Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a housing having a surface; a first input component having input members disposed external to the surface; a second touch sensitive input component disposed about the input members, the touch sensitive input component being separate and distinct from the input members and the first input component and being structured to provide one of: a contact point with respect to the surface responsive to actuation of a first number of the input members, and a number of responses responsive to actuation of a second number of the input members. A processor cooperates with the first input component and the touch sensitive input component to determine if a plurality of the input members are actuated contemporaneously and to output a representation of a single one of the input members based upon one of: the contact point, and the number of responses.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly exchanging an encryption key between a first device and a second device. The system generally includes: a transmitter, provided to the first device, for transmitting a signal that is strong enough to transmit over a predetermined distance while having a strength that decreases exponentially with distance, for example a magnetic field signal; a receiver, for example a Hall effect switch, provided to the second device, for receiving the signal; and a controller for determining when the first device and the second device are within the predetermined distance and controlling the transmitter to transmit the encryption key based on the determination.

Abstract: A system and method for handling electronic notes in a mobile environment, wherein the system includes a memory configured to store an electronic note, which electronic note includes location information, a location detector configured to detect location information for the mobile device, and a processor configured to: monitor the location information for the mobile device based on data from the location detector; compare the location information for the mobile device with the location information in the electronic note; and activate the electronic note when the location information for the mobile device is within a predetermined distance of the location information in the electronic note.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, both first and second electronic devices having Universal Serial Bus (USB) client interfaces, the method comprising the steps: connecting the two electronic devices with a USB cable; toggling the voltage on a VBUS line of the USB cable between logic high voltage and no voltage at the first electronic device; detecting toggles of the VBUS line at the second electronic device; and interpreting the toggles detected in the detecting step as data.

Abstract: A system and method for handling electronic notes in a mobile environment, wherein the system includes a memory configured to store an electronic note, which electronic note includes location information, a location detector configured to detect location information for the mobile device, and a processor configured to: monitor the location information for the mobile device based on data from the location detector; compare the location information for the mobile device with the location information in the electronic note; and activate the electronic note when the location information for the mobile device is within a predetermined distance of the location information in the electronic note.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, both first and second electronic devices having Universal Serial Bus (USB) client interfaces, the method comprising the steps: connecting the two electronic devices with a USB cable; toggling the voltage on a VBUS line of the USB cable between logic high voltage and no voltage at the first electronic device; detecting toggles of the VBUS line at the second electronic device; and interpreting the toggles detected in the detecting step as data.

Abstract: A user interface for a portable electronic device and associated method, wherein the device includes a display for displaying a plurality of selectable items circumscribing a center portion and a multi-directional user input device, such as a joystick, having a return-to-center mechanism for biasing the device toward a center position. The method comprises displaying the plurality of selectable items, shifting display focus to any one of the selectable items responsive to lateral movement of the user input device away from the center position toward the selectable item, and moving the selectable item to the center portion while maintaining focus responsive to the user input device returning to its center position.

Abstract: A public address system is set forth, comprising at least one wireless mobile communication device; a sound system; and a back-end system for selectively receiving a wireless signal from the wireless mobile communication device and transmitting the signal to the sound system for broadcast.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a display for displaying an image that exceeds the dimensions of the display, a multi-directional input device for navigating the image on the display, at least one button input device on each of opposite sides of the multi-directional input, a touch sensor adjacent and underlying the multi-directional input device and the button input devices for sensing touch adjacent the multi-directional input device and the button input devices and in response generating an output signal, and a processor for receiving the output signal and scrolling the image responsive to the touch sensor sensing touch that commences adjacent the multi-directional input device and moves toward the button input device.

Abstract: An electronic device including a base, a touch-sensitive display comprising a display device and a touch-sensitive overlay connected to a controller and disposed on the display device for detecting a touch event thereon, the touch-sensitive display connected to and moveable relative to the base, an actuating arrangement including a pad disposed between the touch-sensitive display and the base, the pad having an expandable region for expanding as a result of compression of the pad due to movement of the touch-sensitive display toward the base, a switch in communication with the expandable region for actuating as a result of expansion of the expandable region, and operational components comprising a processor connected to the controller for operation of the electronic device.

