Ambulatory handheld electronic device
First Claim
1. An handheld electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
a first electromechanical transducer included in the housing;
an first foot, for making contact with an external surface on which the handheld electronic device is placed, said first foot being coupled to said first electromechanical transducer, said first foot comprising an asymmetric tread that establishes a direction of movement of the first foot when driven perpendicularly against the external surface by the first electromechanical transducer; and
an electrical drive circuit coupled to the first electromechanical transducer for supplying a drive signal to the first electromechanical transducer to cause the first electromechanical transducer to vibrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld device (100) comprises a plurality of ambulation mechanisms (222-224, 1002-1008) that enable the handheld device (100) to perform translations, rotations or compound movements on a surface (502) on which the device (100) is placed. Using the ambulation mechanisms (222-224, 1002-1008), the device (100) is able to communicate the occurrence of various events to a user via ambulation gestures that are recognized by the user. Ambulation gestures can be programmed by the user. Disclosed ambulation mechanisms (222-224, 1002-1008) comprise linear (302, 700, 800) or rotary (1018, 1102) vibration transducers that are mechanically coupled to elastic feet (226-228, 606-608, 1110) that have an asymmetric tread (402). The asymmetric tread (402) is effective to convert vibration generated by the vibration transducers (302, 700, 800, 1018, 1102) to movement forces tangential to the surface (502) on which the device (100) is placed.
111 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An handheld electronic device comprising:
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a housing;
a first electromechanical transducer included in the housing;
an first foot, for making contact with an external surface on which the handheld electronic device is placed, said first foot being coupled to said first electromechanical transducer, said first foot comprising an asymmetric tread that establishes a direction of movement of the first foot when driven perpendicularly against the external surface by the first electromechanical transducer; and
an electrical drive circuit coupled to the first electromechanical transducer for supplying a drive signal to the first electromechanical transducer to cause the first electromechanical transducer to vibrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A handheld communication device comprising:
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an electromechanical ambulation mechanism;
a drive circuit coupled to the electromechanical ambulation mechanism;
a controller coupled to the drive circuit;
a memory storing a control program, coupled to the controller; and
a transceiver coupled to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A handheld audio device comprising:
a housing, said housing holding;
a controller;
at least one memory storing a control program for operating the handheld audio device, said at least one memory coupled to the controller;
an audio system coupled to the controller;
an ambulation system comprising;
an electromechanical ambulation mechanism;
a first drive circuit coupled to the electromechanical ambulation mechanism, and coupled to the controller;
wherein, the controller is programmed to drive the ambulation system in response to audio processed by the audio system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating two devices in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
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in a first device, reading an accelerometer in order to measure one or more movements of the first device; and
transmitting information as to the one or more movements to a second device;
in the second device, receiving the information as to the one or more movements; and
driving one or more ambulation mechanism of the second device in order to move the second device according to the information as to the one or more movements of the first device. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification