Abstract: A portable charger is provided for charging one or more electronic devices from a rechargeable internal battery. The portable charger includes wireless power transmission components, such as a transmitter and a receiver for recharging the charger as well as electronic devices via wireless power transmission methods. The portable charger also includes at least one power connection for connecting the charger with an external power source, or at least one electronic device, or both, for direct charge connectivity. The power connection can be a power connection port or a power connector cable, attached to the charger housing, each capable of acting as a power input, a power output, or both. A processing unit controls operation of the charger for wireless and direct charging.

Abstract: A speaker device for hands-free operation of a mobile device includes a first assembly operable for wireless communication with a mobile device, and a second assembly with a receptacle for docking at least a portion of the first assembly. The first assembly includes a first speaker and a first microphone, while the second assembly includes a second speaker. When the first assembly is docked in the receptacle of the second assembly, the mobile device is connected in wireless communication with the second speaker, and when the first assembly is removed from the second assembly, the mobile device is connected in wireless communication with the first speaker.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for stabilizing orientation values of an electronic device, the orientation values representing an orientation of the electronic device, the method comprising: obtaining first sensor readings from a first sensor; obtaining second sensor readings from a second sensor; evaluating the first sensor readings and the second sensor readings to determine whether the electronic device is stationary; locking the orientation values when the electronic device is stationary; collecting at least one of further first sensor readings and further second sensor readings while the orientation values are locked; determining whether the orientation of the electronic device is changing by more than a threshold amount based on one or more of the further first sensor readings and the further second sensor readings; and unlocking the orientation values for updating based on the further sensor readings when the orientation of the electronic device is changing by more than the threshold amount.

Abstract: A portable power charger having an internal rechargeable battery includes a charger housing having at least power connection port and a flashlight portion having at least one flashlight bulb. The power connection port is operatively connected to the rechargeable battery and can be used to connect the charger with an external power source, an electronic device, or both. The flashlight is operatively connected to the internal battery as well, either via a direct connection, via the power connection port, or via a dedicated rechargeable flashlight battery unit that can be recharged from the battery unit of the power charger. The power connection port can act in a power input mode when the charger is connected with an external power source via the power connection port and in a power output mode when at least one electronic device is connected to the charger via the power connection port.

Abstract: A portable charger is capable of jump starting a 12V car battery as well as charging 5V portable electronic devices. The charger includes a charger battery; a power supply operatively connected with the charger battery; at least one USB output jack operatively connected with the power supply for providing +5V USB power; and positive and negative jumper cable jacks operatively connected with the power supply for providing +12 V DC power to jump start a vehicle battery.

Abstract: A safety circuit is provided for a portable charger having a charger battery operatively connected by a power supply to positive and negative jumper cable jacks capable of jump starting a 12V car battery as well as at least one USB port capable of charging 5V portable electronic devices. The safety circuit includes a jump start relay operatively connecting the power supply to the positive and negative jumper cable jacks; a microprocessor, and a voltage input analyzer operatively connected with the microprocessor to enable or disable the jump start relay.

Abstract: Methods and electronic devices for determining orientation are described. In one aspect, a processor-implemented method of determining a corrected orientation of a gyroscope on an electronic device includes: generating a gyroscope reading using the gyroscope; determining, by the processor, a first orientation estimate based on the gyroscope reading and a past corrected orientation; determining, by the processor, whether the gyroscope was saturated when the gyroscope reading was generated; adjusting, by the processor, a saturation correction learning rate for the gyroscope based on the result of the determination of whether the gyroscope was saturated; and calculating, by the processor, the corrected orientation based on the first orientation estimate, a second orientation estimate and the saturation correction learning rate.

Abstract: A needle driver includes a first elongated body that defines an interior chamber. A second elongated body defines an interior space, and is slideable within the interior chamber defined by the first elongated body between a retracted position and an extended position. The needle driver also includes a clamping device having a clamping end and a connecting member, which is affixed to the first elongated body and coupled within the clamping end. A biasing shaft is slideably disposed within the interior space defined by the second elongated body. An actuator is affixed to the biasing shaft and is slideable in a proximal direction and a distal direction.

Abstract: Provided is a process that includes obtaining a directed acyclic graph describing a plurality wireless connections between a plurality of downstream nodes forming a multi-path route to an Internet connected wireless transceiver; determining an encoding kernel specifying transformations to be performed by the plurality of downstream nodes on data received from upstream nodes; transmitting at least part of the encoding kernel to at least some of the downstream nodes; and transmitting data from a data source to a downstream node in the directed acyclic graph specified by the encoding kernel such that the data is conveyed through the multi-hop, multi-path route to the Internet connected wireless transceiver.

Abstract: An assembly includes a fish tape device or a duct rodding device having digital measurement unit attached thereto. A tape is housed in the fish tape device or a duct rodding device and is paid out of the device. The digital measurement unit includes an optical sensor which is positioned proximate to the tape. As the tape is passed by the optical sensor, the optical sensor uses digital image correlation to take successive images of the tape to determine a length measurement of tape that has passed by the optical sensor.