Abstract: There is disclosed a method of designing a panel assembly for a vibratory panel device, the assembly comprising a panel which supports vibrations and two or more transducers coupled to the panel to transmit vibrations to or receive vibrations from the panel. The method comprises: obtaining the number of transducers to be used in the assembly and their relative positions; obtaining relationships between drive signals to be applied to the respective transducers to provide a desired effect; determining an optimisation criterion for the assembly that depends on the obtained relationships; and determining one or more parameters for the respective transducers that satisfy the optimisation criterion. The one or more parameters may be selected from amplitudes of drive signals, spacing, activity, area, position, shape, dimension.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a touch sensitive device comprising a touch-sensitive screen; a plurality of transducers mounted to the screen and a processor, the method comprising inputting a signal into the screen at a test position on the screen whereby the screen is excited into vibration; detecting vibration in the screen using the plurality of transducers; and processing, in the processor of the touch-sensitive device, the detected vibration to generate an output signal for each of the plurality of transducers whereby when the transducers are driven by the output signals the screen is excited to generate a desired haptics sensation at the test position.

Abstract: A method of making a touch-sensitive data entry screen of the kind arranged to provide haptic response to a user via at least one electromechanical exciter coupled to the screen, comprising analyzing the mechanical and electromechanical coupled system represented by the data entry screen and the at least one exciter, and selecting values of parameters of the coupled system to provide a required displacement and acceleration of the screen at low frequency in response to human touch.

Abstract: An audio apparatus including a housing and a piezoelectric transducer mounted in the housing so that the transducer is adjacent a user's pinna. The transducer excites vibration in the pinna to cause it to transmit an acoustic signal from the transducer to a user's inner ear. The apparatus further including a coupler coupling the transducer to the housing with the coupler approximating to a simple support for the transducer.

Abstract: Bending wave vibration is used to calculate information relating to a contact on a contact sensitive device. The contact sensitive device has a member capable of supporting bending waves, and a device attached to the member measures bending wave propagation in the member to determine a measured bending wave signal. The measured bending wave signal is processed to calculate information relating to the contact. The contact sensitive device may comprise a transparent touch sensitive plate mounted in front of a display device.

Abstract: Audio apparatus comprising a housing and a piezoelectric transducer (12) mounted in the housing (10) so that the transducer is adjacent a user's pinna whereby the transducer excites vibration in the pinna to cause it to transmit an acoustic signal from the transducer to a user's inner ear characterised by comprising a coupler (14) coupling the transducer (12) to the housing (10) with the coupler (14) approximating to a simple support for the transducer (12).

Abstract: Bending wave vibration is used to calculate information relating to a contact on a contact sensitive device. The contact sensitive device has a member capable of supporting bending waves, and a device attached to the member measures bending wave propagation in the member to determine a measured bending wave signal. The measured bending wave signal is processed to calculate information relating to the contact. The contact sensitive device may comprise a transparent touch sensitive plate mounted in front of a display device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making an actuator comprising a plurality of force elements and an actuator made according to the method. The method comprises providing a coupler for coupling force from the force elements to a load; calculating a transfer function for each force element wherein the transfer functions allow the force provided to the load to be predicted; determining an error functional which is indicative of any undesired dips in the predicted force; calculating the parameters of the force elements which minimize the error functional, and coupling force elements having the calculated parameters to the coupler to make the actuator.