Abstract: A wireless computing device may include an internal antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transmission path that is switchably connectable to the internal antenna, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector configured to connect to an external antenna, a detector configured to detect if an external antenna is connected to the USB connector, and an antenna selector configured to (1) connect the internal antenna into the RF transmission path if the detector detects that no external antenna is connected to the USB connector and (2) disconnect the internal antenna from the RF transmission path and connect the external antenna into the RF transmission path if the detector detects that the external antenna is connected to the USB connector, thereby improving the wireless transmission/reception performance of the internal wireless module of the wireless computing device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for foldable thermal ground planes for electronic devices. An example an apparatus to cool an electronic device includes a first plate; a second plate; a plurality of first pillars extending between the first plate and the second plate, the plurality of first pillars having a first shape; a plurality of second pillars extending between the first plate and the second plate, the plurality of second pillars having a second shape, the second shape different than the first shape; and a hinge separating the apparatus into a first section and a second section, the plurality of second pillars in the hinge.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices for remotely controlling device settings for collaboration sessions. A device may identify an alphanumeric handle based on a location identifier of a first location associated with the device and a collaboration session identifier for a collaboration session of a collaboration application executed by the device; generate a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising packet including a header and a payload, the header including the alphanumeric handle and a hardware identifier that identifies the device; transmit the BLE advertising packet; identify an authentication request received from a second device in the collaboration session, the authentication request including the alphanumeric handle; authenticate the second device based on the alphanumeric handle; and transmit a BLE notification packet including an indication of a volume at which the second device is to set a speaker for the collaboration session.

Abstract: A thermal ground plane (TGP), including: a vapor chamber containing an ionized fluid; a reservoir fluidly connected with the vapor chamber, configured to store excess ionized fluid; and an electromagnetic source configured to dynamically direct a variable amount of the excess ionized fluid from the reservoir to the vapor chamber based on a thermal resistance of the ionized fluid in the vapor chamber or a temperature of the TGP at a location proximate to a heat source.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for inductors of voltage regulators that are built into and/or around mounting holes of a printed circuit board. An example apparatus includes a printed circuit board that includes a plurality of layers and a mounting hole extending through the plurality of layers, and an inductor at least partially in the mounting hole between two or more of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for reducing air turbulence in a fan using a flow shaper. The fan including an impeller, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The flow shaper including a partition structure arranged at an inflection area between the first outlet and the second outlet. The flow shaper further including a first fin for the first outlet defining a first channel between the partition structure and the first fin. The first channel extending from a proximity of the impeller to the first outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for self-sanitizing a device using the built-in screen display of the device (e.g., a laptop). The device includes a processor configured to execute instructions to determine a relationship between a location of a display of the device and a location of a keyboard surface of the device. The processor is also configured to execute instructions configured to, based on the relationship, enable a sanitization mode on the device and to configure the display to emit light toward the keyboard surface to sanitize the keyboard surface when the sanitization mode is enabled.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moisture degree detection are disclosed. An example apparatus for use with an input device includes trace routing positioned at or proximate a contact area of the input device, the trace routing including a first electrode, and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a distance; and an amplifier electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the amplifier to provide a signal based on a resistance related to a degree of moisture present between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to monitoring the integrity of the thermal interface material (TIM) of a semiconductor device directly by a monitoring component of a motherboard, a system on chip (SOC), or a remote device to measure either the electrical resistivity or capacitive property of the TIM, depending on the type of TIM being used, as a means to directly assess the thermal properties (conductivity, resistance, and/or impedance) of the TIM as it ages. In an aspect, the electrical resistivity or capacitive property of the TIM may be initially measured and charted, and thereafter, the changes in the electrical resistivity or capacitive property may be sensed by the monitoring component and, based on the delta of those changes, there may be remedial actions taken to mitigate impacts to the overall system performance and/or to prevent irreparable damage to the semiconductor device/system.

Abstract: Keyboards for electronic devices with keys having integrated speakers are disclosed herein. An example keyboard includes a key having a key cap and a speaker coupled to the key cap. The speaker is disposed in or at least partially covered by the key cap.

