Abstract: A method and related apparatus for manufacturing organic semiconductor systems uses reel-to-reel processing to deposit organic semiconductor material at desired locations on the surface of a substrate to produce desired circuit functionality. The fabric substrate is further laminated for integration with an item such as a garment or other fabric or material and becomes a part thereof imparting intelligence to the item.

Abstract: An integrated light guide for use in an electronic device having a plurality of key buttons to allow a user to input signals in the device, the light guide having a plurality of domes used as touch areas of the key buttons and a plurality of light escapement areas disposed at the domes. When coupled to a light source, a portion of the light received by the light guide from the light source escapes from the light escapement areas to illuminate the key buttons. Preferably, each dome has one or more electrically conducting patches provided under the dome such that when a touch area is pushed by the user, these patches are caused to interact with an electronic circuit placed under the light guide for activating a key.

Abstract: An arrangement of a plurality of status keys in a keyboard for entering information in an electronic device. The keyboard comprises a plurality of regular keys connected to a resistive strip at a plurality of locations for providing a first signal when one of the regular keys is pressed and the first signal is indicative of the location associated with the pressed regular key; a plurality of resistors, each having a different resistance, connected in series to the resistive strip, and separately connected in parallel to the status keys so that the resistors can be selectively by-passed by pressing one or more status keys, wherein a second signal is provided when one of the regular keys is pressed together with at least one status key, and wherein the second signal is indicative of the resistance the status key for identifying the pressed status key.

Abstract: A keypad arrangement for an electronic device comprises a keypad comprising activatable keys. It comprises also input signal means (801, 802, 901, 1001, 1601) for bringing an electric input signal to the keypad, and signal conversion means (703, 705, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 818, 1208, 1206) for responding to a key activation by selectively converting the input signal into an electric output signal the value of which depends on the activated key. Additionally there are output signal detection means (902, 903, 904, 1002, 1602) for detecting the value of the electric output signal. The arrangement comprises a first electromagnetic coupling (706, 708, 709, 710, 803) between the input signal means and the signal conversion means, and a second electromagnetic coupling (707, 711, 804) between the signal conversion means and the output signal detection means.

Abstract: A method and system for preventing unintended touch pad input resulting from accidental touching of a touch pad device in an electronic device. A user can execute one or more touch pad functions by touching the touch pad device. The electronic device includes a key lock function to put the electronic device in a locked state such that only a limited number of selected input functions are available when the electronic device is in the locked state. When touch pad device is touched, a software program is used to determine whether the electronic device is the locked state and whether the touch function is one of the selected input functions in order to carry out or to block the touch pad function.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of an object at a touch pad device, wherein the touch pad device has a designated interaction area for allowing a user to use the object to interact with the touch pad device for inputting one or more functions in an electronic device. One or more groups of optical sensor components, each including an optical receiver and two light emitters positioned at opposite sides of the receiver such that when an object is present at the touch pad device, the changes in the receiver output can be used to determine the location of the object as a function of time. Preferably, the light emitters are operated in a pulsed mode so that the changes in the receiver output contain a frequency component so as to distinguish the changes due to the presence of the object and those of ambient light.

Abstract: An optical hinge and an optical hinge apparatus for providing an optical link between a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The optical hinge is made of two optical components, separated by an air gap, to allow a light beam to transmit from one optical component to another via the air gap. The optical components can be rotated relative to each other along a rotation axis. Each of the optical components is optically coupled to an opto-electronic device on a circuit board. Preferably, the light beam is transmitted through the air gap along an optical path which is substantially parallel to or coincident with the rotation axis. The light beam can be used to carry optical signals in order to convey communication data from one circuit board to another. The optical signals can be transmitted in infrared frequencies or visible frequencies.

Abstract: A telecommunications network includes a mobile phone with an audio-modulated vibrotactile module that responds to a telecommunications signal containing information about incoming speech from a called/calling party, for providing an audio-modulated vibrotactile module force containing information about the incoming speech from the called/calling party to vibrate a user's fingers, facial skin, wrist, cheek or other suitable location. The audio-modulated vibrotactile module has an audio-to-vibrotactile converter that responds to the telecommunications signal, for providing an audio-to-vibrotactile converter signal containing information about a vibration modulation of the incoming speech from the called/calling party. The audio-modulated vibrotactile module also has a vibrotactile actuator that responds to the audio-to-vibrotactile converter signal, for providing the audio-modulated vibrotactile module force in the form of a vibrotactile actuator force.

