Abstract: A quantum tunneling composite, or other material exhibiting changing electrical or magnetic properties as force on the material is increased, can be located within a force concentrator integrated into traditional touch screen layers to sense force applied on the touch screen. The force concentrator can be a protrusion from the layer planes of the layers in a traditional touch screen and can be formed, at least in part, from printed elements. The amount of protrusion of the force concentrator can be adjusted through multi-pass printing and thicker deposit printing. The force concentrator can also have optically clear adhesive layered over it. The force-sensitive material can be optionally pre-loaded so as to operate within a substantially linear feedback range. A sensing mechanism can be configured to detect changes in force at multiple locations or to detect the application of force irrespective of location.

Abstract: A stylus (100) is configured for actively interacting with a touch-sensitive interface (201) by injecting or sinking charge in response to a touch-detection signal emitted from the touch-sensitive interface (201). One stylus (100) includes a stylus body (104) and a compound tip (105) extending axially from the stylus body (104). The compound tip (105) can include a center electrode (101) that is configured to detect electric field variations from the touch-sensitive interface (201) and a shroud electrode (102) that is concentrically disposed about the center electrode (101). An active circuit (103) coupled between the center electrode (101) and the shroud electrode (102) is configured to apply a gain to the detected electric field variations and to change a potential of the shroud electrode (102) synchronously with the electric field variations detected by the center electrode (101).

Abstract: A method of forming a cured coating composition on an automobile component is provided. The method utilizes a coating compound including a radical polymerizable compound and an organoborane initiator and includes the step of applying the coating composition to the automobile component. The organoborane initiator is complexed with a bi-functional noncyclic blocking agent that has a carbon backbone and two organoborane complexing moieties. The two moieties are different from each other and are selected from the group of an amine moiety, a thiol moiety, and a phosphine moiety. In addition, the two moieties are separated from each other by two to four carbon atoms to increase the nucleophilicity of the blocking agent towards the organoborane initiator. The organoborane initiator is decomplexed from the blocking agent thereby forming a radical that is used to polymerize the radical polymerizable compound and cure the coating composition on the automobile component.

Abstract: A method of curing a coating composition and a method of forming a cured coating on an automobile component are provided. The coating composition comprises a radical polymerizable compound and an organoborane-amine complex having an organoborane initiator, an amine blocking agent, and water. The method of curing the coating composition comprises the steps of combining the organoborane-amine complex, the radical polymerizable compound, and water to form the coating composition. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the coating composition or into a composition including at least one of the organoborane-amine complex, the radical polymerizable compound, and water prior to forming the coating composition. Carbonic acid is formed in situ within the coating composition through reaction of the water and carbon dioxide. The organoborane-amine complex is decomplexed with the carbonic acid thereby separating the organoborane initiator and the amine blocking agent.

Abstract: A method of dissociating an organoborane-amine complex in a coating composition is provided. The method includes the step of introducing the organoborane-amine complex, the radical polymerizable compound, and optionally an amine, onto a substrate to form the coating composition. The method also includes the step of introducing carbon dioxide into the coating composition in a molar ratio of at least 1:1 of the carbon dioxide to free amine groups present in the coating composition. More specifically, a carbamic zwitterion is formed in-situ from reaction of the carbon dioxide and the free amine groups. The formation of the carbamic zwitterion leads to dissociation of the organoborane-amine complex and formation of a radical. The radical is then used to polymerize the radical polymerizable compound.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided, which comprises one or more light groupings, each light grouping including one or more light sources, and audio processing circuitry adapted for interpreting an audio file. The audio file includes one or more instrument definitions exclusively assigned to a corresponding one of the one or more light groupings. The audio file further includes one or more note definitions associated with at least one of the one or more instrument definitions exclusively assigned to the corresponding one of the one or more light groupings, where a value associated with each of the one or more note definitions controls the color displayed by the one or more light sources within the associated exclusively assigned light grouping.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) including two housings and a piezoelectric transducer is disclosed. The apparatus may include a first housing (110), a hinge (115) coupled to the first housing, and a second housing (140) coupled the first housing via the hinge. The first housing can have a closed position when the first housing is substantially adjacent to the second housing and the first housing can have an open position when a portion of the first housing is substantially away from the second housing. The apparatus can also include a first piezoelectric element (130) coupled to the second housing where the first piezoelectric element can be substantially in contact with the first housing when the first housing is in the closed position. The apparatus can further include a user interface (140) coupled to the second housing and a controller (150) coupled to the first piezoelectric element and the user interface.