Abstract: Techniques are described to dynamically adjust the open air ratio (OAR) while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. An adjustable thermal vent assembly is described that dynamically adjusts the OAR for inlet/outlet vents depending on the current use case. The adjustable thermal vent assembly functions to increase the grating spacing only when a triggering condition is met that ensures that a corresponding thermal vent location is inaccessible. Such temporarily inaccessible regions may include the bottom cover of an electronic device when positioned on the surface of an object, for thermal intake vents, or the rear portion of an electronic device when the display cover exceeds a predetermined angle, for thermal exhaust vents.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for multi device media management. An example electronic device disclosed herein includes interface circuitry to obtain a notification packet from a client device; machine readable instructions; and at least one processor circuit to be programmed by the machine readable instructions to: to identify a subsystem of the electronic device to be controlled based on the notification packet; and change an operating parameter of the subsystem based on the notification packet.

Abstract: Capacitors are commonly used in design and manufacturing of PCBs, which may exhibit a vibration effect, such as a piezoelectric effect. This vibration may induce acoustic noise. PCB capacitor-induced acoustic noise mitigation may include receiving an AC input that is converted and applied to a voltage rail, which may be used by first capacitor set. An additional capacitor set may receive and invert the voltage rail signal and oscillate (e.g., vibrate) out of phase with the first capacitor set, such that the second capacitor set mitigates or cancels the acoustic noise generated by the first capacitor set.

Abstract: A communication device including a chassis; and a wireless communication interface having an antenna and a mounting structure, the mounting structure mounting the antenna to the chassis, wherein the mounting structure is configured to arrange the antenna in a first position and in at least a second position, wherein in the first position the antenna is arranged in a first distance to a surface of the chassis, and in the second position the antenna is arranged in a second distance to the surface of the chassis, wherein the second distance is larger than the first distance, wherein the antenna is operational in the same frequency range in each of the first position and the second position.

Abstract: Keyboards that are selectably configurable between a standard interface and a braille interface. In embodiments, the keyboard is equipped with six keys corresponding to six dots of a braille matrix, each of the keys equipped with a shape memory alloy spring or other mechanism to cause each of the keys to selectably extend above the keyboard plane. On activation, the six keys are extended and the remaining keys deactivated, to provide an easy to locate braille interface. On subsequent activation, the six keys are retracted and the keyboard is reverted to a standard interface. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A thermally conductive band can improve the flow of heat from a first portion of a mobile computing device (e.g., the base portion of a laptop computer) to a second portion of the mobile computing device (e.g., the lid portion of the laptop). The band is removably attachable to the mobile computing device via magnets or another attachment approach. The band comprises a thermally conductive layer, a first end removably attachable to an external surface of the first device portion, and a second end removably attachable to an external surface of the second device portion. The band can comprise thermal gap pads between the thermally conductive layer and the external surfaces to aid in providing a low thermal resistance path between the device and the band.

Abstract: A noise suppressing heat exchanger (also referred to as heat sink) includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins formed with baffles. The baffles suppress noise from a fan by slowing air flow and creating internal reflections within the heat exchanger that reflect noise away from the air flow path, absorbing sound energy and potentially setting up standing waves which dissipate noise via destructive interference. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A kickstand for ergonomically positioning a computer device is equipped with an integrated antenna. In embodiments, the kickstand stores into a recess on a computer device, and can be deployed to help place the computer device into an ergonomic position. A switch or other sensor in the computer device may detect when the kickstand is deployed, and switch a radio within the computer device from an internal antenna to the antenna integrated into the kickstand. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A wireless computing device may include an internal antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transmission path that is switchably connectable to the internal antenna, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector configured to connect to an external antenna, a detector configured to detect if an external antenna is connected to the USB connector, and an antenna selector configured to (1) connect the internal antenna into the RF transmission path if the detector detects that no external antenna is connected to the USB connector and (2) disconnect the internal antenna from the RF transmission path and connect the external antenna into the RF transmission path if the detector detects that the external antenna is connected to the USB connector, thereby improving the wireless transmission/reception performance of the internal wireless module of the wireless computing device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to monitor thermal degradation of a compute device. One such method includes calculating, by executing instructions with processor circuitry, a thermal degradation value based on an equation, the equation generated based on testing of thermal interface materials having varying degrees of degradation. The method also includes comparing, by executing instructions with the processor circuitry, the thermal degradation value to a thermal degradation threshold to determine whether the thermal degradation threshold is satisfied, and, when the thermal degradation threshold is satisfied, triggering generation of a thermal degradation alert.