Envelope modulator for haptic feedback devices
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a reference oscillator configured to provide a reference signal having a frequency substantially similar to a resonant frequency of an actuator;
a controller configured to provide an envelope signal, wherein the envelope signal includes tactile information; and
an envelope modulator coupled to the reference oscillator and the controller, the envelope modulator configured to modulate the reference signal with the envelope signal to produce a modulated command signal, the envelope modulator being configured to provide an output signal, the output signal configured to drive the actuator to output a haptic effect based on the modulated command signal.
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Abstract
An amplitude modulator circuit includes a reference oscillator and an envelope modulator coupled to the reference oscillator for receiving a reference signal. A microcontroller is coupled to the envelope modulator for providing an envelope signal to the envelope modulator and a low pass filter is coupled to the envelope modulator for receiving a modulated command from the envelope modulator. An inverter is coupled to the low pass filter for receiving a low passed envelope modulated signal from the low pass filter and a transducer or amplifier is coupled to the inverter and the low pass filter for receiving an inverted low passed signal and the low passed envelope modulated signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a reference oscillator configured to provide a reference signal having a frequency substantially similar to a resonant frequency of an actuator; a controller configured to provide an envelope signal, wherein the envelope signal includes tactile information; and an envelope modulator coupled to the reference oscillator and the controller, the envelope modulator configured to modulate the reference signal with the envelope signal to produce a modulated command signal, the envelope modulator being configured to provide an output signal, the output signal configured to drive the actuator to output a haptic effect based on the modulated command signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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generating a reference signal having a frequency substantially similar to a resonant frequency of an actuator; generating an envelope signal from a microcontroller, wherein generating an envelope signal further includes providing tactile information; modulating the reference signal with the envelope signal to produce a modulated command signal; and providing an output signal based on the modulated command signal; and driving the actuator with the output signal to output a haptic effect. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a reference oscillator capable of generating a reference signal having a frequency substantially similar to a resonant frequency of an haptic actuator; a microcontroller configured to generate an envelope signal, which includes tactile information; an envelope modulator coupled to the reference oscillator and the microcontroller, wherein the envelope modulator is configured to generate a modulated command signal in response to the reference signal and the envelope signal; a low-pass filter coupled to the envelope modulator; and an inverter coupled to the low-pass filter and configured to drive the haptic actuator in response to the modulated command signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification