Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Varsha Iyengar

Michael Risley

Michael Lawrence Richards

Kyle Crouse

Dean Zachary Dijour

A pop-up sensor head with a camera transitions between a retracted and extended state. While retracted, the camera lens is covered. While extended, the camera lens is exposed and available for use. A motor maintains the sensor head at a setpoint position, such as in the retracted or extended state. A position data, such as from a Hall effect sensor associated with the motor, may be used to determine a displacement of the sensor head due to an external force being applied, such as a user pressing on the sensor head. Responsive to this input, the sensor head may transition between the retracted and extended state.

Mechanism with moveable sensor head

A sensor head transitions between a retracted and extended state. While retracted, sensors are covered. While extended, the sensors are exposed and may be used to acquire sensor data about the physical space. A force applied by a user, or a received command, may initiate transition. For example, a user may press on the sensor head to initiate retraction or extension. A motor provides a force to move the sensor head and generate haptic feedback, while a position encoder determines a displacement of the sensor head due to an external force being applied. Different applications of force by the user to the sensor head may result in different operations by the device. For example, a short push may retract the sensor head and disable the sensors for a specified time interval. In comparison a long push may retract the sensor head and disable the sensors until a specified clock time.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Varsha Iyengar