Abstract: In some embodiments, a data-secure sensor system includes one or more processors configured to receive sensor data (e.g., image data, audio data, etc.) and generate descriptive data based on the sensor data that corresponds to a physical area that corresponds to information about identified objects or activity in physical area, an input/output (I/O) port, and an I/O choke communicatively coupled between the one or more processors and the I/O port, the I/O choke configured to limit a communication bandwidth of the I/O port to a maximum data rate. The one or more processors can be configured to prevent the sensor data from being accessible via any external port of the data-secure camera system, including the I/O port, and allow the descriptive data to be accessible via the I/O port.

Abstract: This application relates to an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a titanium substrate having interstitial nitrogen atoms, where the titanium substrate is characterized as having an a* value that is less than 1, a b* value that is less than 5, and an L* value that is more than 70.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for limiting wake requests from one device to one or more other devices. In one embodiment, the requests are from a peripheral processor to a host processor within an electronic device such as a mobile smartphone or tablet which has power consumption requirements or considerations associated therewith. In one implementation, the peripheral processor includes a wake-limiting procedure encoded in e.g., its software or firmware, the procedure mitigating or preventing continuous and/or overly repetitive “wake” requests from the peripheral processor.

Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus and method for a handheld device that accesses a remote network, and also provides a tethered device with access to the same remote network. The handheld device may support multiple data flows between the tethering machine and the remote network, while the handheld device is capable of being used by a user to “surf” or otherwise access the same remote network. For example, if the remote network is the Internet and the handheld device is a “smart phone”, a user of the smart phone can access the Internet concurrently while one or more applications on the tethering machine also accesses the Internet. Moreover, the smart phone may concurrently support other networked services that the smart phone is designed to provide such as voicemail services, messaging services, and telephony (cell phone) services.

Abstract: A basic bandwidth wireless local area network (WLAN) device or station (STA) is assigned to a secondary channel. The basic bandwidth STA may be a 20 MHz STA. On the secondary channel, the basic bandwidth STA operates in a wideband mode recovering received data transmitted from an access point (AP) as part of a high bandwidth physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU). The STA and the AP can be members of a basic service set (BSS). The high bandwidth PPDU may be, for example, a 40 MHz, 60 MHz, or 80 MHz PPDU. Once on the secondary channel, the STA relies on the AP to perform channel sensing and scheduling activities, thus reducing power consumption at the STA and increasing the efficiency of the BSS. Several signaling formats are provided for indicating the secondary channel that the STA is assigned to or requests to move to.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a glass housing structures. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process. A peripheral glass member may be fused along the edge of a planar glass member to enhance the thickness of the edge. A rounded edge feature may be formed by machining the thickened edge. Raised fused glass features may surround openings in the planar glass member. Multiple planar glass members may be fused together to form a five-sided box in which electronic components may be mounted. Raised support structure ribs may be formed by fusing glass structures to a planar glass member. Opaque masking material and colored glass may be used to create portions of the glass housing structures that hide internal device components from view.

Abstract: This application relates to adjusting an operation of a portable electronic device based on the detection of a protective case. A processor of the portable electronic device is configured to receive a signal that indicates the portable electronic device is in contact with and retained by the protective case. Responsive to receiving the signal, the processor is configured to allow the component to transition from a first operating state to a second operating state. The first operating state is associated with a first operating temperature that corresponds to a first temperature range at a surface of a housing for the portable electronic device. The second operating state is associated with a second operating temperature that corresponds to a second temperature range at the surface of the housing. The second operating temperature is greater than the first operating temperature.

Abstract: A low-profile earbud is disclosed that sits securely within an ear of a user. The earbud includes a protruding portion that passes through a channel defined by the tragus and anti-tragus of the ear. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can take the form of a cable configured to supply power and transfer data to the earbud. In some embodiments, the protruding portion can provide additional space for electrical components and sensors supporting the earbud.

