SELF ADAPTING HAPTIC DEVICE

• US 20110075835A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hill, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,487,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/418
• 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: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method for operating a haptic device including driving a haptic device using a control signal, measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device and comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency. A control signal is adjusted based on the comparison to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

Claims

1. A method for operating a haptic device comprising:

driving a haptic device using a control signal;

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying a control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of measuring the frequency comprises:

isolating a vibration signal of the haptic device;

finding a plurality of peaks in the vibration signal; and

determining a period of the vibration signal from the plurality of peaks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the haptic device comprises a motor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the control signal comprises modifying a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.

6. The method of claim 1, repurposing a sensor upon actuation of the haptic device to take measurements related to the operation of the haptic device.

7. An electronic device that autonomously adjusts at least one operating parameter of a haptic device, the electronic device comprising:

a haptic device;

a sensor configured to monitor the haptic device during operation of the haptic device;

a feedback loop comprising;

a filter coupled to the sensor; and

an error detector coupled to the filter, wherein the error detector is configured to compare a measured signal with a target signal to generate an error signal; and

a controller configured to receive the error signal and adjust a control signal in response to the error signal to achieve a desired operational parameter.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein values from the accelerometer are iteratively used by the electronic device to adjust the control signal.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the control signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, the electronic device is a phone and the adjustment of the control signal occurs within an integer number of rings of the phone.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the haptic device is a vibrating device.

13. A method of adjusting user alerts in an electronic device, the method comprising the acts of:

initiating operation of a haptic device by overdriving a control signal provided to the haptic device; and

actively braking a motor of the haptic device to stop operation of the haptic device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein overdriving a control signal comprises increasing a duty cycle of a pulse width modulated signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein actively braking the motor comprises shorting leads of the motor to generate an inductive braking effect.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein actively braking the motor comprises applying an opposite polarity to leads of the motor.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying the control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of measuring the frequency comprises:

isolating a vibration signal of the haptic device;

finding a plurality of peaks in the vibration signal; and

determining a period of the vibration signal from the plurality of peaks.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the haptic device comprises a vibrating motor.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.