Abstract: A field sequential liquid crystal display maintains its white colour point through compensation values to at least one colour light emitting diode that illuminates the display. The compensation values may be impedances to control the current or pulsing of the current source according to a pulse width modulation technique. A degradation curve may be used to calculate extrapolate the theoretical forward voltage of the light emitting diode. Additional complexity arises from the need for calculating uptime for multiple light emitting diodes of different colours. Brightness levels may also be factored in.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.

Abstract: A method of determining user-selections from at least one touch at a touch-sensitive input surface of an electronic device includes determining a first user-selection based on touch attributes, detecting changes in the touch attributes including a change in size and a change in the location, and determining a second user-selection based on a direction of the change in location.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microphone coupler and coupler system for a communication device. The system comprises: a printed circuit board; a microphone having a port facing towards the printed circuit board and aligned with an opening through the printed circuit board; and a microphone coupler for the microphone. The coupler comprises: a conduit having an internal channel therein, a distal end, a proximal end, a first opening in the distal end connecting to the internal channel and a second opening in the proximal end connecting to the internal channel. In the system, the proximal end of the coupler is locatable about the opening of the printed circuit board to have the second opening mated to the opening of the printed circuit board; and the distal end of the coupler extends towards an end of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The invention provides a microphone coupler for a microphone located within a housing of a portable communication device and a device incorporating the coupler. The coupler comprises a body section and a conduit or just a conduit. The body section is shaped to fit around the microphone and is defined by one or more walls and within the walls an interior cavity is defined. One wall has a port in through connecting to the cavity. The cavity can receive at least a portion of the microphone and provides a space between the microphone and the body section. The conduit has an internal channel, a distal end, a proximate end and openings at each end connecting to the channel. For the conduit, the proximate end is connected to the body section and the second opening mates with the port.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a base, a touch screen display, and operational components. The touch screen display is connected to the base and includes a display device and a touch-sensitive overlay disposed on the display device. The touch-sensitive overlay comprises at least one capacitive touch sensor circuit layer disposed on a substrate and patterned with discrete circuits. Ones of the discrete circuits provide associated discrete touch-sensitive areas on an outer touch surface of the touch screen display. The operational components include a controller connected to the touch-sensitive overlay and a processor connected to the controller and the display device for providing a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A touch sensor for mounting over a display screen of an electronic device is provided. The touch sensor includes: an elongate input pad formed in a layer of transparent conductive material on a transparent substrate, the input pad tapering from a broad end to a narrow end to provide an input pad capacitance that varies with location of a touch over the input pad; and, a contact for coupling the input pad to a processor.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a base, a touch screen display, a shape memory alloy and operational components. The touch screen display is connected to the base and moveable relative to the base and includes a display device and a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device and connected to a controller for determining a touch event to the touch-sensitive input surface. The shape memory alloy is disposed between the base and the display device and is configured to change shape in response to conduction of an electric current to cause movement of the display device relative to the base. The operational components include a processor between the base and the touch screen display. The processor is operatively connected to the controller, the display device and the shape memory alloy for causing conduction of current through the shape memory alloy in response to the touch event, resulting in movement of the display relative to the base.

Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for providing backlight to a display in an electronic device. The device comprises: a housing; an ambient light collector; a backlight panel; a shutter; and a photodetector. The ambient light collector has: a body having the first end and a second end, which is located within the housing. The body receives ambient light from around the electronic device and transmits it to the second end. The body is shaped to direct the ambient light from the first end towards the second end and has a turn in it between the first and second ends. In the body, each conduit has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being connected to the second end of the body, and each conduit extending downward and away from the second end.

Abstract: A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, colour selection, and colour sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.

