Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a free floating display lens having a stiffener ring mounted on a peripheral region or edge of the free floating display lens to affect modal density and modal distribution of the free floating display lens. Additionally, a piezoelectric supporting structure is attached to the stiffener ring, while surrounding a display, wherein the piezoelectric supporting structure is electrically driven to produce an acoustic signal in one mode and a vibratory haptic signal in another mode.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a free floating display lens having a stiffener ring mounted on a peripheral region or edge of the free floating display lens to affect modal density and modal distribution of the free floating display lens. Additionally, a piezoelectric supporting structure is attached to the stiffener ring, while surrounding a display, wherein the piezoelectric supporting structure is electrically driven to produce an acoustic signal in one mode and a vibratory haptic signal in another mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing smudges (506, 706, 806, 906) including oils and dust from portable electronic displays. The apparatus comprises a display device (110, 150, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000) positioned within a housing (102, 104, 808), comprising a transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) having a surface (508, 908) viewable through an opening in the housing (102, 104, 808) and a susceptibility to receiving contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906). A vibration device (504, 704, 804, 904, 1004) is positioned against the transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) to provide motion (510) in a direction parallel to the surface, thereby causing the contaminants to move (708) across the surface (508, 908). The contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906) may then be hidden by the housing (102, 104, 808) or ejected by a motion (912) perpendicular to the surface by another vibrating device (911).

Abstract: A method provides tactile feedback emulating a click like feedback provided by one or more low cost, thin piezoelectric devices (142) to an input device (110) of an electronic device (100), the piezoelectric devices (142) being driven by two or more low voltage pulses (804, 806) within the temporal acuity of human touch.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing smudges (506, 706, 806, 906) including oils and dust from portable electronic displays. The apparatus comprises a display device (110, 150, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000) positioned within a housing (102, 104, 808), comprising a transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) having a surface (508, 908) viewable through an opening in the housing (102, 104, 808) and a susceptibility to receiving contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906). A vibration device (504, 704, 804, 904, 1004) is positioned against the transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) to provide motion (510) in a direction parallel to the surface, thereby causing the contaminants to move (708) across the surface (508, 908). The contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906) may then be hidden by the housing (102, 104, 808) or ejected by a motion (912) perpendicular to the surface by another vibrating device (911).

Abstract: A portable electronic device (32, 50, 60, 90) and method is provided wherein the portable electronic device embodies a flexible structural form that may be made rigid for use. The portable electronic device (32, 50, 60, 90) comprises a housing (10) including a plurality of blocks (12, 82) contiguously positioned between first and second films (14, 16, 84). One of an electrorheological or a magnetorheological material (18, 86) is positioned between each of the plurality of blocks (12, 82). Electronics positioned within the housing (10) include circuitry for applying one of an electric field and a magnetic field to the respective electrorheological and magnetorheological material (18, 86).

Abstract: A method provides tactile feedback emulating a click like feedback provided by one or more low cost, thin piezoelectric devices (142) to an input device (110) of an electronic device (100), the piezoelectric devices (142) being driven by two or more low voltage pulses (804, 806) within the temporal acuity of human touch.

Abstract: An electronic device (100) provides tactile feedback provided by a low cost, thin piezoelectric actuator (142) giving tactile feedback emulating a click like feed. The electronic device (100) comprises a chassis plate (122) having a periphery secured to a housing (102, 104) and comprising a flexible material having a first planer side (123), and a second planer side (125) opposed to the first planer side (123). An input device (110) has a planer side (111) positioned adjacent to and in contact with to the first planer side (123) of the chassis (122) and extends through an opening (108) in the housing (102, 104). One or more piezoelectric actuators (142) are secured to the second planer side (125) and within the periphery of the chassis plate (122). Electronic circuitry (208) positioned within the housing (102, 104) drives the piezoelectric actuators (142) in response to the input device (110) being actuated. The input provided to the input device (110) is sensed by the electronic circuitry (208).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring the amount of fluid (21) flowing in a channel (18, 20). The apparatus comprises a fluidic oscillation flow meter (10) including a housing (14) defining an inlet (16) for receiving the fluid (21), and first and second diversion channels (18, 20) for alternately receiving the fluid (21) from the inlet (16). The housing (14) comprises a first nozzle (46) for receiving the fluid (21) from the first diversion channel (18) and deflecting the fluid (21) from the inlet (16) into the second diversion channel (20). A second nozzle (48) receives the fluid (21) from the second diversion channel (20) and alternately deflects the fluid (21) from the inlet (16) into the first diversion channel (18). A first layer of material (56) overlies at least one of the first and second diversion channels (18, 20) and includes a sensing area that distorts due to a pressure change caused by the fluid (21) flowing through the diversion channels (18, 20).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring the amount of fluid (21) flowing in a channel (18, 20). The apparatus comprises a fluidic oscillation flow meter (10) including a housing (14) defining an inlet (16) for receiving the fluid (21), and first and second diversion channels (18, 20) for alternately receiving the fluid (21) from the inlet (16). The housing (14) comprises a first nozzle (46) for receiving the fluid (21) from the first diversion channel (18) and deflecting the fluid (21) from the inlet (16) into the second diversion channel (20). A second nozzle (48) receives the fluid (21) from the second diversion channel (20) and alternately deflects the fluid (21) from the inlet (16) into the first diversion channel (18). A first layer of material (56) overlies at least one of the first and second diversion channels (18, 20) and includes a sensing area that distorts due to a pressure change caused by the fluid (21) flowing through the diversion channels (18, 20).