Apple Inc.

Xin Alice Wu

Jere C Harrison

Fu-Ying Huang

Sheng Liu

Shingo Yoneoka

Yi-Heng Sen

Hari Vasudevan

Alex J Speltz

Kathryn K Wopat

A haptic actuator may include a base, a field member coupled to the base and that may include spaced apart permanent magnets. The haptic actuator may also include a coil having a loop shape defining a slotted opening therein, and a spring member suspending the coil so that the field member is within the slotted opening and permitting relative movement of the field member and the coil.

Haptic actuator including field member within slotted opening of suspended coil 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

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

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Xin Alice Wu