Sensel, Inc.

Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Charles Robert Watson

Ilya Daniel Rosenberg

John Aaron Zarraga

Alexander Meagher Grau

Tomer Daniel Moscovich

David C Buuck

Brogan Carl Miller

Dave Jonathan Lefkow

Behrad Aria

Jung Sik Yang

Hannah McClellan Richards

Amirali Virani

William Greger

Sergio Mendola

Axel Eggenwirth

William DeLorenzo

Jennifer Kim

Samuel Stevens Heyworth

Angeles Marcia Almanza-Workman

Edward Albert Liljegren

Lara Marie Sosnosky

Nagendra Bage Jayaraj

Sukwon Noh

Jon Appleby

Reuben Eric Martinez

Christa Stephens Glenn

Paul Joseph Ellis

Joshua Golden Edwards

Lindsey Ann Bauer

Andrew William Staats

An apparatus powered by batteries may include a first processor and a second processor. The first processor may consume more electrical power than the second processor. The second processor acquires data from one or more sensors. At a predetermined time or other trigger, the second processor activates the first processor that is then used to send the acquired data to an external device. For example, items are stowed on the apparatus that includes weight sensors. The second processor awakens hourly, acquires weight data indicative of the weight of items stowed on the apparatus, and returns to a sleep mode. After 24 hours of acquiring weight data, the second processor activates the first processor to send the accumulated weight data to an external device, such as a server, using a network interface. Power consumption is substantially reduced, allowing the apparatus to operate without external power for extended periods of times.

Low power network connected apparatus

One variation of a method for detecting and characterizing force inputs on a surface includes: during a resistance scan cycle of a sampling period, driving a shield electrode arranged over a resistive touch sensor to a reference potential and reading resistance values across sense electrode and drive electrode pairs in the resistive touch sensor; during a processing cycle of the sampling period, transforming the resistance values into a position and a magnitude of a force applied to a tactile surface over the shield electrode, releasing the shield electrode from the reference potential, reading a capacitance value of the shield electrode, and detecting proximity of an object to the tactile surface based on the capacitance value; and generating a touch image representing the position and the magnitude of the force on the tactile surface based on the proximity of the object to the tactile surface.

System and method for detecting and characterizing force inputs on a surface

One variation of a method for interfacing a computer to a human includes: detecting application of a first input onto a touch sensor surface and a first force magnitude of the first input; in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a first threshold magnitude, actuating a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface during a first click cycle and triggering an audio driver proximal the touch sensor surface to output a click sound during the first click cycle; detecting retraction of the first input from the touch sensor surface and a second force magnitude of the first input; and, in response to the second force magnitude falling below a second threshold magnitude less than the first threshold magnitude, actuating the vibrator during a second click cycle distinct from the first click cycle and triggering the audio driver to output the click sound during the second click cycle.

System and method for a touch sensor interfacing a computer system and a user

The disclosed techniques relate to improving sensor data collection/reporting at an automatic replenishment device (ARD). For example, sensor data associated with the item stored at an ARD may be collected. The ARD can calculate a change in the amount of the item stored by the ARD from the sensor data. If the change is over a reporting threshold, the sensor data (or the amount of change) may be transmitted to a back-end system. Reporting may not occur if additional sensor data (e.g., accelerometer data and/or images captured at the ARD) is not commensurate with a user interaction. If the difference is under the reporting threshold or unlikely due to user interaction, the ARD may refrain from transmitting the sensor data. These techniques conserves power at the ARD, relieves the back-end system from needless processing, and enables more accurate indications of the amount of the item stored by the ARD.

Sensor-related improvements to automatic replenishment devices

A reorder device having an item tag reader and one or more sensors may facilitate the automatic reordering of an item for a customer. The item may be associated with an item tag that is placed on (or near) the reorder device. The reorder device may detect the item tag and transmit such data to an entity device, which may associate the reorder device and the item. The reorder device may periodically obtain weight measurements of the item that is placed on the reorder device, as well as a timestamp that indicates a time at which the weight measurements are obtained. Such data may be provided to the entity device, and an entity associated with the entity device may determine whether weight measurement satisfies an item threshold value. If so, additional inventory of the item may be ordered and delivered to the customer, without additional input from the customer.

Sensor data-based reordering of items

One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.

Systems and methods for manipulating a virtual environment

Features are disclosed for sealing system which is dynamically activated based on a vehicle's location within a geofence via a custom access application. Mobile application features are provided to securely adjust the seal state. Requests to change state are verified against location permissions indicating time or place where the seal may be disabled. The requests may also include specific a code known only to system users for authenticating requests.

Geofence transport sealing

Human-computer interface system

Features are disclosed for sealing system which is dynamically activated based on a vehicle's location within a geofence via a custom access application. The seal generates current location information. The current location information is compared to location permissions indicating time or place where the seal may be disabled. If the current location corresponds to an authorized unsealing location, the seal may disengage to allow access to the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Charles Robert Watson