Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of an electromagnetic actuator that produces a haptic output during operation. Generally, an electromagnetic coil is wrapped around a central magnet array. A shaft passes through the central magnet array, such that the central array may move along the shaft when the proper force is applied. When a current passes through the electromagnetic coil, the coil generates a magnetic field. The coil is stationary with respect to a housing of the actuator, while the central magnet array may move along the shaft within the housing. Thus, excitation of the coil exerts a force on the central magnet array, which moves in response to that force. The direction of the current through the coil determines the direction of the magnetic field and thus the motion of the central magnet array.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a stylus for use with a portable electronic device. The stylus includes a force sensing device to measure three dimensional force components exerted by the stylus on the portable electronic device. The output of the portable electronic device is adjusted based upon the force components.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing having a top and a bottom, and first and second permanent magnets carried by the top and bottom, respectively, of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a field member carried by the housing. The field member may include a coil between the first and second permanent magnets, first and second ends, and a first mass between the first end and the coil, and a second mass between the second end and the coil. A first shaft may slidably couple the first mass to the housing, and a second shaft may slidably couple the second mass to the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a first set of biasing members between the first end of the field member and the housing and a second set of biasing members between the second end of the field member and the housing.

Abstract: A haptic electromagnetic actuator for track pad is provided. The actuator includes an array of electromagnets with alternating South and North poles on a first end, each magnet comprising a metal core and an electrical wire around the metal core. The array of magnets is coupled to a base plate on a second end opposite to the first end. The actuator also includes an attraction plate at a distance from the first end of the array of the magnets such that the attraction plate moves toward the magnets when an electrical current flows through the electrical wire around the metal core and moves away from the magnets when the current becomes zero. The array of magnets is configured to form a uniform gap from the attraction plate.

Abstract: A haptic feedback assembly includes interconnections for mechanically and electrically securing a haptic actuator in a track pad assembly so as to securely and efficiently provide haptic feedback to a user.

Abstract: A polarized electromagnetic actuator includes a movable armature, a stator, and at least one coil wrapped around the stator. At least one permanent magnet is disposed over the stator. When a current is applied to the at least one coil, the at least one coil is configured to reduce a magnetic flux of at least one permanent magnet in one direction and increase a magnetic flux of at least one permanent magnet in another direction. The movable armature moves in the direction of the increased magnetic flux.

Abstract: An intelligent stylus is disclosed. The stylus can provide a stylus condition in addition to a touch input. The stylus architecture can include multiple sensors to sense information indicative of the stylus condition, a microcontroller to determine the stylus condition based on the sensed information, and a transmitter to transmit the determined condition to a corresponding touch sensitive device so as to cause some action based on the condition.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a haptic actuator or a device having a haptic actuator that is capable of producing short, sharp and crisp pulses in a short amount of time.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, at least one coil carried by the housing, a field member movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil, and at least one mechanical limit stop between the housing and the field member. The haptic actuator may also include circuitry capable of generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) waveform for the at least one coil to move the field member from an initial at-rest position and without contacting the at least one mechanical limit stop.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing and at least one coil carried by the housing. The electronic device may include a field member that includes a magnetic body having a shaft-receiving passageway therein, and at least one bearing within the shaft-receiving passageway. A shaft extends through the at least one bearing and coupled to the housing to permit reciprocal movement of the field member along the shaft and within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. A controller may be capable of powering the at least one coil to move the field member after a threshold period of non-movement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a haptic actuator or a device having a haptic actuator that is capable of producing short, sharp and crisp pulses in a short amount of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for providing an output for an electronic device. In certain embodiments, an alert is output in accordance with a current alert mode, which are selected based on one or more environmental conditions. The environmental conditions may be detected using one or more environmental sensors. The alert can optionally include one or more of: an audio component, a haptic component and a visual component. One or more of alert components correspond to an aspect of the environmental condition detected by the one or more environmental sensors.

Abstract: A haptic feedback assembly includes interconnections for mechanically and electrically securing a haptic actuator in a track pad assembly so as to securely and efficiently provide haptic feedback to a user.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing, at least one permanent magnet carried by the housing, a field member movable within the housing and comprising at least one coil cooperating with the at least one permanent magnet, and at least one mechanical limit stop between the housing and the field member. The haptic actuator may also include circuitry capable of generating a pulse width modulated (PWM) waveform for the at least one coil to move the field member from an initial at-rest position and without contacting the at least one mechanical limit stop.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for providing an output for an electronic device. In certain embodiments, an alert is output in accordance with a current alert mode, which are selected based on one or more environmental conditions. The environmental conditions may be detected using one or more environmental sensors. The alert can optionally include one or more of: an audio component, a haptic component and a visual component. One or more of alert components correspond to an aspect of the environmental condition detected by the one or more environmental sensors.

Abstract: Utilizing remote control profile information for configuration of a remote control device. A media processing device may store a remote control profile, locally or on a server accessible via a wide area network, which may include information for configuring a remote control device to utilize one or more wireless remote control commands for controlling the media processing device. The media processing device may also detect one or more wireless remote control commands for controlling one or more other electronic devices and update the remote control profile to include information for configuring a remote control device to utilize those commands. It may be determined to configure a remote control device according to the remote control profile based at least in part on proximity of the remote control device to the media processing device. The remote control device may then be configured according to the remote control profile.

Abstract: Fabrication of a touch sensor panel using laser ablation is disclosed. The fabricated touch sensor panel can have its touch sensors formed from conductive layers disposed on a surface such as an undersurface of the panel's cover substrate. A fabrication method can include ablating a first conductive layer to define the first part of the touch sensors and then ablating a second conductive layer proximate to the first conductive layer to define the second part of the touch sensors. The touch sensor panel can be incorporated into a mobile telephone, a digital media player, or a personal computer.

Abstract: A computing device configured to communicate with an input device. The computing device includes a processor, a touch interface, such as a touch screen, and a receiving unit. The touch interface is configured to detect an input signal corresponding to an object approaching or contacting a surface. The receiving unit is configured to receive, through the touch interface, at least one input signal from the input device, and the receiving unit amplifies the at least one input signal creating at least one amplified input signal. Additionally, at least one of the processor or the receiving unit analyzes the at least one amplified input signal and creates at least one output digital signal corresponding to the at least one input signal.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a housing having a top and a bottom, and first and second coils carried by the top and bottom, respectively, of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a field member carried by the housing. The field member may include a permanent magnet between the first and second coils, first and second ends, and a first mass between the first end and the permanent magnet, and a second mass between the second end and the permanent magnet. A first shaft may slidably couple the first mass to the housing, and a second shaft may slidably couple the second mass to the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a first set of biasing members between the first end of the field member and the housing and a second set of biasing members between the second end of the field member and the housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positioning a component on a surface or substrate including the steps of applying a coating to a selected deposit area of the surface, each deposit area defining at least a portion of a perimeter of an alignment area, depositing an fluid on the coating, and depositing, dropping, or otherwise positioning the component above the alignment area are disclosed.