Google Inc.

Motorola Mobility LLC

Google Technology Holdings LLC

John Henry Krahenbuhl

Jiri Slaby

Rachid M Alameh

Roger William Ady

Thomas Y Merrell

Louis Jerome Lundell

David P Winkler

Martin Rabindra Pais

Timothy Dickinson

Thomas M Tirpak

Anant Athale

Roger L Franz

An electronic device () is configured to be operable with the user input attachment () so as to provide a user with the option of using a touch sensitive display () alone, or in conjunction with the control device or keypad having physical keys to enhance the tactile user experience. The electronic device () includes a touch sensitive display () and the controller () it is operable with a touch sensitive display (). When the user input attachment () is coupled to the touch sensitive display (), and identification module () is configured to identify the user input attachment () by way of a temporal signature signal (). Once identified, and adaptation module () is configured to reconfigure the electronic device () in response to the user input attachment () being attached.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for an electronic device with a detachable user input attachment

A portable electronic device comprising a housing, and a first user interface, a second user interface and one or more sensors supported by the housing, and a method thereof. The first user interface has an active state, and the second user interface has an inactive state while the first user interface is in the active state. The sensor or sensors detect an environmental condition. The second user interface changes from the inactive state to the active state and the first user interface changes from the active state to the inactive state in response to one or more sensors detecting the environmental condition. For another embodiment, the device may detect an energy level of a power source of the portable electronic device. The second user interface of the portable electronic device is then activated and the first user interface of the portable electronic device is deactivated in response to detecting the energy level of the power source.

Portable electronic device having interchangeable user interfaces and method thereof

A touch sensitive keypad device () for an electronic device () includes one or more keys () situated in a keypad carrier (). One or more conductive layers () span the keys. One or more transverse conductive layers () are integrated with a non-key component, such as the keypad carrier (). A capacitance sensing circuit () detects changes in capacitance between the conductive layers and the transverse conductive layers to detect user input, thereby allowing a user () to use a matrix () of keys as a touch pad.

Keypad with integrated touch sensitive apparatus

Disclosed are devices and methods of stylus devices that when in contact with a capacitive touchscreen and a grounding element, can vary the signal level detected on a capacitive touchscreen to create a more realistic writing experience. Disclosed are elements of a touchscreen stylus, which individually or in combination, can enable a touchscreen stylus to have at least one electrical characteristic that is variable. In this way the resistive link between the touchscreen and a grounding element can be varied to enable features such as a capability to vary the width of line being drawn, to vary a region of influence on the touchscreen and/or to vary a temperament of action. The elements of a disclosed stylus can include at least one mechanical feature to provide at least one electrical characteristic that is variable and/or at least one material in an arrangement to provide at least one electrical characteristic that is variable.

Stylus devices having variable electrical characteristics for capacitive touchscreens

A user computer device is provided that comprises a temperature sensitive touchscreen having a temperature sensitive user interface comprising multiple thermal energy emitter/detector devices, such as thermocouples. The multiple thermal energy emitter/detector devices are capable both of detecting thermal energy and emitting thermal energy. The temperature sensitive user interface generates thermal patterns that may be transferred to other thermally sensitive electronic devices or that may be used to authenticate the user computer device. The user computer device also can detect and thermally communicate with a thermal energy docking station and, based on thermal recognition, activate applications displayed on the temperature sensitive touchscreen. Further, the user computer device can auto-bias a temperature of the temperature sensitive user interface in order to better assure proper operation of the temperature sensitive user interface in all operating conditions.

User computer device with temperature sensing capabilities and method of operating same

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

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

A method () of electronically determining a group preference in a social network from multiple individual preferences of members of the social network is provided. One embodiment of the method () uses a combination of an individual's importance to a social network and a social network's importance to the individual as weighting factors when combining the individual preferences to generate a shared set of preferences. This group preference may be used to select content for broadcast to the network, including audio content and video content. A social network group preference determination apparatus () can determine the individual's importance to the social network by interrogating or monitoring the communication activity of portable electronic communication devices () belonging to the members of the social network.

Method and apparatus for determining a group preference in a social network

A user input attachment () is configured to selectively attach to an electronic device () such as a mobile telephone. The electronic device () includes a plurality of electrode nodes (), which can be configured separately from each other across one or more surfaces of the electronic device (). A controller (), which is operable with the plurality of electrode nodes (), is configured to sense current flowing through (or voltage across) the electrode nodes (). The sensed voltage or current establishes an engagement signature () dependent upon pressure from compressible conductive elements () against electrode nodes () from the user input attachment (), and where included, one or more protuberances (). The controller () is configured to identify the user input attachment () from the engagement signature (), and to detect user input by detecting changes from the engagement signature () due to variations in the current () in, or voltage across, each of the electrode nodes () caused by user manipulation of the user input attachment ().

Growing community of inventors

McHenry, IL, United States of America

John Henry Krahenbuhl