Google Inc.

Motorola Mobility LLC

Google Technology Holdings LLC

David P Winkler

Rachid M Alameh

Thomas Y Merrell

Jiri Slaby

Patrick J Cauwels

Paul R Steuer

John C Johnson

John Henry Krahenbuhl

John Joseph Gorsica

Martin Rabindra Pais

Lawrence Alan Willis

Aaron L Dietrich

Justin Eltoft

Gabriel Burca

Martin R Pais

Rachid M Alamech

Bill Alberth

Michael J Erpenbeck

A connector () and connector system are provided. A connector can include a domed metal switch () that is partially covered with a liquid impermeable barrier () such that a portion of the domed metal switch is exposed and the liquid impermeable barrier is coupled to the domed metal switch with a liquid impermeable junction (). In a connector system, a complementary connector can include a dome switch actuator (), partially covered with another liquid impermeable barrier. When pressed against the connector, the domed metal switch can deform to contact an electrical conductor (). A control circuit () can determine whether an electronic device or user is causing the deformation by detecting whether voltage or current is applied to the domed metal switch while deformed.

Electrical connector having a domed metal switch

A phone call is made from an initiator phone to a receiver phone (). The receiver phone determines how many people are near the receiver phone, and generates a response based on how many people are near the receiver phone. This response can be, for example, a message that is sent to the initiator phone and can be displayed at the initiator phone, indicating either that no one is near the receiver phone or that multiple people are near the receiver phone. The number of people that are near the receiver phone is monitored, and when just one person near the receiver phone is detected, various different actions can be taken. A message can be sent for display at the initiator phone indicating that there is only one person near the receiver phone, or the receiver phone can prompt the user to call back the initiator phone.

Phone call management based on presence of nearby people

A method and apparatus operate a user portable wireless communication device on a wireless wide area network. The user portable wireless communication device can include a first side and a user input located on the first side, where the user input can include a user actuation input. The device can include a second side orthogonal to the first side and a side touch sensor on the second side. The device can also include a controller coupled to the user input and the side touch sensor. The controller can be configured to detect whether a user is touching the side touch sensor, configured to enable the user actuation input when the user is touching the side touch sensor, and configured to disable the user actuation input of the user input when the user is not touching the side touch sensor.

Method and apparatus for preventing misdials and unintended activation of a portable wireless communication device

A method and apparatus of an electronic device for managing notifications is disclosed herewith. The method includes identifying a plurality of notifications associated with one or more electronic devices. The method further determines context data of the plurality of notifications based, at least in part, on their association with at least one remote device. The method then determines an order of display of the plurality of notifications based on the context data. The method further provides the plurality of notifications based on the order of display.

Method for managing notifications in a communication device

An active stylus or a method performed by an active stylus for interacting with a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has at least one sensor (e.g., a thermocouple junction), and wherein the stylus has at least one signal source (e.g., an analog heat source) that produces at least one signal (e.g., at least one analog temperature signal), wherein the at least one signal is configured to be detectable by the at least one sensor of the mobile device. The stylus also has at least one signal adjustment mechanism for changing the at least one signal and also has at least one transmitter (e.g., thermocouple junction) configured to transmit the at least one signal for receipt by the at least one sensor of the mobile device.

Active styluses for interacting with a mobile device

Domed metal switch having a flange with an actuation protrusion

A mobile device or a method performed by a mobile device for interacting with a stylus, wherein the stylus has at least one sensor (e.g., a thermocouple junction), and wherein the mobile device has at least one signal source (e.g., an analog heat source) that produces at least one signal (e.g., at least one analog heat signal), wherein the at least one signal is configured to be detectable by the at least one sensor of the stylus. The mobile device also has at least one signal adjustment mechanism for changing the at least one signal and also has at least one transmitter (e.g., thermal active touch screen display) configured to transmit the at least one signal for receipt by the at least one sensor of the stylus.

Mobile device for interacting with an active stylus

The present invention relates to electronic devices such as mobile devices, and methods of operating such devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device includes first and second temperature sensors positioned at different respective locations on the electronic device and at least one processing device. The first and second temperature sensors respectively output first and second signals indicative of the respective temperatures experienced at those respective sensors. The at least one processing device (i) receives the first and second signals respectively from the first and second temperature sensors respectively and generates based thereon an indication of a difference or a relationship between the first and second temperatures, and (ii) determines an operational context of the electronic device based at least in part upon the difference. In an additional embodiment, other sensor information from one or more other sensors is taken into account in determining the operational context.

Mobile device with temperature sensing capability and method of operating same

An electronic device can include detectors for altering the presentation of data on one or more displays. In a wearable electronic device, a flexible housing can be configured to enfold about an appendage of a user, such as a user's wrist. A display can disposed along a major face of the flexible housing. A control circuit can be operable with the display. A gaze detector can be included to detect a gaze direction, and optionally a gaze cone. An orientation detector can be configured to detect an orientation of the electronic device relative to the user. The control circuit can alter a presentation of data on the display in response to a detected gaze direction, in response to detected orientation of the wearable electronic device relative to the user, in response to touch or gesture input, or combinations thereof. Secondary displays can be hingedly coupled to the electronic device.

Growing community of inventors

Palatine, IL, United States of America

David P Winkler