Self Adapting Haptic Device

• US 20200027320A1
• Filed: 09/26/2019
• Published: 01/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hill, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 11,043,088 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: 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An electronic device, comprising:

a haptic device;

a capacitive screen sensor; and

a processor configured to;

receive an output of the capacitive screen sensor;

identify, using the output of the capacitive screen sensor, a contact with the electronic device;

adjust a user alert in response to the identified contact; and

actuate at least the haptic device to provide the user alert.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein adjusting the user alert comprises adjusting operation of the haptic device.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine, using the output of the capacitive screen sensor, whether the contact is a user contact or a non-user contact;

wherein,

the operation of the haptic device is adjusted,

in a first manner when the contact is the user contact; and

in a second manner, different from the first manner, when the contact is the non-user contact.

24. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine, using the output of the capacitive screen sensor, an amount of the contact;

wherein,

the operation of the haptic device is adjusted,

in a first manner when the contact is a first amount; and

in a second manner, different from the first manner, when the contact is a second amount.

25. The electronic device of claim 22, further comprising:

a second sensor configured to measure a parameter of an operating environment of the electronic device;

wherein,

the processor is configured to;

compare the measurement of the parameter of the operating environment to a reference value for the parameter of the operating environment; and

determine, using the identified contact and a result of the comparison, an operating environment of the electronic device;

wherein,

the operation of the haptic device is adjusted at least partly in response to the determined operating environment of the electronic device.

26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the second sensor comprises an ambient light sensor.

27. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine, using the output of the capacitive screen sensor, whether the contact is a user contact or a non-user contact;

wherein,

the user alert is adjusted,

in a first manner when the contact is the user contact; and

in a second manner, different from the first manner, when the contact is the non-user contact.

28. The electronic device of claim 21, further comprising:

a speaker;

wherein,

adjusting the user alert comprises adjusting a volume of the speaker; and

the processor is configured to;

actuate the speaker at the adjusted volume to provide the user alert.

29. An electronic device, comprising:

a haptic device;

an infrared (IR) sensor configured to emit IR light, detect a reflection of the emitted IR light, and generate an indication of the detected IR light; and

a processor configured to;

receive the indication of the detected IR light;

determine, using the indication of the detected IR light, a proximity of a user to the electronic device; and

adjust operation of the haptic device at least partly in response to the determination.

30. The electronic device of claim 29, further comprising:

a second sensor configured to measure a parameter of an operating environment of the electronic device;

wherein,

the processor is configured to,

compare the measurement of the parameter of the operating environment to a reference value for the parameter of the operating environment; and

determine, using the indication of the detected IR light and a result of the comparison, an operating environment of the electronic device using;

wherein,

the operation of the haptic device is adjusted at least partly in response to the determined operating environment of the electronic device.

31. The electronic device of claim 30, wherein the second sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor, a temperature sensor, or a pressure sensor.

32. The electronic device of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to adjust operation of the haptic device by adjusting a frequency of vibration produced by the haptic device.

33. The electronic device of claim 29, wherein the haptic device comprises a motor configured to control a vibration output.

34. An electronic device, comprising:

a set of haptic devices;

at least one sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of the haptic device, while at least one haptic device in the set of haptic devices is providing haptic feedback; and

a processor configured to;

identify, using at least one measurement of the operating parameter received from the at least one sensor, a portion of the device in contact with an object; and

adjust operation of the set of haptic devices at least partly in response to the identification.

35. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein adjusting operation of the set of haptic devices comprises selectively actuating at least one of the set of haptic devices.

36. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the operating parameter of the haptic device is a vibration output of the haptic device, and the measurements of the operating parameter are frequency measurements.

37. The electronic device of claim 36, wherein the set of sensors comprises an accelerometer that measures a frequency of the vibration output.

38. The electronic device of claim 36, wherein:

each haptic device comprises a motor configured to control the vibration output; and

the processor is operable to adjust operation of the haptic device by determining a control signal to apply to the motor.

39. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the set of haptic devices comprises multiple haptic devices positioned at different locations under a user-facing side of the electronic device.

40. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the haptic device comprises a motor configured to control a vibration output.