Abstract: A multi-cell battery powered device can include at least one power input, a first power converter coupled between the power input and a battery bus, a second power converter coupled between the battery bus and a system load of the electronic device, a plurality of cells, and a plurality of primary battery protection switches. The primary battery protection switches can be selectively operable to couple the plurality of cells in: (1) a parallel configuration in which the cells are coupled to the battery bus so as to charge or discharge in parallel, (2) a series configuration in which the cells are coupled to the battery bus so as to charge or discharge in series, and (3) an isolated configuration in which at least one of the plurality of cells is coupled to the battery bus and at least one of the plurality of cells is disconnected from the battery bus.

Abstract: A drag-reducing separator plate for a moonpool, wherein the upper part thereof is a straight wall perpendicular to the sea level, the lower part thereof is connected to a baffle, and a connecting portion is connected between the straight wall and the baffle. The connecting portion may be in the shape of an arc. The shape of the drag-reducing separator plate matches that of the rear wall of the moonpool. During navigation, the drag-reducing separator plate is located in the middle or front of the moonpool, and can cooperate with a drag-reducing notch on the rear wall of the moonpool to greatly reduce the drag induced by intense sloshing of water in the moonpool during navigation of an offshore vessel. When offshore operations are performed under a station keeping condition, the drag-reducing separator plate is moved to the rear wall of the moonpool to avoid hindering the offshore operations.

Abstract: A voltage of a first pin that is one of several pins of an external connector of a system is measured, while the first pin is un-driven except for being pulled to ground through a first resistance, and a second pin of the external connector is being used as a power supply rail of the system. The measured voltage is compared to a short circuit threshold and in response to that threshold being exceeded, the power supply voltage on the second pin is reduced. In such an embodiment, no test stimulus needs to be applied to any of the pins of the external connector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A voltage of a first pin that is one of several pins of an external connector of a system is measured, while the first pin is un-driven except for being pulled to ground through a first resistance, and a second pin of the external connector is being used as a power supply rail of the system. The measured voltage is compared to a short circuit threshold and in response to that threshold being exceeded, the power supply voltage on the second pin is reduced. In such an embodiment, no test stimulus needs to be applied to any of the pins of the external connector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A voltage of a first pin that is one of several pins of an external connector of a system is measured, while the first pin is un-driven except for being pulled to ground through a first resistance, and a second pin of the external connector is being used as a power supply rail of the system. The measured voltage is compared to a short circuit threshold and in response to that threshold being exceeded, the power supply voltage on the second pin is reduced. In such an embodiment, no test stimulus needs to be applied to any of the pins of the external connector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A voltage of a first pin that is one of several pins of an external connector of a system is measured, while the first pin is un-driven except for being pulled to ground through a first resistance, and a second pin of the external connector is being used as a power supply rail of the system. The measured voltage is compared to a short circuit threshold and in response to that threshold being exceeded, the power supply voltage on the second pin is reduced. In such an embodiment, no test stimulus needs to be applied to any of the pins of the external connector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Electronic devices may contain electrical systems in which electrical components are mounted on a substrate such as a printed circuit board. The electrical components may include surface mount technology components. Multiple surface mount technology components may be stacked on top of each other and beside each other to form an electrical component that minimizes the amount of area that is consumed on a printed circuit board. Noise suppression circuits and other circuits may be implemented using stacked surface mount technology components. Surface mount technology components placed on the printed circuit board may be pushed together and subsequently injection molded to form packed component groups. An integrated circuit may be mounted to the printed circuit board via an interposer and may cover components mounted to the printed circuit board. An integrated circuit may be mounted over a recessed portion of the printed circuit board on which components are mounted.

Abstract: A mobile communications device contains at least two microphones. One microphone is designated by a selector to provide a voice dominant signal and another microphone is designated to provide a noise or echo dominant signal, for a call or a recording. The selector communicates the designations to a switch that routes the selected microphone signals to the inputs of a processor for voice signal enhancement. The selected voice dominant signal is then enhanced by suppressing ambient noise or canceling echo therein, based on the selected noise or echo dominant signal. The designation of microphones may change at any instant during the call or recording depending on various factors, e.g. based on the quality of the microphone signals. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for controlling a thermally sensitive over-current protector is described. A battery current is monitored. It is then determined whether or not the monitored current has exceeded a predetermined threshold during the entirety of a predetermined time interval. If yes, then a current source is signaled to raise its current, so as to increase the heat being generated by a heating element that is being driven by the current source thereby tripping the thermally sensitive over-current protector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electrical component package has integrated therein first and second pairs of electrodes, wherein the first pair of electrodes are electrically isolated from the second pair of electrodes. A thermally sensitive positive temperature coefficient (PTC) conductive element abuts the first pair of terminals. Also integrated in the package is an electrical heating element that abuts the second pair of terminals, and receives a drive current for generating heat that is transferred to trip the PTC conductive element. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Electronic devices may contain electrical systems in which electrical components are mounted on a substrate such as a printed circuit board. The electrical components may include surface mount technology components. Multiple surface mount technology components may be stacked on top of each other and beside each other to form an electrical component that minimizes the amount of area that is consumed on a printed circuit board. Noise suppression circuits and other circuits may be implemented using stacked surface mount technology components. Surface mount technology components placed on the printed circuit board may be pushed together and subsequently injection molded to form packed component groups. An integrated circuit may be mounted to the printed circuit board via an interposer and may cover components mounted to the printed circuit board. An integrated circuit may be mounted over a recessed portion of the printed circuit board on which components are mounted.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein take the form of fixtures to be used in a manufacturing process. In particular, a manufacturing fixture may be sized to accept one or more electronic components, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) having various electrical elements. The PCB may be placed on the fixture in a predetermined area. The PCB may be placed in a depression or aperture sized to accept the PCB. When the PCB is placed within the fixture, a cover may be lowered or otherwise placed across the PCB in order to hold the PCB in place. The cover contacts the PCB and is pliable or malleable to conform to those portions of the PCB it contacts. When the cover is closed, a negative pressure may be induced in the fixture beneath the cover. When the PCB is held in position, the manufacturing fixture may operate on the PCB.

