Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a mass movably mounted in a linear displacement path, the mass having a magnetic segment, a drive force generator configured to selectively impart acceleration to the mass in the orientation of the linear displacement path, and a reactive force path generating a return force when the mass is displaced from a rest position. The return force being in the orientation of the linear displacement path and towards the rest position, the amplitude of the return force varying as a function of the position of the mass in the linear displacement path in accordance with a force response curve, the reactive force path including a permanent magnet force element disposed transversally adjacent to the linear displacement path and magnetically coupled with the magnetic segment.

Abstract: The tactile feedback actuator generally has a stopper, a damper, a hammer path between the stopper and the damper, a coil element fixedly mounted relative to the hammer path, and a magnetic hammer guidingly mounted for movement along the hammer path. The magnetic hammer has two opposite ends. Each end of the magnetic hammer has a corresponding permanent magnet. The two permanent magnets have opposing polarities. The magnetic hammer is electromagnetically engageable by a magnetic field emitted upon activation of the coil element so as to be longitudinally slid along the hammer path in any one of two opposite directions depending on a polarity of activation of the coil element. The stopper has a striking surface adapted for stopping the magnetic hammer, and the damper is adapted for decelerating the magnetic hammer as the magnetic hammer is longitudinally slid towards the damper.

Abstract: The electronic device generally has a housing; a tactile input interface mounted to the housing; a tactile feedback actuator having a hammer path having two ends, with at least one of said two ends end being provided in the form of a stopper and a coil element fixed relative to the housing, and a magnetic hammer movable between the ends of the hammer path, the magnetic hammer having two opposite ends, each end of the magnetic hammer having a corresponding permanent magnet, the two permanent magnets having opposing polarities, the magnetic hammer being electromagnetically engageable by a magnetic field emitted upon activation of the coil element so as to be longitudinally moved along the hammer path to strike the stopper; and a controller housed within the housing and in communication with the tactile input interface and the tactile feedback actuator.

Abstract: There is described a tactile feedback actuator generally having a hammer path having a length extending between two opposite ends, a coil element fixedly mounted relative to the hammer path, a magnetic hammer guidingly mounted for movement along the hammer path. The magnetic hammer is electromagnetically engageable by a magnetic field emitted upon activation of the coil element so as to be longitudinally slid along the hammer path in any one of two opposite directions depending on a polarity of activation of the coil element. The tactile feedback actuator has at least one electropermanent magnet at at least one of the opposite ends of the hammer path, the electropermanent magnet having a magnetization direction aligned with the length of the hammer path, and at least one state toggling device configured for toggling a state of the electropermanent magnet between a magnetized state and an unmagnetized state.

Abstract: There is described a method of operating a tactile feedback actuator with a controller. The tactile feedback actuator has a magnetic hammer guidingly mounted for movement along a hammer path, a damper at a first end of the hammer path, a stopper at a second end of the hammer path, and a coil element. The method generally has receiving data indicative of coil activation instructions for moving the magnetic hammer to generate a sequence of haptic effects that simulate a real world event, the coil activation instructions including: a first instruction for generating a first haptic effect in which the magnetic hammer is accelerated towards the stopper, and a second instruction for generating a second haptic effect in which the magnetic hammer is accelerated towards the damper; and activating the coil element upon processing the data indicative of the coil activation instructions to generate the sequence of haptic effects.

Abstract: A device is magnetically interconnectable to another device by way of a magnetic connector. Within a cavity of the magnetic connector, a magnet is movable between a first and second position. An external magnet in the other device may urge the magnet into the first position in the cavity. A magnetic stop within the device magnetically attracts the magnet towards the second position in the cavity. A sensor detects the magnet in one of the first position and second position. The position of the magnet may be used to determine whether devices are connected or disconnected from each other.

Abstract: A method of locating interoperable devices at a location, comprising receiving from a guest device at the location a query over a network to a location server. The query includes an indicator of location of the guest device, and an identifier of the guest device. The method includes querying a data store, to identify a set of proximate interoperable devices at the location, using the indicator of location; identifying permitted proximate interoperable devices from the set of proximate interoperable devices, for which contact permission by the guest device has been granted; and dispatching a message over the network to each of the permitted proximate interoperable device causing them to emit a beacon signal, that is audible or visible at the location.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a mobile electronic device comprises: a transceiver; at least one magnetic connector; connectedness detection circuitry operable to dynamically detect a connection event at each of the at least one magnetic connector; and a processor, coupled to the connectedness detection circuitry, operable to: automatically establish a communications link, via the transceiver, with an other electronic device upon detection, by the connectedness detection circuitry, of the connection event at a predetermined set of the at least one magnetic connector; send, from the mobile electronic device to a remote server, a request for access to a hardware resource of the other electronic device; and based on a positive response from the remote server, access, via the wireless communications link, a hardware resource of the other electronic device.

Abstract: A connector for an electronic device has a housing with a peripheral surface and guides defining first and second paths. The second path extends from a first location proximate the peripheral surface to a second location farther from the peripheral surface and closer to the first path. A magnetic contact assembly in the housing is magnetically movable along the first path between a first position for joining the connector in data communication with an adjacent connector, and a second position withdrawn from the peripheral surface. A magnet in the housing and is movable by attraction to an adjacent connector along the second path, to magnetically hold the connector to an adjacent connector. The guides are configured so that the magnet and the magnetic contact assembly magnetically bias one another inwardly along the first and second paths.

Abstract: A mobile device has a touch screen and connectors located in defined locations for interconnecting with other devices. The mobile device further includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to: detect an interconnected device that is interconnected with the mobile device by way of a connector. The processor is further configured to determine a spatial location of the interconnected device relative to the mobile device, based on the location of the connector; define a region on the touch screen of the mobile device depending on the spatial location of the interconnected device relative to the mobile device, the region being proximate a border between the touch screen of the mobile device and the interconnected device; and transmit a request to the interconnected device if an input gesture on the touch screen of the mobile device corresponds to the region of the touch screen.

