Patent number 20090289789 is for an event recorder for a portable media device. Operational parametric sensing and event recording capabilities are provided for portable electronic devices such as media players, cell phones, laptop computers, and the like that takes the can take the form of a standalone sensing unit or as an integrated component of the portable electronic device. The inventors are David Tupman and Anthony Fadell.

Patent number 200902897603 involves a method and apparatus for maintaining a battery in a partially charged state. The embodiment may measure the charge level of a battery and determine if the charge level equals or exceeds a threshold. When the battery charge level does not equal or exceed the threshold, the battery may be charged. The inventor is Peter H. Mahowald.

Patent number 20090290319involves electromagnetic shielding in a small form factor device. In a device having a circuit board bearing one or more components requiring electromagnetic shielding, and having a subassembly with a conductive backplane, the circuit board is mounted beneath that backplane. Each component or group of components requiring shielding is surrounded by a grounded shielding can having an open top. Conductive spring fingers, aligned with the walls of the can, are formed in or on the backplane. When the device is assembled, the backplane closes the can. The spring fingers press against, or interengage with, the tops of the can walls, electrically bridging any gap resulting from assembly tolerances. The inventors are Scott A. Myers, Peter J. Hues and Erik L. Wang.

Patent number 20090292835 involves techniques for transferring status information between an accessory and a multi-communication device. A connector interface system for a communication device is disclosed. The interface includes a docking connector. The docking connector includes first make/last break contacts that minimize internal damage to the internal electronics. The docking connector also includes specific keying arrangement to prevent noncompliant connectors from being plugged in, and thereby minimizes potential damage to the multi-communication device. The connector interface system also includes a remote connector which provides for the ability to output audio, input audio, provides I/O serial protocol, and to provide an output video. Embodiments of the present invention allow for a standard headphone cable to be plugged in but also for special remote control cables, microphone cables, video cables could be utilized in such a system. The connector interface system also includes a serial protocol to control device features. These controls help a user sort and search for data more efficiently within the device. The inventors are Donald J. Novoney, John Benjamin Filson and David Tupman.

Patent number 2009028917 is for a dual purpose ambient light sensor. Per the patent, an ambient light sensor may be provided on an electronic device to aid in controlling the brightness of the illuminators of the device. The ambient light sensor may be mounted in such a way as to detect ambient light when the electronic device is opened or closed so that the device may control the brightness of the illuminators of the device, whether the illuminators are mounted on the outer or inner shell of the device. Further, when the display is closed, the sensitivity of the ambient light sensor may be adjusted appropriately to account for the lesser amount of light that may reach the sensor. Finally, a spacer or light pipe may be provided to allow ambient light to reach the sensor to provide an accurate ambient light reading when the device is in the closed position. The inventors are Peter H. Mahowald and Jose N. Martinez.

Patent number 20090290294 is for viscoelastic material for shock protection in an electronic device. This invention is directed to reducing the effect of shocks on electronic device components. The electronic device component may be surrounded by a boundary element operative to deform in response to impacts. By deforming, the boundary element may be operative to absorb energy received by the shock or impact without passing the energy on to the electronic device component. To maximize the effectiveness of the boundary element over a range of different impacts (e.g., strong, instantaneous impacts and weak impacts over time), a viscoelastic material may be used. The characteristic properties of the viscoelastic material may be selected based on expected impacts to the electronic device component. The inventor is Christopher Prest.

Patent number 20090290296 is for a small lanyard connection for a low profile device. A miniaturized attachment mechanism for attaching a lanyard to a cell phone, MP3 player or other portable device having a hole in its outer casing is disclosed. The miniaturized attachment mechanism can have one end permanently fastened to a lanyard, and can include a spring-loaded ball detent within a hollow shaft. The hollow shaft diameter can be about 3 millimeters or less, while the diameter of the ball within the hollow shaft can be about 2 millimeters or less. The hollow shaft can be inserted into the casing hole such that the ball detent secures the mechanism to the casing until a pin release is used. In another embodiment, the miniaturized attachment mechanism can include a 1 millimeter shaft having a groove at an insertable end, while the casing encloses a two hole E-ring mechanism adapted to lock onto the groove when the shaft is inserted into the casing hole. The inventors are Kurt Stiehl and Karen Cheng.

Patent number 20090292749 involves per thread garbage collection. Per thread garbage collection is disclosed. Objects associated only with a thread that created them are tracked. At a garbage collection time for a particular thread, it is determined which objects associated only with that thread remain reachable from a restricted root set associated with the thread. Any thread-only objects that are not determined to be reachable are garbage collected. The inventors are Gerald Blaine Garst Jr., Gregory Robert Parker, Douglas Joshau Behnke and Patrick C. Beard.

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