Haptic driver with attenuation

• US 10,109,161 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Shah, Kaniyalal
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US15/240,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20170053502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

In each of the various embodiments, a haptic driver is configured to attenuate a drive signal of an actuator. In particular, the haptic drivers described herein are configured to identify the resonance frequency of the actuator and to attenuate the haptic drive signal within a range of frequencies, the range being based on the identified resonance frequency. As a result, the strength of haptic effects produced by the actuator may be more uniform along a wider frequency range.

Claims

1. A method for driving a haptic output device, the method comprising:

receiving a haptic drive signal configured to drive the haptic output device;

identifying a resonance frequency range of the haptic output device; and

attenuating, according to a characteristic curve of the haptic output device, the haptic drive signal at frequencies corresponding to the resonance frequency range.

2. The method for driving a haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic drive signal is attenuated to level corresponding strengths of haptic effects produced by the haptic output device.

3. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined by monitoring operation of the haptic output device.

4. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency range is determined by using a look-up table.

5. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 3, wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined using back-EMF.

6. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic drive signal is attenuated using a notch filter.

7. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is a high definition haptic output device that are configured to produce wide bandwidth haptic effects.

8. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic drive signal is further attenuated to reduce a mechanical energy state of the haptic output device.

21. The method for driving a haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic curve of the haptic output device is determined according to an automatic calibration process or an automatic programming process.

22. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is a high definition haptic output device that is an electroactive polymer actuator or a piezoelectric actuator.

23. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency range is supplied by the haptic output device.

24. The method for driving the haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic curve defines the frequency response of the haptic output device.

9. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing one or more programs for execution by the processor, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a haptic drive signal configured to drive a haptic output device;

identifying a resonance frequency range of the haptic output device; and

attenuating, according to a characteristic curve of the haptic output device, the haptic drive signal at frequencies corresponding to the resonance frequency range.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the haptic drive signal is attenuated to level corresponding strengths of haptic effects produced by the haptic output device.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined by monitoring operation of the haptic output device.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the resonance frequency range is supplied by the haptic output device or is determined by using a look-up table.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined using back-EMF.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the haptic drive signal is attenuated using a notch filter.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein the haptic output device is a high definition haptic output device that is configured to produce wide bandwidth haptic effects.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by a processor, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

receiving a haptic drive signal configured to drive a haptic output device;

identifying a resonance frequency range of the haptic output device; and

attenuating, according to a characteristic curve of the haptic output device, the haptic drive signal at frequencies corresponding to the resonance frequency range.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the haptic drive signal is attenuated to level corresponding strengths of haptic effects produced by the haptic output device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined by monitoring operation of the haptic output device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the resonance frequency range is supplied by the haptic output device or is determined by using a look-up table.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined using back-EMF.