Abstract: An electronic audio host device has an audio accessory connector with multiple pins. An ultrasonic test signal source has an output coupled to a first pin of the connector. A programmable switch circuit couples a second or third pin of the connector, to a ground of the audio host device. A controller measures a signal on one of the pins of the connector while the test signal source is on, and compares the measured signal to a predetermined, stored signature. The signature is associated with one of several different accessory plug pin assignments for the connector, which can be configured using the programmable switch circuit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A consumer electronic device including an electronic circuit designed to protect a user-actuated physical button from becoming degraded due to electrostatic discharges (ESD) strikes is described herein. The device includes a housing and the user-actuated physical button is exposed through the external surface of the housing. The device further includes a mechanical switch that is coupled to the physical button and a first resistor that is electrically coupled with a pair of terminals of the switch. The first resistor may be coupled either in series or in parallel with the terminals of the switch. To protect the first resistor from ESD strikes, a first spark gap is coupled in parallel with the first resistor. The device may also include a buffer circuit that is coupled to the switch. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A consumer electronic device including an electronic circuit designed to protect a user-actuated physical button from becoming degraded due to electrostatic discharges (ESD) strikes is described herein. The device includes a housing and the user-actuated physical button is exposed through the external surface of the housing. The device further includes a mechanical switch that is coupled to the physical button and a first resistor that is electrically coupled with a pair of terminals of the switch. The first resistor may be coupled either in series or in parallel with the terminals of the switch. To protect the first resistor from ESD strikes, a first spark gap is coupled in parallel with the first resistor. The device may also include a buffer circuit that is coupled to the switch. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for controlling a thermally sensitive over-current protector is described. A battery current is monitored. It is then determined whether or not the monitored current has exceeded a predetermined threshold during the entirety of a predetermined time interval. If yes, then a current source is signaled to raise its current, so as to increase the heat being generated by a heating element that is being driven by the current source thereby tripping the thermally sensitive over-current protector. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electrical component package has integrated therein first and second pairs of electrodes, wherein the first pair of electrodes are electrically isolated from the second pair of electrodes. A thermally sensitive positive temperature coefficient (PTC) conductive element abuts the first pair of terminals. Also integrated in the package is an electrical heating element that abuts the second pair of terminals, and receives a drive current for generating heat that is transferred to trip the PTC conductive element. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A mobile communications device contains at least two microphones. One microphone is designated by a selector to provide a voice dominant signal and another microphone is designated to provide a noise or echo dominant signal, for a call or a recording. The selector communicates the designations to a switch that routes the selected microphone signals to the inputs of a processor for voice signal enhancement. The selected voice dominant signal is then enhanced by suppressing ambient noise or canceling echo therein, based on the selected noise or echo dominant signal. The designation of microphones may change at any instant during the call or recording depending on various factors, e.g. based on the quality of the microphone signals. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electronic audio host device has an audio accessory connector with multiple pins. An ultrasonic test signal source has an output coupled to a first pin of the connector. A programmable switch circuit couples a second or third pin of the connector, to a ground of the audio host device. A controller measures a signal on one of the pins of the connector while the test signal source is on, and compares the measured signal to a predetermined, stored signature. The signature is associated with one of several different accessory plug pin assignments for the connector, which can be configured using the programmable switch circuit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electronic device may operate in standby and active modes. A headset may be coupled to the electronic device. The electronic device may have audio codec circuitry. The audio codec circuitry may use general purpose input-output circuitry in handling button and headset activity during active mode. Processing circuitry may be used to reconfigure the audio codec in real time. When the electronic device is in the standby mode and activity is detected, the codec may be configured to provide an interrupt signal to a power management unit that wakes the device. When the electronic device is in active mode and no user inputs are received within a given period of time, the central processor in the electronic device may place the device in standby mode.