The various methods and devices described herein relate to devices which, in at least certain embodiments, may include one or more sensors for providing data relating to user activity and at least one processor for causing the device to respond based on the user activity which was determined, at least in part, through the sensors. The response by the device may include a change of state of the device, and the response may be automatically performed after the user activity is determined.

Automated Response to and Sensing of User Activity in Portable Devices

Peripherals and data processing systems are disclosed which can be configured to interact based upon sensor data. In one embodiment, a peripheral, which is configured to be used with a data processing system, includes an interface to couple the peripheral to the data processing system, and at least one sensor, such as a proximity sensor, to sense a user of the peripheral, and a processor coupled to the interface and to the at least one sensor, wherein the processor configures the peripheral in response to data from the at least one sensor. The peripheral may communicate sensor data from its sensors to the data processing system, which may be a wireless PDA, and the data processing system analyzes the sensor data from its sensors and from the peripheral's sensors to decide how to configure the peripheral and/or the data processing system based on the sensor.

Methods and systems for automatic configuration of peripherals

Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity and to detect light. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an emitter of electromagnetic radiation and a detector of electromagnetic radiation; the detector has a sensor to detect electromagnetic radiation from the emitter when sensing proximity, and to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter when sensing visible light. The emitter may be disabled at least temporarily to allow the detector to detect electromagnetic radiation from a source other than the emitter, such as ambient light. In one implementation, the ambient light is measured by measuring infrared wavelengths. Also, a fence having a non-IR transmissive material disposed between the emitter and the detector to remove electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

Integrated proximity sensor and light sensor

Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

Using ambient light sensor to augment proximity sensor output

Apparatuses and methods to operate a display device of an electronic device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a user setting of a display control parameter, and altering, based on the user setting, an effect of an ambient light sensor value (ALS) on control of the display control parameter. Also, according to embodiments of the inventions, a method of operating a display of an electronic device includes receiving a change to one of a display brightness output level and an ambient light sensor output level, and altering, according to the change, a display contrast output level. In some embodiments, a method of operating a proximity sensor of an electronic device includes receiving a light sensor output, and altering, according to the output, an on/off setting of a proximity sensor. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

Backlight and ambient light sensor system

An injection-locked frequency divider (ILFD) with variable division ratio, controlled by the input offset voltage, was realized using a 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. In this report, the controllable division ratios were made from 2 up to 16 with an input AC signal of 10 GHz, by changing the input DC offset voltages. This divider also performs division ratios of 2, 4, 6 and 8 with a wide-locking range up to 20 GHz at 2.5 GHz self-oscillation. The DC supplied voltage of this circuit is only 2 V and the dividing capability can reach 20 GHz.

20 GHz CMOS injection-locked frequency divider with variable division ratio

The present invention is an optical fiber system and method for carrying both CATV and Ethernet signals. The digital signals are translated into higher band by a direct up/down conversion so that analog signals and digital signals are treated as different frequency bands of electrical signals. Then, all the signals are mixed/divided by a power combiner/divider. And then, by using optoelectronic devices, the signals are processed with optoelectronic conversion. The converted optical signals are transmitted in a fiber or a related optical channel having low channel loss yet high capacity. To sum up, the present invention can transmit digital signals together with analog signals in a single wavelength to save the cost of an optical signal system and to provide a convenience on rearranging the system.

Optical fiber system and method for carrying both CATV and Ethernet signals

A single wavelength fiber-optic communication system that mixes an Ethernet signal with a radio frequency signal is disclosed. The system includes an Ethernet signal module, a radio frequency signal module, a mixer module and a receiver module. The Ethernet signal module provides an Ethernet signal. The radio frequency signal module provides a radio frequency signal. The mixer module provides an optical mixed signal by means of mixing the Ethernet signal with the radio signal at a single wavelength. The receiver module transforms the optical mixed signal into the radio frequency signal and a digital signal that contains the Ethernet signal.

Method and apparatus for transporting ethernet and radio frequency signals in fiber-optic system

We proposed a novel approach to enhance the data bandwidth by combining the optical Ethernet and video signals in a single wavelength. This technology could support a potential to wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network applications

Hsin-Pin Wang

Papers

20 GHz CMOS injection-locked frequency divider with variable division ratio

Optical fiber system and method for carrying both CATV and Ethernet signals

Method and apparatus for transporting ethernet and radio frequency signals in fiber-optic system

A Method of Double Optical Modulation for Direct Combining Ethernet and Video Signals in Optical Network