APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY DRIVING A PIEZO TRANSDUCER

• US 20100259402A1
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medsolve Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medsolve Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: KNOTTS, THOMAS ALLEN
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/665
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for selectively driving a piezo transducer to operate as a pressure pattern detector or an alarm generator. In one embodiment, there is provided a device that includes: a piezo transducer; a comparator coupled to the transducer and a reference voltage; and a pressure pattern recognition circuit coupled to a comparator output of the comparator. The pressure pattern recognition circuit may be configured to: (i) determine whether the pressure pattern satisfies a predetermined condition; and (ii) in response to the pressure pattern satisfying the predetermined condition, generate an output signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a device having a touch sensor, comprising:

a piezo transducer for detecting a pressure pattern applied to the sensor;

a comparator coupled to the transducer; and

a pressure pattern recognition circuit coupled to a comparator output of the comparator, the circuit being configured to;

determine whether the pressure pattern satisfies a predetermined condition; and

in response to the pressure pattern satisfying the predetermined condition, generate an output signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to recognize and respond to a defined number of taps occurring in succession.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the circuit is configured to:

(a) detect a rising edge on a comparator output signal;

(b) in response to detecting the rising the edge, determine whether a time period elapsed since a previously detected edge falls within minimum and maximum time limits;

(c) in response to the elapsed time falling within the minimum and maximum time limits, (i) increase a tap count and (ii) wait a debounce time period; and

(d) in response to the tap count equaling the defined number, waking up a component the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the circuit is further configured to:

(e) in response to the elapsed time falling outside the minimum and maximum time limits, set the tap count to zero;

(f) detect a subsequent rising edge on the comparator output signal; and

(g) in response to detecting the subsequent rising the edge, (i) increase the tap count, (ii) wait the debounce time period, and (iii) return to step (a).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled to and selectively connecting the transducer to one of (i) a logic circuit and (ii) an oscillator, wherein:

the transducer operates as a pressure pattern detector in response to being connected to the logic circuit; and

the transducer operates as an alarm generator in response to being connected to the oscillator.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the logic circuit provides a signal value corresponding to a logic value, thereby grounding a bottom lead of the transducer; and

the oscillator provides an oscillating signal, thereby increasing a drive voltage to the transducer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an inverter connected between the switch and a bottom lead of the transducer, wherein:

the inverter is configured to transmit a ground signal to the transducer to permit the transducer to operate as the pressure pattern detector; and

the inverter is configured to transmit an oscillating signal to the transducer to permit the transducer to operate as the alarm generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a tri-state buffer coupled to a top lead of the transducer, wherein:

in response to the tri-state buffer being set to a high impedance state, the transducer is permitted to operate as the pressure pattern detector; and

in response to the tri-state buffer being set to a low impedance state, the transducer is permitted to operate as the alarm generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the oscillator drives the top and bottom leads of the transducer with opposite phases, thereby doubling an effective drive of the transducer.

10. A method for controlling a device having a touch sensor, comprising:

sensing a pressure pattern applied to a sensor;

determining whether the pressure pattern satisfies a predetermined condition;

in response to the pressure pattern satisfying the predetermined condition, generating an output signal;

controlling the device via the output signal; and

generating an alarm based on the output signal, wherein the alarm is generated using a transducer coupled to the sensor.