Abstract: A door handle includes a handle body with an external surface, an internal portion, and a mounting feature configured to couple the handle body to a door. The door handle also includes a force sensing element disposed in the internal portion of the handle body. The first force sensing element is configured to measure a force applied to the external surface of the door handle. The door handle further includes a communication element coupled to the force sensing element. The force measured by the force sensing element is used to determine an output function.

Abstract: A method may include receiving data from one or more sensing elements associated with a power tool. The method may also include measuring the detected data. The method may further include computing one or more data parameters based on the measuring. The method may include determining whether to permit operation of the power tool based on the data parameters. The method may further include permitting operation of the power tool when the data parameters satisfy an operation condition. The method may also include altering operation of the power tool when the data parameters does not satisfy the operation condition by performing at least one of: generating an alarm, or preventing operation of the power tool.

Abstract: A door handle includes a handle body with an external surface, an internal portion, and a mounting feature configured to couple the handle body to a door. The door handle also includes a force sensing element disposed in the internal portion of the handle body. The first force sensing element is configured to measure a force applied to the external surface of the door handle. The door handle further includes a communication element coupled to the force sensing element. The force measured by the force sensing element is used to determine an output function.

Abstract: A multi-modal touchpad can include: a touchscreen; at least one type of input sensor; a motion sensor; a haptic feedback device; and a multi-modal controller operably coupled with: the at least one type of input sensor so as to receive sensor data therefrom; the motion sensor so as to receive motion sensor data therefrom; the haptic feedback device so as to provide instructional haptic data to the haptic feedback device; a data interface that operably couples the multi-modal controller with an operating system of a device having the multi-modal touchpad; and a graphics user interface provided from the multi-modal controller to the display so as to display data from the multi-modal controller to the display. The at least one type of sensor can include a force sensor or a proximity sensor operably coupled with the physical sensing surface.

Abstract: A multi-modal sensing transducer may include a force concentrator having an external sensing surface. The multi-modal sensing transducer may also include at least one electrode coupled to the force concentrator. Further, the multi-modal sensing transducer may include at least one force sensitive element disposed adjacent to the at least one electrode. Moreover, the multi-modal sensing transducer may include at least one air gap disposed between the at least one electrode and the at least one force sensitive element.

Abstract: A system includes a surface having a demarcated area and discrete areas disposed on the surface. The discrete areas may each be configured to receive user input. At least a portion of the discrete areas overlap the demarcated area. The system further includes a sensing layer disposed underneath the surface. The sensing layer may be configured to sense force applied to the surface in response to the user input.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content and a bezel disposed around the electronic display. The bezel may have an opening allowing a person to view the active area. The handheld device also includes a force sensing system having a force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel. The force sensing system may be configured to a sense a force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the force. The handheld device may further include a processor operable to receive the sensor signal and to execute a function based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: A system includes a surface having a demarcated area and discrete areas disposed on the surface. The discrete areas may each be configured to receive user input. At least a portion of the discrete areas overlap the demarcated area. The system further includes a sensing layer disposed underneath the surface. The sensing layer may be configured to sense force applied to the surface in response to the user input.

Abstract: A method may include receiving data from one or more sensing elements associated with a power tool. The method may also include measuring the detected data. The method may further include computing one or more data parameters based on the measuring. The method may include determining whether to permit operation of the power tool based on the data parameters. The method may further include permitting operation of the power tool when the data parameters satisfy an operation condition. The method may also include altering operation of the power tool when the data parameters does not satisfy the operation condition by performing at least one of: generating an alarm, or preventing operation of the power tool.

Abstract: A system may include a bottom layer and a sensing layer disposed on a first side of the bottom layer. The first sensing layer may include a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element and the second sensing element may include one of: a force sensing element, a strain sensing element, a motion sensing element, or an environmental sensing element. The first sensing element and the second sensing element may be of a different type of sensing element. The system may also include a communications interface configured to couple the sensing layer with a host controller.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content and a bezel disposed around the electronic display. The bezel may have an opening allowing a person to view the active area. The handheld device also includes a force sensing system having a force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel. The force sensing system may be configured to a sense a force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the force. The handheld device may further include a processor operable to receive the sensor signal and to execute a function based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: A system includes a surface having a demarcated area and discrete areas disposed on the surface. The discrete areas may each be configured to receive user input. At least a portion of the discrete areas overlap the demarcated area. The system further includes a sensing layer disposed underneath the surface. The sensing layer may be configured to sense force applied to the surface in response to the user input.

Abstract: A system includes a surface having a demarcated area and discrete areas disposed on the surface. The discrete areas may each be configured to receive user input. At least a portion of the discrete areas overlap the demarcated area. The system further includes a sensing layer disposed underneath the surface. The sensing layer may be configured to sense force applied to the surface in response to the user input.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content and a bezel disposed around the electronic display. The bezel may have an opening allowing a person to view the active area. The handheld device also includes a force sensing system having a force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel. The force sensing system may be configured to a sense a force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the force. The handheld device may further include a processor operable to receive the sensor signal and to execute a function based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: An insole system includes a cushion layer configured to contact a human foot within an article of footwear and a sensing layer coupled to the cushion layer. The sensing layer may include a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element and the second sensing element are one of: a force sensing element, a strain sensing element, or an environmental sensing element, wherein the first sensing element and the second sensing element are of a different type of sensing element. The insole system may also include a communications interface configured to couple the sensing layer with a host controller.

Abstract: A system includes a surface having a demarcated area and discrete areas disposed on the surface. The discrete areas may each be configured to receive user input. At least a portion of the discrete areas overlap the demarcated area. The system further includes a sensing layer disposed underneath the surface. The sensing layer may be configured to sense force applied to the surface in response to the user input.

Abstract: A system includes a first force sensing transducer being configured to enable force sensing detection of a first force input on a first contact interface, a memory, and a processor that is operatively coupled to the memory and the first force sensing transducer. The processor is configured to perform operations including detect the first force input on the first contact interface via the first force sensing transducer, measure at least one of a magnitude or a direction of the first force input detected by the first force sensing transducer, compute a force sensing data parameter based on the measured at least one of the magnitude or the direction of the first force input; determine an output function based on the force sensing data parameter; and cause an activation of the output function.

Abstract: A door handle includes a handle body with an external surface, an internal portion, and a mounting feature configured to couple the handle body to a door. The door handle also includes a force sensing element disposed in the internal portion of the handle body. The first force sensing element is configured to measure a force applied to the external surface of the door handle. The door handle further includes a communication element coupled to the force sensing element. The force measured by the force sensing element is used to determine an output function.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content and a bezel disposed around the electronic display. The bezel may have an opening allowing a person to view the active area. The handheld device also includes a force sensing system having a force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel. The force sensing system may be configured to a sense a force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the force. The handheld device may further include a processor operable to receive the sensor signal and to execute a function based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: A system includes a surface having a demarcated area and discrete areas disposed on the surface. The discrete areas may each be configured to receive user input. At least a portion of the discrete areas overlap the demarcated area. The system further includes a sensing layer disposed underneath the surface. The sensing layer may be configured to sense force applied to the surface in response to the user input.