ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND VIBRATING METHOD

• US 20130261811A1
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: YAGI, Takeshi, SANADA, Satoru
• Application Number:
  US13/909,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261811A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/280
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 19/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

A portable terminal apparatus (electronic apparatus) includes a plurality of vibration devices, disposed at different positions, which generate vibrations, and a control unit that independently controls frequencies or strengths of the vibrations generated by the plurality of vibration devices for each of the vibration devices.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a plurality of vibrators, disposed at different positions, which generate vibrations; and

a control unit that independently controls frequencies or strengths of the vibrations generated by the plurality of vibrators for each of the vibrators.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes at least two of the vibrators to vibrate simultaneously, and independently controls the frequency or strength of the vibration generated by each of the vibrators which are caused to vibrate.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes control of the frequency or strength of the vibration generated by each of the vibrators in accordance with a notification event to a user.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes one vibrator to vibrate when the notification event to a user is a first notification event, and causes a plurality of the vibrators to vibrate simultaneously when the notification event to a user is a second notification event different from the first notification event.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a difference between the frequencies of the vibrators which are caused to vibrate simultaneously, in accordance with the notification event to a user.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes two or more of the vibrators to vibrate simultaneously, and changes a ratio of strength of the vibration generated by each of the vibrators together with time.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus has a structure having different resonance frequencies depending on location, and

the control unit causes the vibrators to vibrate at a resonance frequency depending on a desired location.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the vibrators having a number smaller than the number of vibrators are caused to vibrate, the control unit changes a combination of the vibrators which are caused to vibrate.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

an input unit that inputs a vibration pattern, indicating a vibrator which is caused to vibrate and frequency or strength at which the vibrator is caused to vibrate, for each notification event to a user; and

a storage unit that stores the vibration pattern which is input by the input unit in association with the notification event to a user.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the vibrator is a linear vibration actuator.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a sensor that detects a position and a posture of the apparatus,

wherein the control unit generates a vibration indicating a traveling direction from the position of the apparatus in accordance with the posture detected by the sensor.

12. A vibrating method comprising a step of causing an electronic apparatus including a plurality of vibrators, disposed at different positions, which generate vibrations to independently control frequencies or strengths of the vibrations generated by the plurality of vibrators for each of the vibrators.