Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a base, a field member coupled to the base and that may include spaced apart permanent magnets. The haptic actuator may also include a coil having a loop shape defining a slotted opening therein, and a spring member suspending the coil so that the field member is within the slotted opening and permitting relative movement of the field member and the coil.

Abstract: A linear resonant actuator includes a ferritic tube, a movable mass, first and second flexures, and a set of one or more flexures. The ferritic tube has an axis extending from a first end of the ferritic tube to a second end of the ferritic tube. The movable mass has a set of magnet sections disposed along the axis. First and second flexures mechanically couple first and second ends of the movable mass to the ferritic tube. The flexures suspend the movable mass within the ferritic tube and allow movement of the movable mass along the axis. The electric coil(s) are attached to the ferritic tube and extend around the movable mass, between the ferritic tube and the movable mass. Each magnet section has magnetic poles disposed at different positions along the axis, and like magnetic poles of adjacent magnetic sections face each other.

Abstract: A haptic engine includes a haptic actuator having a double-wound driving coil in which the two windings are connected with each other either in series or in parallel. By using the double-wound driving coil in which the two windings are connected with each other in series, an instant back EMF voltage induced in either of the two windings can be determined without having to measure in real time a resistance of the corresponding winding, and without having to sense a driving current through the double-wound driving coil. By using the double-wound driving coil in which the two windings are connected with each other in parallel, an instant back EMF voltage induced in either of the two windings can be determined without having to measure in real time a resistance of the corresponding winding.

Abstract: A linear resonant actuator includes a ferritic tube, a movable mass, first and second flexures, and a set of one or more flexures. The ferritic tube has an axis extending from a first end of the ferritic tube to a second end of the ferritic tube. The movable mass has a set of magnet sections disposed along the axis. First and second flexures mechanically couple first and second ends of the movable mass to the ferritic tube. The flexures suspend the movable mass within the ferritic tube and allow movement of the movable mass along the axis. The electric coil(s) are attached to the ferritic tube and extend around the movable mass, between the ferritic tube and the movable mass. Each magnet section has magnetic poles disposed at different positions along the axis, and like magnetic poles of adjacent magnetic sections face each other.

Abstract: A notebook computer may include a display portion, a base portion, a hinge mechanism movably coupling the display portion to the base portion, an optical sensing system configured to capture an image of an object, an actuation system comprising a shape-memory alloy member coupled to the base portion and the display portion and configured to move the display portion relative to the base portion, and a processing system. The processing system may be configured to determine a target position for the display portion based at least in part on a location of the object in the image and cause the actuation system to actuate the hinge mechanism to move the display portion, relative to the base portion, from an initial position to the target position.

Abstract: A notebook computer may include a display portion, a base portion, a hinge mechanism movably coupling the display portion to the base portion, an optical sensing system configured to capture an image of an object, an actuation system comprising a shape-memory alloy member coupled to the base portion and the display portion and configured to move the display portion relative to the base portion, and a processing system. The processing system may be configured to determine a target position for the display portion based at least in part on a location of the object in the image and cause the actuation system to actuate the hinge mechanism to move the display portion, relative to the base portion, from an initial position to the target position.

Abstract: A haptic actuator may include a base, a field member coupled to the base and that may include spaced apart permanent magnets. The haptic actuator may also include a coil having a loop shape defining a slotted opening therein, and a spring member suspending the coil so that the field member is within the slotted opening and permitting relative movement of the field member and the coil.

Abstract: A haptic engine includes a haptic actuator having a double-wound driving coil in which the two windings are connected with each other either in series or in parallel. By using the double-wound driving coil in which the two windings are connected with each other in series, an instant back EMF voltage induced in either of the two windings can be determined without having to measure in real time a resistance of the corresponding winding, and without having to sense a driving current through the double-wound driving coil. By using the double-wound driving coil in which the two windings are connected with each other in parallel, an instant back EMF voltage induced in either of the two windings can be determined without having to measure in real time a resistance of the corresponding winding.

Abstract: A haptic engine for measuring displacement of the haptic engine's mass uses a single sensing magnet that is carried by the mass along a driving direction. The haptic engine further uses two or more Hall-effect sensors, which are spaced apart (i) from each other along a direction parallel to the driving direction and (ii) from the single sensing magnet along a direction orthogonal to the driving direction, and are disposed adjacent to an ASIC that receives the sensors' output.