Abstract: A stylus (100) is configured for actively interacting with a touch-sensitive interface (201) by injecting or sinking charge in response to a touch-detection signal emitted from the touch-sensitive interface (201). One stylus (100) includes a stylus body (104) and a compound tip (105) extending axially from the stylus body (104). The compound tip (105) can include a center electrode (101) that is configured to detect electric field variations from the touch-sensitive interface (201) and a shroud electrode (102) that is concentrically disposed about the center electrode (101). An active circuit (103) coupled between the center electrode (101) and the shroud electrode (102) is configured to apply a gain to the detected electric field variations and to change a potential of the shroud electrode (102) synchronously with the electric field variations detected by the center electrode (101).

Abstract: A method of curing a coating composition and a method of forming a cured coating on an automobile component are provided. The coating composition comprises a radical polymerizable compound and an organoborane-amine complex having an organoborane initiator, an amine blocking agent, and water. The method of curing the coating composition comprises the steps of combining the organoborane-amine complex, the radical polymerizable compound, and water to form the coating composition. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the coating composition or into a composition including at least one of the organoborane-amine complex, the radical polymerizable compound, and water prior to forming the coating composition. Carbonic acid is formed in situ within the coating composition through reaction of the water and carbon dioxide. The organoborane-amine complex is de-complexed with the carbonic acid thereby separating the organoborane initiator and the amine blocking agent.

Abstract: A paint coating system comprises a substrate and a first paint layer disposed on the substrate. The first paint layer is formed from a first composition comprising either a first decomplexing agent or a first organoborane complex. The paint coating system further comprises a second paint layer disposed on the first paint layer. The second paint layer is formed from a second composition comprising the other of the first decomplexing agent and the first organoborane complex. At least one of the first and second compositions further comprises a radical polymerizable compound. A method of producing a multilayered paint coating includes the steps of providing the substrate, applying a first paint layer on the substrate, applying a second paint layer on the first paint layer, and curing the at least one of the first and second paint layers.

Abstract: A method of dissociating an organoborane-amine complex in a coating composition is provided. The method includes the step of introducing the organoborane-amine complex, the radical polymerizable compound, and optionally an amine, onto a substrate to form the coating composition. The method also includes the step of introducing carbon dioxide into the coating composition in a molar ratio of at least 1:1 of the carbon dioxide to free amine groups present in the coating composition. More specifically, a carbamic zwitterion is formed in-situ from reaction of the carbon dioxide and the free amine groups. The formation of the carbamic zwitterion leads to dissociation of the organoborane-amine complex and formation of a radical. The radical is then used to polymerize the radical polymerizable compound.

Abstract: A method of forming a cured coating composition on an automobile component is provided. The method utilizes a coating compound including a radical polymerizable compound and an organoborane initiator and includes the step of applying the coating composition to the automobile component. The organoborane initiator is complexed with a bi-functional noncyclic blocking agent that has a carbon backbone and two organoborane complexing moieties. The two moieties are different from each other and are selected from the group of an amine moiety, a thiol moiety, and a phosphine moiety. In addition, the two moieties are separated from each other by two to four carbon atoms to increase the nucleophilicity of the blocking agent towards the organoborane initiator. The organoborane initiator is decomplexed from the blocking agent thereby forming a radical that is used to polymerize the radical polymerizable compound and cure the coating composition on the automobile component.

