VIBRATOR MOTOR SPEED DETERMINATION IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method within a mobile communications device, comprising:
- sampling an output data of mechanical measurement circuitry that is integrated in the mobile communications device while a vibrator motor is running;
analyzing the sampled output data to detect vibration caused by the running motor and to determine a speed of the vibrator motor;
storing the determined speed of the vibrator motor within a non-volatile memory of the mobile communications device;
analyzing stored speeds of the vibrator motor to detect when vibrator motor performance has degraded during in-the-field use; and
reporting a detected degradation of vibrator motor performance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment relates to testing and verifying vibrator motor operation during manufacturing of a device and during in-the-field use. The test relies on an integrated motion sensor or other mechanical measurement circuitry, such as, for example, an accelerometer. In one embodiment, a speed determination for a vibrator motor performance during initial manufacture of the device. Subsequently, when vibration is detected during the in-the-field use, the vibration may be sampled using the integrated mechanical measurement circuitry. Once sampled, a speed may be determined based on a resonance of the sampled signal. Over time, the various speed determinations for the vibrator motor may be analyzed to determine an overall health of the vibrator motor. A threshold for detecting when the overall health of the vibration motor over time has degraded may be predetermined. A notification of a degradation of vibrator motor performance is sent to either a manufacturer or user of the mobile communications device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method within a mobile communications device, comprising:
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sampling an output data of mechanical measurement circuitry that is integrated in the mobile communications device while a vibrator motor is running; analyzing the sampled output data to detect vibration caused by the running motor and to determine a speed of the vibrator motor; storing the determined speed of the vibrator motor within a non-volatile memory of the mobile communications device; analyzing stored speeds of the vibrator motor to detect when vibrator motor performance has degraded during in-the-field use; and reporting a detected degradation of vibrator motor performance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A mobile communications device comprising:
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a vibrator motor; mechanical measurement circuitry coupled to the vibrator motor; control circuitry coupled to the mechanical measurement circuitry, the control circuitry is to sample a data output of the mechanical measurement circuitry while the vibrator motor is running, the control circuitry to analyze the sampled output data to detect vibration caused by the running motor and to determine a speed of the vibrator motor, the control circuitry is further to analyze stored speeds of the vibrator motor to detect when vibrator motor performance has degraded during in-the-field use, and then to report the degradation of vibrator motor performance; and a non-volatile memory, coupled to the control circuitry, to store the determined speed of the vibrator motor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions which, when executed by a processor in a mobile communications device, perform a method, comprising; during a vibration event, using a motion sensor that is integrated within the mobile communications device to measure vibration from a vibrator motor causing the event; computing a speed of the vibrator motor based on the measured vibration from the vibrator motor and then storing the computed speed within a non-volatile memory of the mobile communications device; analyzing stored speeds of the vibrator motor to detect when vibrator motor performance has degraded during in-the-field use; and based upon analyzation, sending a notification of the degradation of vibrator motor performance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method within a mobile communications device, comprising:
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during a vibration event, using a motion sensor that is integrated within the mobile communications device to measure resonance from a linear vibrator motor causing the event; and using the measured resonance to control a frequency of a drive motor of the linear vibrator. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification