In the circuit, the resistance values Rs and Rp are related by an inversely proportional relationship.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a system for controlling an electronic device including an audio accessory coupled to the electronic device. The audio accessory has at least one speaker adapted to provide audio output and a plurality of resistive switches. The electronic device has a bias voltage source adapted to provide power to the resistive switches via a bias resistor and a ground connection, and a measurement module. The measurement module is adapted to monitor a bias point to determine which of the at least one switch has been engaged based on effect of the resistive switches on the ground offset voltage after compensating for a ground offset voltage caused by the audio output.

Abstract: A mobile device includes at least one speaker and an audio subsystem for providing an audio signal to the at least one speaker for playback by the at least one speaker. The audio subsystem operates by detecting a distance to a user of the mobile device using a proximity sensor and controlling volume output of the at least one speaker based on the distance to the user of the mobile device and the operational status of the proximity sensor. If it is determined that the proximity sensor is functional, the audio subsystem applies a gain factor to the audio signal that varies based on the distance to the user or limits the maximum allowable speaker output based on the distance. A high or low gain setting may be applied for when the user is far away or in close proximity to the mobile device.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having an audio jack is provided. The device comprises: a processor provided in a housing; a display screen; a jack provided in the housing, the jack being sized for receiving a plug of an audio accessory of the plurality of audio accessories; electrical connectors provided in the jack for enabling communication between the audio accessory and the processor, each of the electrical connectors for contacting a corresponding electrical connector of the plug; and a switching circuit in communication with the processor and two of the electrical connectors. For the device, upon detection of insertion of the plug into the jack, the processor is adapted to generate a prompt on the display screen to allow selection of a pin-out configuration for the audio accessory from different pin-out options for the audio accessory. A method of configuring audio jacks for an electronic device is also provided.

Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a flexible display, a rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB) arrangement, an electrically conductive memory fabric, and a controller. The rigid-flex PCB arrangement is connected to the flexible display, and has a honeycomb configuration. The electrically conductive memory fabric is connected to the flexible display and the rigid-flex PCB arrangement. The controller is configured to, by selectively controlling supply of electrical current to the electrically conductive memory fabric, control whether the electrically conductive memory fabric (i) straightens and resists flexing of the flexible display and the rigid-flex PCB arrangement or (ii) is relaxed and allows flexing of the flexible display and the rigid-flex PCB arrangement.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having an audio jack is provided. The device comprises: a processor; a jack for receiving a plug of an audio accessory; electrical connectors provided in the jack for enabling communication between the audio accessory and the processor and for contacting corresponding electrical connectors of the plug; and a switching circuit in communication with the processor and two of the electrical connectors. The switching circuit routes audio signals between the corresponding electrical connectors and the processor; after insertion of the plug into the jack, conducts a test on the electrical connectors to determine if a first one of the corresponding electrical connectors is electrically grounded. A method for routing the signals is also provided.

Abstract: An advanced headset is provided to enable two-way communication between a portable electronic device to the headset; a slave device located within the headset to receive and process the data; and at least one audio output device to transmit the data to a user. A method for transmitting data from a portable electronic device to a headset having a master device initialize a synchronization mechanism, transmitting the synchronization mechanism to a slave device within the digital headset via a bus, transmitting the data between the master device and slave device, and outputting the data as acoustic signals through an output device. The slave device may contain one or more speakers, controlled by one or more speaker amplifiers. The slave device may contain digital active noise cancellation, beam forming or audio enhanced circuits.

Abstract: A mobile device includes at least one speaker and an audio subsystem for providing an audio signal to the at least one speaker for playback by the at least one speaker. The audio subsystem operates by detecting a distance to a user of the mobile device using a proximity sensor and controlling volume output of the at least one speaker based on the distance to the user of the mobile device and the operational status of the proximity sensor. If it is determined that the proximity sensor is functional, the audio subsystem applies a gain factor to the audio signal that varies based on the distance to the user or limits the maximum allowable speaker output based on the distance. A high or low gain setting may be applied for when the user is far away or in close proximity to the mobile device.

Abstract: An electronic device, systems and methods are described for detecting whether there has been a proper cable connection when a plug is inserted into a socket. A pressure sensor configured to measure air pressure within the socket generates one or more pressure signals as a function of the air pressure, and a processor determines whether a proper cable connection has been made (whether the plug has been fully inserted into the socket) as a function of the pressure signals.

Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a flexible display, a rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB) arrangement, an electrically conductive memory fabric, and a controller. The rigid-flex PCB arrangement is connected to the flexible display, and has a honeycomb configuration. The electrically conductive memory fabric is connected to the flexible display and the rigid-flex PCB arrangement. The controller is configured to, by selectively controlling supply of electrical current to the electrically conductive memory fabric, control whether the electrically conductive memory fabric (i) straightens and resists flexing of the flexible display and the rigid-flex PCB arrangement or (ii) is relaxed and allows flexing of the flexible display and the rigid-flex PCB arrangement.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a system for controlling an electronic device including an audio accessory coupled to the electronic device. The audio accessory has at least one speaker adapted to provide audio output and a plurality of resistive switches. The electronic device has a bias voltage source adapted to provide power to the resistive switches via a bias resistor and a ground connection, and a measurement module. The measurement module is adapted to monitor a bias point to determine which of the at least one switch has been engaged based on effect of the resistive switches on the ground offset voltage after compensating for a ground offset voltage caused by the audio output.

Abstract: A printed circuit board with an acoustic channel for a microphone and a portable electronic device having such a printed circuit board are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a microphone assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a board body having at least one signal trace, the printed circuit board defining an acoustic channel within the board body which extends between a microphone aperture in the board body and a plurality of inlet openings in the board body.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having an audio jack is provided. The device comprises: a processor; a jack for receiving a plug of an audio accessory; electrical connectors provided in the jack for enabling communication between the audio accessory and the processor and for contacting corresponding electrical connectors of the plug; and a switching circuit in communication with the processor and two of the electrical connectors. The switching circuit routes audio signals between the corresponding electrical connectors and the processor; after insertion of the plug into the jack, conducts a test on the electrical connectors to determine if a first one of the corresponding electrical connectors is electrically grounded. A method for routing the signals is also provided.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having an audio jack is provided. The device comprises: a processor provided in a housing; a display screen; a jack provided in the housing, the jack being sized for receiving a plug of an audio accessory of the plurality of audio accessories; electrical connectors provided in the jack for enabling communication between the audio accessory and the processor, each of the electrical connectors for contacting a corresponding electrical connector of the plug; and a switching circuit in communication with the processor and two of the electrical connectors. For the device, upon detection of insertion of the plug into the jack, the processor is adapted to generate a prompt on the display screen to allow selection of a pin-out configuration for the audio accessory from different pin-out options for the audio accessory. A method of configuring audio jacks for an electronic device is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of determining microphone polarity in a headset. By being able to detect the polarity of the microphone within the headset, a portable electronic device may be compatible with any headset and is not limited to use with a specific headset. By applying a detection signal over one of lines within a headset cable, a return signal may be sensed on one of the other lines to determine which of the lines is the ground line and which line is the microphone line.

Abstract: A circuit, device and method for controlling an output signal of an amplifier are provided. The output signal may be controlled through a first stage located before a digital to analog converter and/or a second stage located after it. The first stage boosts the digital signal to match with the full signal range of the converter. For the second stage, the circuit comprises: a first resistor coupled to an output of the amplifier in series, the first resistor having a resistance value Rs; a second resistor coupled to the first resistor in series, the second resistor having a resistance value Rp; and an output terminal for a transducer connected to the electronic device, the output terminal connected in parallel to the second resistor. In the circuit, the resistance values Rs and Rp are related by an inversely proportional relationship.