Abstract: Aspects extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for sensing object depth within an image. In general, aspects of the invention implement object depth detection techniques having reduced power consumption. The reduced power consumption permits mobile and wearable devices, as well as other devices with reduced power resources, to detect and record objects (e.g., human features). For example, a camera can efficiently detect a conversational partner or attendees at a meeting (possibly providing related real-time cues about people in front of a user). As another example, a human hand detection solution can determine the objects a user is pointing at (by following the direction of the arm) and provide other interaction modalities. Aspects of the invention can use a lower power depth sensor to identify and capture pixels corresponding to objects of interest.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards energy saving mechanisms of image sensor circuitry (e.g., in a camera). Image quality data, such as provided by an application, is processed to make energy consumption of image sensor circuitry more proportional to output image quality by controlling the operation of one or more controllable power saving mechanisms of the image sensor circuitry. Power saving mechanisms may include a frequency controlled clock, the ability to turn off unneeded components, an inter-frame standby mode that puts the image sensor circuitry into a standby mode between capturing sequential frames, selectable parallel analog chains having different energy usage properties and column circuitry that allows turning off circuitry corresponding to unneeded columns of the sensor array.

Abstract: The description relates to smart rings. One example can include a finger band configured to accommodate a user's finger. This example can also include a set of pressure sensors positioned on an inner surface of the finger band and configured to sense changes to tendons of the user's finger as pressure differentials and to output associated signals. The example can further include a gesture component configured to interpret the signals from the set of pressure sensors to identify individual actions performed by the user's finger.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses of load allocation for multi-battery devices. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses determine an amount of load power that a multi-battery device consumes to operate. Respective efficiencies at which the device's multiple batteries are capable of providing power are also determined. A respective portion of load power is then drawn from each of the batteries based on their respective efficiencies.

Abstract: Heterogeneous battery cell charging techniques are described for a device having a battery system with heterogeneous battery cells. A control system is provided that is configured to determine a charging strategy for charging the heterogeneous battery cells based upon an analysis of a plurality of contextual factors. For example, contextual factors may indicate anticipated future load conditions, battery usage preferences established for the battery system, and/or other factors indicative of an overall context in which charging occurs. Different charging strategies that indicate which battery cells to charge and the way in which charging is to be conducted may be mapped to different combinations of the contextual factors such that the charging is dynamically tailored to different contexts. A selected charging strategy is then employed to distribute charging current from a power source among the heterogeneous battery cells in the manner designated by the selected charging strategy.

Abstract: Heterogeneous battery cell switching techniques are described for a device having a battery system with heterogeneous battery cells. A control system is provided that is configured to implement a policy for switching a load for the device between the heterogeneous battery cells. The switching may involve selecting between multiple different modes supported by the device based on an assessment of an operational context for the device. Modes available for a heterogeneous battery cell system may include but are not limited to different modes to connect one of the multiple heterogeneous battery cell at a time to service the load, rapidly switch among the multiple heterogeneous battery cells to service the load by drawing a percentage of the overall load from each cell, and/or draw a set amount of current from each of the multiple heterogeneous battery cells to service the load.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamically changing internal state of a battery are described herein. Generally, different battery configurations are described that enable transitions between different battery power states, such as to accommodate different battery charge and/or discharge scenarios.

Abstract: Techniques for battery assembly combining multiple different batteries are described herein. Generally, an example battery assembly includes multiple individual batteries of differing sizes and capacities. In at least some embodiments, the individual batteries are connected to a battery interface that presents the multiple batteries as a single integrated power source.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for suppressing power spikes. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses determine an available amount of power that a battery is capable of providing while maintaining a particular voltage level and a requisite amount of power that components will consume to perform a task. When the requisite amount of power exceeds the available amount of power, power states of the components are altered effective to enable the battery to maintain the particular voltage level.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for estimating battery cell parameters. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable the isolation of a battery cell from other battery cells. Voltage levels of the isolated battery cell are measured while varying amounts of current are drawn from the cell. Parameters of the isolated battery cell can then be estimated based on the measured voltage levels and various amounts of current that are drawn from the cell.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to energy efficient gesture input on a surface are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a hand-worn device that may include a microphone configured to capture an audio input and generate an audio signal, an accelerometer configured to capture a motion input and generate an accelerometer signal, and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The controller may be configured to detect a wake-up motion input based on the accelerometer signal. The controller may wake from a low-power sleep mode in which the accelerometer is turned on and the microphone is turned off and enter a user interaction interpretation mode in which the microphone is turned on. Then, the controller may contemporaneously receive the audio signal and the accelerometer signal and decode strokes. Finally, the controller may detect a period of inactivity based on the audio signal and return to the low-power sleep mode.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to energy efficient gesture input on a surface are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a hand-worn device that may include a microphone configured to capture an audio input and generate an audio signal, an accelerometer configured to capture a motion input and generate an accelerometer signal, and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The controller may be configured to detect a wake-up motion input based on the accelerometer signal. The controller may wake from a low-power sleep mode in which the accelerometer is turned on and the microphone is turned off and enter a user interaction interpretation mode in which the microphone is turned on. Then, the controller may contemporaneously receive the audio signal and the accelerometer signal and decode strokes. Finally, the controller may detect a period of inactivity based on the audio signal and return to the low-power sleep mode.

