Patents by Inventor Teera Songatikamas
Teera Songatikamas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220417643Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian H. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Publication number: 20220417642Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian H. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Publication number: 20220417641Abstract: An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian H. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas, Aonan Li, Travis N. Owens, Kyle J. Campiotti
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Patent number: 11463797Abstract: An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas, Aonan Li, Travis N. Owens, Kyle J. Campiotti
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Patent number: 11463796Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Patent number: 11463799Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Patent number: 11460933Abstract: In some examples, a stylus can include a conductive shield. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a plurality of traces along an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) including the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a shield can coupled to the PCB and disposed around the components of the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow portion into which the stylus circuitry can be disposed and a solid portion that can act as a reference electrode. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow sleeve disposed around the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be attached to the PCB. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be disposed between layers of a housing of the stylus. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be integrated with the stylus housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin Bechstein, John Stephen Smith, Siddharth Shekar, Teera Songatikamas, Elvis Mwenda Kibiti, Jared A. Brauner, Lindsay Diane Rego Corbet, Wang Chung Alston Cheung, Vipin Ayanoor-Vitikkate, Nitin Sitaraman, Joyan Gratian Sanctis, Blake R. Marshall
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Patent number: 11442544Abstract: A force transducer for an electronic device can be operated in a drive mode and a sense mode simultaneously. In particular, the force transducer can provide haptic output while simultaneously receiving force input from a user. The force transducer is primarily defined by a monolithic piezoelectric body, a ground electrode, a drive electrode, and a sense electrode. The ground electrode and the drive electrode each include multiple electrically-electrically conductive sheets that extend into the monolithic body; the electrically conductive sheets of the ground electrode and the drive electrode are interdigitally engaged. The sense electrode of the force transducer is typically disposed on an exterior surface of the monolithic body.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Joseph C. Doll, Pavan O. Gupta, Teera Songatikamas, Adam J. Monkowski
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Publication number: 20220091685Abstract: In some examples, a stylus can include a conductive shield. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a plurality of traces along an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB) including the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a shield can coupled to the PCB and disposed around the components of the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow portion into which the stylus circuitry can be disposed and a solid portion that can act as a reference electrode. In some examples, the conductive shield can include a hollow sleeve disposed around the stylus circuitry. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be attached to the PCB. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be disposed between layers of a housing of the stylus. In some examples, the conductive sleeve can be integrated with the stylus housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Daniel Jacob Benjamin BECHSTEIN, John Stephen SMITH, Siddharth SHEKAR, Teera SONGATIKAMAS, Elvis Mwenda KIBITI, Jared A. BRAUNER, Lindsay Diane Rego CORBET, Wang Chung Alston CHEUNG, Vipin AYANOOR-VITIKKATE, Nitin SITARAMAN, Joyan Gratian SANCTIS, Blake R. MARSHALL
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Publication number: 20210314696Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Patent number: 11070904Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Publication number: 20210219042Abstract: An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas, Aonan Li, Travis N. Owens, Kyle J. Campiotti
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Publication number: 20210168487Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2021Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Patent number: 10744531Abstract: In an embodiment, an electromagnetic reluctance actuator comprises: a core assembly including a plurality of magnetic cores arranged in a two-dimensional plane, each core comprised of ferromagnetic material and wound by a coil of conductive wire, the coils operable for producing magnetic flux density in response to electrical currents flowing in the coils, wherein the current in each coil flows in a direction that is opposite the currents flowing in adjacent coils; and an actuator, at least a portion of which comprises ferritic material magnetically coupled to the coils by a magnetic circuit, for producing mechanical force in response to the effect of magnetic flux on the portion, the portion of the actuator being mounted for movement relative to the core assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Teera Songatikamas, Joseph C. Doll, Matthew A. Bigarani
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Patent number: 10622538Abstract: Haptic interfaces are described. One haptic interface includes a piezoelectric body and first and second electrodes coupled to the piezoelectric body. The haptic interface also includes a control circuit. The control circuit includes a haptic actuator, a haptic sensor circuit, and an overcurrent protection circuit. The haptic actuator circuit is coupled to the first electrode and configured to charge the piezoelectric body. The charging causes the piezoelectric body to provide a haptic output. The haptic sensor circuit is coupled to the second electrode and configured to sense an electrical change at the second electrode. The electrical change is related to a haptic input received by the piezoelectric body. The overcurrent protection circuit is coupled to the second electrode and configured to limit a current flow into the haptic sensor circuit while the haptic actuator circuit is charging the piezoelectric body.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Zhipeng Zhang, Richard H. Koch, Teera Songatikamas
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Publication number: 20200100013Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas
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Publication number: 20190027674Abstract: Haptic interfaces are described. One haptic interface includes a piezoelectric body and first and second electrodes coupled to the piezoelectric body. The haptic interface also includes a control circuit. The control circuit includes a haptic actuator, a haptic sensor circuit, and an overcurrent protection circuit. The haptic actuator circuit is coupled to the first electrode and configured to charge the piezoelectric body. The charging causes the piezoelectric body to provide a haptic output. The haptic sensor circuit is coupled to the second electrode and configured to sense an electrical change at the second electrode. The electrical change is related to a haptic input received by the piezoelectric body. The overcurrent protection circuit is coupled to the second electrode and configured to limit a current flow into the haptic sensor circuit while the haptic actuator circuit is charging the piezoelectric body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Zhipeng Zhang, Richard H. Koch, Teera Songatikamas
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Publication number: 20180314331Abstract: A force transducer for an electronic device can be operated in a drive mode and a sense mode simultaneously. In particular, the force transducer can provide haptic output while simultaneously receiving force input from a user. The force transducer is primarily defined by a monolithic piezoelectric body, a ground electrode, a drive electrode, and a sense electrode. The ground electrode and the drive electrode each include multiple electrically-electrically conductive sheets that extend into the monolithic body; the electrically conductive sheets of the ground electrode and the drive electrode are interdigitally engaged. The sense electrode of the force transducer is typically disposed on an exterior surface of the monolithic body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Joseph C. Doll, Pavan O. Gupta, Teera Songatikamas, Adam J. Monkowski
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Patent number: 9949390Abstract: An electronic device may include a device housing and a display carried by the device housing. The electronic device may also include an actuator carried between the device housing and the display. The actuator may include an actuator body having an actuator bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, a first guide member carried by the actuator bottom and spaced inwardly from adjacent portions of the sidewall to define a channel, and at least one coil carried by the sidewall. The actuator may also include a magnet being moveable within the channel and an actuator top coupled to the magnet and that includes a second guide member cooperating with the first guide member. The electronic device may also include a controller configured to drive the at least one coil to relatively move the actuator bottom and actuator top to thereby deform the display.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Joseph C. Doll, Teera Songatikamas, Adam J. Monkowski, Pavan O. Gupta
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Publication number: 20180090253Abstract: In an embodiment, a system comprises: a electromagnet having a core and a coil wrapped around the core; and a gap sensing circuit coupled to the coil, the gap sensing circuit operable to determine a gap distance between the electromagnet and a ferromagnetic target based on a change of inductance of the coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Teera Songatikamas, Joseph C. Doll, Matthew A. Bigarani