Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.50-1.30% Si, 0.2-0.60% Fe, 0.15% max Cu, 0.5-0.90% Mn, 0.6-1.0% Mg, and 0.20% max Cr, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may include excess Mg over the amount that can be occupied by Mg—Si precipitates. The alloy may be utilized as a matrix material for a composite that includes a filler material dispersed in the matrix material. One such composite may include boron carbide as a filler material, and the resultant composite may be used for neutron shielding applications.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for rendering on a display of an electronic device a pre-corrected image of an original image to compensate for a visual impairment of a user of the device, such that the pre-corrected image when displayed on the display would be perceived by the user to be in better optical focus than the user would perceive a display of the original image. The method includes receiving hardware characteristics of the display, receiving at least one parameter describing the visual impairment of the user, receiving at least one parameter describing the conditions under which the display is seen by the user, calculating a pupil function, calculating a Point Spread Function (PSF), calculating a pre-corrected image corresponding to at least a portion of the original image to compensate for the visual impairment of the user, and rendering on the display the pre-corrected image.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for battery life estimation comprising an energy harvester; an energy storage apparatus, connected to the energy harvester, the energy storage apparatus representative of a unit of measure; a battery for receiving energy from the storage apparatus; and a processor for monitoring the energy provided by the storage apparatus, monitoring energy provided to the battery by other charging apparatus and monitoring the energy being delivered by the battery; wherein the processor calculates the remaining life of the battery based on the number of energy storage apparatus units that are provided to and delivered from the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, forms a user interface permitting input of input instructions to an electronic device. Input commands are evidence by tactile input forces applied to a force receiving surface. Force sensing elements are positioned to sense indications of the tactile input force. The force sensing element is caused to exhibit a selected input parameter value through application of a selected force thereto by application of a tightening torque to a fastener positioned in proximity to the force sensing element.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for optimizing the transmission of Buffer Status Reporting (BSR) information from a User Equipment (UE) to a Base Station (BS) in a wireless telecommunication network wherein the transmission of Buffer Status Reporting information is triggered if new uplink data arrive in the UE transmission buffer of said UE and said new uplink data belong to a logical channel for which a positive PBR (Prioritized Bit Rate) parameter is defined and for which no data already existed in the UE transmission buffer.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.50-1.30% Si, 0.2-0.60% Fe, 0.15% max Cu, 0.5-0.90% Mn, 0.6-1.0% Mg, and 0.20% max Cr, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may include excess Mg over the amount that can be occupied by Mg—Si precipitates. The alloy may be utilized as a matrix material for a composite that includes a filler material dispersed in the matrix material. One such composite may include boron carbide as a filler material, and the resultant composite may be used for neutron shielding applications.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, forms a user interface permitting input of input instructions to an electronic device. Input commands are evidence by tactile input forces applied to a force receiving surface. Force sensing elements are positioned to sense indications of the tactile input force. The force sensing element is caused to exhibit a selected input parameter value through application of a selected force thereto by application of a tightening torque to a fastener positioned in proximity to the force sensing element.

Abstract: A communications apparatus capable of detecting a signal transmitted by another apparatus in a first band of spectrum is described. The apparatus identifies at least one second band of spectrum, different from the first band of spectrum, in which no signal is detected and then determines a noise characteristic for the at least one second band of spectrum. The determined noise characteristic may then be used by an energy detector operating in the first band of spectrum to ensure reliable detection of signals transmitted by the other apparatus.

Abstract: A portable electronic device for reducing specific absorption rate (SAR) is provided. The portable electronic device comprises a processor, at least one antenna, and a sensor enabled to detect when the portable electronic device is being held by a complementary holder, the processor enabled to: determine that the sensor has detected the holder; and, responsively, switch the at least one antenna from an omnidirectional mode to a directional mode such that energy is radiated from a given side of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a base, a touch-sensitive display moveable relative to the base, piezo actuators disposed between the base and the touch-sensitive display, the piezo actuators including a first piezo actuator and a second piezo actuator spaced from the first piezo actuator, and a controller configured to control the piezo actuators to alternately actuate the first piezo actuator and the second piezo actuator and apply forces to the touch-sensitive display, thereby causing the touch-sensitive display to pivot relative to the base.