Abstract: A track ball cursor positioning sub-system is employed by a handheld electronic device including an operating system and a plurality of applications having a plurality of predetermined scaling values. The cursor positioning sub-system includes a track ball cursor positioning device adapted to output a plurality of device pulses, and a track ball cursor resolution controller adapted to repetitively input the device pulses and to responsively output to the operating system a plurality of cursor movement events. The cursor resolution controller is further adapted to be controlled by the operating system or by the applications to learn which one of the applications is active and to automatically scale a number of the cursor movement events for a corresponding number of the device pulses based upon a corresponding one of the predetermined scaling values of the active one of the applications.

Abstract: A track ball cursor positioning sub-system is employed by a handheld electronic device including an operating system and a plurality of applications having a plurality of predetermined scaling values. The cursor positioning sub-system includes a track ball cursor positioning device adapted to output a plurality of device pulses, and a track ball cursor resolution controller adapted to repetitively input the device pulses and to responsively output to the operating system a plurality of cursor movement events. The cursor resolution controller is further adapted to be controlled by the operating system or by the applications to learn which one of the applications is active and to automatically scale a number of the cursor movement events for a corresponding number of the device pulses based upon a corresponding one of the predetermined scaling values of the active one of the applications.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and a circuit board carried by the housing and including Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor carried by the housing and operative with each other. A Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit is positioned on the circuit board and operative with the processor for communicating in accordance with the NFC communication protocol. A touch activated sensor is supported by the housing and operative for enabling operation of the NFC circuit when touched to establish NFC communications from the communications device.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a deflector in a seismic survey comprises a generally upright deflector body and at least one bridle connected to a seismic cable. The bridle includes an upper segment secured to an upper connection point on the deflector body, and a lower segment coupled to a lower connection point on the deflector body. The upper bridle segment, lower bridle segment and deflector body define a geometry between themselves. This geometry is adjustable by at least one actuator so as to control the tilt angle of the deflector body.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a display screen located on the device. The handheld electronic device features a body housing a microprocessor-run software application program that displays a menu including available user actions on a display screen of the handheld electronic device. The microprocessor-run software application displays a plurality of legends at a lateral side of the displayed menu based on receipt of a cursor position data indicating that the cursor on the display screen is in a proximate area of the display screen on which the plurality of legends display.

Abstract: A handheld electronic communication device includes a plurality of text entry keys arranged in a keyfield. A user navigates among alphabetic selections shown on a display by moving his fingers across keys lying within a navigation travel region and other wise generally used to effect text entry into the device.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a housing having a surface; a first input component having input members disposed external to the surface; a second touch sensitive input component disposed about the input members, the touch sensitive input component being separate and distinct from the input members and the first input component and being structured to provide one of: a contact point with respect to the surface responsive to actuation of a first number of the input members, and a number of responses responsive to actuation of a second number of the input members. A processor cooperates with the first input component and the touch sensitive input component to determine if a plurality of the input members are actuated contemporaneously and to output a representation of a single one of the input members based upon one of: the contact point, and the number of responses.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to a key in a keypad of an electronic device and a system to control the value associated with the key. The key comprises: a programmable display to generate a character associated with the key; and a switch assembly associated with the key to register activation of the key. In the key, part of the display deflects inwardly into the device when external pressure is applied to the key, and the display transmits the external pressure to the switch assembly. The key have an elastomer located between the display and the switch assembly. The display may be a cholesteric liquid crystal display.

Abstract: Keypad keys for handheld mobile communication devices feature flexible key bodies and actuators extending from the key bodies. Switches below the actuators are connected in series circuits. All actuators beneath an intended key must be depressed in order for the circuit to be closed and the key to be recognized as actuated. The flexible nature of the key bodies allows one actuator on a given key to be depressed while other actuators remain non-depressed. This prevents the key from being recognized as actuated when a only a portion of the key is depressed as occurs, for example, due to finger overlap.