Patents by Inventor Alex J. Speltz
Alex J. Speltz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11569721Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing having opposing first and second ends and first and second coils carried by the housing adjacent respective first and second ends thereof. Each coil may have a respective passageway therethrough. The actuator may include a field member including first and second masses adjacent respective first and second ends of the housing, and a permanent magnet having first and second ends coupled to respective ones of the first and second masses. The actuator may also include first and second flexures mounting respective first and second masses to the respective first and second ends of the housing so that the field member is reciprocally movable within the passageways of the coils responsive to powering the coils and so that the ends of the permanent magnet are within respective passageways of the coils when the coils are unpowered.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Yi-Heng Sen, Alex M. Lee, Alex J. Speltz
-
Publication number: 20230006528Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz, Xin Alice Wu
-
Patent number: 11258343Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz, Xin Alice Wu
-
Patent number: 10976824Abstract: A reluctance haptic engine for an electronic device includes a core, an attractor, and one or more flexible support members. The core and/or the attractor may be coupled to an input structure, such as a button cap, trackpad cover, touchscreen cover, or the like. In an unactuated configuration, flexible support members maintain a gap between the core and the attractor. An electrical current may be applied to one or more conduction loops of the core to actuate the reluctance haptic engine and provide a haptic output by moving the input structure. The electrical current may cause a magnetic flux that results in a reluctance force that pulls the attractor and the core together and causes the input structure to move (e.g., translate, rotate, oscillate, vibrate, or deform) to produce a haptic output.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Darya Amin-Shahidi, Alex M. Lee, Denis G. Chen, Alex J. Lehmann, Alex J. Speltz, Etienne Marecal
-
Publication number: 20210096647Abstract: A reluctance haptic engine for an electronic device includes a core, an attractor, and one or more flexible support members. The core and/or the attractor may be coupled to an input structure, such as a button cap, trackpad cover, touchscreen cover, or the like. In an unactuated configuration, flexible support members maintain a gap between the core and the attractor. An electrical current may be applied to one or more conduction loops of the core to actuate the reluctance haptic engine and provide a haptic output by moving the input structure. The electrical current may cause a magnetic flux that results in a reluctance force that pulls the attractor and the core together and causes the input structure to move (e.g., translate, rotate, oscillate, vibrate, or deform) to produce a haptic output.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Darya Amin-Shahidi, Alex M. Lee, Denis G. Chen, Alex J. Lehmann, Alex J. Speltz, Etienne Marecal
-
Publication number: 20200381988Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing having opposing first and second ends and first and second coils carried by the housing adjacent respective first and second ends thereof. Each coil may have a respective passageway therethrough. The actuator may include a field member including first and second masses adjacent respective first and second ends of the housing, and a permanent magnet having first and second ends coupled to respective ones of the first and second masses. The actuator may also include first and second flexures mounting respective first and second masses to the respective first and second ends of the housing so that the field member is reciprocally movable within the passageways of the coils responsive to powering the coils and so that the ends of the permanent magnet are within respective passageways of the coils when the coils are unpowered.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Yi-Heng Sen, Alex M. Lee, Alex J. Speltz
-
Patent number: 10831276Abstract: According to some embodiments, a haptic feedback module for generating a haptic feedback event is described. The haptic feedback module includes an enclosure having walls that define a cavity. The enclosure is capable of carrying operational components within the cavity that include a frame that includes tungsten, a magnetic coil element that is capable of generating a magnetic field, a magnetic element that is carried within an aperture of the frame, linear-actuation end stops that are welded to a first end of the frame and a second end of the frame that opposes the first end, and springs that couple together the walls of the enclosure to the linear-actuation end stops.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Dominic P. Cincione, Matthew D. Dombach, Darya Amin-Shahidi, Scott D. Ridel, Vu A. Hong, Alex J. Speltz, Denis G. Chen
-
