Multifunction transducer and method of driving
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An audio and vibration transducer comprising:
- a transducer motor for generating movement in response to an electrical signal;
a first member coupled to the transducer motor, the first member having a surface in contact with an ambient acoustic medium for exciting sound waves in the ambient acoustic medium as the first member is moved by the transducer motor;
a resilient support characterized by a compliance;
a second member supported by the resilient support and coupled to the transducer motor, wherein the second member is characterized by a mass;
wherein the compliance of the resilient support, and the mass of the second member determine a resonant oscillation that is characterized by a center frequency that is located between a first note on a musical scale, and a second note on the musical scale that is directly adjacent to the first note on the musical scale.
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Abstract
Multi-function transducers (130, 700) that are suitable for use in handheld devices such as cellular telephones (100, 900) and are capable of emitting audio, and generating accelerations of sufficient magnitude, and at frequencies that can be sensed by tactile sensation and which exhibit resonant modes that are characterized by center frequencies within a frequency range that can be sensed by tactile sensation, and specifically located between two musical notes on a musical scale are provided. Devices (100, 900) including such transducer are provided, and methods of operating such transducers are provided.
133 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An audio and vibration transducer comprising:
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a transducer motor for generating movement in response to an electrical signal;
a first member coupled to the transducer motor, the first member having a surface in contact with an ambient acoustic medium for exciting sound waves in the ambient acoustic medium as the first member is moved by the transducer motor;
a resilient support characterized by a compliance;
a second member supported by the resilient support and coupled to the transducer motor, wherein the second member is characterized by a mass;
wherein the compliance of the resilient support, and the mass of the second member determine a resonant oscillation that is characterized by a center frequency that is located between a first note on a musical scale, and a second note on the musical scale that is directly adjacent to the first note on the musical scale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A transducer comprising:
a mechanical resonator that exhibits a resonance characterized by a Q, and a center frequency, wherein the center frequency is located between a first note on a musical scale, and a second note on the musical scale that is directly adjacent to the first note, and the Q of the mechanical resonator is sufficiently high so that, the center frequency in combination with the Q results in a relative response of the mechanical resonator at each of the first note and the second note that is at least 6 dB below a relative response of the mechanical resonator at the center frequency. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a multifunction transducer, the method comprising:
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applying a first signal component that has substantial signal power in a frequency range that is substantially centered between a pair of adjacent notes of a musical scale, to a multifunction transducer that exhibits a resonance in the frequency range;
applying a second signal component to the multifunction transducer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:
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a multifunction transducer that is characterized by a resonance at a center frequency that is located within 10% of a difference between frequencies of a pair of adjacent musical notes on a musical scale, from an average frequency of the pair of adjacent musical notes;
a transducer drive circuit coupled to the multifunction transducer for applying drive signals to the multifunction transducer in response to input data;
a processor coupled to the transducer drive circuit for applying input data to the transducer drive circuit, wherein the processor is programmed to;
read one or more data structures that include digitally encoded drive signals for the multifunction transducer; and
apply a sequence of input data to the transducer drive circuit in order to cause the drive circuit to drive the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification