Abstract: An apparatus (300) and method (500) for receiving inputs from a user (102) is provided. The inputs from the user may be head gestures and/or speech of the user. The head gestures refer to movements of the head of the user. The apparatus includes an accelerometer (303) for receiving inputs from the user. The inputs are in form of nasal bone vibrations of the user, which are caused by the head gestures and/or speech of the user. The accelerometer further generates signals corresponding to the inputs received from the user.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for confirming the identity of a user, where the confirmation is made using biometric data. The system includes an internal speaker having an audio port, which is positioned within the ear of the user, and is adapted for producing a signal having one or more frequencies. The system further includes an internal microphone having an audio port, which is positioned within the ear of the user, and is adapted for detecting a resulting signal including the signal produced by the internal speaker and any corresponding signal reflections. A determination is then made as to whether the resulting signal detected by the internal microphone matches the corresponding predetermined expected signal, based upon a prestored hearing profile.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for confirming the identity of a user, where the confirmation is made using biometric data. The system includes an internal speaker having an audio port, which is positioned within the ear of the user, and is adapted for producing a signal having one or more frequencies. The system further includes an internal microphone having an audio port, which is positioned within the ear of the user, and is adapted for detecting a resulting signal including the signal produced by the internal speaker and any corresponding signal reflections. A determination is then made as to whether the resulting signal detected by the internal microphone matches the corresponding predetermined expected signal, based upon a prestored hearing profile.

Abstract: A holster 101 for a portable electronic device 116 having a user interface 108 disposed upon said holster. The user interface is electrically coupled, through an electrical connector 202 to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is inserted into a cavity 102 of the holster. The user interface rotates or unfolds from the holster so that the user can interact with the user interface.

Abstract: Loudspeaker systems for handheld devices (2400, 2500) such as cellular telephones (100, 1400, 1600, 1900) are provided. The loudspeaker systems include at least one omnidirectional monopole loudspeaker (404, 1504, 1802, 1918, 1920) and at least one dipole loudspeaker (402, 1502, 1804, 1914, 1916). Filtering is used to compensate for differences between electric-to-acoustic signal transfer functions of the loudspeakers in order to achieve destructive interference of emitted audio in one direction and reinforcement in another direction. Various loudspeaker systems that are reconfigurable from directional mode, to omnidirectional mode are provided. Filtering is also used to add a frequency dependent phase to one signal in order to alter a direction of maximum sound pressure level. Two monopole-dipole pairs can be used to produce a stereo effect. The monopole and dipole loudspeakers can be housed in a detachable loudspeaker accessory (200).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention describe a control-switch (100) for an electronic device. This control-switch includes a pivot (102), a receptacle (104), a wire (106), and one or more switches such as (108) and (110). The wire couples data to the receptacle. The receptacle can receive a removable-switch interface. Further, the receptacle can move from a first position to a second position about the pivot. At the second position, one or more switches can be activated by the receptacle. Furthermore, a control circuit in the electronic device is activated at the second position by the one or more switches to modify an aspect of the data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for wirelessly delivering multi-channel content (106) from an electronic device (201), such as a MP3 player or mobile telephone having multi-media capabilities, to a user. A system (200) includes the electronic device (201), a first wireless loudspeaker device (100) and a second wireless loudspeaker device (205). One of the wireless loudspeaker devices (100) establishes a point-to-multipoint communication structure with the electronic device (201) and the other, matching wireless loudspeaker device (205). As such, the electronic device (201) is able to deliver multi-channel content (106) to the first wireless loudspeaker device (100) with a single transceiver (252). The wireless loudspeaker device (100) may then deliver single-channel content to a locally disposed loudspeaker (103). The wireless loudspeaker device (100) also transmits single-channel content (107) to the second wireless loudspeaker device (205).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for inductively charging a battery. The battery comprises a housing (102), at least one battery cell (104) carried in the housing and a multimode near field transceiver (106) carried also in the housing. The near field transceiver is operable in a passive mode to provide information and active mode to exchange information. The battery further comprises a charging coupler (108) coupled to the cell through a charging circuit (110) and a communication coupler (112) or antenna coupled to the transceiver.

Abstract: An apparatus (300) and method (500) for receiving inputs from a user (102) is provided. The inputs from the user may be head gestures and/or speech of the user. The head gestures refer to movements of the head of the user. The apparatus includes an accelerometer (303) for receiving inputs from the user. The inputs are in form of nasal bone vibrations of the user, which are caused by the head gestures and/or speech of the user. The accelerometer further generates signals corresponding to the inputs received from the user.

Abstract: Loudspeaker systems for handheld devices (2400, 2500) such as cellular telephones (100, 1400, 1600, 1900) are provided. The loudspeaker systems include at least one omnidirectional monopole loudspeaker (404, 1504, 1802, 1918, 1920) and at least one dipole loudspeaker (402, 1502, 1804, 1914, 1916). Filtering is used to compensate for differences between electric-to-acoustic signal transfer functions of the loudspeakers in order to achieve destructive interference of emitted audio in one direction and reinforcement in another direction. Various loudspeaker systems that are reconfigurable from directional mode, to omnidirectional mode are provided. Filtering is also used to add a frequency dependent phase to one signal in order to alter a direction of maximum sound pressure level. Two monopole-dipole pairs can be used to produce a stereo effect. The monopole and dipole loudspeakers can be housed in a detachable loudspeaker accessory (200).

Abstract: An electronic device (100) having a multi-mode acoustic system (120) and a method (500) for radiating sound waves are described herein. The acoustic system (120) generally includes a transducer (530), a first port (510), and a second port (520). The first and second ports (510, 520) may be acoustically coupled to the transducer (530). The second port (520) may be acoustically symmetric relative to the first port (510) such that output from the second port (520) is substantially identical to output from the first port (510).

Abstract: An electronic device (100) having a multi-mode acoustic system (120) and a method (500) for radiating sound waves are described herein. The acoustic system (120) generally includes a transducer (530), a first port (510), and a second port (520). The first and second ports (510, 520) may be acoustically coupled to the transducer (530). The second port (520) may be acoustically symmetric relative to the first port (510) such that output from the second port (520) is substantially identical to output from the first port (510).

Abstract: A holster 101 for a portable electronic device 116 having a user interface 108 disposed upon said holster. The user interface is electrically coupled, through an electrical connector 202 to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is inserted into a cavity 102 of the holster. The user interface rotates or unfolds from the holster so that the user can interact with the user interface.