Abstract: A device includes: a sensor component; and a touch panel comprising: touch-registration circuitry; a mesh comprising conductors, wherein at least some of the conductors are routed to a junction; and a flex circuit coupled between the junction and the touch-registration circuitry, wherein the flex circuit is longer than a distance between the junction and the touch-registration circuitry to accommodate routing of the flex circuit past the sensor component.

Abstract: A device includes: a sensor component; and a touch panel comprising: touch-registration circuitry; a mesh comprising conductors, wherein at least some of the conductors are routed to a junction; and a flex circuit coupled between the junction and the touch-registration circuitry, wherein the flex circuit is longer than a distance between the junction and the touch-registration circuitry to accommodate routing of the flex circuit past the sensor component.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a modular portable device includes a first module acting as a traditional high-function phone or “smartphone” and a second module that adds enhanced functionality to the first module. When the modules are separated, they may operate independently of each other. In an embodiment, when the first module and the second module are docked together and a voice call is placed with the first module, the earpiece speaker, microphone, and cellular connection of the first module are utilized. During the voice call, a Bluetooth connection between the first module and the second module may be established in anticipation of an undocking event to eliminate a delay in audio transfer from the first module to the second module.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for securing structures include a fastener that includes a threaded body and a head. The head includes a rounded axial protrusion having a first radial diameter, and a noncircular radial portion for securing the fastener. The noncircular radial portion has a second radial diameter greater than the first radial diameter. The noncircular radial portion is positioned between the threaded body and the rounded axial protrusion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for securing structures. One fastener includes a threaded body and a head. The head includes a rounded axial protrusion having a first radial diameter, and a noncircular radial portion for securing the fastener. The noncircular radial portion has a second radial diameter greater than the first radial diameter. The noncircular radial portion is positioned between the threaded body and the rounded axial protrusion.

Abstract: A system and method of remote imaging allows a camera module in a modular portable electronic device environment to be removed from a base module without halting an image capture session being displayed on a display of the base module. In an embodiment, image data may be captured by both the camera module and the base module. A hardwired connection connects the devices when the camera module is docked on the base module, while a wireless connection maintains the connection between the devices when the camera module is undocked from the base module during an image capture session.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a modular device system includes a base device configured to accept multiple modules at once. The system further includes thin modules designed to stack upon one another on the base device to provide extended functionality. In an embodiment, an alignment mechanism is provided to allow multiple modules to be easily stacked such that their stacking also provides convenient electrical interconnection between the modules and the base device.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a modular device system includes a base device configured to accept multiple modules at once. The system further includes thin modules designed to stack upon one another on the base device to provide extended functionality. In an embodiment, an alignment mechanism is provided to allow multiple modules to be easily stacked such that their stacking also provides convenient electrical interconnection between the modules and the base device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for secure carrying of user cards and other items are integrated with the user's portable communication device. In an embodiment, the system includes an integrated alarm function to alert the user of unauthorized access to a storage compartment. In a further embodiment, the carrying system includes a cover having electrical contacts configured for mating to the user's portable device system.

Abstract: A modular portable device system includes two devices configured to be attached to each other to form a more powerful combined device. The combined device is still generally sized to fit a user's pocket, purse, briefcase, backpack etc. The first device is a stand-alone capable high function device configured to mate with and connect to an add-on device to gain specific supplemental functionality. The base device includes a circular camera protrusion sized to fit in a corresponding camera opening in the add-on device, as well as one or more alignment sockets. In this way, when the camera protrusion is located in the camera opening and the one or more alignment sockets are mated to a corresponding one or alignment pins on the add-on device, the two devices are electrically connected and physically aligned.

Abstract: A modular portable device system and method allow extended user input. The system includes a first device and a second device, the devices being attachable via a plurality of magnetic attachment points (magnets or magnetically responsive attachment points) on each. In a first configuration, the devices are held together by all of the magnetic attachment points, and in this configuration an extended user input facility on the second device is not user-accessible. In a second configuration, the devices are connected by only a subset of the magnetic attachment points, and in this second configuration the extended user input facility is user-accessible. A Hall Effect sensor on the first device and sensor magnet on the second device are positioned to overlap when the devices are connected in the second configuration in order to alert the first device that the second device has been attached in the extended input mode.

