Electronic device including sound level based driving of haptic actuator and related methods

• US 10,055,951 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Xuefeng, Lee, Sungchang, Wu, Wei Guang, Song, Yuanyuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselass
• Application Number:
  US15/730,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20180033265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An electronic device may include a device housing, a haptic actuator carried by the device housing, and an audio input transducer carried by the device housing. The electronic device may also include a controller coupled to the audio input transducer and the haptic actuator. The controller may be capable of determining a sound level of the haptic actuator, attempting to drive the haptic actuator to operate within a desired sound level range, and when unable to drive the haptic actuator within the desired sound level range, then generating a warning indication.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a device housing;

a haptic actuator carried by the device housing;

an audio input transducer carried by the device housing;

an audio output transducer carried by the device housing; and

a controller carried by the device housing and configured to

drive the haptic actuator,

determine a sound level of the haptic actuator using the audio input transducer, and

drive the audio output transducer based upon the determined sound level with an offsetting sound level so that the haptic actuator operates within a desired sound level range.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to drive the haptic actuator based upon the determined sound level.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to generate a warning indication based upon the determined sound level.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 further comprising wireless communications circuitry carried by the device housing;

and wherein the controller is configured to communicate the warning indication via the wireless communications circuitry.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the audio input transducer is positioned within the device housing facing the haptic actuator.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the haptic actuator comprises:

a haptic housing;

a field member movable within the haptic housing;

at least one magnet; and

at least one coil cooperating with the at least one magnet to move the field member within the haptic housing.

7. A method of operating an electronic device comprising a haptic actuator, an audio input transducer, and an audio output transducer, the method comprising:

driving the haptic actuator;

determining a sound level of the haptic actuator using the audio input transducer; and

driving the audio output transducer based upon the determined sound level to generate an offsetting sound for the haptic actuator so that the haptic actuator operates within a desired sound level range.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising driving the haptic actuator based upon the determined sound level.

9. The method of claim 7 comprising generating a warning indication based upon the determined sound level.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the audio input transducer is positioned within a device housing facing the haptic actuator.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the haptic actuator comprises:

a haptic housing;

a field member movable within the haptic housing;

at least one magnet; and

at least one coil cooperating with the at least one magnet to move the field member within the haptic housing.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a device housing;

a haptic actuator carried by the device housing;

an accelerometer carried by the device housing;

an audio output transducer carried by the device housing; and

a controller carried by the device housing and configured to

drive the haptic actuator,

determine an acceleration of the haptic actuator using the accelerometer, and

drive the audio output transducer based upon the determined acceleration to generate an offsetting sound for the haptic actuator so that the haptic actuator operates within a desired sound level range.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to drive the haptic actuator based upon the determined sound level.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to generate a warning indication based upon the determined sound level.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 further comprising wireless communications circuitry carried by the device housing;

and wherein the controller is configured to communicate the warning indication via the wireless communications circuitry.

16. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the accelerometer is adjacent the haptic actuator.

17. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the haptic actuator comprises:

a haptic housing;

a field member movable within the haptic housing;

at least one magnet; and

at least one coil cooperating with the at least one magnet to move the field member within the haptic housing.

18. A method of operating an electronic device comprising a haptic actuator, an accelerometer, and an audio output transducer, the method comprising:

driving the haptic actuator;

determining a sound level of the haptic actuator using the accelerometer; and

driving the audio output transducer based upon the determined sound level to generate an offsetting sound for the haptic actuator so that the haptic actuator operates within a desired sound level range.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising driving the haptic actuator based upon the determined sound level.

20. The method of claim 18 comprising generating a warning indication based upon the determined sound level.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the accelerometer is positioned adjacent the haptic actuator.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the haptic actuator comprises:

a haptic housing;

a field member movable within the haptic housing;

at least one magnet; and

at least one coil cooperating with the at least one magnet to move the field member within the haptic housing.