Abstract: A method for determining biomechanical parameters of the stride of a runner, using an accelerometer device on the wrist, on the upper arm, on the head or on the shoe, comprising the steps of measuring an initial sequence of acceleration data in at least the vertical direction using said accelerometer device; identifying in said initial sequence of acceleration data at least one frequency component caused by relative motion of the accelerometer device relative to the runner center of masse; attenuating said frequency component, so as to determine a modified sequence of acceleration data; determining said biomechanical parameters from said modified sequence of acceleration data.

Abstract: A method for determining biomechanical parameters of the stride of a runner, using an accelerometer device on the wrist, on the upper arm, on the head or on the shoe, comprising the steps of measuring an initial sequence of acceleration data in at least the vertical direction using said accelerometer device; identifying in said initial sequence of acceleration data at least one frequency component caused by relative motion of the accelerometer device relative to the runner center of masse; attenuating said frequency component, so as to determine a modified sequence of acceleration data; determining said biomechanical parameters from said modified sequence of acceleration data.

Abstract: A method for providing at least one of the following information to an athlete during a race such as a running or a cycling race: a race time prediction—a probability to achieve a target time at the end of the race; and/or an indication whether the pace followed by the athlete is too fast, adequate or too slow in order to achieve a target time, said method comprising measuring during said race a plurality of intermediate times with an inertial sensor and/or a positional sensor in a wearable device; causing a processing unit in said wearable device to retrieve, based on said intermediate time and on previous races of other athletes, a race profile as non-linear function of time over distance (t=f(d)); using the retrieved race profile for determining said information.

Abstract: Electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators are used to create haptic effects on a user interface deface, such as a keyboard. The keys of the keyboard may be embossed in a top layer to provide better key definition and to house the EMP actuator. Specifically, an EMP actuator is housed inside an embossed graphic layer that covers a key of the keyboard. Such a keyboard has a significant user interface value. For example, the embossed key provides the tactile effect of the presence of a key with edges, while allowing for the localized control of haptic vibrations. For such applications, an EMP transducer provides high strains, vibrations or both under control of an electric field. Furthermore, the EMP transducer can generate strong vibrations. When the frequency of the vibrations falls within the acoustic range, the EMP transducer can generate audible sound, thereby functioning as an audio speaker.

Abstract: A method for providing at least one of the following information to an athlete during a race such as a running or a cycling race: a race time prediction; a probability to achieve a target time at the end of the race; and/or an indication whether the pace followed by the athlete is too fast, adequate or too slow in order to achieve a target time. The method includes measuring during the race a plurality of intermediate times with an inertial sensor and/or a positional sensor in a wearable device; causing a processing unit in the wearable device to retrieve, based on the intermediate time and on previous races of other athletes, a race profile as non-linear function of time over distance (t=f(d)); and using the retrieved race profile for determining the information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for audio communication are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of transducer units and plurality of sensors adapted to be located in a plurality of sites/spaces to which service should be provided by the system. The plurality of transducer units are capable of emitting/directing and focusing ultra-sonic signals to respective coverage zones in the sites, such that localized (confined) sound field can be formed at selected spatial position in the coverage zones by utilizing sound from ultrasound technique. The sensors are associated with respective sensing volumes in the sites and are operable to obtain sensory data indicative of spatial arrangement of elements/object at the sensing volumes within the sites.

Abstract: Systems and methods for audio communication are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of transducer units and plurality of sensors adapted to be located in a plurality of sites/spaces to which service should be provided by the system. The plurality of transducer units are capable of emitting/directing and focusing ultra-sonic signals to respective coverage zones in the sites, such that localized (confined) sound field can be formed at selected spatial position in the coverage zones by utilizing sound from ultrasound technique. The sensors are associated with respective sensing volumes in the sites and are operable to obtain sensory data indicative of spatial arrangement of elements/object at the sensing volumes within the sites.

Abstract: A method for determining biomechanical parameters of the stride of a runner, using an accelerometer device on the wrist, on the upper arm, on the head or on the shoe, comprising the steps of measuring an initial sequence of acceleration data in at least the vertical direction using said accelerometer device; identifying in said initial sequence of acceleration data at least one frequency component caused by relative motion of the accelerometer device relative to the runner center of masse; attenuating said frequency component, so as to determine a modified sequence of acceleration data; determining said biomechanical parameters from said modified sequence of acceleration data.

Abstract: Electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators are used to create haptic effects on a user interface deface, such as a keyboard. The keys of the keyboard may be embossed in a top layer to provide better key definition and to house the EMP actuator. Specifically, an EMP actuator is housed inside an embossed graphic layer that covers a key of the keyboard. Such a keyboard has a significant user interface value. For example, the embossed key provides the tactile effect of the presence of a key with edges, while allowing for the localized control of haptic vibrations. For such applications, an EMP transducer provides high strains, vibrations or both under control of an electric field. Furthermore, the EMP transducer can generate strong vibrations. When the frequency of the vibrations falls within the acoustic range, the EMP transducer can generate audible sound, thereby functioning as an audio speaker.

Abstract: A catheter includes an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator disposed in a steerable tip at the distal end of the catheter. When activated, the EMP actuator deflects the steerable tip through an angle between 0 and 270 degrees, thus permitting the operator to steer the steerable tip through the vasculature. The steerable tip also has at least a first relatively stiff region and a second relatively flexible region, and the EMP actuator is provided next to the first relatively stiff region so that the steerable tip may toward the flexible region when activated. In one implementation, an external interface allows a user to select by name one of many sets of control signals, with each set of control signals being signals calibrated for configuring the catheter to mimic a known catheter.

