METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HAPTIC FEEDBACKS FOR ELECTRONIC APPARATUSES

• US 20180059794A1
• Filed: 08/30/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: NAKAMURA, FUSANOBU, YAMAZAKI, MITSUHIRO, NAGASHIMA, ATSUSHI, YAMAMURA, KAZUNORI
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/00 Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with motors H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/02 with armatures moved one way by energisation of a single coil system and returned by mechanical force, e.g. by springs
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/061 using rotary unbalanced masses for generating mechanical vibrations in general B06B1/16

Abstract

A haptic actuator for generating haptic feedbacks to provide perceptions of different characteristics is provided. The haptic actuator includes a vibration mechanism and a striking mechanism. The vibration mechanism, in response to a receipt of a predetermined electric power, applies a steady vibration to a vibrating body. The striking mechanism, in response to the receipt of an electric power larger than the predetermined electric power, strikes the vibrating body in order to provide a haptic feedback to the vibrating body. The haptic actuator is able to apply a vibration according to the vibration mechanism and a vibration according to the striking mechanism to the vibrating body.

Claims

1. A haptic actuator, comprising:

a vibration mechanism, in response to a receipt of a predetermined electrical power, applies a steady vibration to a vibrating body; and

a striking mechanism, in response to a receipt of an electrical power larger than said predetermined electric power, strikes said vibrating body.

2. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein said vibration mechanism includes

a coil;

a magnet for providing a magnetic field around said coil; and

a movable element for performing a reciprocating operation in directions along an axis of vibration, in response to an application of a first driving voltage to said coil.

3. The haptic actuator of claim 2, wherein said striking mechanism strikes said vibrating body as said striking mechanism is displaced in conjunction with an operation of said movable element responsive to an application of a second driving voltage larger than said first driving voltage to said coil.

4. The haptic actuator of claim 3, wherein said striking mechanism is displaced in a direction different from said directions along said axis of vibration.

5. The haptic actuator of claim 3, wherein said striking mechanism is displaced in one of the directions along said axis of vibration.

6. The haptic actuator of claim 3, wherein said striking mechanism is disposed on both sides of said movable element in the directions along said axis of vibration.

7. The haptic actuator of claim 3, further comprising a return mechanism for causing said striking mechanism to return to a home position after said application of said second driving voltage has stopped.

8. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein said vibration mechanism includes

a coil;

a magnet for forming a magnetic field around said coil; and

an eccentric weight that rotates at a prescribed rotational speed in response to an application of a first driving voltage to said coil.

9. The haptic actuator of claim 8, wherein said striking mechanism strikes said vibrating body as said striking mechanism is displaced in conjunction with a rotation of said eccentric weight responsive to an application of a second driving voltage larger than said first driving voltage to said coil.

10. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein said vibration mechanism includes

a coil;

a magnet for forming a magnetic field around said coil; and

an eccentric weight that rotates bidirectionally through a prescribed rotation angle in response to an application of a first driving voltage to said coil.

11. The haptic actuator of claim 10, wherein said striking mechanism strikes said vibrating body as said striking mechanism is displaced in conjunction with a displacement of said eccentric weight responsive to an application of a second driving voltage larger than said first driving voltage to said coil.

12. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a chassis;

a vibrating body; and

a haptic actuator having

a vibration mechanism, in response to a receipt of a predetermined electric power, applies a steady vibration to said vibrating body; and

a striking mechanism, in response to a receipt of an electric power larger than said predetermined electric power, strikes said vibrating body.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein

said vibrating body is a touch screen;

said vibration mechanism applies a vibration in in-plane directions to said touch screen; and

said striking mechanism applies a vibration in up-and-down directions to said touch screen.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an elastic member through which said touch screen is attached to said chassis in order to allow said touch screen to vibrate in said in-plane directions.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 13, wherein

said vibrating body includes said chassis;

said vibrating body applies a vibration in said in-plane directions to said touch screen; and

said striking mechanism applies a vibration in said up-and-down directions to said chassis.

16. A method comprising:

supplying a predetermined electric power to an haptic actuator to cause a movable element to vibrate;

causing said vibrating body to steadily vibrate with vibrations of said movable element;

supplying an electric power larger than said predetermined electric power to said haptic actuator to cause said movable element to be displaced; and

striking said vibrating body with a hammer operating in conjunction with a displacement of said movable element.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a time for supplying said electric power larger than said predetermined electric power is shorter than a time for supplying said predetermined electric power.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein directions of said steady vibration of said vibrating body differ from directions of a vibration caused by said striking.