Abstract: It is an object to provide a device that may detect touch. According to an embodiment, device comprises a surface comprising a first side and a second side. The device may further comprise a plurality of elements arranged on the second side of the surface. Each element in the plurality of elements may be configured to convert a mechanical stress in the element induced by a force exerted onto the first side of the surface by an object into a voltage. The device may further comprise a computing device electrically coupled to each element in the plurality of elements. The computing device may be configured to calculate a position of the object on the surface. A device, a method, and a computer program product are provided.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an electronic device for sensing and/or for providing a haptic effect. According to an embodiment, a device comprises a touch surface; a piezoelectric transducer mechanically coupled to the touch surface; and a control circuitry electrically coupled to the piezoelectric transducer, configured to: obtain at least one parameter describing a reference response of the piezoelectric transducer; form a reference voltage curve based on the at least one parameter; drive the piezoelectric transducer with a driving voltage; measure a voltage curve over the piezoelectric transducer; compare the reference voltage curve and the measured voltage curve; and detect a touch on the touch surface based on the comparison. A device, a method, and a computer program product are provided.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a device that may detect touch. According to an embodiment, devicecomprises a surface comprising a first side and a second side. The device may further comprise a plurality of elements arranged on the second side of the surface. Each element in the plurality of elements may be configured to convert a mechanical stress in the element induced by a force exerted onto the first side of the surface by an object into a voltage.The device may further comprise a computing device electrically coupled to each element in the plurality of elements. The computing device may be configured to calculate a position of the object on the surface.A device, a method, and a computer program product are provided.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an electronic device for sensing and/or for providing a haptic effect. According to an embodiment, a device comprises a touch surface; a piezoelectric transducer mechanically coupled to the touch surface; and a control circuitry electrically coupled to the piezoelectric transducer, configured to: obtain at least one parameter describing a reference response of the piezoelectric transducer; form a reference voltage curve based on the at least one parameter; drive the piezoelectric transducer with a driving voltage; measure a voltage curve over the piezoelectric transducer; compare the reference voltage curve and the measured voltage curve; and detect a touch on the touch surface based on the comparison. A device, a method, and a computer program product are provided.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a device for estimating the equivalent input voltage of a boost converter. According to a first aspect, a device is configured to apply a switching signal to a boost converter, wherein the boost converter is configured to provide a voltage for a haptic feedback element; wait for at least one time interval; measure at least one voltage on an output side of the boost converter; and estimate an equivalent input voltage of the boost converter based on the at least one measured voltage, wherein the equivalent input voltage represents a physical input voltage that would cause the at least one measured voltage in reference conditions. A device, a method, and a computer program are described.

Abstract: A haptic signalizing device includes a number of piezoelectric elements arranged below a device surface such that mechanical deformations caused by the converse piezoelectric effect in the at least one piezoelectric element make the device surface to move such that the device surface follows the piezoelectric element. A driving circuit causes the converse the piezoelectric effect on the at least one piezoelectric element by generating an alternating electric field over the piezoelectric element in a bipolar fashion. The piezoelectric element is arranged i) to locally move the device surface inwards when the mechanical deformation in the piezoelectric element is a deflection directed away from the device surface, and ii) to locally move the device surface outwards when the mechanical deformation in the piezoelectric element is a deflection that is directed towards the device surface.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a device for estimating the equivalent input voltage of a boost converter. According to a first aspect, a device is configured to apply a switching signal to a boost converter, wherein the boost converter is configured to provide a voltage for a haptic feedback element; wait for at least one time interval; measure at least one voltage on an output side of the boost converter; and estimate an equivalent input voltage of the boost converter based on the at least one measured voltage, wherein the equivalent input voltage represents a physical input voltage that would cause the at least one measured voltage in reference conditions. A device, a method, and a computer program are described.

Abstract: A detection of piezoelectric sensor elements is provided. According to a first aspect, a device comprises: a matrix of piezoelectric sensor elements comprising rows of the piezoelectric sensor elements and columns of the piezoelectric sensor elements; measuring circuits configured to detect at least one touch, wherein the measuring circuits are configured to the rows and to the columns; and a wake-up trigger configured to detect the at least one touch and further configured to trigger the matrix to an operation mode when the at least one touch is detected. The device is configured for detecting a press event of a plurality of piezoelectric sensor elements, using, for example only a single activity detecting and touch recognition circuit. Complexity and energy consumption may be reduced.