Patent number: 10694014Abstract: The disclosed embodiments of haptic locomotion use one or more actuators to: 1) determine the properties of contact surfaces to improve various applications that use haptic locomotion; 2) automatically improve power transfer efficiency during wireless charging or cellular or wireless signal reception; 3) increase device accessibility for visually or hearing impaired users; 4) improve speaker and microphone performance; 5) protect a free falling mobile device from impact damage by orienting the mobile device to a low-risk orientation during free fall, or by driving the mobile device away from a high-risk orientation during free fall; and 6) control asymmetric surface friction using a directional magnetic field provided by an actuator to improve haptic locomotion in a desired direction of travel.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz, Sheng Liu
-
Patent number: 10613678Abstract: Haptic feedback can be provided to a user via an input device to give a user a richer interaction experience with the input device and host device. The input device can include a magnet and a host device can include an array of coils. The coils can be driven to generate a magnetic field (or one or more magnetic fields) that can exert a force on the input device to provide haptic feedback. In some examples, the haptic feedback can be a push force pushing the input device away from the device or a pull force pulling the input device toward the device. In some examples, the haptic feedback can guide the input device using lateral forces. The haptic feedback described herein can be used for writing, drawing or actuating virtual input controls in a user interface.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Yi-Heng Sen, Alex J. Speltz, Alex M. Lee
-
Publication number: 20200089360Abstract: Haptic feedback can be provided to a user via an input device to give a user a richer interaction experience with the input device and host device. The input device can include a magnet and a host device can include an array of coils. The coils can be driven to generate a magnetic field (or one or more magnetic fields) that can exert a force on the input device to provide haptic feedback. In some examples, the haptic feedback can be a push force pushing the input device away from the device or a pull force pulling the input device toward the device. In some examples, the haptic feedback can guide the input device using lateral forces. The haptic feedback described herein can be used for writing, drawing or actuating virtual input controls in a user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Yi-Heng SEN, Alex J. SPELTZ, Alex M. LEE
-
Publication number: 20200081540Abstract: According to some embodiments, a haptic feedback module for generating a haptic feedback event is described. The haptic feedback module includes an enclosure having walls that define a cavity. The enclosure is capable of carrying operational components within the cavity that include a frame that includes tungsten, a magnetic coil element that is capable of generating a magnetic field, a magnetic element that is carried within an aperture of the frame, linear-actuation end stops that are welded to a first end of the frame and a second end of the frame that opposes the first end, and springs that couple together the walls of the enclosure to the linear-actuation end stops.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Dominic P. CINCIONE, Matthew D. DOMBACH, Darya AMIN-SHAHIDI, Scott D. RIDEL, Vu A. HONG, Alex J. SPELTZ, Denis G. CHEN
-
Patent number: 10510224Abstract: A haptic actuator may include first and second bodies movable along an arcuate path of travel. The haptic actuator may also include a biasing member coupled between the first and second bodies. At least one electrical coil may be configured to move the first and second bodies to produce a haptic effect.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Yi-Heng Sen, Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz
-
Publication number: 20190356210Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2018Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz, Xin Alice Wu
-
Publication number: 20190311588Abstract: A haptic actuator may include first and second bodies movable along an arcuate path of travel. The haptic actuator may also include a biasing member coupled between the first and second bodies. At least one electrical coil may be configured to move the first and second bodies to produce a haptic effect.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Yi-Heng Sen, Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz
-
Publication number: 20190098122Abstract: The disclosed embodiments of haptic locomotion use one or more actuators to: 1) determine the properties of contact surfaces to improve various applications that use haptic locomotion; 2) automatically improve power transfer efficiency during wireless charging or cellular or wireless signal reception; 3) increase device accessibility for visually or hearing impaired users; 4) improve speaker and microphone performance; 5) protect a free falling mobile device from impact damage by orienting the mobile device to a low-risk orientation during free fall, or by driving the mobile device away from a high-risk orientation during free fall; and 6) control asymmetric surface friction using a directional magnetic field provided by an actuator to improve haptic locomotion in a desired direction of travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jere C. Harrison, Alex J. Speltz, Sheng Liu