A Method for and a Communication Device Adapted to Modify the Shape of the Device

• US 20200137214A1
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Araujo, Jose, Andersson, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 10,841,416 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions

Abstract

A method and a communication device for changing the shape of a flexible communication device is suggested. The suggested method is initiated by recognizing a request for actuating a haptic effect on the communication device. At least one property associated with the requested haptic effect, and at least one property of the communication device, where the latter is being caused by the shape of the communication device, are determined. Based on the mentioned properties, a determination is made on whether conditions, specifying requirements for reproducing the haptic effect on the communication device, are met or not. In case the mentioned conditions are not met, a modification of the shape of the device is determined, such that after such a modification the conditions are met with respect to the mentioned properties.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method for changing the shape of a flexible communication device, the method comprising:

recognizing a request for actuating a haptic effect on the communication device;

determining at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect;

determining at least one property of the flexible communication device, the at least one property of the flexible communication device being caused by the shape of the flexible communication device;

determining, based on said at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and on said at least one property of the flexible communication device, whether conditions, specifying requirements for reproducing the haptic effect on the flexible communication device, are met or not; and

in case said conditions are not met, determining a modification of the shape of the device, such that said conditions are met with respect to said at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and said at least one property of the flexible communication device.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect is indicative of one or more of:

amplitude,

frequency,

duration, or

signal envelope.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one property of the flexible communication device is indicative of one or more of:

pressure actuated on the flexible communication device,

determined self-contact between surfaces of the flexible communication device,

a current shape of the flexible communication device, or

a current 3D pose of at least one of the parts of the flexible communication device.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one property of the flexible communication device is associated with a specific area of the flexible communication device.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the conditions are specified by considering a first threshold value with respect to the at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and a second threshold value with respect to the at least one property associated with the flexible communication device.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein the conditions are provided to the flexible communication device together with the haptic effect.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein said determining of the modification comprises controlling a modification of the shape based on any of the following criteria:

exceeding the distance between two surfaces of the flexible communication device,

minimizing the amount of energy required for the modification,

minimizing the modification perceived by a user of the flexible communication device, or

placing the shape of the flexible communication device into a predefined default shape.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the determining of the modification is applied on at least one selected area of the flexible communication device.

32. The method according to claim 24, further comprising executing the determined modification by instructing a user of the flexible communication device how to modify the shape of the flexible communication device.

33. A computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program, the computer program comprising executable instructions for causing a flexible communication device to:

recognize a request for actuating a haptic effect on the communication device;

determine at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect;

determine at least one property of the flexible communication device, the at least one property of the flexible communication device being caused by the shape of the flexible communication device;

determine, based on said at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and on said at least one property of the flexible communication device, whether conditions, specifying requirements for reproducing the haptic effect on the flexible communication device, are met or not; and

in case said conditions are not met, determine a modification of the shape of the device, such that said conditions are met with respect to said at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and said at least one property of the flexible communication device.

34. A flexible communication device capable of changing its shape in a controlled way, the flexible communication device comprising a processing circuitry and a memory, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

recognize a request for actuating a haptic effect on the communication device;

determine at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect;

determine at least one property of the flexible communication device, the at least one property of the flexible communication device being caused by the shape of the flexible communication device;

determine, based on said at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and on said at least one property of the flexible communication device, whether conditions, specifying requirements for reproducing the haptic effect on the flexible communication device, are met or not; and

in case said conditions are not met, determine a modification of the shape of the device, such that said conditions are met with respect to said at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and said at least one property of the flexible communication device.

35. The flexible communication device according to claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect which is indicative of one or more of:

amplitude,

frequency,

duration, or

signal envelope.

36. The flexible communication device according to claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine at least one property of the flexible communication device which is indicative of one or more of:

pressure actuated on the flexible communication device,

determined self-contact between surfaces of the flexible communication device;

a current shape of the flexible communication device, or

a current 3D pose of at least one of the parts of the flexible communication device.

37. The flexible communication device according to claim 36, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to consider at least one property of the flexible communication device when associated with a specific area of the flexible communication device.

38. The flexible communication device according to claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to specify the conditions by considering a first threshold value with respect to the at least one property associated with the requested haptic effect and a second threshold value with respect to the at least one property associated with the flexible communication device.

39. The flexible communication device according to claim 34, wherein the conditions are provided to the flexible communication device together with the haptic effect.

40. The flexible communication device according to claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the modification by controlling a modification of the shape based on any of the following criteria:

exceeding the distance between two surfaces of the flexible communication device,

minimizing the amount of energy required for the modification,

minimizing the modification perceived by a user of the flexible communication device, or

placing the shape of the flexible communication device into a predefined default shape.

41. The flexible communication device according to claim 40, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the modification on at least one selected area of the flexible communication device.

42. The flexible communication device according to claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the determined modification by instructing a user of the flexible communication device how to modify the shape of the flexible communication device.

43. The flexible communication device according to claim 42, wherein said instructions comprise at least one of:

audiovisual and haptic based instructions.