Abstract: A haptic signalizing device includes a number of piezoelectric elements arranged below a device surface such that mechanical deformations caused by the converse piezoelectric effect in the at least one piezoelectric element make the device surface to move such that the device surface follows the piezoelectric element. A driving circuit causes the converse the piezoelectric effect on the at least one piezoelectric element by generating an alternating electric field over the piezoelectric element in a bipolar fashion. The piezoelectric element is arranged i) to locally move the device surface inwards when the mechanical deformation in the piezoelectric element is a deflection directed away from the device surface, and ii) to locally move the device surface outwards when the mechanical deformation in the piezoelectric element is a deflection that is directed towards the device surface.

Abstract: A detection of piezoelectric sensor elements is provided. According to a first aspect, a device comprises: a matrix of piezoelectric sensor elements comprising rows of the piezoelectric sensor elements and columns of the piezoelectric sensor elements; measuring circuits configured to detect at least one touch, wherein the measuring circuits are configured to the rows and to the columns; and a wake-up trigger configured to detect the at least one touch and further configured to trigger the matrix to an operation mode when the at least one touch is detected. The device is configured for detecting a press event of a plurality of piezoelectric sensor elements, using, for example only a single activity detecting and touch recognition circuit. Complexity and energy consumption may be reduced.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor with configurable sensitivity thresholds in response to at least one sensitivity threshold command received from a host (28) over a serial data bus (27).

Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprises at least one element comprising at least one sheet of piezoelectric material. The element is mounted on a circuit board comprising at least one conductive layer having at least one opening. The element is located on the opening and supported by edges of the opening in such a manner that the opening extends laterally beyond the area of the sheet of piezoelectric material. The element is sandwiched between an overlay and the circuit board in such a manner that vibrations of the sheet of piezoelectric material are sufficient to cause vibration of the overlay.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor with configurable sensitivity thresholds in response to at least one sensitivity threshold command received from a host (28) over a serial data bus (27).

Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprises at least one element comprising at least one sheet of piezoelectric material. The element is mounted on a circuit board comprising at least one conductive layer having at least one opening. The element is located on the opening and supported by edges of the opening in such a manner that the opening extends laterally beyond the area of the sheet of piezoelectric material. The element is sandwiched between an overlay and the circuit board in such a manner that vibrations of the sheet of piezoelectric material are sufficient to cause vibration of the overlay.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring absolute pressure applied to a piezoelectric element by measuring a transition time of a voltage pulse applied to a piezoelectric element. The transition time (such as the rise time and/or fall time of the voltage pulse) is affected by the capacitance of the piezoelectric element, which in turn is affected by the amount of pressure currently being applied to the piezoelectric element. The system may also provide haptic feedback via the same piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A telephone keypad (10) emulation system for emulating data entry of a telephone keypad (10). The telephone keypad emulation system includes a first selector device (30) and a second selector device (32). The first selector device (30) has at least nine position settings (12) generally arranged in three rows (34, 36, 38) and three columns (40, 42, 44). The second selector device (32) includes a selection actuator adapted to be actuated by a user. The second selector device (32) is spaced from the first selector device (30). In a first mode of operation, a middle one of the position settings of the first selector device (30) has a number “5” as a selectable value. The selectable value of the position settings of the first selector device (30) is only selected when the selection actuator of the second selector device (32) is actuated by the user while the first selector device (30) is at that position setting.

Abstract: A capacitive keypad and/or touchpad construction includes a flexible or rigid printed circuit board and a non-conductive keypad/touchpad top surface layer. A semi-conductive adhesive layer in between said flexible or rigid printed circuit board and said non-conductive keypad/touchpad top surface layer serves both to connect the top surface layer to the printed circuit board and to act as capacitive sensing layer.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring absolute pressure applied to a piezoelectric element by measuring a transition time of a voltage pulse applied to a piezoelectric element. The transition time (such as the rise time and/or fall time of the voltage pulse) is affected by the capacitance of the piezoelectric element, which in turn is affected by the amount of pressure currently being applied to the piezoelectric element. The system may also provide haptic feedback via the same piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A gaming device for playing a game comprising: including detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specified event within a game while it is being played; and control means for changing the state of the gaming device from a first non-penalty state to a second, penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event within the game and for returning the state of the gaming device from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state.

Abstract: A capacitive keypad and/or touchpad construction includes a flexible or rigid printed circuit board and a non-conductive keypad/touchpad top surface layer. A semi-conductive adhesive layer in between said flexible or rigid printed circuit board and said non-conductive keypad/touchpad top surface layer serves both to connect the top surface layer to the printed circuit board and to act as capacitive sensing layer.