Abstract: An audio file format is provided, which includes definitions for one or more instruments that are associated with one or more light groupings, where each light grouping includes one or more light sources. Received commands present in the audio file, and associated with an instrument definition, are compared to determine if the associated instrument definition corresponds to one of the one or more light groupings. If the associated instrument definition corresponds to a light grouping, then the commands are mapped to corresponding display effects, and the illumination of the one or more light sources of the respective light grouping is controlled. If the associated instrument definition of the received command corresponds to an audio instrument, then an audible output is controlled in accordance with the received command.

Abstract: A quantum tunneling composite, or other material exhibiting changing electrical or magnetic properties as force on the material is increased, can be located within a force concentrator integrated into traditional touch screen layers to sense force applied on the touch screen. The force concentrator can be a protrusion from the layer planes of the layers in a traditional touch screen and can be formed, at least in part, from printed elements. The amount of protrusion of the force concentrator can be adjusted through multi-pass printing and thicker deposit printing. The force concentrator can also have optically clear adhesive layered over it. The force-sensitive material can be optionally pre-loaded so as to operate within a substantially linear feedback range. A sensing mechanism can be configured to detect changes in force at multiple locations or to detect the application of force irrespective of location.

Abstract: A capacitive force sensor (100) includes a substrate (101) having at least one electrode pair (102,103) defining a capacitance disposed thereon. The substrate (101) is fixed relative to a first plate (106). A drive circuit (104) is configured to apply a voltage relative to a circuit ground (105) to the electrode pair (102,103). The first plate (106) is separated from a second plate (107) that is coupled to circuit ground (105) by a compliance member (108,109). The compliance member (108,109) is configured to oppose a compression force (110) while allowing the first plate (106) to physically move relative to the second plate (107). A capacitive detection circuit (111) is then configured to detect a change the capacitance when the compliance member (108,109) is compressed. The compression force (110) is then determined from the change in capacitance and the spring constant of the compliance member (108,109).

Abstract: A capacitive force sensor (100) includes a substrate (101) having at least one electrode pair (102,103) defining a capacitance disposed thereon. The substrate (101) is fixed relative to a first plate (106). A drive circuit (104) is configured to apply a voltage relative to a circuit ground (105) to the electrode pair (102,103). The first plate (106) is separated from a second plate (107) that is coupled to circuit ground (105) by a compliance member (108,109). The compliance member (108,109) is configured to oppose a compression force (110) while allowing the first plate (106) to physically move relative to the second plate (107). A capacitive detection circuit (111) is then configured to detect a change the capacitance when the compliance member (108,109) is compressed. The compression force (110) is then determined from the change in capacitance and the spring constant of the compliance member (108,109).

Abstract: An apparatus (100) including two housings and a piezoelectric transducer is disclosed. The apparatus may include a first housing (110), a hinge (115) coupled to the first housing, and a second housing (140) coupled the first housing via the hinge. The first housing can have a closed position when the first housing is substantially adjacent to the second housing and the first housing can have an open position when a portion of the first housing is substantially away from the second housing. The apparatus can also include a first piezoelectric element (130) coupled to the second housing where the first piezoelectric element can be substantially in contact with the first housing when the first housing is in the closed position. The apparatus can further include a user interface (140) coupled to the second housing and a controller (150) coupled to the first piezoelectric element and the user interface.

Abstract: A sound system assembly for use in a hand held device is provided. The sound system assembly includes a pair of transducers, and a corresponding pair of manifolds, which redirect the sound produced by the transducers away from the front or back surface of the device toward respective side facings of the hand held device. By redirecting the sound produced by the transducers, the apparent source of each audio source, corresponding to the respective opening in each of the sides of the hand held device through which the sound waves exit the device, is displaced further apart horizontally.

Abstract: A user interface can include a directional navigation interface and a scrolling strip at least partially circumscribing said navigation device. The scrolling strip can include a proportional scrolling zone and a multi-mode scrolling zone.

Abstract: A scrolling user interface comprises proportional scrolling responsive to contact in a proportional zone of a scrolling strip and multi-mode scrolling in response to contact in a multi-mode zone of the scrolling strip. Multi-mode scrolling can include proportional scrolling, continuous scrolling, or stepped scrolling.