Abstract: Embodiments are directed to deformable haptic structures used within an electronic device. The haptic structures may provide input and output for the electronic device. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a keyboard having a housing and a keycap positioned within an opening of the housing. The keyboard may include a haptic structure coupled with the housing and the keycap. The haptic structure may include a compliant layer and a pair of electrodes separated by the compliant layer. The pair of electrodes may be configured to compress the compliant layer in response to an input signal. The compression of the compliant layer caused by the pair of electrodes may move the keycap relative to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shear gripper device using fibrillar, gecko-inspired adhesives that have the characteristics of being non-tacky in its default state and requiring no normal force to grip a surface. The adhesion is turned “on” by the applied shear load, and “off as the shear load is removed. The shear adhesive gripper is able to grasp large, deformable or delicate objects using a delicate touch.

Abstract: An interface system may include an electronic device defining an input surface, a stylus comprising a magnetic component and configured to provide input to the electronic device via the input surface, and a magnetic field generator coupled to the electronic device and configured to produce a magnetic field to impart a force on the magnetic component of the stylus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shear gripper device using fibrillar, gecko-inspired adhesives that have the characteristics of being non-tacky in its default state and requiring no normal force to grip a surface. The adhesion is turned “on” by the applied shear load, and “off as the shear load is removed. The shear adhesive gripper is able to grasp large, deformable or delicate objects using a delicate touch.

Abstract: A controllable adhesive for non-flat surfaces is provided. The device has a conformable (i.e. flexible) film and directly cast thereto a synthetic dry adhesive film. The synthetic dry adhesive film has elastomeric wedges. The conformable film is capable to deform to a non-flat surface. In one embodiment, the controllable adhesive has a first loading mechanism at one end of the controllable adhesive to apply load to the controllable adhesive. In another embodiment, forming a gripper, the controllable adhesive has a second controllable adhesive with a second loading mechanism, such that the first and second loading mechanism face each other and join a common point of loading.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device can include a processor and a sensor coupled with the processor, the sensor capable of detecting a stimulus, and responding to the stimulus by providing a detection signal to the processor. The portable electronic device can further include an interface unit capable of interacting with a user. The portable electronic device can further include a feedback unit in communication with the interface unit and the processor, the feedback unit providing a feedback response that is perceptible to the user during the interaction, where when the sensor detects the stimulus, the detection signal provided to the processor by the sensor causes the processor to respond by instructing the feedback unit to alter the feedback response.

Abstract: A method of towing or pushing an object using a micro-robot is provided that includes attaching a micro-robot, using a first dry adhesive, to a surface, where the dry adhesive includes micro wedges, where the micro wedges are attached to the surface when the micro wedges are in a deformed state, applying a load to the attached micro-robot, advancing the micro-robot, using a lifting element, where the lifting element includes a uni-directional footing, where the lifting element is disposed to detach the first dry adhesive and advance the micro-robot across the surface while the uni-directional footing is attached to the surface, where the detached first dry adhesive includes micro wedges in an free-standing state, where the load is advanced across the surface.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a beam layer, a piezoelectric material layer coupled to the beam layer, and a temperature sensor adjacent the piezoelectric material layer. The electronic device may also include drive circuitry coupled to the piezoelectric material layer and configured to drive the piezoelectric material layer with a low frequency drive signal for actuating the piezoelectric material layer, and a high frequency drive signal for sensing a pressure applied to the piezoelectric material layer. The high frequency drive signal may have a higher frequency than the low frequency drive signal. The electronic device may also include readout circuitry coupled to the piezoelectric material layer and configured to generate a sensed pressure value based upon the high frequency drive signal. Temperature compensation circuitry may cooperate with the readout circuitry to compensate the sensed pressure value based upon the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A mechanical and magnetic clutch is provided. The clutch includes a clutch device having a first magnet and a movable member having a plurality of magnets. The clutch device has a first position in which the clutch device and the movable member are disengaged and a second position in which the clutch device and the movable member are engaged. One of the plurality of magnets is arranged on the movable member to interact with the first magnet and move the clutch device from the first position to the second position, when the clutch device is moving at a first speed relative to the movable member. The plurality of magnets is arranged on the movable member to interact with the first magnet and keep the clutch device in the first position while the movable member is moving at a second speed relative to the clutch device.

Abstract: A controllable adhesive for non-flat surfaces is provided. The device has a conformable (i.e. flexible) film and directly cast thereto a synthetic dry adhesive film. The synthetic dry adhesive film has elastomeric wedges. The conformable film is capable to deform to a non-flat surface. In one embodiment, the controllable adhesive has a first loading mechanism at one end of the controllable adhesive to apply load to the controllable adhesive. In another embodiment, forming a gripper, the controllable adhesive has a second controllable adhesive with a second loading mechanism, such that the first and second loading mechanism face each other and join a common point of loading.