Abstract: A system for providing closed-loop control of a linear resonant actuator using Back Electromotive Force (EMF) and inertial compensation is disclosed. In an embodiment, one or more inertial sensors are used to estimate low frequency motion of a haptic engine moving mass and compensate for the motion using a feedforward model, thus providing a more robust closed-loop control system for controlling the moving mass when subjected to low frequency disturbances by a user, for example, shaking or swinging the device.

Abstract: A haptic engine in which a moving coil structure is powered by a suspended flexible printed circuit having multiple traces.

Abstract: A system for providing closed-loop control of a linear resonant actuator using Back Electromotive Force (EMF) and inertial compensation is disclosed. In an embodiment, one or more inertial sensors are used to estimate low frequency motion of a haptic engine moving mass and compensate for the motion using a feedforward model, thus providing a more robust closed-loop control system for controlling the moving mass when subjected to low frequency disturbances by a user, for example, shaking or swinging the device.

Abstract: A haptic engine for measuring displacement of the haptic engine's mass uses a single sensing magnet that is carried by the mass along a driving direction. The haptic engine further uses two or more Hall-effect sensors, which are spaced apart (i) from each other along a direction parallel to the driving direction and (ii) from the single sensing magnet along a direction orthogonal to the driving direction, and are disposed adjacent to an ASIC that receives the sensors' output.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device may include a wearable band and audio output transducers carried by the wearable band. The wearable electronic device may also include respective haptic actuators carried by the wearable band and adjacent respective ones of the audio output transducers. A drive circuit may be configured to concurrently drive the audio output transducers with respective first drive signals, and drive the haptic actuators with respective second drive signals different than the first drive signals.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator provides haptic feedback in a computing device. The electromagnetic actuator includes an actuator gap between the moveable actuator plate and the actuator. A gap sensor measures the actuation gap between the force plate and the actuator. The gap distance between the moveable actuator plate and the actuator may vary due to various environmental or user factors. The amount of haptic feedback provided to a user may be made consistent by adjusting the force exerted by the actuator on the actuator plate in response to measured variations in the gap distance.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a multiple MEMS device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first and second MEMS device, and an encapsulation wafer with a first cavity and a second cavity, which includes at least one channel. The first MEMS is encapsulated within the first cavity and the second MEMS device is encapsulated within the second cavity. These devices is encapsulated within a first encapsulation environment at a first air pressure, and encapsulating the first MEMS device within the first cavity at the first air pressure. The second MEMS device within the second cavity is then subjected to a second encapsulating environment at a second air pressure via the channel of the second cavity.

Abstract: A multi-axis integrated MEMS inertial sensor device. The device can include an integrated 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer on a single chip, creating a 6-axis inertial sensor device. The structure is spatially configured with efficient use of the design area of the chip by adding the accelerometer device to the center of the gyroscope device. The design architecture can be a rectangular or square shape in geometry, which makes use of the whole chip area and maximizes the sensor size in a defined area. The MEMS is centered in the package, which is beneficial to the sensor's temperature performance. Furthermore, the electrical bonding pads of the integrated multi-axis inertial sensor device can be configured in the four corners of the rectangular chip layout. This configuration guarantees design symmetry and efficient use of the chip area.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated MEMS-CMOS device. The method can include providing a substrate member having a surface region and forming a CMOS IC layer having at least one CMOS device overlying the surface region. A bottom isolation layer can be formed overlying the CMOS IC layer and a shielding layer and a top isolation layer can be formed overlying a portion of bottom isolation layer. The bottom isolation layer can include an isolation region between the top isolation layer and the shielding layer. A MEMS layer overlying the top isolation layer, the shielding layer, and the bottom isolation layer, and can be etched to form at least one MEMS structure having at least one movable structure and at least one anchored structure.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a device housing and a haptic actuator carried by the device housing and that includes a haptic actuator housing and a field member movable within the haptic actuator housing. The electronic device may also include a motion sensor carried by the device housing to sense motion of the field member, an audio sensor carried by the device housing to sense audio noise from the haptic actuator, and a controller coupled to the haptic actuator, the motion sensor, and the audio sensor. The controller may be configured to drive the haptic actuator based upon sensed motion of the field member and audio noise from the haptic actuator.

Abstract: A MEMS rate sensor device. In an embodiment, the sensor device includes a MEMS rate sensor configured overlying a CMOS substrate. The MEMS rate sensor can include a driver set, with four driver elements, and a sensor set, with six sensing elements, configured for 3-axis rotational sensing. This sensor architecture allows low damping in driving masses and high damping in sensing masses, which is ideal for a MEMS rate sensor design. Low driver damping is beneficial to MEMS rate power consumption and performance, with low driving electrical potential to achieve high oscillation amplitude.