Abstract: Technology for an eNodeB to communicate with a user equipment (UE) using a self-contained time division duplex (TDD) subframe within a wireless communication network is disclosed. The eNodeB can process, for transmission to the UE, a DL self-contained time division duplex (TDD) subframe comprising an extended physical downlink shared channel (xPDSCH), an extended physical downlink control channel (xPDCCH), a downlink (DL) spacing signal, and a guard period, wherein the xPDSCH, the xPDCCH, the DL spacing signal, and the guard time are located within the DL self-contained TDD subframe prior to an extended physical uplink control channel (xPUCCH). The eNodeB can process, an uplink (UL) self-contained TDD subframe, received from the UE, having a UL spacing signal located after an extended physical uplink shared channel (xPUSCH).

Abstract: Techniques discussed herein are related to Long Term Evolution (LTE) operation in unlicensed spectrum in MulteFire, specifically the Internet of Things (IoT) operating in unlicensed spectrum. One example embodiment can be an apparatus configured to be employed in a User Equipment (UE), comprising: a memory interface; and processing circuitry configured to: perform an initial access to a network over one or more of three dedicated anchor channels; communicate data over a master set of data channels using frequency hopping from one data channel to another data channel of the master set of data channels, wherein a hopping sequence is based on whether or not a carrier sensing procedure succeeds over available ones of the set of data channels; enable a Multi-Carrier Operation (MCO) by defining and allowing transmissions over a new set of data channels different than the master set of data channels; and send the data to a memory via the memory interface.

Abstract: An electronic device displays a representative image. While displaying the representative image, the device detects a first input. In response to the first input, the device transitions from displaying the representative image to displaying a respective image that was acquired by a camera before acquiring the representative image. After transitioning from displaying the representative image to displaying the respective image, the device displays, in sequence starting with the respective image, at least some images acquired by the camera before acquiring the representative image and at least some of images acquired by the camera after acquiring the representative image. The device detects termination of the first input. In response to detecting termination of the first input, the device displays the representative image.

Abstract: Geographic location data is sent from a first device to a second device with a modified message to signal the presence of geographic location data associated with the message. The message can include (or attach) the geographic location data or file, or the message can include a link to a network-based resource which the second device can use to obtain the geographic location data. In some implementations, when a user of the first device views a location on a map display of the first device, a graphical user interface is presented to allow the user to select an option to share the geographic location with the second device. The second device receives geographic location data or a link from the first device which can trigger a map display on the second device showing the location of the first device and, optionally, the location of the second device.

Abstract: Housings for electronic devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, adjoining surfaces of electronic device housings can be mounted or arranged such that adjoining surfaces are flush to a high degree of precision. The electronic devices can be portable and in some cases handheld.

Abstract: A Head-Mounted Display system together with associated techniques for performing accurate and automatic inside-out positional, user body and environment tracking for virtual or mixed reality are disclosed. The system uses computer vision methods and data fusion from multiple sensors to achieve real-time tracking. High frame rate and low latency is achieved by performing part of the processing on the HMD itself.

Abstract: A haptic engine for measuring displacement of the haptic engine's mass uses a single sensing magnet that is carried by the mass along a driving direction. The haptic engine further uses two or more Hall-effect sensors, which are spaced apart (i) from each other along a direction parallel to the driving direction and (ii) from the single sensing magnet along a direction orthogonal to the driving direction, and are disposed adjacent to an ASIC that receives the sensors' output.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a display system and control circuitry. The user's environment may be presented on the display system. The environment on the display system may be a captured image of the environment, may be the actual real world viewed through an optical combiner, or may be a completely virtual image representing the environment. The control circuitry may gather information about external electronic devices in the user's environment, including determining a type and location of each external electronic device and a status of wireless communications links between external electronic devices. The display system may overlay computer-generated display elements onto the user's environment to indicate the status of wireless communications links between the external electronic devices. In response to touch or gesture input, the control circuitry may send control signals to the external electronic devices to establish or break wireless communications links between external electronic devices.

