Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

James David Holbery

Siyuan Ma

Sang Ho Yoon

Benjamin Patrick Sullivan

Kelly Marie Bogan

Michael David Dickey

Andrew Lewis Fassler

Flavio Protasio Ribeiro

Collin Alexander Ladd

Jacquelin Leah Remaley

Christian Moller

Don Pasindu Vijai Lugoda

John Guido Atkins Weiss

Aric Ahkeel Fitz-Coy

Han Li

Woo Suk Lee

Stephanie Jo Rodgers-Ahnen

James Alec Ishihara

Masaaki Fukumoto

David Michael Lane

James Michael Bonicatto

Thomas Joseph Longo

Nathan Michael Thome

David John Huston

Anatoly Yuryevich Churikov

Timothy Jerome Coomes

Matija Varga

Collin Brittain Eaker

Holger Moessinger

Christopher Patrick O'Dowd

Paul Christopher Kos

Flavioprotasio Ribeiro

Christian Juland Moller

Examples are disclosed that relate to mapping a plurality of temperatures across an area. One example provides a temperature sensing device including a flexible support and a temperature sensing structure having a plurality of individually readable temperature sensing junctions. The temperature sensing structure includes a line of a first conductive material extending across an area of the support, and a plurality of lines of a second conductive material each intersecting the line of the first junction material at a corresponding sensing junction.

Mapping temperatures across a surface

A method of controlling opening resistance in an electronic device includes maintaining the electronic device in a closed state via a resistive force, wherein the resistive force is applied by at least one of: a hinge of the electronic device, and magnets of the electronic device. The method further includes using a sensor on an underside of the electronic device to detect a force applied to a first portion of the electronic device and determining that the force corresponds to a user initiating opening of the electronic device. In accordance with the determination, the method further includes reducing the resistive force to assist the user in opening the electronic device.

Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting opening force

A method to manufacture an article comprises applying an ink to a substrate. The ink includes a liquid vehicle, a plurality of solid metal particles, a plurality of gallium-containing particles, and a thermally activated flux. The method further comprises curing the ink by heating the substrate to within an activation temperature range of the flux. The article manufactured by this method comprises a substrate, an electronically conductive film arranged on the substrate, and an adherent barrier layer covering both the substrate and the film. The film includes a plurality of solid metal particles with a gallium-based liquid metal bridging the plurality of solid metal particles.

Electronic-circuit printing using low-cost ink

A hinge mechanism includes an electrostatic clutch for providing active control of a relative angle between two planar components. The hinge mechanism includes two conductive components on opposite sides of a dielectric layer; a relative angle detection mechanism usable to determine a relative angle between the two planar components; and a voltage controller that selectively applies voltage to at least one of the two conductive components when the detected angle between the two planar components satisfies a locking condition, the applied voltage creating an electrostatic force that restricts movement of the two conductive components and fixedly support the two planar components at the detected angle of separation.

Electrostatic clutch for active control of free hinge

An electronic device comprises a haptic feedback system. The haptic feedback system includes a first haptic actuator coupled to a controller via a first set of two or more electrodes, and a second haptic actuator coupled to the first haptic actuator, and further coupled to the controller via a second set of two or more electrodes. The controller is configured to provide a first drive signal to the first haptic actuator via the first set of two or more electrodes, and to provide a second drive signal, different from the first drive signal, to the second haptic actuator via the second set of two or more electrodes. Combining two haptic actuators allows for a broader range of feedback and a heightened user experience.

Haptic feedback system having two independent actuators

Examples are disclosed that relate to sensor devices configured to sense bending in multiple joints. One example provides a sensor device configured to span a first articulable joint and a second articulable joint. The sensor device comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in a stack and connected to a base. The plurality of electrodes comprise a first electrode arranged at a first joint region of the sensor device that is configured to be positioned at the first articulable joint, a second electrode arranged at a second joint region of the sensor device that is configured to be positioned at the second articulable joint, and a reference electrode.

Sensing bending of multiple joints

Examples are disclosed herein that relate to electronically functional textile articles. One example provides a knitted textile article comprising a first conductive thread and a second conductive thread knit into the article in such a manner as to form a conductive junction separated by a gap. The knitted textile article further comprises a knitted surface texture feature formed at a location that defines an opening over the gap, and an electronic component connecting the gap to form a circuit with the first conductive thread and the second conductive thread.

Electronic functionality in textiles

One example provides a circuit structure comprising a liquid metal conductive path enclosed in an encapsulant, a polymer circuit support comprising a polymer having a functional species available for a condensation reaction, and a cross-linking agent covalently bonding the encapsulant to the polymer circuit support via the functional species.

Connecting a flexible circuit to other structures

A yarn adaptable to incorporation into a textile comprises a core including one or more electrically conductive traces arranged on the core and distributed over at least a portion of the length of the yarn. The yarn also comprises an electrically contactable terminal arranged at a terminus of the one or more conductive traces and a winding wrapped around the core.

Electronically functional yarn and textile

Examples disclosed herein relate to providing haptic feedback. One disclosed example provides a wearable article configured to provide haptic feedback, the wearable article including a base configured to be worn on a body part, a force-applying mechanism coupled with the base, and a haptic feedback apparatus coupled with the base, the haptic feedback apparatus including a lever supported by a frame and coupled with the force-applying mechanism, the lever positioned to move relative to the frame and apply pressure on a surface of the body part when a force is applied by the force applying mechanism.

Haptic feedback apparatus

Examples are disclosed that relate to electrostatic clutching mechanisms that may be used for tactile feedback. One example provides a motion-restricting apparatus comprising a wearable base, and an electrostatic clutching mechanism coupled to the base, the electrostatic clutching mechanism comprising a base electrode, a plurality of individually-controllable opposing electrodes arranged at different locations across the base electrode and overlapping the base electrode, and one or more electrically insulating structures configured to electrically insulate the base electrode from the plurality of opposing electrodes. The motion-restricting apparatus further comprises a controller electrically coupled to the base electrode and to each of the opposing electrodes and configured to individually control a voltage applied to each opposing electrode relative to a voltage of the base electrode to control an electrostatic force between the base electrode and each opposing electrode.

Motion-restricting apparatus with common base electrode

Described herein is an electrostatic slide clutch comprising a first electrode, a second electrode oriented parallel to first electrode, an electrically insulating structure disposed on the first electrode on a face of the first electrode opposing the second electrode, and a controller electrically coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode and configured to apply a variable voltage between the first and second electrodes, to influence a normal force between the first and second electrodes.

Electrostatic slide clutch

An electrostatic slide clutch comprises first and second sheet electrodes, a dielectric layer, and a drive circuit. The dielectric layer is arranged between the first and second sheet electrodes. The drive circuit is coupled electrically to the first sheet electrode and to the second sheet electrode and configured to move a variable amount of charge bidirectionally between the first and second sheet electrodes, to influence a normal force between the first and second sheet electrodes.

Electrostatic slide clutch with bidirectional drive circuit

Examples are disclosed that relate to providing haptic feedback. One example provides a haptic feedback system comprising a wearable device configured to be worn by a user, the wearable device including a fluidic channel, a fluid disposed within the fluidic channel, the fluid including an adjustable viscosity, a circuit configured to vary a field within the fluidic channel, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first input, and in response to receiving the first input, apply a first field within the channel via the circuit to set the adjustable viscosity of the fluid to a first viscosity, and receive a second input, and in response to receiving the second input, apply a second field within the channel via the circuit to set the adjustable viscosity of the fluid to a second viscosity.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

James David Holbery