Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly having several electronic components mounted on a PCB and a damping layer covering the electronic components, is disclosed. Embodiments of the PCB assembly include an overmold layer constraining the damping layer against the PCB. Embodiments of the PCB assembly include an interposer between a capacitor of the electronic components and the PCB. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electronic device can include one or more actuators. The actuator or actuators may be operably connected to a feedback surface. Movement is produced in at least one actuator that causes an audio output. The movement in the actuator(s) by itself may produce the desired audio output. The movement in the actuator(s) can produce a force in at least one direction that produces movement in the feedback surface, and the movement in the feedback surface produces audio output. The movement in the actuator may also provide a haptic output to a user.

Abstract: A haptic device in an electronic device includes a feedback surface, one or more actuators, and a connection member connected between the feedback surface and each actuator. At least one actuator produces an attracting or repelling force that creates movement in the connection member and the feedback surface. An acoustic and a haptic output of the haptic device can be adjusted at least in part by producing an out of plane movement in the feedback surface, by changing a cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the connection member, by changing dynamically one or more biasing supports disposed below the feedback surface, and/or by changing at least one waveform characteristic of a haptic input signal received by at least one actuator.

Abstract: A haptic device in an electronic device includes a feedback surface, one or more actuators, and a connection member connected between the feedback surface and each actuator. At least one actuator produces an attracting or repelling force that creates movement in the connection member and the feedback surface. An acoustic and a haptic output of the haptic device can be adjusted at least in part by producing an out of plane movement in the feedback surface, by changing a cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the connection member, by changing dynamically one or more biasing supports disposed below the feedback surface, and/or by changing at least one waveform characteristic of a haptic input signal received by at least one actuator.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly having several electronic components mounted on a PCB and a damping layer covering the electronic components, is disclosed. Embodiments of the PCB assembly include an overmold layer constraining the damping layer against the PCB. Embodiments of the PCB assembly include an interposer between a capacitor of the electronic components and the PCB. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages the acoustic noise produced by a device. During operation, the system receives a set of acoustic characteristics for the device. The system then uses these acoustic characteristics to estimate the acoustic noise being generated by the device. Next, the system uses the estimated acoustic noise to adjust a setting in the device to manage the acoustic noise produced by the device.

Abstract: A haptic device in an electronic device includes a feedback surface, one or more actuators, and a connection member connected between the feedback surface and each actuator. At least one actuator produces an attracting or repelling force that creates movement in the connection member and the feedback surface. An acoustic and a haptic output of the haptic device can be adjusted at least in part by producing an out of plane movement in the feedback surface, by changing a cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the connection member, by changing dynamically one or more biasing supports disposed below the feedback surface, and/or by changing at least one waveform characteristic of a haptic input signal received by at least one actuator.

Abstract: A multi-layer capacitor such as a multi-layer-ceramic-capacitor (MLCC) has upper and lower dielectric layers separating upper and lower electrode layers, where the lower dielectric layers have a lower dielectric constant than the upper dielectric layers to reduce piezoelectric effect driven capacitor reaction forces on a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the capacitor is mounted. Such an MLCC may include the upper dielectric and electrode layers in a top portion of the MLCC; and the lower dielectric and electrode layers in a bottom portion of the MLCC. A bottom portion of the MLCC may be mounted on a PCB. As an example, the dielectric constant value of the lower dielectric layers may be between 1.5 and 3.5 times less than that of the upper dielectric layers to reduce piezoelectric effect driven capacitor reaction forces in the audio range of human hearing. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A Non-Uniform Dielectric Layer, Multi-Layer-Ceramic-Capacitor (MLCC) has upper and lower dielectric layers separating upper and lower electrode layers, where the lower dielectric layers have a greater vertical thickness than the upper dielectric layers to reduce piezoelectric effect driven capacitor reaction forces on a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the capacitor is mounted. Such an MLCC may include an upper set of dielectric layers that separate adjacent pairs of upper electrode layers in a top portion of the MLCC, and a lower set of dielectric layers that separate adjacent pairs of lower electrode layers in a bottom portion of the MLCC. A bottom portion of the MLCC may be mounted on a PCB. The thickness of the lower dielectric layers may be between 1.5 and 3.5 times greater than the upper dielectric layers to reduce piezoelectric effect driven capacitor reaction forces in the audio range of human hearing.

