Abstract: A haptic engine for an electronic device includes a coil assembly and a stator. The coil assembly may be coupled to an input structure, such as a button cap. In an gap sensing mode, a first voltage may be driven through the coil assembly to determine an impedance of the coil assembly. The impedance is then used to determine a gap between the coil assembly and the stator. In a haptic drive mode, a second voltage is driven through the coil assembly to produce a haptic output.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure a haptic actuator is disclosed. The haptic actuator includes a housing, a movable mass, and a pivot assembly attaching the movable mass to the housing. The pivot assembly defines a pivot axis, and the movable mass has a mass center offset from the pivot axis along a lever arm extending perpendicular to the pivot axis. The haptic actuator includes a spring extending between the movable mass and the housing. The spring stores and releases energy received from movement of the movable mass. The spring prevents full rotation of the movable mass about the pivot axis. The haptic actuator includes an electric coil attached to the movable mass. The electric coil intersects the lever arm. The haptic actuator includes at least one magnet attached to the housing. The magnet is at least partially aligned with the electric coil. The movable mass moves with respect to the at least one magnet when a signal is applied to the coil.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for laser turning and attaching RFID tags to products. Such methods and systems may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The methods and systems may include determining a characteristic of a conductive trace on a substrate to be incorporated into an item to configure a tag performance in view of at least one of a dielectric property or a tuning property of the item. The methods and systems may further include a laser to alter the conductive trace on the substrate to have the characteristic to define an antenna for the tag. The methods and systems may further include an attaching device configured to attach a communications enabled device to the substrate so as to form an electrical connection between the communications enabled device and the antenna to form the tag.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are reluctance actuators and methods for feedback control of their applied force. Embodiments of the reluctance actuators include an electromagnet positioned to deflect a metallic plate to provide a haptic output. The control of the force is provided without force sensors (sensorless control) by monitoring voltage and/or current (V/I) applied during an actuation. For a given intended force output, an electrical parameter value (flux, current, or other parameter) is read from a look up table (LUT). The LUT may store a present value of the inductance of the reluctance actuator. The feedback control may be a quasi-static control in which the LUT is updated after actuation based on the monitored V/I. The feedback control may be real-time, with a controller comparing an estimated electrical parameter value based on the measured V/I with the value from the LUT.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for laser turning and attaching RFID tags to products. Such methods and systems may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The methods and systems may include determining a characteristic of a conductive trace on a substrate to be incorporated into an item to configure a tag performance in view of at least one of a dielectric property or a tuning property of the item. The methods and systems may further include a laser to alter the conductive trace on the substrate to have the characteristic to define an antenna for the tag. The methods and systems may further include an attaching device configured to attach a communications enabled device to the substrate so as to form an electrical connection between the communications enabled device and the antenna to form the tag.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure a haptic actuator is disclosed. The haptic actuator includes a housing, a movable mass, and a pivot assembly attaching the movable mass to the housing. The pivot assembly defines a pivot axis, and the movable mass has a mass center offset from the pivot axis along a lever arm extending perpendicular to the pivot axis. The haptic actuator includes a spring extending between the movable mass and the housing. The spring stores and releases energy received from movement of the movable mass. The spring prevents full rotation of the movable mass about the pivot axis. The haptic actuator includes an electric coil attached to the movable mass. The electric coil intersects the lever arm. The haptic actuator includes at least one magnet attached to the housing. The magnet is at least partially aligned with the electric coil. The movable mass moves with respect to the at least one magnet when a signal is applied to the coil.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, a stator coupled to a medial interior portion of the housing, and a field member within the housing and having an opening receiving the stator therein. The field member may include a frame, and at least one permanent magnet carried by the frame. The at least one permanent magnet may include side-by-side magnetic segments having alternating magnetic polarizations with at least one non-vertical magnetic polarization transition zone between adjacent magnetic segments.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for laser turning and attaching RFID tags to products. Such methods and systems may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The methods and systems may include determining a characteristic of a conductive trace on a substrate to be incorporated into an item to configure a tag performance in view of at least one of a dielectric property or a tuning property of the item. The methods and systems may further include a laser to alter the conductive trace on the substrate to have the characteristic to define an antenna for the tag. The methods and systems may further include an attaching device configured to attach a communications enabled device to the substrate so as to form an electrical connection between the communications enabled device and the antenna to form the tag.

