USE OF AN ACCELEROMETER TO CONTROL VIBRATOR PERFORMANCE

• US 20090072768A1
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murray, Matthew J., Eaton, William Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,084,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/114
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/16 operating with systems involving rotary unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/2855 whereby the speed is regulated by measuring the motor speed and comparing it with a given physical value

Abstract

A mobile device includes a vibrator, an accelerometer that senses a parameter of rotation, and a processor. The vibrator includes a drive motor and a drive circuit. The accelerometer senses a speed of rotation of the vibrator. The processor analyzes the sensed speed of rotation and generates a drive voltage that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive motor to produce a pre-determined, desired rotational speed. In another embodiment, the accelerometer senses an amplitude of a vibration produced by the vibrator. The processor analyzes the sensed amplitude of a vibration and generates a drive voltage that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive motor to produce a pre-determined, desired vibration amplitude. The processor may also compare the sensed parameter with a pre-determined desired parameter of rotation and generate a signal responsive to a result of the comparison and based on stored vibrator calibration curves.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a vibrator, the vibrator including a drive motor and a drive circuit;

an accelerometer, the accelerometer sensing a speed of rotation of the vibrator; and

a processor, the processor analyzing the sensed speed of rotation and generating a drive voltage that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive motor to produce a pre-determined, desired rotational speed.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor compares the speed of rotation with the pre-determined desired rotational speed and generates the drive voltage responsive to a result of the comparison.

4. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor compares the speed of rotation with the pre-determined desired rotational speed and generates the drive voltage responsive to a result of the comparison and based on stored vibrator calibration curves.

5. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the processor updates the stored vibrator calibration curves based on the result of the comparison.

6. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer continually senses the speed of rotation of the vibrator and in response, the processor generates the drive voltage to control the drive circuit to maintain the drive motor at the pre-determined desired rotational speed.

7. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer senses an amplitude of a vibration produced by the vibrator, the processor analyzing the sensed amplitude of a vibration and generating a drive voltage that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive motor to produce a pre-determined, desired vibration amplitude.

8. The mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the processor compares the amplitude of the vibration with the pre-determined desired vibration amplitude and generates the drive voltage responsive to a result of the comparison.

9. The mobile device according to claim 7, wherein the processor compares the amplitude of the vibration with the pre-determined desired vibration amplitude and generates the drive voltage responsive to a result of the comparison and based on stored vibrator calibration curves.

10. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the processor updates the stored vibrator calibration curves based on the result of the comparison.

11. The mobile device according to claim 9, wherein the accelerometer continually senses the amplitude of the vibration of the vibrator and in response, the processor generates the drive voltage to control the drive circuit to maintain the drive motor at the pre-determined desired vibration amplitude.

12. A method for controlling a vibrator in a mobile device comprising:

sensing a speed of rotation of a vibrator; and

generating a signal to control the vibrator to produce a pre-determined desired rotational speed responsive to the sensed speed of rotation.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising sensing the speed of rotation using an accelerometer.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising comparing the speed of rotation with the pre-determined desired speed of vibration and generating the signal responsive to a result of the comparison.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising comparing the speed of rotation with the pre-determined desired speed of rotation and generating the signal responsive to a result of the comparison and based on stored vibrator calibration curves.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising updating the stored vibrator calibration curves based on the result of the comparison.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising sensing an amplitude of a vibration produced by a vibrator and generating a signal to control the vibrator to produce a pre-determined desired vibration amplitude responsive to the sensed amplitude of the vibration.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising sensing the amplitude of the vibration using an accelerometer.

19. A mobile device comprising:

a vibrator, the vibrator including a drive motor and a drive circuit;

a sensor, the sensor sensing a parameter of rotation of the vibrator; and

a processor, the processor analyzing the sensed parameter of rotation and generating a signal that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive motor to produce a pre-determined, desired parameter of rotation.

20. The mobile device according to claim 19, wherein the parameter of rotation comprises at least one of a speed of rotation or an amplitude of vibration.