PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING A TACTILE VIBRATOR

• US 20160023245A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moss Holding Company (Moss Acquisition Co.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zadesky, Stephen P., Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Lynch, Stephen B., Auclair, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,603,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02133 by using induced vibration of the blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/06 operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0603 using a piezoelectric bender, e.g. bimorph
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/122 using piezoelectric driving means G10K9/121 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/043 Mechanical transmission means, e.g. for stroke amplification
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/00 Piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N39/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2041 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2047 Membrane type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/852 Composite materials, e.g. having 1-3 or 2-2 type connectivity

Abstract

Examples of portable electronic devices including a piezo actuated vibrator for providing tactile feedback to the user are described. Portable electronic devices according to the present disclosure may include tactile feedback devices, which may be driven by a piezoelectric actuator/vibrator that is operatively coupled to or embedded into the housing of a portable electronic device. In some examples, the housing of the electronic device itself can be made of piezoelectric ceramic material. The piezoelectric element may be coupled to the housing of the product to cause the housing to deflect and/or vibrate. In some examples, the housing of the portable electronic device, which may be a portable media player device, may be configured for placement directly or indirectly in contact with the user'"'"'s skin such that vibrations of the housing may be felt directly (without audible feedback) by the user.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing; and

a vibrator assembly, including;

a first diaphragm coupled to the housing and a second diaphragm opposite and spaced apart from the first diaphragm; and

a piezoelectric element spaced apart from and coupled to the first and second diaphragms and configured to cause the first and second diaphragms to vibrate simultaneously.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first diaphragm has a first thickness and the second diaphragm has a second thickness different than the first thickness.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first diaphragm and second diaphragm are configured to produce first and second vibrations, respectively, in response to a load applied by the piezoelectric element, wherein a frequency or magnitude of the first vibrations is different than a frequency or magnitude of the second vibrations.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein vibrations of at least one of the first or second diaphragms are inaudible to a user of the portable electronic device.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or the second diaphragms is configured to amplify the vibration of the other one of the first or second diaphragms.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second diaphragms is enclosed within the housing.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the first or second diaphragms enclosed within the housing is configured to generate sound.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a strap for securing the portable electronic device to a body part of a user.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the vibrator assembly further includes a linkage assembly for amplifying a stroke of the piezoelectric element.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing; and

a vibrator assembly, including;

a diaphragm coupled to the housing; and

a piezoelectric element coupled to the housing and the diaphragm and configured to cause the diaphragm to vibrate to selectively produce one or both of a tactile output and an audio output, wherein the piezoelectric element is spaced apart from the diaphragm with a cavity defined therebetween.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric element is coupled to the diaphragm using at least one connector attached to one or more ends of the piezoelectric element.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one connector is rigidly attached to an end of the piezoelectric element.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one connector is a pair of lever arms coupled to opposite ends of the piezoelectric element and further coupled to the diaphragm at first and second locations spaced apart from one another.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric element is cantilevered from a portion of the housing.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein a shape of the diaphragm corresponds to a shape of an existing feature of the housing.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a sound generating component configured to provide a noise cancellation signal for canceling sound produced by the diaphragm.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to be attached to a body part of a user, and wherein the vibrator is further configured to detect a pulse or a heartbeat of the user.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to be attached to a body part of a user, the housing further comprising exterior features configured to maintain a gap between the diaphragm and the body part of the user when the portable electronic device is worn by the user.

19. A portable electronic device adapted to be worn by a user, the product comprising:

a housing made from a ceramic material, at least of portion of said ceramic material being piezoceramic material, the piezoceramic material being operatively coupled to circuitry enclosed within the housing and configured to drive the piezoceramic material to cause a portion of the housing to deflect.

20. The portable electronic device of 18, wherein the portion of the housing includes a curved exterior surface configured for placement against the skin of the user.

21. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing including an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a piezoelectric material embedded between at least a portion of the interior surface of the housing and the exterior surface of the housing, the piezoelectric material being arranged such that an axis of elongation of the piezoelectric material is perpendicular to at least one of the interior surface or the exterior surface of the housing.