Abstract: A haptic system includes a haptic engine in which a reluctance motor is driven by a driver controller operated in conjunction with an impedance-estimator that uses amplitude-modulated calibration signals. An enveloped-calibration signal is superimposed on a haptic-drive signal to quickly, and accurately, estimate the driving coil's impedance, while minimizing power penalty.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are reluctance actuators and methods for feedback control of their applied force. Embodiments of the reluctance actuators include an electromagnet positioned to deflect a metallic plate to provide a haptic output. The control of the force is provided without force sensors (sensorless control) by monitoring voltage and/or current (V/I) applied during an actuation. For a given intended force output, an electrical parameter value (flux, current, or other parameter) is read from a look up table (LUT). The LUT may store a present value of the inductance of the reluctance actuator. The feedback control may be a quasi-static control in which the LUT is updated after actuation based on the monitored V/I. The feedback control may be real-time, with a controller comparing an estimated electrical parameter value based on the measured V/I with the value from the LUT.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for laser turning and attaching RFID tags to products. Such methods and systems may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The methods and systems may include determining a characteristic of a conductive trace on a substrate to be incorporated into an item to configure a tag performance in view of at least one of a dielectric property or a tuning property of the item. The methods and systems may further include a laser to alter the conductive trace on the substrate to have the characteristic to define an antenna for the tag. The methods and systems may further include an attaching device configured to attach a communications enabled device to the substrate so as to form an electrical connection between the communications enabled device and the antenna to form the tag.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are reluctance actuators and methods for feedback control of their applied force. Embodiments of the reluctance actuators include an electromagnet positioned to deflect a metallic plate to provide a haptic output. The control of the force is provided without force sensors (sensorless control) by monitoring voltage and/or current (V/I) applied during an actuation. For a given intended force output, an electrical parameter value (flux, current, or other parameter) is read from a look up table (LUT). The LUT may store a present value of the inductance of the reluctance actuator. The feedback control may be a quasi-static control in which the LUT is updated after actuation based on the monitored V/I. The feedback control may be real-time, with a controller comparing an estimated electrical parameter value based on the measured V/I with the value from the LUT.

Abstract: Example aspects include a method, a system, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium for operating an automated checkout system to be performed by a processing circuit, comprising determining a user account associated with a shopper. The aspects further include receiving, from a sensor, a first indication that an object passed through a location of a building. The first indication having been generated based on a tag coupled with the object. The sensor being configured to detect characteristics of objects. The sensor being located at the location of the building. The aspects further include receiving, from the sensor, a second indication that the shopper associated with the user account passed through the location. Additionally, the aspects further include associating the object with the user account based on the first indication and the second indication.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, a stator coupled to a medial interior portion of the housing, and a field member within the housing and having an opening receiving the stator therein. The field member may include a frame, and at least one permanent magnet carried by the frame. The at least one permanent magnet may include side-by-side magnetic segments having alternating magnetic polarizations with at least one non-vertical magnetic polarization transition zone between adjacent magnetic segments.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, and a stator fixed to a medial interior portion of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a field member having an opening receiving the stator therein. The field member may include a frame and at least one permanent magnet carried by the frame. The haptic actuator may also include at least one flexure coupled between an end of the frame and adjacent interior portions of the housing to permit reciprocal movement of the field member within the housing responsive to the stator.

Abstract: Example aspects include a method, a system, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium for operating an automated checkout system to be performed by a processing circuit, comprising determining a user account associated with a shopper. The aspects further include receiving, from a sensor, a first indication that an object passed through a location of a building. The first indication having been generated based on a tag coupled with the object. The sensor being configured to detect characteristics of objects. The sensor being located at the location of the building. The aspects further include receiving, from the sensor, a second indication that the shopper associated with the user account passed through the location. Additionally, the aspects further include associating the object with the user account based on the first indication and the second indication.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide multiple modes of haptic feedback for an electronic device using a single haptic actuator. Adjusting a parameter (e.g., frequency) of an actuator waveform generated by the single haptic actuator may affect how a mechanical coupling between the haptic actuator and a portion of the electronic device produces a device waveform at that device portion from the actuator waveform. A first mechanical coupling with a first response characteristic (e.g., stiffness or resonance frequency) may be provided between the haptic actuator and a first portion of the electronic device (e.g., a user input component of the electronic device), while a second mechanical coupling with a different second response characteristic may be provided between the haptic actuator and a second portion of the electronic device (e.g., the device housing of the electronic device) to selectively provide localized haptic feedback at the first portion of the electronic device.

Abstract: A haptic system includes a haptic engine in which a reluctance motor is driven by a driver controller operated in conjunction with an impedance-estimator that uses amplitude-modulated calibration signals. An enveloped-calibration signal is superimposed on a haptic-drive signal to quickly, and accurately, estimate the driving coil's impedance, while minimizing power penalty.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.