In a relay unit, a sensor-side communication controller acquires setting information from a synchronization line and stores the acquired setting information in a storage unit in response to reception of a backup instruction from a communication master by a master-side communication controller. The sensor-side communication controller outputs the setting information stored in the storage unit to the synchronization line via a branch line in response to reception of a restoration instruction from the communication master by the master-side communication controller. The sensor-side communication controller periodically or aperiodically compares the setting information transmitted through the synchronization line with the setting information of the storage unit so as to detect presence or absence of a difference. The master-side communication controller outputs a notification signal to the communication master in response to detection of the difference.

A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display, a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and including a glass top case. The glass top case defines an exterior surface and a keyboard opening through the glass top case from the exterior surface to an interior surface. The portable computer further includes a keyboard positioned at least partially within the keyboard opening and comprising a substrate, a key configured to move relative to the substrate, and a fabric cover disposed over the key and defining a user interface surface of the key.

A light intensity detecting unit, a display panel, and a method of detecting light intensity are provided. The light intensity detecting unit includes N scanning signal lines, J reading signal lines, at least one enable signal line, NJ photoelectric conversion circuits configured to convert optical signals into electric signals, and at least one gating circuit. Each of the reading signal lines is connected to one or more of at least one gating circuit. Each of the gating circuits is connected to output terminals of a plurality of photoelectric conversion circuits. Each of the scanning signal lines is connected to one or more photoelectric conversion circuits. Each of the enable signal line is connected to one or more of the at least one gating circuit. The gating circuit is configured to transmit the electric signal to the reading signal line in response to an enable signal from the enable signal line.

Optically isolated micromachined (MEMS) switches and related methods are described. The optically isolated MEMS switches described herein may be used to provide isolation between electronic devices. For example, the optically isolated MEMS switches of the types described herein can enable the use of separate grounds between the receiving electronic device and the control circuitry. Isolation of high-voltage signals and high-voltage power supplies can be achieved by using an optical isolator and a MEMS switch, where the optical isolator controls the state of the MEMS switch. In some embodiments, utilizing optical isolators to provide high voltages, the need for electric high-voltage sources such as high-voltage power supplies and charge pumps may be removed, thus removing the cause of potential damage to the receiving electronic device. In one example, the optical isolator and the MEMS switch may be co-packaged on the same substrate.

A keyboard includes an elastic element disposed above a bottom case, a light emitter, a light receiver, a pressing element, and a keycap. When a force toward the bottom case is applied to a top surface of the elastic element, a relationship between a force to move the top surface and a distance from the top surface to the bottom case is in a negative correlation in a path of the top surface from a first position to a second position, and a relationship between a force to move the top surface and a distance from the top surface to the bottom case is in a positive correlation in a path of the top surface from the second position to a third position. The light emitter, the light receiver, and the pressing element are disposed above the elastic element. The keycap is disposed above the pressing element.

An electronic device such as an earbud may have control circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may have portions such as an ear portion with a speaker port through which a speaker plays audio and a stalk portion that extends from the ear portion. Proximity sensors may be formed in the electronic device. For example, one or more proximity sensors may be formed on the ear portion to detect when a user has inserted an earbud into the ear of the user and/or one or more proximity sensors may be formed on a stalk portion to detect when a user is holding an earbud by the stalk or when a user is providing finger touch input such as taps, swipes, and/or other gestures on the stalk portion. The proximity sensors may be optical proximity sensors such as coherent self-mixing proximity sensors.

A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.

A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.

To make a display in a photoelectric switch easy to see for a user. A photoelectric switch includes a housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A display is attached to a first surface of the outer surface of the housing. A control board is housed on the inside of the housing. A controller is mounted on the control board. The first surface includes a hole-like or cutout-like opening section for allowing a signal cable to pass from the outside to the inside of the housing. The signal cable electrically connects the control board disposed on the inside of the housing and the display disposed on the outside of the housing. A cover member includes a window section for exposing a display region of the display and covers a non-display region of the display. The cover member is provided outside the housing.

An apparatus can be used for detecting pile-up within circuitry associated with photodetectors. The apparatus includes an input terminal configured to receive a plurality of photodetector outputs. An OR-tree is coupled in parallel with the circuitry associated with the photodetectors. The OR-tree has an input coupled to the input terminal and is configured to combine the photodetector outputs. A counter is configured to count an output of the OR-tree. A comparator is configured to compare an output of the counter to a determined threshold value, wherein the comparator is configured to output an indicator indicating pile-up within the circuitry associated with photodetectors based on the output of the counter being greater than or equal to the determined threshold value.