Abstract: These needs, and others, are met by at least one embodiment of the disclosed invention which provides for a touch sensitive screen for an electronic device wherein there is a sparse pattern of sensors disposed within the active area and a dense pattern of sensors disposed within the viewing area. In this configuration, the pixels in the active area may have a larger aspect ratio and provide a more pleasing image while the dense sensors disposed within the viewing area provide more accurate touch sensitivity. Further, the software, or other electronics, used to create the image, may be structured to position menus or other selectable images adjacent to the viewing area. Similarly, certain images, such as icons, can be programmed to be displayed directly under the sensors in the active area. Generally, this configuration provides for the best of both worlds; a bright, clear image with some touch sensitivity in the active area and a sensitive sensor grid in the viewing area where there are no pixels.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.

Abstract: The invention provides a printed circuit board (PCB) for use in an electronic device. The PCB comprises: a top side; a bottom side; an edge between the top side and the bottom side; a cavity from the top side to the bottom side; a region on the top side for mounting an electronic device; and a connector for receiving connections from the electronic device. In the PCB, the connector is located on either the bottom side or the edge of the side of the PCB. The electronic device can be a display module.

Abstract: An integrated display for an electronic device, comprising: a liquid crystal display having a first polarizing layer coupled to a colour filter layer; and, a first transparent conductive material layer disposed between the first polarizing layer and the colour filter layer to thereby form a capacitive touchscreen sensor.

Abstract: A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, colour selection, and colour sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for establishing a monochromatic background light source in an electronic device with a field sequential liquid crystal display. The device and method provide for the continuous illumination of one or more of a plurality of color backlights of a field sequential liquid crystal display to provide a monochromatic source of light behind the liquid crystal layer of the display. The intensities of the one or more of the plurality of color backlights may be selected to achieve a user selected color, or the intensities may be chosen to reduce power consumption. The monochromatic mode may be selected while in another mode of operation.

Abstract: A touchscreen liquid crystal display, method for using a liquid crystal display as a user input, and a mobile electronic device are provided.

Abstract: A mobile device 1, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 610 includes a keypad portion 2, 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 614, a display portion 4, 104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 616, at least one input device 8-25, 31-43, 108-125, 127-129, 131-148, 208-225, 231-245, 308-325, 327, 331-345, 410-424, 508, 510-524, 531-544, and a processor 618. The processor 618 is operable to run a plurality of software applications 630A-630N. The keypad portion 2, 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 614 is rotatably coupled to the display portion 4, 104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 616 and rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The processor 618 is operable to automatically select and run a software application 630A-630N depending upon the configuration of the device 1, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 610.

Abstract: A mobile device 200 comprises a display portion 204 and a keypad portion 202. The display portion 204 has a front side that includes a display screen 206 and a back side. The keypad portion 202 is rotatably coupled to the display portion 204 between a plurality of operational configurations. The keypad portion 202 has a front side that includes a plurality of input devices 208-225, 231-245 and an outer edge, with the front side of the keypad portion 202 having a depressed area 205 surrounding and including an area where the keypad portion 202 and display portion 204 are rotatably coupled. At least one of the plurality of input devices 231-245 is situated in the depressed area 205. The front side of the keypad portion 202 and the front side of the display portion 204 face in the same direction while rotating between the plurality of operational configurations. The plurality of operational configurations includes at least a first configuration and a second configuration.

Abstract: A keyboard for a mobile device 400 having a processor 618 for interpreting signals comprises a plurality of keys 410-424 and corresponding indicia including keys associated with alphabetic characters corresponding to an array of letters A-Z. The keys 410-419 that are associated with alphabetic characters number fewer than twenty-six and correspond to one of a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, or DVORAK key arrangement. Each of the plurality of keys 410-424 have multiple input surfaces and are arranged in an array of rows and columns that include a first outer column, at least one middle column, and a last outer column. The first and last columns of keys are operable to input at least three different signals to a processor 618 of a mobile device 400 depending upon what input surface of the key 410-424 is pressed. A middle column of keys is operable to input at least five different signals to a processor 618 depending on what input surface of the key 410-424 is pressed.