Abstract: A method (400) for resizing an active area of a flexible display or reconfigurable device (100) can include a screen (104 or 210) and a controller (202) coupled to the screen. The controller can initiate (402) a re-sizing program upon detection of an altered shape for the display or device and control (411) the active area of the display based upon the altered shape. The controller can further resize (414) fonts or graphic elements or both in correspondence to the dimensions of the active area. The controller can initiate the resizing program by altering the flexible display away from a flat position to a non-flat position for example. The flexible display can further include a switch (106) that detects the mating of a first end (111) of the flexible display with a second end (112) which initiates the resizing program.

Abstract: A device (2600) includes a controllable skin texture (2606) defining a keypad (2610), a sensor (2602), and control logic (200). The sensor senses a proximity of a pointing element (2900) to a particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) of the keypad based on a user input. The control logic adjusts a height of the particular key with respect to another key of the keypad in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key. In one example, the device includes a display (2700) for displaying a plurality of keys (2612). The control logic adjusts visual characteristics of the particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) and an adjacent key (2802, 2810, 2904, 2910) with respect to each other and with respect to other keys of the plurality of keys in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile communication device and a method including a first housing including a first side and a second side, a display coupled to the first side of the first housing and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing, the second housing being coupled against the second side of the first housing when the second housing is in a closed position and extending the first side of the first housing when the second housing is in an open position.

Abstract: A communication device having a display interface coupled to a controller configured to determine a status of messages received, to present a list of message indicators on the display interface, and to indicate the status of each message by presenting a corresponding message indicator with a textual character having a size that is based on the status of the corresponding message. The message status may be, among other characteristics, the priority or age of the message as determined by the controller.

Abstract: A device (100, 2604) includes a controllable skin texture surface (2602), a sensor (2700), and control logic (200). The sensor senses a plurality of points of interest (2804, 2806) of a user surface (2800). The control logic controls a plurality of portions (2900) of the controllable skin texture surface to protrude at locations with respect to the plurality of points of interest in response to the sensor sensing the plurality of points of interest. In one example, the control logic periodically adjusts the plurality of portions protruding from the controllable skin texture surface in response to movement between the user surface and the controllable skin texture surface.

Abstract: A device (2600) includes a controllable skin texture (2606) defining a keypad (2610), a sensor (2602), and control logic (200). The sensor senses a proximity of a pointing element (2900) to a particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) of the keypad based on a user input. The control logic adjusts a height of the particular key with respect to another key of the keypad in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key. In one example, the device includes a display (2700) for displaying a plurality of keys (2612). The control logic adjusts visual characteristics of the particular key (2800, 2808, 2902, 2908) and an adjacent key (2802, 2810, 2904, 2910) with respect to each other and with respect to other keys of the plurality of keys in response to the sensor sensing the proximity of the pointing element to the particular key.

Abstract: A method (400) or system (200) can include a display (100 or 210) having an object or displayed element (104), a cursor (106) presented on the display manipulated by a user input device (212), and a processor (202) coupled to the display and capable of detecting a position of the cursor. The processor can be programmed to detect (402) a predetermined proximity between the cursor and the displayed element, apply (403) an attraction function to the to the cursor causing the cursor to move towards the displayed element, and apply (404) a delay function reducing further movement of the cursor once the cursor is within another predetermined proximity of the displayed element. The processor can be further programmed to monitor (406) a motion sensor (213) and adjust the attraction function or delay function or both responsive to an output of the motion sensor.

Abstract: A device (2600) includes a controllable skin texture surface (2616), a non-keypad display (2618), and control logic (200). The non-keypad display displays non-keypad information representing at least one selectable element (2800, 2900). The selectable element represents additional display information (2610, 2614). The control logic is operatively coupled to the non-keypad display and the controllable skin texture surface. The control logic controls at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface to protrude at a location corresponding to the selectable element to provide a protruding selectable element (2804, 2902). In one example, the device includes a sensor (2602). The sensor is operatively coupled to the control logic. The sensor senses a user activating the selectable element. The control logic controls the non-keypad display to display the additional information in response to the sensor sensing the user activating the selectable element.