Abstract: A system comprises: a first electronic device; a mobile electronic device operable to detect a proximity of the first electronic device; a data store containing an inventory of electronic devices associated with a user including the first electronic device and a second electronic device; and a processor in communication with the data store. The processor is operable to: receive an indication, from the mobile electronic device, of the proximity of the mobile electronic device with the first electronic device; responsive to the receiving, process the inventory to identify a hybrid electronic device constructible, from the first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the mobile electronic device, by magnetically inter-attaching at least two of the devices using magnetic connectors in the respective devices; and send a user notification indicative of the hybrid electronic device. The user notification may be sent for display at the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: The tactile feedback actuator generally has a stopper, a damper, a hammer path between the stopper and the damper, a coil element fixedly mounted relative to the hammer path, and a magnetic hammer guidingly mounted for movement along the hammer path. The magnetic hammer has two opposite ends. Each end of the magnetic hammer has a corresponding permanent magnet. The two permanent magnets have opposing polarities. The magnetic hammer is electromagnetically engageable by a magnetic field emitted upon activation of the coil element so as to be longitudinally slid along the hammer path in any one of two opposite directions depending on a polarity of activation of the coil element. The stopper has a striking surface adapted for stopping the magnetic hammer, and the damper is adapted for decelerating the magnetic hammer as the magnetic hammer is longitudinally slid towards the damper.

Abstract: There is described a tactile feedback actuator generally having a hammer path having a length extending between two opposite ends, a coil element fixedly mounted relative to the hammer path, a magnetic hammer guidingly mounted for movement along the hammer path. The magnetic hammer is electromagnetically engageable by a magnetic field emitted upon activation of the coil element so as to be longitudinally slid along the hammer path in any one of two opposite directions depending on a polarity of activation of the coil element. The tactile feedback actuator has at least one electropermanent magnet at at least one of the opposite ends of the hammer path, the electropermanent magnet having a magnetization direction aligned with the length of the hammer path, and at least one state toggling device configured for toggling a state of the electropermanent magnet between a magnetized state and an unmagnetized state.

Abstract: There is provided an adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system. The adapter generally has a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges and being adapted to receive the electronic device, each of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler electrically connectable with at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system by magnetically engaging the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter with the at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system, and an internal electric conductor network electrically connected to the magnetic couplers of the adapter and electrically connected to an internal connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing.

Abstract: There is described a method of operating a tactile feedback actuator with a controller. The tactile feedback actuator has a magnetic hammer guidingly mounted for movement along a hammer path, a damper at a first end of the hammer path, a stopper at a second end of the hammer path, and a coil element. The method generally has receiving data indicative of coil activation instructions for moving the magnetic hammer to generate a sequence of haptic effects that simulate a real world event, the coil activation instructions including: a first instruction for generating a first haptic effect in which the magnetic hammer is accelerated towards the stopper, and a second instruction for generating a second haptic effect in which the magnetic hammer is accelerated towards the damper; and activating the coil element upon processing the data indicative of the coil activation instructions to generate the sequence of haptic effects.

Abstract: The modular electronic device is generally configured for coupling with at least one other modular electronic device of a modular electronic device system wherein the modular electronic devices of the modular electronic device system. Each modular electronic device has a housing with lateral edges having at least one magnetic coupler. Any two of the modular electronic devices are coupleable to one another by engaging corresponding magnetic couplers of the two modular electronic devices with one another, the coupled modular electronic devices being pivotable relative to one another. The modular electronic device further comprises a processor configured for receiving a measurement of the relative pivot angle between the modular electronic device and an other modular electronic device coupled thereto, and selecting a software function based on the measurement of the relative pivot angle.

Abstract: There is provided an adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system. The adapter generally has a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges and being adapted to receive the electronic device, each of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler electrically connectable with at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system by magnetically engaging the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter with the at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system, and an internal electric conductor network electrically connected to the magnetic couplers of the adapter and electrically connected to an internal connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing.

Abstract: A connector for an electronic device has a housing with a peripheral surface and guides defining first and second paths. The second path extends from a first location proximate the peripheral surface to a second location farther from the peripheral surface and closer to the first path. A magnetic contact assembly in the housing is magnetically movable along the first path between a first position for joining the connector in data communication with an adjacent connector, and a second position withdrawn from the peripheral surface. A magnet in the housing and is movable by attraction to an adjacent connector along the second path, to magnetically hold the connector to an adjacent connector. The guides are configured so that the magnet and the magnetic contact assembly magnetically bias one another inwardly along the first and second paths.

Abstract: A system comprises: a first electronic device; a mobile electronic device operable to detect a proximity of the first electronic device; a data store containing an inventory of electronic devices associated with a user including the first electronic device and a second electronic device; and a processor in communication with the data store. The processor is operable to: receive an indication, from the mobile electronic device, of the proximity of the mobile electronic device with the first electronic device; responsive to the receiving, process the inventory to identify a hybrid electronic device constructible, from the first electronic device, the second electronic device, and the mobile electronic device, by magnetically inter-attaching at least two of the devices using magnetic connectors in the respective devices; and send a user notification indicative of the hybrid electronic device. The user notification may be sent for display at the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: An orientation sensor includes a sensor housing, a sensor actuator, and a motion sensor. The sensor housing has a cavity disposed therein. The sensor actuator is disposed within the housing and is configured for movement within the cavity in a direction that is influenced by a magnetic field between the sensor actuator and an electronic device external to the orientation sensor. The motion sensor is disposed within the housing and configured to detect the direction of movement of the sensor actuator within the cavity.