Abstract: A classification system for classifying sensor samples in a sensor system, the sensor system comprising N force sensors each configured to output a sensor signal, where N?1, each sensor sample comprising N sample values from the N sensor signals, respectively, the classification system comprising: a classifier configured, for each of a series of candidate sensor samples, to perform a classification operation based on the N sample values concerned and generate a classification result which labels the candidate sensor sample as indicative of a defined target event, thereby generating a series of classification results corresponding to the series of candidate sensor samples, respectively; a determiner configured to output at least one event determination based on the series of classification results; and a controller configured to control the classifier and/or the determiner based on one or more controller input signals.

Abstract: A system may include a plurality of actively-driven inductive sensors and a plurality of control circuits, each control circuit of the plurality of control circuits configured to control operation of a respective set of the actively-driven inductive sensors, each control circuit of the plurality of control circuits communicatively coupled to the other control circuits via a connection configured to distribute synchronization information among the plurality of control circuits. Each of the plurality of control circuits may further be configured to configure a schedule for controlling time-division multiplexed operation of its respective set of actively-driven inductive sensors and control time-division multiplexed operation of its respective set of actively-driven inductive sensors based on the schedule and the synchronization information in order to minimize interference among the plurality of actively-driven inductive sensors.

Abstract: A correction unit for use in a sensor system, the sensor system comprising a force sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a temporary mechanical distortion of a material under an applied force, the correction unit configured, based on the sensor signal, to: estimate an effect of the applied force on how the material will return towards an undistorted form upon a substantial reduction or removal of the applied force; and generate a corrected signal based on the estimation.

Abstract: A force sensing system for determining if a user input has occurred, the system comprising: an input channel, to receive an input from at least one force sensor; an activity detection stage, to monitor an activity level of the input from the at least one force sensor and, responsive to an activity level which may be indicative of a user input being reached, to generate an indication that an activity has occurred at the force sensor; and an event detection stage to receive said indication, and to determine if a user input has occurred based on the received input from the at least one force sensor.

Abstract: A system may include a sensor having a variable phase response, a dummy impedance having a known phase response, and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to measure first phase information associated with the sensor, measure second phase information associated with the dummy impedance, and determine a phase response of the measurement circuit based on a comparison of the first phase information to the second phase information.

Abstract: A system may include a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a distance between the sensor and a mechanical member associated with the sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a physical force interaction with the mechanical member based on the sensor signal, and a compensator configured to monitor the sensor signal and to apply a compensation factor to the sensor signal to compensate for changes to properties of the sensor based on at least one of changes in a distance between the sensor and the mechanical member and changes in a temperature associated with the sensor.

Abstract: A system for detecting displacement of a movable member of an electromagnetic transducer having a magnetic coil-driven linear actuator with a static member and a movable mass mechanically coupled to the static member and having a back electromotive force present across terminals of a coil of the electromagnetic transducer is provided. The system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor comprising the coil, a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor with a driving signal, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure one or more of phase information and amplitude information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the one or more of phase information and amplitude information, determine a displacement of movable mass, wherein the displacement of the movable mass causes a change in an impedance of the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining sensor parameters of an actively-driven sensor system may include performing an initialization operation to establish a baseline estimate of the sensor parameters, obtaining as few as three samples of a measured physical quantity versus frequency for the actively-driven sensor system, performing a refinement operation to provide a refined version of the sensor parameters based on the as few as three samples, iteratively repeating the refinement operation until the difference between successive refined versions of the sensor parameters is below a defined threshold, and outputting the refined sensor parameters as updated sensor parameters for the actively-driven sensor system.

Abstract: A force sensing system for determining if a user input has occurred, the system comprising: an input channel, to receive an input from at least one force sensor; an activity detection stage, to monitor an activity level of the input from the at least one force sensor and, responsive to an activity level which may be indicative of a user input being reached, to generate an indication that an activity has occurred at the force sensor; and an event detection stage to receive said indication, and to determine if a user input has occurred based on the received input from the at least one force sensor.

Abstract: A control method for a user interface system may include receiving an input signal, receiving a temperature signal indicative of a temperature, generating a baseline signal based on at least one among the input signal and the temperature signal, calculating an error signal based on a difference of the input signal and the baseline signal, and modifying the baseline signal based on the error signal.

Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to at a plurality of periodic intervals, measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor. The system may also include a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor at a driving frequency and a driving amplitude, wherein at least one of the driving frequency and the driving amplitude varies among the plurality of periodic intervals.

Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor at a driving frequency, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure phase information and amplitude associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and a noise detection circuit communicatively coupled to the measurement circuit and configured to determine a presence of external interference in the system based on at least one of the phase information and the amplitude information.

Abstract: A system may include a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a distance between the sensor and a mechanical member associated with the sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a physical force interaction with the mechanical member based on the sensor signal, and a compensator configured to monitor the sensor signal and to apply a compensation factor to the sensor signal to compensate for changes to properties of the sensor based on at least one of changes in a distance between the sensor and the mechanical member and changes in a temperature associated with the sensor.

Abstract: A system may include a resonant phase sensing system comprising a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and a compensation circuit. The measurement circuit may be configured to use a phase detector to measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a metal plate relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor. The compensation circuit may be configured to detect a change in a physical property associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor other than the displacement and compensate the phase information to correct for the change in the physical property.

Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor at a driving frequency, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure phase information and amplitude associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and a noise detection circuit communicatively coupled to the measurement circuit and configured to determine a presence of external interference in the system based on at least one of the phase information and the amplitude information.

Abstract: A method may include receiving an input signal from a force sensor configured to sense a force associated with a human interaction with a virtual button, comparing the input signal to at least one behavioral model, the at least one behavioral model comprising one or more parameters associated with a valid human interaction with the virtual button, and determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing.

Abstract: A system may include a tactile actuator for providing tactile feedback and a resonant phase sensing system. The resonant phase sensing system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and the tactile actuator. The resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor may be configured to measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, based on the phase information, detect an indication of human interaction with the system proximate to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and trigger the tactile actuator to generate tactile feedback responsive to detecting the indication of human interaction.

Abstract: A method may include receiving an input signal from a force sensor configured to sense a force associated with a human interaction with a virtual button, comparing the input signal to at least one behavioral model, the at least one behavioral model comprising one or more parameters associated with a valid human interaction with the virtual button, and determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing.

Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to at a plurality of periodic intervals, measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor. The system may also include a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor at a driving frequency and a driving amplitude, wherein at least one of the driving frequency and the driving amplitude varies among the plurality of periodic intervals.

Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to at a plurality of periodic intervals, measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor. The system may also include a driver configured to drive the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor at a driving frequency and a driving amplitude, wherein at least one of the driving frequency and the driving amplitude varies among the plurality of periodic intervals.