Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Purdue Research Foundation

Sang Ho Yoon

James David Holbery

Siyuan Ma

Christian Klein

Karthik Ramani

Andrew Stuart Glass

Jacquelin Leah Remaley

Woo Suk Lee

Robyn Rebecca Reed McLaughlin

Flavio Protasio Ribeiro

Kaitlyn Schoeck

Kelly Marie Bogan

Shantanu Yadunath Thakurdesai

Casey Cook Zelig

Roy H Berger

James David Holberry

A method of selectively illuminating part of an electronic device includes obtaining a posture status of a hinge supporting a display cover relative to a base of the electronic device and illuminating an optical module positioned on an outer surface of the electronic device based on the hinge position of the posture status.

Systems and methods for illuminated logo movement

A sensing system includes a base material, a plurality of electrodes, a capacitive sensing channel and a controller. The stretchable base material has a resistance distribution that changes in response to being mechanically deformed as a result of a human body contact. The base material has a rebound elasticity. The electrodes are attached to a perimeter of the base material, the capacitive sensing channel is attached to the base material. The controller is operatively connected to the plurality of electrodes and the capacitive sensing channel. The controller is configured to measure instantaneous voltage measurements from the plurality of electrodes, and determine whether the base material is mechanically deformed based on the instantaneous voltage measurements using a support vector machine classifier.

Flexible touch sensing system and method with deformable material

The disclosed technologies address various technical problems, including improving human-computer interaction, by augmenting the functionality provided by user input devices using a digital glove. For example, a digital glove can be utilized to provide pressure sensitivity for non-pressure sensitive touchscreen devices, attribute input made with a digital pen to a user wearing the digital glove, augment the functionality provided by mice and other types of handheld user input devices, augment the functionality provided gaze tracking systems, improve camera-based motion tracking systems, and to augment the functionality provided by speech recognition systems.

Augmenting the functionality of user input devices using a digital glove

A sensing system includes a stretchable base material, a plurality of electrodes, a capacitive sensing channel and a controller. The stretchable base material has a resistance distribution that changes in response to being mechanically deformed as a result of a human body contact. The base material has a rebound elasticity. The electrodes are attached to a perimeter of the base material, the capacitive sensing channel is attached to the base material. The controller is operatively connected to the plurality of electrodes and the capacitive sensing channel. The controller is configured to measure instantaneous voltage measurements from the plurality of electrodes, and determine whether the base material is mechanically deformed based on the instantaneous voltage measurements using a support vector machine classifier.

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

A single volume soft sensor capable of sensing real-time continuous contact and stretching. A low-cost and an easy method to fabricate such piezoresistive elastomer-based soft sensors for instant interactions is also provided. An electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technique is employed to estimate changes of resistance distribution on the sensor caused by fingertip contact. To compensate for the rebound elasticity of the elastomer and achieve real-time contact sensing, an adaptive baseline update for EIT is utilized. The baseline updates are triggered by fingertip contact and movement detections.

Flexible touch sensing system and method

The disclosed technologies address technical problems, including improving human-computer interaction, by augmenting the functionality provided by non-digital objects using a digital glove. To provide this functionality, a machine learning model is trained using sensor data generated by sensors in a digital glove and data generated by a user input device while the digital glove is utilized to manipulate an object like a user input device. Once trained, the machine learning model can take sensor data generated by a digital glove while manipulating a non-digital object and generate virtual user input device data that can be utilized to control a host computer. A digital glove can also be utilized to perform selection operations using non-digital objects when pressure data generated by one or more of the pressure sensors in the digital glove indicates that pressure was exerted at a finger of the digital glove in excess of a threshold value.

Augmenting the functionality of non-digital objects using a digital glove

A single volume soft sensor capable of sensing real-time continuous contact and stretching. An electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technique with support vector machine (SVM) learning is employed to estimate changes of resistance distribution on the sensor caused by fingertip contact even during sensor deformation events. A deformation switch is incorporated to maintain the localization during deformation events.

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

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 a disposable cover for an object, wherein the cover includes a passive sensing circuit loop. The sensing circuit loop is configured to inductively couple with a reusable sensor readout device that provides power and signal processing. The reusable sensor readout device wirelessly measures a sensor element printed as part of the sensing circuit loop through the inductively coupled channel. In one example, a disposable glove for a human hand includes a sensing circuit loop printed on the disposable glove.

Sensor-integrated disposable cover

Examples are disclosed that relate to haptic actuators. One disclosed example provides a haptic actuator including an inductive coil, a layer of a compressible material positioned adjacent to the inductive coil and transverse to an axis of the inductive coil, and a magnet positioned on the layer of compressible material such that the magnet is movable relative to the inductive coil via compression of the layer of the compressible material upon application of a control signal to the inductive coil. Another example provides an article including a textile formed at least partially from a yarn including a core and a conductor wound around the core to form an inductive coil, and a magnetic object integrated with the textile at a position transverse to a direction of a magnetic field formed by the inductive coil.

Electromagnetically actuating a haptic feedback system

One example provides a system for selectively restricting motion of an articulable joint, the system comprising a base having a first portion configured to be positioned at a first side of the articulable joint and a second portion configured to be positioned at a second side of the articulable joint, a clutch mechanism comprising a flexible portion having a first end coupled to the first portion of the base and a second end coupled to the second portion of the base, and a guide coupled to the base, the guide comprising a support surface that supports the flexible portion between the first end and the second end as the flexible portion moves during articulation of the articulable joint, the support surface of the guide comprising an angular transition in a dimension transverse to a travel direction of the flexible portion as a function of distance along the travel direction.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Sang Ho Yoon