Abstract: An arrangement of a plurality of status keys in a keyboard for entering information in an electronic device. The keyboard comprises a plurality of regular keys connected to a resistive strip at a plurality of locations for providing a first signal when one of the regular keys is pressed and the first signal is indicative of the location associated with the pressed regular key; a plurality of resistors, each having a different resistance, connected in series to the resistive strip, and separately connected in parallel to the status keys so that the resistors can be selectively by-passed by pressing one or more status keys, wherein a second signal is provided when one of the regular keys is pressed together with at least one status key, and wherein the second signal is indicative of the resistance the status key for identifying the pressed status key.

Abstract: A light guide is disclosed having a critical angle, wherein light enters the light guide in an input direction. A reflector reflects light using total internal reflection in a lateral direction. A second reflector reflects light using total internal reflection in a second lateral direction. A third reflector reflects light from the lateral direction upward. A fourth reflector reflects light from the second lateral direction upward.

Abstract: A keypad arrangement for an electronic device comprises a keypad comprising activatable keys. It comprises also input signal means (801, 802, 901, 1001, 1601) for bringing an electric input signal to the keypad, and signal conversion means (703, 705, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 818, 1208, 1206) for responding to a key activation by selectively converting the input signal into an electric output signal the value of which depends on the activated key. Additionally there are output signal detection means (902, 903, 904, 1002, 1602) for detecting the value of the electric output signal. The arrangement comprises a first electromagnetic coupling (706, 708, 709, 710, 803) between the input signal means and the signal conversion means, and a second electromagnetic coupling (707, 711, 804) between the signal conversion means and the output signal detection means.

Abstract: A small sized optical transmission unit suitable for non-simultaneous transmission and reception comprising a transmitter and a receiver operating in the optical wavelenght range is described. The optical unit includes an optical element. Furthermore, both the transmitter and the receiver are arranged to utilize the same optical element. In addition, the transmitter is positioned between the receiver and the optical element.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical communication, particularly to small-sized transmitter/receiver units. An optical transmission module according to the invention is advantageously applied for data transmission according to the IrDA standard.

Abstract: An electromechanical data input mechanism 200, 700, 750 comprises a first structural entity 210, 710, having a first surface 211 and a conductive coupling area 107 on said first surface, and a second structural entity 220, 720 having a second surface 212 located adjacent to said first surface and separated therefrom by a gap. It further comprises a dome-like member 102 adjacent to said conductive coupling area, and extending from the second surface, an actuator 105 adjacent to the dome-like member. The mechanism is characterized in that within an pressing area elastic properties of the second structural entity are substantially uniform and said first and second structural entities are kept apart from each other solely through the dome-like members, and said first and second structural entities are arranged to move with respect to each other so that under the influence of a force pressing them towards each other, the actuator moves towards the dome-like member.

Abstract: A keypad for a portable electronic device comprises a number of pressable keys (402). Associated with each key, there are switching means (501, 502, 611, 612, 620, 621, 622, 801, 1106) for realizing a switching function as a response to the key being pressed. Additionally there are illumination means (503, 601, 610, 623, 704, 803, 1201, 1302) for illuminating at least a part of the keypad. The illumination means (503, 601, 610, 623, 704, 803, 1201, 1302) comprise light sources (503, 601, 610, 623, 704, 803, 1201) such as semiconductor light-emitting devices made of layered foil structures. At least one of said light sources (503, 601, 610, 623, 704, 803, 1201) is located in the immediate vicinity of the switching means (501, 502, 611, 612, 620, 621, 622, 801, 1106) associated with at least one key.

Abstract: A system for providing an IR-link between a mobile phone and its accessories to transmit audio, control, and data signals between them in an apparent full-duplex real time mode using a conventional half-duplex IR-transceiver with suitable FIFO registers and control means. The "direction" of the half-duplex channel is "switched" by the system which may be embodied in an IR-link module, having transmission channels for digital full-duplex audio signals, slow data messages and fast data messages, and for some control data. The module is connected to the baseband of a phone through a baseband interface (BBIF) and communicates through a media interface (MIF) and an infrared interface (IRIF) with free air space or a lightguide. A link-specific low-level protocol is used for audio and slow data message transmission but the link hardware of the module may also support other protocol implementations. The system may be implemented in hardware and/or software.