Tactus Technology, Inc.

Lv Sensors, Inc.

Omron Network Products, LLC

Symbol Technologies, LLC

Blaze Network Products, Inc.

Hupnos, Inc.

Curtis A Ray

Craig M Ciesla

Micah B Yairi

Mario Sotelo Garcia

Roman Rak

Nathan Knapp

Michael Hammersley

Ben Guron Calub

Carl Del Rosario

Brandon Gregory Miller

Janusz Bryzek

Maxwell Harshorn Shimshak

Forrest Russell Grinstead

Nathaniel Mark Saal

Eric B Grann

Michael Jastrzebski

Elizabeth Logan

Jonathon Jenkins

Michael Malaga

Amy Lai Wong

Simona Wong

Brian C Peters

Kyle Gregory

Ron Menigoz

Robert Adrian Ray

David Krevor

Jonathan Jenkins

Miklos Stern

Katja Piililä

Kenny Woo

Brian Lee Bircumshaw

Hong Li

Todd Whitaker

Michael J Laha

Shad Roundy

David L Brown

Jeffrey A Griffis

Roderick P McAfee

Michael Stanley Roberts

Michael Ray

Hanna Marie Bossmark

Gregorie Vandenbussche

Rob Ray

Christopher Kuh

Max Shimshak

Robert Ray

David Anvar

One variation of a method&#x2014;for controlling a breathing mask comprising a flow control module configured to mate to nostrils of a user and comprising an actuator configured to adjust obstruction to airflow out of the flow control module&#x2014;includes: accessing a wake alarm time; accessing a sleep delay duration; at a first time, receiving an indicator that the user is preparing for sleep; in response to receiving the indicator, triggering the actuator to transition from a minimum-restriction position toward a maximum-restriction position at a second time succeeding the first time by the sleep delay duration, the actuator minimally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the maximally-restriction position; and, prior to the wake alarm time, triggering the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position.

Breathing mask

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a dynamic tactile layer including a deformable region and a first region, the deformable region operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the first region adjacent the deformable region, the deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the first region in the expanded setting; a displacement device including a fluid vessel and an actuator, the actuator displacing fluid from the fluid vessel into the dynamic tactile layer to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting and displacing fluid from the dynamic tactile layer into the fluid vessel, transitioning the deformable region from the expanded setting into the retracted setting; and a fluid compensation device coupled to the displacement device and adjusting a configuration of the displacement device in response to a change in a volume of fluid contained within the fluid vessel.

Dynamic tactile interface

Housing for a computing device

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a tactile layer including a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region; a substrate coupled to the tactile layer, the substrate defining fluid channel and cooperating with the deformable region to define a variable volume fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a displacement device coupled to the bladder, displacing fluid into the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and displacing fluid out of the variable volume to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting, the displacement device defining a equilibrium range of fluid pressures within the fluid channel; a reservoir fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and supporting a reserve volume of fluid; and a valve selectively controlling transfer of fluid from the reservoir to the fluid channel.

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate; a volume of fluid within the tube; and a rotary actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end and configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel.

A dynamic tactile interface including a tactile layer defining a first region and a deformable region adjacent the first region; a substrate coupled to the tactile layer at the first region, defining a variable volume adjacent the deformable region and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the variable volume; a set of rigid structures distributed across the tactile layer defining an anti-reflective coating over the tactile layer; and a displacement device fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, the displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the first region in the expanded setting, the set of rigid structures conforming to the tactile layer, each rigid structure in the set of rigid structures shifting relative to an adjacent rigid structure in the set of rigid structures.

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate coupled to the peripheral region, a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region, a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and a via fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and passing through the back surface; a bladder fluidly coupled to the via and the substrate; a structure adjacent a first side of the bladder; and a platen adjacent a second side of the bladder opposite the first side and compressing the bladder against the structure substantially perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the bladder and substantially parallel the substrate to displace fluid from the bladder and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.

Dynamic tactile interface and methods

The dynamic tactile interface includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting; a substrate including an attachment surface and coupled to the peripheral region and defining a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a border region proximal a periphery of the substrate and defining a cavity configured to receive an instrument, the cavity supporting the instrument in a first configuration and releasing the instrument in a second configuration; and a bladder fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and coupled to the cavity, the instrument compressing a portion of the bladder in the first configuration to displace fluid from the bladder into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting.

A dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.

Tire sensor packaging capable of being installed on a standard snap-in tire valve stem is provided. The sensor package includes an attachment member capable of being disposed in the flexible bore of a snap-in tire valve stem, and of securely engaging with the inner wall of the flexible bore. The attachment member can be an integral part of the sensor package, or it can be a separate part that acts as an expansion device (e.g., an expansion nut) when engaged with the sensor package. Preferably, the attachment member includes features, such as barbs, to provide more secure engagement with the tire valve stem. Packages according to embodiments of the invention include a package passage (e.g., a channel or a bore) to permit the flow of air past the sensor, so that the tire can be inflated or deflated. Sensors can be attached to the tire valve stem before or after the tire valve stem is installed in the wheel.

Monitoring device attachment to rubber valve stems

The devices presented herein are capacitive sensors with single crystal silicon on all key stress points. Isolating trenches are formed by trench and refill forming dielectrically isolated conductive silicon electrodes for drive, sense and guards. For pressure sensing devices according to the invention, the pressure port is opposed to the electrical wire bond pads for ease of packaging. Dual-axis accelerometers measuring in plane acceleration and out of plane acceleration are also described. A third axis in plane is easy to achieve by duplicating and rotating the accelerometer 90 degrees about its out of plane axis Creating resonant structures, angular rate sensors, bolometers, and many other structures are possible with this process technology. Key advantages are hermeticity, vertical vias, vertical and horizontal gap capability, single crystal materials, wafer level packaging, small size, high performance and low cost.

Capacitive micro-electro-mechanical sensors with single crystal silicon electrodes

The present invention provides a tire pressure sensor system that has multiple functions and is integrated into a small package. The system includes one or more Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS)-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor; a MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter; and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller processes the data generated by at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, controls at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, and controls the encoding and timing of transmission of data from the wireless signal transmitter. Preferably, the MEMS-based sensors, MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter, and microcontroller are integrated onto one or more chips in one or more packages. The system also preferably includes a MEMS-based motion sensor, a low frequency (LF) receiver, an IC-based voltage sensor, a voltage regulator, a temperature sensor and a polarization voltage generator. Thus, the disclosed tire pressure sensor system is high in functionality, yet small in size.

Integrated tire pressure sensor system

Improved sensor packaging is provided with a hybrid integration approach. In one example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for sensor signal conditioning is packaged. The ASIC package has an aperture in it that exposes a chip to chip bonding interface of the ASIC chip. The rest of the ASIC chip is surrounded by the package, including the connections between the external package leads and the ASIC chip. A sensor chip, also having a chip to chip bonding interface, is disposed in the package aperture and bonded to the ASIC chip such that the two chip to chip bonding interfaces are connected. Flip chip bonding of the sensor chip to the ASIC chip is a preferred approach for chip to chip bonding. The vertical gap between the two chips can be filled in by an underfill process. The lateral gap between the sensor chip and the package can also be filled.

Packaging of hybrid integrated circuits

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Curtis A Ray