Abstract: A haptic device in an electronic device includes a feedback surface, one or more actuators, and a connection member connected between the feedback surface and each actuator. At least one actuator produces an attracting or repelling force that creates movement in the connection member and the feedback surface. An acoustic and a haptic output of the haptic device can be adjusted at least in part by producing an out of plane movement in the feedback surface, by changing a cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the connection member, by changing dynamically one or more biasing supports disposed below the feedback surface, and/or by changing at least one waveform characteristic of a haptic input signal received by at least one actuator.

Abstract: A Non-Uniform Dielectric Layer, Multi-Layer-Ceramic-Capacitor (MLCC) has upper and lower dielectric layers separating upper and lower electrode layers, where the lower dielectric layers have a greater vertical thickness than the upper dielectric layers to reduce piezoelectric effect driven capacitor reaction forces on a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the capacitor is mounted. Such an MLCC may include an upper set of dielectric layers that separate adjacent pairs of upper electrode layers in a top portion of the MLCC, and a lower set of dielectric layers that separate adjacent pairs of lower electrode layers in a bottom portion of the MLCC. A bottom portion of the MLCC may be mounted on a PCB. The thickness of the lower dielectric layers may be between 1.5 and 3.5 times greater than the upper dielectric layers to reduce piezoelectric effect driven capacitor reaction forces in the audio range of human hearing.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages the acoustic noise produced by a device. During operation, the system receives a set of acoustic characteristics for the device. The system then uses these acoustic characteristics to estimate the acoustic noise being generated by the device. Next, the system uses the estimated acoustic noise to adjust a setting in the device to manage the acoustic noise produced by the device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reduces annoyance by managing the acoustic noise produced by a device. During operation, the system receives a set of acoustic characteristics for noise-producing components within the device. The system then uses these acoustic characteristics to estimate the acoustic noise being generated by each of these noise-producing components. Next, the system aggregates this set of acoustic noise estimates to produce an aggregate estimate for the acoustic noise produced by the device. The system then analyzes this aggregate estimate using an acoustic annoyance model to determine the acoustic annoyance level. The system then adjusts a setting in the device to manage the acoustic annoyance level produced by the device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages the acoustic noise produced by a device. During operation, the system receives a set of acoustic characteristics for the device. The system then uses these acoustic characteristics to estimate the acoustic noise being generated by the device. Next, the system uses the estimated acoustic noise to adjust a setting in the device to manage the acoustic noise produced by the device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages the acoustic noise produced by a device. During operation, the system receives a set of acoustic characteristics for the device. The system then uses these acoustic characteristics to estimate the acoustic noise being generated by the device. Next, the system uses the estimated acoustic noise to adjust a setting in the device to manage the acoustic noise produced by the device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reduces annoyance by managing the acoustic noise produced by a device. During operation, the system receives a set of acoustic characteristics for noise-producing components within the device. The system then uses these acoustic characteristics to estimate the acoustic noise being generated by each of these noise-producing components. Next, the system aggregates this set of acoustic noise estimates to produce an aggregate estimate for the acoustic noise produced by the device. The system then analyzes this aggregate estimate using an acoustic annoyance model to determine the acoustic annoyance level. The system then adjusts a setting in the device to manage the acoustic annoyance level produced by the device.

Abstract: A portable nondestructive testing instrument uses high-speed phase-stepping shearography, and vacuum stressing, to produce images of disbonds, impact damage, or delaminations, in metal or composite structures. The invention is especially useful in the inspection of large areas where only external access is feasible, such as in large aircraft, space vehicles, boats, or civil engineered structures having multiple bond lines. The invention includes a novel combination of components and techniques, including a high-spatial-resolution CCD sensor, low-voltage piezoceramic phase stepping, rapid phase stepping, a fast phase calculation technique, a fast image smoothing technique, and an implementation of all of the above in a portable unit. Specially designed timing and control algorithms allow data acquisition, transfer, calculation, smoothing, and display at rates of up to two times per second.

Abstract: A portable nondestructive testing instrument uses high-speed phase-stepping shearography, and vacuum stressing, to produce images of disbonds, impact damage, or delaminations, in metal or composite structures. The invention is especially useful in the inspection of large areas where only external access is feasible, such as in large aircraft, space vehicles, boats, or civil engineered structures having multiple bond lines. The invention includes a novel combination of components and techniques, including a high-spatial-resolution CCD sensor, low-voltage piezoceramic phase stepping, rapid phase stepping, a fast phase calculation technique, a fast image smoothing technique, and an implementation of all of the above in a portable unit. Specially designed timing and control algorithms allow data acquisition, transfer, calculation, smoothing, and display at rates of up to two times per second.