Abstract: A simplified Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth compatible vibrator, that can be paired with a cellular telephone or other device, has in one embodiment no buttons, no switches, no ports, no input device, and no display. The vibrator can use a non-rechargeable battery and can be automatically paired with the cellular telephone (or other device) in response to initially inserting the non-rechargeable battery into the vibrator. A low battery monitoring circuit can detect a low battery condition and cause the vibrator to send a low battery warning message to the cellular telephone to remind the user to replace the non-rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A simplified Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth compatible vibrator, that can be paired with a cellular telephone or other device, has in one embodiment no buttons, no switches, no ports, no input device, and no display. The vibrator can use a non-rechargeable battery and can be automatically paired with the cellular telephone (or other device) in response to initially inserting the non-rechargeable battery into the vibrator. A low battery monitoring circuit can detect a low battery condition and cause the vibrator to send a low battery warning message to the cellular telephone to remind the user to replace the non-rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A simplified Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth compatible vibrator, that can be paired with a cellular telephone or other device, has in one embodiment no buttons, no switches, no ports, no input device, and no display. The vibrator can use a non-rechargeable battery and can be automatically paired with the cellular telephone (or other device) in response to initially inserting the non-rechargeable battery into the vibrator. A low battery monitoring circuit can detect a low battery condition and cause the vibrator to send a low battery warning message to the cellular telephone to remind the user to replace the non-rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A simplified Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth compatible vibrator, that can be paired with a cellular telephone or other device, has in one embodiment no buttons, no switches, no ports, no input device, and no display. The vibrator can use a non-rechargeable battery and can be automatically paired with the cellular telephone (or other device) in response to initially inserting the non-rechargeable battery into the vibrator. A low battery monitoring circuit can detect a low battery condition and cause the vibrator to send a low battery warning message to the cellular telephone to remind the user to replace the non-rechargeable battery.

Abstract: Using various embodiments, methods and systems for operating a secondary cellular telephone are described. The secondary cellular telephone, which is associated with subscriber ID account information of a primary cellular telephone, can be used to receive incoming calls or make outgoing calls. The secondary cellular telephone, in one embodiment, has its own telephone number, which is different from that of the primary cellular telephone. Incoming calls made to the primary cellular telephone number, by association with the subscriber ID account information of a primary cellular telephone, can be forwarded to the secondary cellular telephone. Similarly, with the association of the subscriber ID account information of the primary cellular telephone, outgoing calls made by the secondary cellular telephone can be spoofed with the primary cellular telephone number such that the receiver of the call would assume the call was made via the primary cellular telephone.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a cellular telephone are described, including embodiments having no external physical buttons and no external physical switches. In one embodiment, the device is small enough to fit in a small pocket yet has a touchscreen large enough for a smartphone-sized virtual keyboard. In one embodiment, the device automatically switches between various power modes configurations and can send at least one notification to a user when its battery needs charging. Each described embodiment of a cellular telephone can be used as a primary cellular device or a secondary cellular device, where the secondary cellular device can share the same cellular number as that of the primary cellular device.

Abstract: A headphone that is, in one embodiment, collapsible into a fully collapsed, self-protecting form factor, and includes a headband that mechanically interconnects the two earpieces and fits around the head when worn. The headband can optionally include one or more telescoping linkages to allow it to collapse in length. The headband is attached to each of the two earpieces by two hinges in one embodiment: one hinge connects the headband to an intermediate part, which exists between an earpiece and the headband, another hinge connects the intermediate part to its corresponding earpiece. The wrapping of the headband around the two earpieces can leave no part extending outside from the structure which resembles a hockey puck in one embodiment.

