Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130257582 | PROTECTING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device including a processor, at least one sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine an orientation of the device and drop event based on input from the at least one sensor. The electronic device further includes a motor in communication with the processor and a mass operably connected to the motor. The processor is configured to drive the motor when a drop event is determined and the mass is configured to rotate with respect to the motor to alter the orientation of the device. | 10-03-2013 |
20130285490 | DYNAMIC CENTER OF MASS - Systems and methods involving reconfigurable rotating masses are disclosed. One embodiment may take the form of a system having a motor and coupled weights attached to the motor. Operation of the motor rotates the coupled weights and the weights are dynamically reconfigurable to change the location of the center of mass relative to an axis of rotation. | 10-31-2013 |
20140069782 | ANTI-ROTATIONAL BUTTONS - Systems and methods for providing input component assemblies with anti-rotational buttons in electronic devices are provided. The input component assembly includes a switch, a button positioned over the switch, where the button is operative to close at least one circuit of the switch when the button is depressed towards the switch, and at least one pin positioned underneath the button, where the at least one pin is operative to engage with a surface to assist in preventing rotation of the button, when the button is depressed towards the switch. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069790 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INPUTS TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH A BUTTON ASSEMBLY - This is directed to systems and methods for providing inputs to an electronic device with a button assembly. The button assembly may include a center region, a first end region that may extend from a first side of the center region, and a second end region that may extend from a second side of the center region. Each one of the first end region and the second end region may include a first flexibility, and the center region may include a second flexibility that may be less than the first flexibility. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069793 | TUNED SWITCH SYSTEM - The described embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for fine-tuning a resistance profile for a mechanical switch. In one embodiment, by combining a switch with one or more damping or support materials a tuned switch system can be formed. The damping or support materials can modify the force and displacement characteristics of the switch, thereby allowing a user experience to be customized. The damping or support materials can be arranged in series and/or in parallel with the mechanical switch. | 03-13-2014 |
20140071081 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ROUTING CABLES IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Systems and methods for routing cables in an electronic device are provided. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a touch sensor having a number of traces, a display component, and a mechanical button, each of which may be coupled to a circuit board via a single flexible circuit cable. This may save valuable space within the electronic device. | 03-13-2014 |
20140090769 | Gap Seals for Electronic Device Structures - An electronic device may have structures such as housing structures, display structures and other device structures that form gaps when assembled. To prevent intrusion of moisture and other environmental contaminants, the gaps may be filled using gap sealing material. The gap sealing material may be a liquid polymer that is applied to the gap in a way that creates an excess protruding portion. Light-based processing techniques and application of solvent may be used to remove excess material. A sealing material such as an adhesive may be applied to gaps to forming a sealing structure. A material may be applied to the adhesive sealing material to cause the sealing material to expand and fill the gap. An undersized gasket may be placed in a gap. The gasket may include materials such as polymer that expands upon application of moisture. | 04-03-2014 |
20140260723 | DYNAMIC MASS RECONFIGURATION - Systems and methods involving reconfigurable rotating masses are disclosed. One embodiment may take the form of a system having a motor and coupled weights attached to the motor. Operation of the motor rotates the coupled weights and the weights are dynamically reconfigurable to change the location of the center of mass relative to an axis of rotation. | 09-18-2014 |
20140295808 | Method And Apparatus For Automatically Prioritizing Contact List Information Using Data Correlation - A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically prioritize a contact list (“address book” or “phone book”) based on one or more factors. The factors may include the frequency and/or recency of calls to or from a particular contact, the location of the user, the location of a particular contact, the time of day, the day of the week, and historical data (such as a user's daily pattern of calls, the recency of selection of the contact, the recency of an in-coming call from the contact, the frequency of in-coming calls from the contact, and the recency of non-telephonic communication via the device with the contact.). | 10-02-2014 |
20140361934 | ANTENNA WINDOW AND ANTENNA PATTERN FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A housing for an electronic device, including an aluminum layer enclosing a volume that includes a radio-frequency (RF) antenna is provided. The housing includes a window aligned with the RF antenna; the window including a non-conductive material filling a cavity in the aluminum layer; and a thin aluminum oxide layer adjacent to the aluminum layer and to the non-conductive material; wherein the non-conductive material and the thin aluminum oxide layer form an RF-transparent path through the window. A housing for an electronic device including an integrated RF-antenna is also provided. A method of manufacturing a housing for an electronic device as described above is provided. | 12-11-2014 |
20150015475 | MULTI-FUNCTION INPUT DEVICE - An electronic device includes a surface and a multi-function input device. The multi-function input device is operable in at least a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, an input portion of the multi-function input device is flush with the surface or recessed in the surface and is operable to receive z axis press input data. In the second mode, the input portion is positioned proud of the surface (i.e., project from the surface) and is operable to receive x axis input data and/or y axis input data. The input portion may also be operable to receive z axis input data in the second mode. In one example, the multi-function input device may have a button mode and a joystick mode. | 01-15-2015 |
20150041289 | TACTILE SWITCH FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices. | 02-12-2015 |