Abstract: A commercial frequency-modulated (FM) radio signal indoor localization system and method for finding a location of a mobile embedded device (such as a smartphone) within a building. Indoor localization is performed by receiving commercial FM radio signals on the device, analyzing the signals using signal quality metrics, and generating signal quality vectors for each signal and signal quality metric used for the signal. The signal quality metric can be any physical signal quality indicator. The signal quality vectors are added to obtain a current location fingerprint. The current location fingerprint is compared to fingerprints stored in a fingerprint database. The location associated with the stored fingerprint that is the closest match to the current fingerprint location is designated as the current location in the building of the mobile embedded device. Locally generated radio signals can be used in conjunction with the commercial FM radio signals to improve localization accuracy.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to energy efficient gesture input on a surface are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a hand-worn device that may include a microphone configured to capture an audio input and generate an audio signal, an accelerometer configured to capture a motion input and generate an accelerometer signal, and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The controller may be configured to detect a wake-up motion input based on the accelerometer signal. The controller may wake from a low-power sleep mode in which the accelerometer is turned on and the microphone is turned off and enter a user interaction interpretation mode in which the microphone is turned on. Then, the controller may contemporaneously receive the audio signal and the accelerometer signal and decode strokes. Finally, the controller may detect a period of inactivity based on the audio signal and return to the low-power sleep mode.

Abstract: The description relates to smart rings. One example can include a finger band configured to accommodate a user's finger. This example can also include a set of pressure sensors positioned on an inner surface of the finger band and configured to sense changes to tendons of the user's finger as pressure differentials and to output associated signals. The example can further include a gesture component configured to interpret the signals from the set of pressure sensors to identify individual actions performed by the user's finger.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more search terms at a mobile computing device while the mobile computing device is located at a particular location. A search query that includes the one or more search terms and a location history of the mobile computing device is transmitted to a server. The method also includes receiving one or more search results in response to the search query, where the one or more search results include content identified based on a predicted destination of the mobile computing device. An interface identifying the one or more search results is displayed at the mobile computing device.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to energy efficient gesture input on a surface are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a hand-worn device that may include a microphone configured to capture an audio input and generate an audio signal, an accelerometer configured to capture a motion input and generate an accelerometer signal, and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The controller may be configured to detect a wake-up motion input based on the accelerometer signal. The controller may wake from a low-power sleep mode in which the accelerometer is turned on and the microphone is turned off and enter a user interaction interpretation mode in which the microphone is turned on. Then, the controller may contemporaneously receive the audio signal and the accelerometer signal and decode strokes. Finally, the controller may detect a period of inactivity based on the audio signal and return to the low-power sleep mode.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more search terms at a mobile computing device while the mobile computing device is located at a particular location. A search query that includes the one or more search terms and a location history of the mobile computing device is transmitted to a server. The method also includes receiving one or more search results in response to the search query, where the one or more search results include content identified based on a predicted destination of the mobile computing device. An interface identifying the one or more search results is displayed at the mobile computing device.

Abstract: Biometric authentication and touch differentiation embodiments are described which use a handheld mobile computing device having a signal injection site that injects a signal into a user's hand for a prescribed period of time, and at least one signal sensing site each of which captures a signal emanating from a finger of either of the user's hands that is touching the signal sensing site during at least the period of time the signal is injected. The captured signal or signals are analyzed to determine whether they match, to a prescribed degree, a pre-established signal model that is indicative of a signal or signals expected to be captured. The signal matching determination can be employed to authenticate a user, or identify which finger of a user's hand is touching the computing device.

Abstract: Magnetic stripe-based transaction enabled mobile communication device embodiments are presented which generally involve a mobile communication device which has been configured to perform transactions that heretofore were completed using a magnetic stripe found on magnetic-stripe cards. In one general embodiment, a mobile communication device generates magnetic stripe data which is used to perform a magnetic stripe-based transaction. To this end, the mobile communication device includes a magnetic stripe device and a computing device. The computing device stores the magnetic stripe data, and the magnetic stripe device is employed to transfer the stored magnetic stripe information so that it can be used to conduct transactions as if a traditional magnetic stripe card were being used.