Abstract: An electronic device having a user interface device that has a flexible surface, a haptic output device operatively coupled to the flexible surface and configured to cause a deformation of the flexible surface, and a controller in signal communication with the haptic output device. The controller is configured to trigger the haptic output device to cause the deformation of the flexible surface based on a simulated physical behavior of a virtual element represented on the user interface.

Abstract: A system with a touchscreen generates haptic effects in response to a manipulation of text displayed on the touchscreen. The system senses a touch within the text, and determines if the touch is a manipulation of the text, and determines the type of the manipulation. The system then generates a type of haptic event that is based at least in part on the type of the manipulation that was determined.

Abstract: A method for providing at least one of the following information to an athlete during a race such as a running or a cycling race: a race time prediction-a probability to achieve a target time at the end of the race; and/or an indication whether the pace followed by the athlete is too fast, adequate or too slow in order to achieve a target time, said method comprising measuring during said race a plurality of intermediate times with an inertial sensor and/or a positional sensor in a wearable device; causing a processing unit in said wearable device to retrieve, based on said intermediate time and on previous races of other athletes, a race profile as non-linear function of time over distance (t=f(d)); using the retrieved race profile for determining said information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic effects are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes a computer-readable medium having program code, the program code including program code defining a haptic widget. The haptic widget includes program code defining a haptic effect; program code defining an interface for the haptic widget; program code for receiving, via the interface, a configuration of at least one parameter of the haptic widget; program code for receiving, via the interface, a play command for the haptic effect; and program code for outputting, via the interface, a signal configured to cause the haptic effect, the signal based on the at least one parameter and in response to the play command.

Abstract: A handheld apparatus includes a top surface that includes a touch screen defining a plurality of keys, and a bottom surface on an opposite side of the first surface. The apparatus further includes a processor and an actuator coupled to the processor and located on the bottom surface. The processor is adapted to detect an object moving across the keys and in response generate an actuation signal to the actuator to generate a haptic feedback on the back surface.

Abstract: Electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators are used to create haptic effects on a user interface deface, such as a keyboard. The keys of the keyboard may be embossed in a top layer to provide better key definition and to house the EMP actuator. Specifically, an EMP actuator is housed inside an embossed graphic layer that covers a key of the keyboard. Such a keyboard has a significant user interface value. For example, the embossed key provides the tactile effect of the presence of a key with edges, while allowing for the localized control of haptic vibrations. For such applications, an EMP transducer provides high strains, vibrations or both under control of an electric field. Furthermore, the EMP transducer can generate strong vibrations. When the frequency of the vibrations falls within the acoustic range, the EMP transducer can generate audible sound, thereby functioning as an audio speaker.

Abstract: Electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators are used to create haptic effects on a user interface deface, such as a keyboard. The keys of the keyboard may be embossed in a top layer to provide better key definition and to house the EMP actuator. Specifically, an EMP actuator is housed inside an embossed graphic layer that covers a key of the keyboard. Such a keyboard has a significant user interface value. For example, the embossed key provides the tactile effect of the presence of a key with edges, while allowing for the localized control of haptic vibrations. For such applications, an EMP transducer provides high strains, vibrations or both under control of an electric field. Furthermore, the EMP transducer can generate strong vibrations. When the frequency of the vibrations falls within the acoustic range, the EMP transducer can generate audible sound, thereby functioning as an audio speaker.

Abstract: An electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducer may include (a) one or more EMP layers each having a first operating characteristic; and (b) one or more EMP layers each having a second operating characteristic different from the first operating characteristic. The EMP transducer may include at least two EMP layers that are activated independently, and one or more EMP layers being configured to be a sensing layer. The sensing layer may sensitive to one or both of the operating characteristics (e.g., temperature, strain, pressure and their respective rates of change). Other operating characteristic may include resin type, modulus, film thicknesses, degrees of deformations, operating temperature ranges, a stretching ratio of the EMP layers, metallization patterns of electrodes, arrangements of active and inactive EMP layers, arrangements of irradiated EMP layers, arrangements of EMP layers acting as sensors, and arrangements of inactive layers of various degrees of stiffness.

Abstract: A catheter includes an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator disposed in a steerable tip at the distal end of the catheter. When activated, the EMP actuator deflects the steerable tip through an angle between 0 and 270 degrees, thus permitting the operator to steer the steerable tip through the vasculature. The steerable tip also has at least a first relatively stiff region and a second relatively flexible region, and the EMP actuator is provided next to the first relatively stiff region so that the steerable tip may toward the flexible region when activated. In one implementation, an external interface allows a user to select by name one of many sets of control signals, with each set of control signals being signals calibrated for configuring the catheter to mimic a known catheter.

Abstract: A catheter includes an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator disposed in a steerable tip at the distal end of the catheter. When activated, the EMP actuator deflects the steerable tip through an angle between 0 and 270 degrees, thus permitting the operator to steer the steerable tip through the vasculature. The steerable tip also has at least a first relatively stiff region and a second relatively flexible region, and the EMP actuator is provided next to the first relatively stiff region so that the steerable tip may toward the flexible region when activated. In one implementation, an external interface allows a user to select by name one of many sets of control signals, with each set of control signals being signals calibrated for configuring the catheter to mimic a known catheter.