Apple Inc.

Jere C Harrison

Yi-Heng Sen

Alex J Speltz

Sheng Liu

Mi Hye Shin

Xin Alice Wu

Arman Hajati

Qi S Wang

Nils E Larson

Logan M Ames

Vu A Hong

Jason C Law

Sedat Pala

Yunhan Chen

Examples of the disclosure are directed to micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) which can be embedded into a flexible band of a watch to detect touch, gestures, physiological signals, and transfer data. In some examples, the MUTs can include a piezoelectric material disposed between two electrodes and coupled to a base material having a plurality of cavities, to support motion of the transducer structure. In some examples, the MUTs can be coupled to multiplexing circuitry to stimulate, configure and control the MUTs. In some examples, the size, shape, and arrangement of transducers can be changed to improve characteristics associated with ultrasonic transmission. In some examples, the MUT array can be driven (e.g., by the CMOS circuitry) to beamform the transmitted and/or the received ultrasonic waves. In some examples, the one or more MUT arrays can be configured to generate haptic feedback via the flexible band.

Embedded ultrasonic transducers

Locating a lost stylus, or other peripheral input device can be made possible by acoustic resonators integrated within housing structures of the stylus. Acoustic resonators can be formed at an end of the stylus opposite its tip, and can include portions of the stylus outer housing that are thinned down to an engineered thickness that has a particular resonant behavior or frequency. In some examples, acoustic resonators can be formed at a cap portion of the stylus, and can include a resonant diaphragm attached to at least a portion of a cap boundary. Cap coverings for the cap portion can optionally have openings to allow ventilation for changes in air pressure generated beneath the covering. In some examples, an electronic device can communicate a location request to the stylus and can cause the stylus to generate an acoustic signal for a specified target detector using the acoustic resonators.

Peripheral device with acoustic resonator

A haptic actuator may include a housing, at least one coil carried by the housing, and a field member having opposing first and second sides. The haptic actuator may also include a respective at least one flexure bearing mounting each of the first and second sides of the field member to be reciprocally movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. Each flexure bearing may include two diverging arms joined together at proximal ends and having spaced distal ends operatively coupled between adjacent portions of the field member and the housing. The two diverging arms may each have a reduced size medial portion relative to respective proximal and distal ends.

Haptic actuator including flexure bearing having diverging arms each with a reduced size medial portion and related methods

A double helix actuator is disclosed that includes a double helix coil wound around a movable proof mass that is enclosed within a magnetic structure. The double helix coil and the magnetic structure are arranged relative to each other so that the magnetic field generated by the entirety of the double helix coil contributes to a linear force direction of the actuator. The double helix actuator produces a greater linear force density compared to traditional racetrack coil actuators, where only a portion of the coil contributes to the linear force. The double helix actuator also produces torque in addition to linear force which allows the double helix to provide unique haptic sensations in a variety of applications.

Double helix actuator with magnetic sections having alternating polarities

A haptic actuator may include a housing that includes a ferromagnetic material having a first heat conductance, and a coil carried by the housing in a medial portion thereof and generating waste heat when electrically powered. The haptic actuator may also include a field member movable within the housing responsive to the coil. The field member may include at least one permanent magnet establishing a magnetic path with the housing. A heat spreading layer may be thermally coupled to the housing adjacent the coil. The heat spreading layer may have a second heat conductance greater than the first heat conductance to spread the waste heat from the coil to adjacent portions of the housing.

Haptic actuator including thermally coupled heat spreading layer and related methods

Disclosed are embodiments of magnetic virtual springs for haptic systems. In an embodiment, a haptic system comprises: a magnetic housing having a surface with a surface profile; a mechanical spring system disposed in the housing, the mechanical spring system including one or more mechanical springs; a mass disposed within the housing and mechanically coupled to the mechanical spring system, the mass including or coupled to a magnet, the surface profile causing a magnetic force component to be generated in at least one direction that varies with the magnet position, the magnetic force component combining with a mechanical force component provided by the mechanical springs.

Magnetic virtual springs for haptic systems

The disclosed embodiments of haptic locomotion use one or more actuators to: 1) determine the properties of contact surfaces to improve various applications that use haptic locomotion; 2) automatically improve power transfer efficiency during wireless charging or cellular or wireless signal reception; 3) increase device accessibility for visually or hearing impaired users; 4) improve speaker and microphone performance; 5) protect a free falling mobile device from impact damage by orienting the mobile device to a low-risk orientation during free fall, or by driving the mobile device away from a high-risk orientation during free fall; and 6) control asymmetric surface friction using a directional magnetic field provided by an actuator to improve haptic locomotion in a desired direction of travel.

Haptic locomotion using wide-band actuator

A haptic actuator may include first and second bodies movable along an arcuate path of travel. The haptic actuator may also include a biasing member coupled between the first and second bodies. At least one electrical coil may be configured to move the first and second bodies to produce a haptic effect.

Haptic actuator having movable bodies along an arcuate path of travel and related methods

A haptic actuator may include a housing, at least one coil carried by the housing, and a field member having opposing first and second sides. The haptic actuator may also include a respective at least one flexure mounting each of the first and second sides of the field member to be reciprocally movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. Each flexure may include two diverging arms joined together at proximal ends and having spaced distal ends operatively coupled between adjacent portions or the field member and the housing. The two diverging arms may each include a proximal segment having a reduced material medial portion relative to adjacent end portions, and a distal segment, being canted with respect to the proximal segment, and having a reduced material medial portion relative to adjacent end portions.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Jere C Harrison