Abstract: A memory controller circuit coupled to multiple memory circuits may receive requests to access particular locations within the multiple memory circuits. A request may be assigned a particular quality-of-service level. During operation, the memory controller circuit may reallocate the quality-of-service level of a particular request to a new quality-of-service level based on accumulated bandwidth credits associated with the new quality-of-service level.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices with pressure sensors. A pressure sensor may be mounted within a device housing in a pressure sensor cavity at or near an opening in the housing. A barometric vent between a main cavity within the housing and the pressure sensor cavity allows pressure changes in the main cavity to generate airflow through the pressure sensor cavity and out through the opening in the device housing. The generated airflow may clear debris that has occluded the opening in the housing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for synchronization of time between independently operable processors. Time synchronization between independently operable processors is complicated by a variety of factors. For example, neither independently operable processor controls the other processor's task scheduling, power, or clocking. In one exemplary embodiment, a processor can initiates a time synchronization process by disabling power state machines and transacting timestamps for a commonly observed event. In one such embodiment, timestamps may be transferred via inter-processor communication (IPC) mechanisms (e.g., transfer descriptors (TDs), and completion descriptors (CDs)). Both processors may thereafter coordinate in time synchronization efforts (e.g., speeding up or slowing down their respective clocks, etc.).

Abstract: An in-situ calibration system, method and apparatus is disclosed that uses test electrodes to stimulate a proof-mass of a MEMS based gyroscope at a drive frequency as quasi-Coriolis forces to extract the electromechanical gain, and uses a non-resonant carrier signal on the proof-mass to extract the additional changes in the sense and drive capacitance. Additionally, an in-situ calibration system, method and apparatus is disclosed that uses quadrature electrodes to apply a known force stimulus to the proof-mass as part of a calibration procedure, where the known force is applied again after installation into a system or further into the life of the gyroscope. Differences in the proof-mass response to the force are proportional to changes in sensitivity, which allows the sensitivity to be corrected in-field.

Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a display for displaying image content. Head-mounted support structures in the device may be used to support the display. The head-mounted device or external equipment may include a three-dimensional image sensor. The three-dimensional image sensor may capture a three-dimensional image of a user's face. Control circuitry may analyze the three-dimensional image to identify which of multiple versions of a customizing face-fit module should be used in the electronic device to fit the device to the user's face. An appropriate face-fit module may be identified based on facial features such as facial size and the shapes of a user's forehead, nose, and cheeks. After identifying which version of the face-fit module is to be used by the user, that version of the face-fit module may be coupled to a non-custom portion of a main unit for the head-mounted device using magnets or other coupling structures.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently handling voltage level shifting are contemplated. In various embodiments, a first level shifter receives a first isolate enable signal based on a first power supply voltage and a second isolate enable signal based on a second power supply voltage different from the first power supply voltage. A second level shifter generates the first isolate enable signal based on both the second isolate enable signal and the first power supply voltage. A circuit block generates a data signal based on the first power supply voltage. When it is determined that isolation for the first level shifter is enabled, the first level shifter generates a voltage level on an internal particular node to a particular voltage level based on the first isolate enable signal, and also prevents, using the second isolate enable signal, the data signal from setting a voltage level on the particular node.

Abstract: An input/output interface for an electronic device receives touch and/or force input and, additionally provides haptic output to a user. In particular the input/output interface is operated in conjunction with an input surface and includes at least one input sensor and at least one haptic output element. In typical embodiments, the input sensor is ground-shifted to prevent damage to the input sensor when the haptic output element is driven.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to fetching items from a compute command stream that includes compute kernels. In some embodiments, stream fetch circuitry sequentially pre-fetches items from the stream and stores them in a buffer. In some embodiments, fetch parse circuitry iterate through items in the buffer using a fetch parse pointer to detect indirect-data-access items and/or redirect items in the buffer. The fetch parse circuitry may send detected indirect data accesses to indirect-fetch circuitry, which may buffer requests. In some embodiments, execute parse circuitry iterates through items in the buffer using an execute parse pointer (e.g., which may trail the fetch parse pointer) and outputs both item data from the buffer and indirect-fetch results from indirect-fetch circuitry for execution. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may reduce fetch latency for compute kernels.