Abstract: Wireless stereo headsets and methods of using the headsets are described. In one embodiment, a wireless stereo headset includes a first earpiece, having a first speaker and a first USB connector, and a second earpiece which has a second speaker and a second USB connector. The USB connectors are configured to charge a battery within each earpiece without a cable to connect the earpiece to a source of power, and the earpieces are shaped to matingly engage together such that the first speaker mates with the second USB connector and the second speaker mates with the first USB connector. In one embodiment, each of the first earpiece and the second earpiece can be configured to act as master device and when one becomes the master device, the other earpiece will in response act as the slave device.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting key actuation in a keyboard assembly, which, in one embodiment, is used as a conductor to electrically communicate with an information appliance. The rows in the keyboard assembly are electrically isolated from one another, and each row contains keys bridging a two-wire bus. Each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a diode to polarize the key, and a resistor to provide a resistive load when the switch is closed and the diode is biased with the current flow. Alternatively, each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a timer with an output that goes high after a predetermined time period, and a resistor that provides an identifying load when the switch is closed and the output of the timer is high. Other features of the invention include a linear matrix coupled to a row of keys to allow the row to be scanned by sections and individual keys, and a flexible circuit that provides the electrical pathways for the linear matrix.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting key actuation in a keyboard assembly, which, in one embodiment, is used as a conductor to electrically communicate with an information appliance. The rows in the keyboard assembly are electrically isolated from one another, and each row contains keys bridging a two-wire bus. Each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a diode to polarize the key, and a resistor to provide a resistive load when the switch is closed and the diode is biased with the current flow. Alternatively, each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a timer with an output that goes high after a predetermined time period, and a resistor that provides an identifying load when the switch is closed and the output of the timer is high. Other features of the invention include a linear matrix coupled to a row of keys to allow the row to be scanned by sections and individual keys, and a flexible circuit that provides the electrical pathways for the linear matrix.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting key actuation in a keyboard assembly, which, in one embodiment, is used as a conductor to electrically communicate with an information appliance. The rows in the keyboard assembly are electrically isolated from one another, and each row contains keys bridging a two-wire bus. Each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a diode to polarize the key, and a resistor to provide a resistive load when the switch is closed and the diode is biased with the current flow. Alternatively, each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a timer with an output that goes high after a predetermined time period, and a resistor that provides an identifying load when the switch is closed and the output of the timer is high. Other features of the invention include a linear matrix coupled to a row of keys to allow the row to be scanned by sections and individual keys, and a flexible circuit that provides the electrical pathways for the linear matrix.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting key actuation in a keyboard assembly, which, in one embodiment, is used as a conductor to electrically communicate with an information appliance. The rows in the keyboard assembly are electrically isolated from one another, and each row contains keys bridging a two-wire bus. Each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a diode to polarize the key, and a resistor to provide a resistive load when the switch is closed and the diode is biased with the current flow. Alternatively, each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a timer with an output that goes high after a predetermined time period, and a resistor that provides an identifying load when the switch is closed and the output of the timer is high. Other features of the invention include a linear matrix coupled to a row of keys to allow the row to be scanned by sections and individual keys, and a flexible circuit that provides the electrical pathways for the linear matrix.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting key actuation in a keyboard assembly, which, in one embodiment, is used as a conductor to electrically communicate with an information appliance. The rows in the keyboard assembly are electrically isolated from one another, and each row contains keys bridging a two-wire bus. Each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a diode to polarize the key, and a resistor to provide a resistive load when the switch is closed and the diode is biased with the current flow. Alternatively, each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a timer with an output that goes high after a predetermined time period, and a resistor that provides an identifying load when the switch is closed and the output of the timer is high. Other features of the invention include a linear matrix coupled to a row of keys to allow the row to be scanned by sections and individual keys, and a flexible circuit that provides the electrical pathways for the linear matrix.

Abstract: A foldable keyboard having a plurality of folding keyboard sections. Each keyboard section includes a frame carrying a key set having a plurality of keys. The key set may be movable laterally relative to the frame. The frame with the key set is foldable with respect to an adjacent frame. The frame provides a self-contained enclosure for the keyboard assembly when fully closed. When opened, the keyboard assembly can be a full-size standard QWERTY keyboard.

Abstract: A portable communication device which, in one exemplary embodiment, includes a first position to cover a display assembly and a keyboard assembly, a second position to form a mobile voice phone and a third position to form a personal digital assistant. In this exemplary embodiment, a display on the display assembly is in a portrait mode relative to said keyboard assembly in the second position and the display on the display assembly is in a landscape mode relative to said keyboard assembly in the third position. Other embodiments are disclosed.