Abstract: A one-way synthetic dry adhesive is provided that includes a dry adhesive material layer having an array of microwedges, where the dry adhesive layer is disposed on a substrate surface. The microwedges have a leading surface and a trailing surface, where the leading surface terminates into the trailing surface to form a wedge tip. The leading surface includes an angle up to 90 degrees with respect to the substrate surface, and the trailing edge surface includes an angle greater than the leading surface angle with respect to the substrate. The microwedges have a depth that is less than a thickness of the dry adhesive layer, and a series of siping features disposed in the dry adhesive layer, where a depth of the siping features is greater than the microwedge depth, and the series of siping features has a periodicity that is less than a periodicity of the array of microwedges.

Abstract: A method of towing or pushing an object using a micro-robot is provided that includes attaching a micro-robot, using a first dry adhesive, to a surface, where the dry adhesive includes micro wedges, where the micro wedges are attached to the surface when the micro wedges are in a deformed state, applying a load to the attached micro-robot, advancing the micro-robot, using a lifting element, where the lifting element includes a uni-directional footing, where the lifting element is disposed to detach the first dry adhesive and advance the micro-robot across the surface while the uni-directional footing is attached to the surface, where the detached first dry adhesive includes micro wedges in an free-standing state, where the load is advanced across the surface.

Abstract: A hood assembly is provided for a conveyor having a housing with an inlet opening, a belt or auger for transporting particulate material through the housing from the inlet end to the outlet end. The hood assembly includes a hood pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position substantially closing the inlet end and an open position substantially exposing the inlet end. When the hood is opened, the inlet end of the conveyor housing can be visually inspected and physically cleaned to remove particulate material remnants remaining in the inlet end after the conveyor is shut off. A hopper is provided on the hood to facilitate introduction of material into the conveyor.

Abstract: A hood assembly is provided for a conveyor having a housing with an inlet opening, a belt or auger for transporting particulate material through the housing from the inlet end to the outlet end. The hood assembly includes a hood pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position substantially closing the inlet end and an open position substantially exposing the inlet end. When the hood is opened, the inlet end of the conveyor housing can be visually inspected and physically cleaned to remove particulate material remnants remaining in the inlet end after the conveyor is shut off. A hopper is provided on the hood to facilitate introduction of material into the conveyor.

Abstract: A compact scanning apparatus has an infrared laser adapted to emit light. The light is delivered as a beam by an optical system to illuminate an interrogation area on the surface of an object being scanned to cause selective desorption of molecules of the contraband substance, which are present on the surface, without substantially damaging the surface. A collection system collects at least a portion of the desorbed molecules. At least a portion of the collected molecules is thermally decomposed to form NO2 and transferred to a reaction cell containing an aqueous, alkaline, luminol-containing solution. The NO2 reacts with the luminol to produce light by chemiluminescence. A light detector registers the presence of this light to carry out a rapid screening of the object for the possible presence of the contraband substance. The apparatus further includes a supplemental detector such as a GC/IMS detector that is activated in response to the detection of the chemiluminescent light.

Abstract: A compact scanning apparatus includes an optical system to deliver a beam of pulsed infrared laser light that illuminate an interrogation area of a surface. The illumination has sufficient intensity and duration to cause selective ablation of molecules of a contraband substance present on the surface without substantially damaging the surface. A collection system collects at least a portion of the ablated molecules and transfers them to a chemical analysis system having a detector. In response to the presence of a wide variety of contraband substance molecules, the detector outputs an electrical signal that activates an audible or visible alarm. Automated screening is provided in an accurate, reliable manner that virtually eliminates the vagaries of human performance. False alarms are reduced. Detection efficacy is increased. A traceable residue of the detected contraband is left on the article for subsequent forensic analysis.

Abstract: A compact scanning apparatus includes an optical system to deliver a beam of pulsed infrared laser light that illuminate an interrogation area of a surface. The illumination has sufficient intensity and duration to cause selective ablation of molecules of a contraband substance present on the surface without substantially damaging the surface. A collection system collects at least a portion of the ablated molecules and transfers them to a chemical analysis system having a detector. In response to the presence of a wide variety of contraband substance molecules, the detector outputs an electrical signal that activates an audible or visible alarm. Automated screening is provided in an accurate, reliable manner that virtually eliminates the vagaries of human performance. False alarms are reduced. Detection efficacy is increased. A traceable residue of the detected contraband is left on the article for subsequent forensic analysis.

Abstract: A compact scanning apparatus has an infrared laser adapted to emit light. The light is delivered as a beam by an optical system to illuminate an interrogation area on the surface of an object being scanned to cause selective desorption of molecules of the contraband substance, which are present on the surface, without substantially damaging the surface. A collection system collects at least a portion of the desorbed molecules. At least a portion of the collected molecules is thermally decomposed to form NO2 and transferred to a reaction cell containing an aqueous, alkaline, luminol-containing solution. The NO2 reacts with the luminol to produce light by chemiluminescence. A light detector registers the presence of this light to carry out a rapid screening of the object for the possible presence of the contraband substance. The apparatus further includes a supplemental detector such as a GC/IMS detector that is activated in response to the detection of the chemiluminescent light.