Abstract: An electronic device may include an applications processor that communicates with a peripheral input-output (I/O) device using a coprocessor. The applications processor may include a first interprocessor communications (IPC) module, whereas the coprocessor may include a second IPC module for interfacing with the first IPC module. The first IPC module may forward a group of transactions to a submission queue and may ring a submission doorbell interrupt to signal that work items are pending in the submission queue. In response, the second IPC module may dequeue the work items from the submission queue and process these items at the I/O device. The second IPC module may provide a group of completed transactions to a completion queue and may ring a completion doorbell interrupt to signal that items are pending in the completion queue. Thereafter, the completed items are forwarded to other parts of the applications processor for processing.

Abstract: A finger-mounted device may include finger-mounted units. The finger-mounted units may each have a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have sidewall portions coupled by a portion that rests adjacent to a user's fingernail. The body may be formed from deformable material such as metal or may be formed from adjustable structures such as sliding body portions that are coupled to each other using magnetic attraction, springs, or other structures. The body of each finger-mounted unit may have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that leaves the finger pad of each finger exposed when the body is coupled to a fingertip of a user's finger. Control circuitry may gather finger press input, lateral finger movement input, and finger tap input using the sensors and may provide haptic output using the haptic output device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to speculative writes to special-purpose registers (SPRs). In some embodiments, the disclosed techniques may reduce or avoid system instruction stalls while waiting for SPR writes, which may improve processor performance. In some embodiments, a processor includes a first storage element configured to store a non-speculative value of a special-purpose register and speculative storage circuitry configured to store one or more speculative values of the special-purpose register based on one or more speculatively-performed writes to the special-purpose register. In some embodiments, the processor includes control circuitry configured to: propagate the non-speculative value of the special-purpose register to control other circuitry and provide a youngest speculative value of the special-purpose register in the speculative storage circuitry as a speculative read of the special-purpose register.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for changing a required authentication type based on a request for a particular type of information. For example, consider a situation where a user has asked a virtual assistant “who owns this device?” By default, the device may allow biometric authentication to unlock. In response to identification of the owner by the virtual assistant, however, the device may require one or more other types of authentication (e.g., manual entry of a passcode) to unlock the device. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may increase the security of the device by making it more difficult for malicious entities to obtain the sensitive information or to access device functionality once the sensitive information has been disclosed. In various embodiments, this may prevent or reduce unauthorized access to the device.

Abstract: A case for an electronic device is disclosed. The case includes a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the electronic device therein. The body includes a user input region formed from a deformable material having an electrical resistance that decreases in response to a touch force on the deformable material, and an electrode pair in contact with the deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to a sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the deformable material due to the touch force. The body also includes a connector configured to operatively couple the electrode pair to the electronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for predicting a future context of a computing device. In some implementations, a context daemon can use historical context information to predict future events and/or context changes. For example, the context daemon can analyze historical context information to predict user sleep patterns, user exercise patterns, and/or other user activity. In some implementations, a context client can register a callback for a predicted future context. For example, the context client can request to be notified ten minutes in advance of a predicted event and/or context change. The context daemon can use the prediction to notify a context client in advance of the predicted event.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing near field communications during a low power management mode of an electronic device are provided that may make credentials of a near field communication (“NFC”) component appropriately secure and appropriately accessible while also limiting the power consumption of the NFC component and of other components of the electronic device.