Abstract: A method, performed by a user equipment (UE), for transmitting Buffer Status Reporting (BSR) information from the UE to a base station (BS) in a wireless telecommunication network, includes storing data to be transmitted, via a logical channel, in a transmission buffer, the logical channel being provided with a priority level and a specific Prioritized Bit Rate (PBR) parameter indicating a resource level to allocate to the UE for transmitting the stored data, wherein the BSR information represents an amount of data present in the transmission buffer of the UE, receiving new uplink data belonging to a logical channel for which no data already existed in the UE transmission buffer, and transmitting Buffer Status Reporting information upon receipt of the new uplink data.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy includes, in weight percent, 0.50-1.30% Si, 0.2-0.60% Fe, 0.15% max Cu, 0.5-0.90% Mn, 0.6-1.0% Mg, and 0.20% max Cr, the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The alloy may include excess Mg over the amount that can be occupied by Mg—Si precipitates. The alloy may be utilized as a matrix material for a composite that includes a filler material dispersed in the matrix material. One such composite may include boron carbide as a filler material, and the resultant composite may be used for neutron shielding applications.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that has a radio frequency communication subsystem operationally connected switch-mode power supply subsystem. The switch-mode power supply subsystem generates a pulse-width modulation electrical signal that produces electromagnetic interference. The switch-mode power supply subsystem can reduce the slew rate of the pulse-width modulation electrical signal when the radio-frequency communication subsystem is active. This reduces the level of the electromagnetic interference signal only during radio frequency communication, which improves the efficiency of the radio frequency communication. Not having the reduced slew rate when there is no radio frequency communication allows for higher modulation efficiency.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a low power wakeup detection circuit and a portable electronic device having a low power wakeup detection circuit.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that has a radio frequency communication subsystem operationally connected switch-mode power supply subsystem. The switch-mode power supply subsystem generates a pulse-width modulation electrical signal that produces electromagnetic interference. The switch-mode power supply subsystem can reduce the slew rate of the pulse-width modulation electrical signal when the radio-frequency communication subsystem is active. This reduces the level of the electromagnetic interference signal only during radio frequency communication, which improves the efficiency of the radio frequency communication. Not having the reduced slew rate when there is no radio frequency communication allows for higher modulation efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, forms a user interface permitting input of input instructions to an electronic device. Input commands are evidence by tactile input forces applied to a force receiving surface. Force sensing elements are positioned to sense indications of the tactile input force. The force sensing element is caused to exhibit a selected input parameter value through application of a selected force thereto by application of a tightening torque to a fastener positioned in proximity to the force sensing element.

Abstract: A communications apparatus capable of detecting a signal transmitted by another apparatus in a first band of spectrum is described. The apparatus identifies at least one second band of spectrum, different from the first band of spectrum, in which no signal is detected and then determines a noise characteristic for the at least one second band of spectrum. The determined noise characteristic may then be used by an energy detector operating in the first band of spectrum to ensure reliable detection of signals transmitted by the other apparatus.

Abstract: A portable electronic device for reducing specific absorption rate (SAR) is provided. The portable electronic device comprises a processor, at least one antenna, and a sensor enabled to detect when the portable electronic device is being held by a complementary holder, the processor enabled to: determine that the sensor has detected the holder; and, responsively, switch the at least one antenna from an omnidirectional mode to a directional mode such that energy is radiated from a given side of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A holster for a handheld electronic device. The holster has integrated therein one or more piezoelectric elements that provide an output voltage to the handheld electronic device upon insertion of device in the holster. The output voltage can be used to charge the battery of the device, to power, at least in part, the device, or both. The output voltage is generated by harvesting vibration energy at the piezoelectric elements upon the holster being subjected to acceleration caused by a user carrying the holster when walking, running, or during any other suitable activity.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for battery life estimation comprising an energy harvester; an energy storage apparatus, connected to the energy harvester, the energy storage apparatus representative of a unit of measure; a battery for receiving energy from the storage apparatus; and a processor for monitoring the energy provided by the storage apparatus, monitoring energy provided to the battery by other charging apparatus and monitoring the energy being delivered by the battery; wherein the processor calculates the remaining life of the battery based on the number of energy storage apparatus units that are provided to and delivered from the battery.