Motorola Corporation

James L Tracy

Scott H Richards

Phillip E Lindeman

Rudy Yorio

Bharat N Vakil

Stephen N Koch

Michael E Campbell

Joseph Patino

Julio C Castaneda

Jose E Korneluk

Andreas R Haase

Zili Li

Douglas Wayne Moskowitz

Donald W Burnette

Michael J Page

Zhiming Zhuang

Huinan J Yu

David I Blatt

Sen Yang

Kevin D Page

James A Zollo

Benjamin J Hafen

Stephen O Bozzone

Avihu Cohen

David S Fredley

Patrick A Hampton

Habib Amirzadeh

Ulf Jan-Ove Mattsson

John Jennings

Edwin A Hernandez

Evan J Kassof

Alexander E Taits

A multi-function key system for use with an electronic device can include at least one key () and an optical film () optically coupled to the key. The optical film () can include a first optical filter () corresponding to a first color of light and a second optical filter () corresponding to a second color of light. The multi-function key system further can include a first light source (), disposed below the key, that emits the first color of light and a second light source (), disposed below the key, that emits the second color of light. A controller () can selectively activate the first light source () or second light source () responsive to an event detected within the electronic device.

Multi-function keypad using colored light sources and optical films

A device that includes a circuit board () and a first electrical contact (). The first electrical contact can include a jacket () and a magnetic member () that slideably engages the jacket. The jacket can be soldered, fastened or clamped to the circuit board, or conductively attached to the circuit board in any other suitable manner. A first portion of the jacket can be attached to the circuit board so as to provide electrical continuity between the jacket and a conductive portion of the circuit board. The magnetic member can include a flange () and can be translationally moveable between a first position in which the flange does not engage the jacket and a second position in which the flange does engage the jacket.

Magnetic member for providing electrical continuity and method for assembling same

A connector () can include a housing (), a plurality of magnets () within the housing used for data transfer and at least one alignment magnet (or) within the housing used for proper alignment and polarity. The connector can also include at least one magnetic induction circuit () coupled to at least one of the plurality of magnets. The plurality of magnets can include a plurality of inductor elements or micro-metric inductor elements. The magnetic induction circuit can be a magnetic induction circuit using Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying modulation. A connector () can further include an inductive coil () operating at a lower frequency than the at least one magnetic induction circuit. The inductive coil can enable contact less energy transfer from the connector to an energy storage device () operatively coupled to an electronic product ().

Magnetic connector

A portable electronic device includes a display-input apparatus () for displaying alternate character sets, in correspondence with a selected mode of operation of the device. The display-input apparatus uses first and second cholesteric display layers () to display the different character sets. Each cholesteric display layer displays a different character set when active. When not active, the cholesteric display layer is rendered transparent.

Display-input apparatus for a multi-configuration portable device

A system includes a wireless device () and at least one stimulator pad (). The stimulator pad () has a set of electrodes () that are in communication with the wireless device (). The stimulator pad () is worn on the skin of a user. The wireless device () is operable to receive an incoming signal and to place an electric potential on the conductors () so that various areas of the user's body are stimulated and the user will receive notification of the incoming signal in a completely silent manner. The pad () can be either wired or wireless and can be used to deliver therapeutic body stimulation as well. In another embodiment, the wireless device () controls at least one stimulator pad () independent of any incoming signal received.

Apparatus and method for stimulating one or more areas on a wearer

A touch screen assembly includes a first outer layer () and a second outer layer () separated by a separator layer (). The first and second outer layers are transparent, and the separator layer has openings () at button locations where buttons will be defined. On each of the outer layers is a layer of transparent conductor (). On the first outer layer the transparent conductor is in the form of a contiguous trace or path. The touch screen assembly is placed on a display element () and images displayed on the display element can be seen through the touch screen assembly. Images such as characters are displayed at button locations, and when a user presses on one of the images the conductive layers on the first and second outer layers of the touch screen assembly come into contact.

Touch screen assembly and display for an electronic device

An illuminated keypad () includes a substantially transparent keypad () having a plurality of actuator buttons (), a plurality of switches () residing substantially and correspondingly below the plurality of actuator buttons, a display laminate layer () residing between the plurality of actuator buttons and the plurality of switches, and a light source () reflectively illuminating a pattern of a symbol on the laminate layer by radiating light through the substantially transparent keypad. The display laminate can include a driver layer () having a conductor pattern configured in the pattern of the symbol to be displayed on the substantially transparent keypad, a transparent conductor layer (), and an electrically active ink layer () disposed between the transparent conductor layer and the driver layer.

Keypad with illumination structure

An RF Parallel Inverted 'F' Antenna (PIFA) antenna () that is suitable for incorporation into wireless devices constructed with automated manufacturing techniques. The PIFA antenna () includes a first arm () and a parallel second arm () connected by a conductive bridge (). An RF feed () is attached to one end of the first arm () and is used to physically and electrically mount the compact PIFA antenna (). An opposite end of the compact PIFA antenna () includes a support structure () that provides stability and support of the compact PIFA antenna () during construction of a circuit board on which it is mounted. The end support () is designed to minimize the use of insulating material to minimize dielectric effects upon the radiation pattern of the conductive elements of the compact PIFA antenna () all while maximizing the mechanical stability of the component during secondary manufacturing operations.

Compact PIFA antenna for automated manufacturing

A hinge assembly ( ) includes a hinge body ( ) made of two hinge body halves ( ). Each hinge body half is identical so that only one part need be manufactured, and two of them used to form the hinge body. Each hinge body half has a first leg ( ) that is longer than a second leg ( ). The first leg has a retaining lip ( ) at the end which forms a retaining feature. Each leg of the hinge body defines an axis of rotation for the body elements ( ). A portion ( ) of a flexible circuit board ( ) is captured between the hinge body halves so as to electrically interconnect circuitry placed in each body element. A detent mechanism is provided to hold the body element in preselected positions with respect to each other, and includes a spring ( ), a cam ( ) and a cap ( ) having cam follower features ( ). The cam is held in place with respect to the body element housing, while the cap is fixed in position with respect to the hinge body. To stabilize the rotation of the body elements, a hook ( ) retains a collar edge ( ) upon rotation of the respective body element.

Hinge assembly for a multi-configuration portable electronic device

Methods and apparatus for adding additional circuitry ( ) to a circuit board ( ) having a radiation shield ( ) associated therewith include the additional circuitry ( ) mounted onto a flex circuit ( ) which in turn is mounted on the radiation shield ( ). A conductor ( ) containing portion ( ) of the flex circuit ( ) extends therefrom and is routed around and through a cutout ( ) in the bottom surface of the radiation shield ( ). The conductor ( ) is connected to the printed circuit board ( ) at the location of the cutout ( ) in the radiation shield ( ).

Augmented circuitry integration for a printed circuit board

Two-way communication device

Housing for a two-way communication device

An accessory connector assembly comprises a connector housing (102, 104), an electrical connector (106) and a circuit substrate mounted horizontally within the connector housing, and an actuator (110). The electrical connector has a cantilevered latch member (124) which is used to engage a latch feature (504) of an accessory port (502) on a communication device (500). The electrical connector is connected to the circuit substrate, upon which circuit components (136) are disposed. The circuit substrate is connectable with an external cable (506). To release the accessory connector assembly from the communication device, the actuator is pressed downwards. Vertical cantilevered actuator arms are urged inwards against the cantilevered latch members to disengage them from the communication device.

Accessory connector assembly

Battery pack for a portable communication device

Growing community of inventors

Coral Springs, FL, United States of America

James L Tracy