Abstract: A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display is disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which the portable electronic device: displays an application on the touch-sensitive display; and when the application is in a predefined mode, performs a predefined operation in response to each gesture of a set of multiple distinct gestures on the touch-sensitive display. Another aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which the portable electronic device: displays a first application; when the first application is in a first mode, performs a first operation upon detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive display; and performs the first operation upon detecting a second gesture on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the second gesture is different from the first gesture.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to moving focus between user interface (UI) elements that are displayed in a UI. The method includes displaying, a UI that includes a native region and a virtualized region, where native UI elements and virtual UI elements are concurrently displayed in the native and the virtualized region, respectively. While an indication of focus is on a native UI element, the method includes detecting a first user input, removing the indication on the native UI element, and displaying the indication on a first virtual UI element if native UI element is the last native UI element. While the indication is on a virtual UI element, the method includes detecting a second user input, removing the indication on the virtual UI element, and displaying the indication on the first native UI element if the virtual UI element is the last virtual UI element.

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with one or more light-sensing components such as a camera and a color ambient light sensor. Optical structures such as camera lenses or a light pipe may be used to convey light from a window in an electronic device to a light-sensing component. One or more infrared-light-blocking-and-visible-light transmitting light filters may be interposed between a light-receiving window in an electronic device and a light-sensing component. The light filters may include infrared-light-blocking glass substrates, silver or other infrared-light-blocking thin films, and/or thin-film interference filters formed from stacks of dielectric layers that serve as infrared light-blocking layers.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently reducing the latency and power of memory access operations. A processor includes a stack pointer (SP) load-store dependence (LSD) predictor which predicts whether a memory dependence exists on a store instruction. The processor also includes a register file (RF) LSD predictor which predicts whether a memory dependence exists on a store instruction or a load instruction by a subsequent load instruction in program order. Each of the SP-LSD predictor and the RF-LSD predictor predicts and performs register renaming in a pipeline stage earlier than a renaming pipeline stage. The RF-LSD predictor also determines whether any intervening instructions between a producer memory instruction and a consumer memory instruction modify a predicted dependence.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique for merging a batch of intermediate trees into a base tree stored in a storage device. The batch of intermediate trees is stored in a storage device and each intermediate tree in the batch represents a tree that was previously moved from memory to the storage device. When the number of intermediate trees in the batch satisfies a threshold, the batch of intermediate trees is collectively merged into the base tree within the storage device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for defining a collection of media content items of a media library for a relevant interest are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of incident light are described. An optical imaging sensor is positioned at least partially within an active display area of a display and is configured to detect and characterize one or more properties of light incident to the active display area of the display.

Abstract: Context-specific user interfaces, e.g., for use with a portable multifunction device, provide, inter alia, indications of time and, optionally, a variety of additional information. A user interface screen including a current time indicator and a first platter is displayed. The first platter is at a first position, is associated with a first application, and displays a first set of information obtained from the first application. The first set of information relates to a first temporal context of the current day. In response to detecting a user input, the first platter is displayed at a second position and a second platter is displayed at the first position. The second platter is associated with a second application and displays a second set of information obtained from the second application. The second set of information relates to a second temporal context of the current day.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic devices that utilize electromagnetic signals (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signals), transmitters, and receivers in various processes, such as cellular and wireless device processes in a at least partially metal enclosure. The present disclosure describes devices that may be used to wirelessly transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals between processing components and sensing components, for example, by improving sensing device design and thus forming an integrated sensing tag that leverages passive RF technology, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses and non-transitory, computer-readable storage mediums are disclosed for generating AR self-portraits or “AR selfies.” In an embodiment, a method comprises: capturing, by a first camera of a mobile device, image data, the image data including an image of a subject in a physical, real-world environment; receiving, by a depth sensor of the mobile device, depth data indicating a distance of the subject from the camera in the physical, real-world environment; receiving, by one or more motion sensors of the mobile device, motion data indicating at least an orientation of the first camera in the physical, real-world environment; generating a virtual camera transform based on the motion data, the camera transform for determining an orientation of a virtual camera in a virtual environment; and generating a composite image data, using the image data, a matte and virtual background content selected based on the virtual camera orientation.