A system for delineating a location of a virtual button by haptic feedback includes a cover layer, a touch-input sub-system, a haptic transducer, and a haptic controller. The touch-input sub-system includes force-measuring and touch-sensing integrated circuits (FMTSICs), each coupled to the inner surface of the cover layer corresponding to one of the virtual buttons. The touch-input sub-system is configured to determine: (1) supplemental haptic feedback commands if “PMUT Triggered” Boolean data is True for at least one of the FMTSICs (Touched FMTSICs) and light-force conditions are satisfied for all of the Touched FMTSICs, and (2) primary touch inputs if “PMUT Triggered” Boolean data is True for at least one of the FMTSICs (Touched FMTSICs) and light-force conditions are not satisfied for at least one of the Touched FMTSICs. The haptic controller is configured to drive the haptic transducer to generate haptic feedback in accordance with the supplemental haptic feedback commands.

Input devices can employ ultrasonic touch sensing capabilities that allow user inputs to be detected through conductive materials, such as metal enclosures. The ultrasonic touch sensing can include generation of ultrasound signals with a piezoelectric layer. The ultrasound signals can be reflected when a user or other object is in contact with a housing, and the reflected signal can be detected by the same piezoelectric layer that produced the ultrasound signal. Such a piezoelectric layer can include a piezoelectric polymer, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). An array of electrodes distributed on opposing sides of the use of electric layer can be operated to generate ultrasound signals and detect reflected signals. Such an input device can be operated in conjunction with a conductive (e.g., metallic) housing, conform to a variety of shapes, and be compact and lightweight

Input devices can employ ultrasonic touch sensing capabilities that allow user inputs to be detected through conductive materials, such as metal enclosures. The ultrasonic touch sensing can include generation of ultrasound signals with a piezoelectric layer. The ultrasound signals can be reflected when a user or other object is in contact with a housing, and the reflected signal can be detected by the same piezoelectric layer that produced the ultrasound signal. Such a piezoelectric layer can include a piezoelectric polymer, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). An array of electrodes distributed on opposing sides of the use of electric layer can be operated to generate ultrasound signals and detect reflected signals. Such an input device can be operated in conjunction with a conductive (e.g., metallic) housing, conform to a variety of shapes, and be compact and lightweight

A system providing various improved perceptions techniques for haptic feedback above interactive surfaces that require no contact with either tools, attachments or the surface itself is described. A range of receptors in a perceiving member which is part of the human body is identified to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback. A vibration frequency that is in the range of the receptors in the perceiving member is chosen and dynamically altered to create substantially uniformly perceivable feedback throughout the receiving member.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for recognizing a user input. The apparatus comprises a sensor configured to sense an acoustic wave signal generated by knocking a surface of a medium, an extractor configured to separate an initial pulse signal from the acoustic wave signal and extract signal characteristic of the separated initial pulse signal, and a controller configured to recognize a knocking gesture based on the signal characteristic extracted by the extractor and generate a corresponding control signal.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for recognizing a user input. The apparatus comprises a sensor configured to sense an acoustic wave signal generated by knocking a surface of a medium, an extractor configured to separate an initial pulse signal from the acoustic wave signal and extract signal characteristic of the separated initial pulse signal, and a controller configured to recognize a knocking gesture based on the signal characteristic extracted by the extractor and generate a corresponding control signal.

An operation device includes an operation unit including an operation surface on which an operator performs a press operation, an ultrasonic drive unit configured to ultrasonically drive the operation surface, a load detection unit configured to detect a pressing load for the press operation, and a controller configured to control ultrasonic driving of the ultrasonic drive unit, the controller being configured to, when the pressing load is equal to or greater than a predetermined load, ultrasonically drive the operation surface at an ultrasonic driving force equal to or greater than a predetermined ultrasonic driving force so as to provide a thermal presentation to the operator to indicate that the press operation is initiated.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for enhancing operation of an ultrasonic sensing device for determining the status of an object near such ultrasonic sensing device. From the ultrasonic sensing device, an emission signal having a current frequency or band in an ultrasonic frequency range is emitted. Ultrasonic signals are received and analyzed to detect an object. After a trigger occurs, a background noise signal emitted, reflected, or diffracted from the object in an environment outside of the ultrasonic sensing device is detected and background noise metrics are estimated based on the background noise signal after halting the emitting of the emission signal. It is then determined whether the current frequency of the emission signal is optimized based on the background noise metrics. A next frequency or band is selected and the emission signal is emitted at the next frequency or band if the current frequency or band is not optimum.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for enhancing operation of an ultrasonic sensing device for determining the status of an object near such ultrasonic sensing device. From the ultrasonic sensing device, an emission signal having a current frequency or band in an ultrasonic frequency range is emitted. Ultrasonic signals are received and analyzed to detect an object. After a trigger occurs, a background noise signal emitted, reflected, or diffracted from the object in an environment outside of the ultrasonic sensing device is detected and background noise metrics are estimated based on the background noise signal after halting the emitting of the emission signal. It is then determined whether the current frequency of the emission signal is optimized based on the background noise metrics. A next frequency or band is selected and the emission signal is emitted at the next frequency or band if the current frequency or band is not optimum.

An acoustic imaging system coupled to an acoustic medium to define an imaging surface. The acoustic imaging system includes an array of piezoelectric acoustic transducers formed at least in part from a thin-film piezoelectric material, such as PVDF. The array is coupled to the acoustic medium opposite the imaging surface and formed using a thin-film manufacturing process over an application-specific integrated circuit that, in turn, is configured to leverage on or more beamforming scan operations to drive the array of piezoelectric actuators to generate an image of an object at least partially wetting to the imaging surface.