Abstract: A system and method of tuning an antenna of a portable device in a modular device system using a device ID associated with second device to tune one or more antennas of a first device. In an embodiment, the first device resolves the device ID of the second device to a set of tuning parameters which improve tuning of the antenna of the first device in the presence of the second device. In a further embodiment, the first device may also tune an antenna of the second device to improve its performance in the presence of the first device.

Abstract: A modular device system includes a base device and additional functionality modules that are separately dockable to the base device to form a single device. The base device includes one or more speakers and one or more microphones. For each device, its multiple speakers and microphones are driven independently of the other device when the devices are not docked together. However, when one of the additional functionality modules is docked to the base device, a predetermined optimized audio configuration specific to the particular additional functionality module is set for the combined device.

Abstract: A modular portable device system and method allow extended user input. The system includes a first device and a second device, the devices being attachable via a plurality of magnetic attachment points (magnets or magnetically responsive attachment points) on each. In a first configuration, the devices are held together by all of the magnetic attachment points, and in this configuration an extended user input facility on the second device is not user-accessible. In a second configuration, the devices are connected by only a subset of the magnetic attachment points, and in this second configuration the extended user input facility is user-accessible. A Hall Effect sensor on the first device and sensor magnet on the second device are positioned to overlap when the devices are connected in the second configuration in order to alert the first device that the second device has been attached in the extended input mode.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosed principles, a modular portable device includes a first module acting as a traditional high-function phone or “smartphone” and a second module that adds enhanced functionality to the first module. When the modules are separated, they may operate independently of each other. In an embodiment, when the first module and the second module are docked together and a voice call is placed with the first module, the earpiece speaker, microphone, and cellular connection of the first module are utilized. During the voice call, a Bluetooth connection between the first module and the second module may be established in anticipation of an undocking event to eliminate a delay in audio transfer from the first module to the second module.

Abstract: A modular portable device interconnection system includes a magnetic attachment point on a first portable device and a corresponding magnetically responsive attachment point on a second portable device. The magnetic attachment point includes a plated annular magnet, an electrically conductive pin extending through the magnet and an electrically insulating layer insulating the electrically conductive pin from the magnet. The magnetically responsive attachment point includes a ferromagnetic annulus, plated or otherwise conductive, configured and located to mate with the annular magnet when the first and second devices are placed together. In this configuration, the electrically conductive pin and electrically insulating layer extend through both the magnet and the ferromagnetic annulus, forming a shielded electrically conductive pathway between the devices. This pathway is suitable for RF signals but may also be used for other AC signals or DC signals.

Abstract: A system and method of remote imaging allows a camera module in a modular portable electronic device environment to be removed from a base module without halting an image capture session being displayed on a display of the base module. In an embodiment, image data may be captured by both the camera module and the base module. A hardwired connection connects the devices when the camera module is docked on the base module, while a wireless connection maintains the connection between the devices when the camera module is undocked from the base module during an image capture session.

Abstract: A system and method of tuning an antenna of a portable device in a modular device system using a device ID associated with second device to tune one or more antennas of a first device. In an embodiment, the first device resolves the device ID of the second device to a set of tuning parameters which improve tuning of the antenna of the first device in the presence of the second device. In a further embodiment, the first device may also tune an antenna of the second device to improve its performance in the presence of the first device.

Abstract: Arrangements described herein relate to presenting a label in a mobile station. The label can be configured to operate within the mobile station between a second operative position resulting from a subscriber identity module (SIM) being present in the mobile station and a first operative position resulting from the SIM not being present in the mobile station, in the second operative position the label not being externally viewable with respect to the mobile station, and in the first operative position the label being externally viewable with respect to the mobile station.