Abstract: A method and apparatus for a wireless communication earpiece. The wireless communication earpiece comprises an earbud and an electronics portion. A manual selection of one of a left ear and a right ear position of the earbud is conveyed to the electronics portion by one of an electrical and mechanical means. In some embodiments, a right antenna element is electrically coupled (activated) to a transceiver when the right ear position is selected and a left antenna element is activated when the left ear position is selected. In some embodiments, an antenna element is coupled to the transceiver and the antenna element is rotated to a right side (activated) of the earpiece when the right ear position is selected and the antenna element is rotated to a left side (activated) of the earpiece when the left ear position is selected.

Abstract: Implementations relate to systems and methods for location assistance using devices (104) in a personal area network (PAN). In one scenario, a user may use two separate location-enabled devices, such as a wearable personal device (102) and a cellular telephone device (104). In cases, one of those devices may have reached a higher or farther-developed state in terms of generating or storing location information (108) for the user's current position, as compared to the opposite device. This can take place, for instance, when the first (e.g. wearable) device (102) is first turned on. The two devices use platforms and techniques to exchange location information and carry out GPS or other operations to furnish the device that is lagging in position processing progress with assistance which will speed up or otherwise enhance the position fix for that device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for performing antenna matching and include determining a cable connection state of a cable connector, generating a cable detection signal that indicates the cable connection state, and modifying impedance transform of a tunable matching circuit in response to the cable detection signal. The cable detection signal indicates one of a presence and an absence of a cable connector. The tunable matching circuit couples a transceiver and an antenna. The tunable matching circuit couples the selected impedance transform between the transceiver and the antenna. The apparatus is a radio communication device that includes a transceiver, a processing system, an antenna, a tunable matching circuit, an input/output section, a cable connector, and a sensor.

Abstract: A method and portable device provide multi-band, multi-antenna signal communication in a portable device having wireless communication capability. A portable device comprises a single loop multi-feed (SLM) antenna system which includes a continuous conductive ring located along and adjacent to a first device periphery area. The SLM antenna system also comprises multiple communication feeds each respectively coupled to one of multiple transceivers and to the conductive ring. The SLM antenna system includes multiple ground connection points each of which is coupled to a ground plane. Each ground connection point is selectively positioned at a corresponding location on the continuous conductive ring in order to configure, within the SLM antenna system, multiple corresponding antenna elements.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided that uses an accelerometer to sense when the mobile communication device is dropped and impacts a hard surface, such as a floor or table, with a force hard enough to bend or deform an external metal antenna. Once such an impact is detected by the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device is further configured to determine whether an antenna has become detuned from its respective transceiver and then retune the antenna prior to the user picking up the dropped mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting whether the position of a user's hand gripping a mobile communication device chassis affects an external antenna is provided. A sectioned metal band about a periphery of a mobile communication device has a radiating antenna in at least one metal section. The radiating antenna section is bounded on both sides by electrically floating metal sections. Each of the electrically floating metal sections is bounded on the side distal from the antenna section by a ground metal section. Each metal section separated from an adjacent metal section by an insulating gap. Embodiments measure a differential capacitance between the antenna section and the floating metal section and measure a single and capacitance between the floating metal section and the grounded section to determine whether a user's hand is bridging one or more of the insulating gaps.

Abstract: An electronic device (200) includes a control circuit (304) disposed on a substrate (220). The control circuit is operable with a display (509), a near field communication circuit (201) and a wide area communication circuit (302). The near field communication circuit is operable with a near field communication circuit antenna (344). The wide area communication circuit is operable with one or more wide area communication circuit antennas (312). In a housing (511) of the electronic device, the substrate separates the near field communication antenna from the battery and the wide area network communication antenna.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining whether to disconnect a wireless communication link between a communication device disposed in a vehicle and a mobile device is provided. The method comprises determining whether the communication device is moving or not moving, determining whether the mobile device has exited the proximity of the vehicle, and disconnecting the wireless communication link when the communication device is not moving and the mobile device has exited the proximity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided having a peripheral metal bezel made up of a plurality of metal segments. At least one of the metal segments on the bezel is configured to be a main antenna that is connected to a transceiver circuit via an antenna matching circuit. Proximate to the main antenna is another metal segment on the metal bezel that is configured to be a capacitance proximity sensor. The capacitance proximity sensor, in conjunction with a capacitance sensing circuit provide information to the circuitry within the mobile communication device to tune the antenna matching circuit to impedance match the transceiver with the antenna.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for performing antenna matching and include determining a cable connection state of a cable connector, generating a cable detection signal that indicates the cable connection state, and modifying impedance transform of a tunable matching circuit in response to the cable detection signal. The cable detection signal indicates one of a presence and an absence of a cable connector. The tunable matching circuit couples a transceiver and an antenna. The tunable matching circuit couples the selected impedance transform between the transceiver and the antenna. The apparatus is a radio communication device that includes a transceiver, a processing system, an antenna, a tunable matching circuit, an input/output section, a cable connector, and a sensor.