Abstract: An electronic device (100) includes an actuation element (106) configured to alter an actuation element profile (108) of the actuation element (106) with respect to a housing (102) in response to a device event (110). Altering the actuation element profile (108) may include distally extending or changing the form factor of the actuation element (106). Device events, for example where the electronic device (100) is a radiotelephone (300), may include receipt of an incoming communication (310). When such an event occurs, the actuation element profile (108) of a call activation key (306) is altered. In response to the actuation element profile (108) being altered, a user (620) is alerted to the incoming communication (310). Shape memory alloy elements such as martensite, actuation element profile drivers such as electromagnetic driver (700), or actuation element profile motors such as a cam and follower motor (800) a may additionally be used to alter the actuation element profile (108).

Abstract: A first user interface is presented (101) within a portable electronic device. The selection of a first function by the user via the first user interface is then detected (102). In response to detecting (102) the user's selection of the first function, the first user interface is then replaced (103) with at least a partially disabled second user interface that is different from the first user interface. A user selection of at least one user-selectable function in the second user interface is then detected (104). After the function is detected, the first user interface provides (105) the user with information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function that comprises a substantially similar function as the selected user-selectable function from the second user interface.

Abstract: A method (400) for resizing an active area of a flexible display or reconfigurable device (100) can include a screen (104 or 210) and a controller (202) coupled to the screen. The controller can initiate (402) a re-sizing program upon detection of an altered shape for the display or device and control (411) the active area of the display based upon the altered shape. The controller can further resize (414) fonts or graphic elements or both in correspondence to the dimensions of the active area. The controller can initiate the resizing program by altering the flexible display away from a flat position to a non-flat position for example. The flexible display can further include a switch (106) that detects the mating of a first end (111) of the flexible display with a second end (112) which initiates the resizing program.

Abstract: A device (300) having a user interface (303) is provided with an automatic discretionary capability of determining use of a wireless message. The wireless message may contain user interface preference information that is initially sourced by an end user platform. The device uses the automatic discretionary capability to determine whether and to what extent to use the user interface preference information to influence control of the user interface (303). The device (300) may contain a wireless receiver (302) for receiving the wireless messages with a memory (304) for storing the user interface preference information therein. Also provided in the device (300) is a processor (301) which provides and uses the automatic discretionary capability to determine to what extent to use the user interface preference information to influence control of the user interface (303). The automatic discretionary capability of the device (300) may override, accept, or weight the user interface preference information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for finding a rendering of a work that a user desires to have presented. The method includes performing an internal search within a preferred storage device for one or more acceptable digital renderings of the work, performing a user network search for one or more acceptable digital renderings in one or more devices of a user wireless network (125) that includes the preferred presentation device and the preferred storage device, when the internal search is continued to a next search level, and performing a remote search for one or more acceptable digital renderings in one or more devices of a remote network (150), when the user network search is continued to a next search level. A user wireless device (115) may perform the method.

Abstract: A first user interface is presented (101) within a portable electronic device. The selection of a first function by the user via the first user interface is then detected (102). In response to detecting (102) the user's selection of the first function, the first user interface is then replaced (103) with at least a partially disabled second user interface that is different from the first user interface. A user selection of at least one user-selectable function in the second user interface is then detected (104). After the function is detected, the first user interface provides (105) the user with information regarding at least one corresponding user-selectable function that comprises a substantially similar function as the selected user-selectable function from the second user interface.

Abstract: An electronic device with a force sensing key (200) has a switch (280), a first force sensing region (290) for acquiring a first force value, a second force sensing region (290) for acquiring a second force value, and a processor for determining a selected function for the key (200) based upon the first force value and the second force value when the switch (280) is activated. The first force sensing pad (290) and the second force sensing pad (290) use a partially resistive material (250) that exhibits a force-to-voltage response value. By forming the switch (280) as a dome (225) switch, the force sensing key (200) provides crisp tactile feedback to a user. The force sensing key (200) can be configured for a variety of applications and user preferences by varying the architecture of the actuator (270).

Abstract: A portable device includes a speaker with an active vent fed by a front of a speaker diaphragm and a larger passive vent fed by a rear of the speaker diaphragm. The outputs of the active and passive vents are acoustically coupled to respective active and passive ports, coupled together outside of the housing within an ear placement region for a user of the portable electronic device to obtain a more uniform frequency response from the speaker configuration over a larger region of a user's ear placement possibilities than would be available with the active vent alone. This is accomplished by a close acoustic coupling of the ports in combination with diverse porting of active and passive acoustic signals. The passive path also serves to relieve pressure near a user's ear to improve signal quality.