Abstract: An improved system 100 and method of reducing RF energy leakage from being trapped in a gap (cavity) 178 between a battery 102 and printed circuit board (PCB) 104 in an electronic communications device 106 is provided by a RF shield assembly that can extend between the battery and the PCB. The RF shield assembly can comprise a conductive wrap 168 and conductive foam 170 connected to metal pads 138 and 140 along the ground plane 136 of the PCB 104.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic device and a method for manufacturing the housing are provided that combine metal and plastic in an aesthetically pleasing manner while meeting physical and technical requirements and specifications for the electronic device. Metal islands may be engaged with a plastic member so that projections of the plastic member are interlocked with corresponding recesses of formed between each of the metal islands. An exterior of the housing includes a surface of each of the metal islands and at least a portion of a surface of the plastic member. The interior of the housing includes another surface of the plastic member.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an electronic device (700) that includes a back housing (702) at least partially formed from a plurality of discrete antenna elements (706) and an antenna switching module (701) for selectively coupling two or more of the antenna elements to an antenna feed (723). The coupled antenna elements form an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals. The antenna switching module includes a plurality of switches (716) configured to selectively couple together two or more of the antenna elements; a plurality of electrical posts (729) coupled to the switches; a plurality of radio frequency chokes (735) respectively coupled to the electrical posts; and a biasing module (725) coupled to the radio frequency chokes for selectively applying a bias voltage to the switches.

Abstract: A method and system configures an antenna system to enhance communication signal quality within a wireless communication device. An antenna system controller determines a usage state of the wireless communication device based on received sensor data. In addition, the antenna system controller determines whether the usage state matches a pre-identified reference usage state. If the usage state matches a reference usage state, the antenna system controller configures the antenna system using configuration data mapped to the reference usage state. In addition, the antenna system controller tracks occurrences of usage states to generate usage state statistics and uses the generated usage state statistics to predict a timing of future usage states within the wireless communication device. The antenna system controller configures the wireless communication device for the predicted usage state when an associated trigger event is detected.

Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided having a peripheral metal bezel made up of a plurality of metal segments. At least one of the metal segments on the bezel is configured to be a main antenna that is connected to a transceiver circuit via an antenna matching circuit. Proximate to the main antenna is another metal segment on the metal bezel that is configured to be a capacitance proximity sensor. The capacitance proximity sensor, in conjunction with a capacitance sensing circuit provide information to the circuitry within the mobile communication device to tune the antenna matching circuit to impedance match the transceiver with the antenna.

Abstract: A UE is provided having a front housing and a rear housing. The rear housing is made of a material that affects the operation of an antenna when operating at different frequency bands. The rear housing includes an actuator configuration that is sensed by an actuator sensor within the housing when the housing is assembled. The actuator configuration indicates the material used to construct the rear housing. Upon sensing the actuator configuration, the UE is configured to tune the antenna for efficient operation at the operating frequency band while proximate to the rear housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an electronic device (700) that includes a back housing (702) at least partially formed from a plurality of discrete antenna elements (706) and an antenna switching module (701) for selectively coupling two or more of the antenna elements to an antenna feed (723). The coupled antenna elements form an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals. The antenna switching module includes a plurality of switches (716) configured to selectively couple together two or more of the antenna elements; a plurality of electrical posts (729) coupled to the switches; a plurality of radio frequency chokes (735) respectively coupled to the electrical posts; and a biasing module (725) coupled to the radio frequency chokes for selectively applying a bias voltage to the switches.

Abstract: Implementations relate to systems and methods for location assistance using devices (104) in a personal area network (PAN). In one scenario, a user may use two separate location-enabled devices, such as a wearable personal device (102) and a cellular telephone device (104). In cases, one of those devices may have reached a higher or farther-developed state in terms of generating or storing location information (108) for the user's current position, as compared to the opposite device. This can take place, for instance, when the first (e.g. wearable) device (102) is first turned on. The two devices use platforms and techniques to exchange location information and carry out GPS or other operations to furnish the device that is lagging in position processing progress with assistance which will speed up or otherwise enhance the position fix for that device.

Abstract: A method and portable device provide multi-band, multi-antenna signal communication in a portable device having wireless communication capability. A portable device comprises a single loop multi-feed (SLM) antenna system which includes a continuous conductive ring located along and adjacent to a first device periphery area. The SLM antenna system also comprises multiple communication feeds each respectively coupled to one of multiple transceivers and to the conductive ring. The SLM antenna system includes multiple ground connection points each of which is coupled to a ground plane. Each ground connection point is selectively positioned at a corresponding location on the continuous conductive ring in order to configure, within the SLM antenna system, multiple corresponding antenna elements.

Abstract: A capacitive micro-electromechanical switch (MEMS) integrated circuit (IC) comprises a plurality of capacitors, each having a voltage terminal for applying an actuation voltage to the individual capacitor, wherein each capacitor is capable of being individually cycled. The MEMS IC further includes: a high voltage driver having a voltage distribution mechanism that couples to the voltage terminal of each of the plurality of capacitors to enable the high voltage driver to selectively provide a pre-determined voltage input required to actuate and charge a selected one or more of the plurality of capacitors; and control logic communicatively coupled to the high voltage driver and which deterministically applies power cycle times (less than a stiction limit) for an actuation and de-actuation of at least a first capacitor of the plurality of capacitors to substantially reduce an occurrence of stiction within at least the first capacitor during operation of the MEMS device.