Synchronized vibration device for haptic feedback
First Claim
1. A vibration device, comprising:
- a base member;
a plurality of actuators being coupled to the base member and including;
a first actuator having a first member and a second member, the first member thereof being operatively coupled to a first portion of the base member, and the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the first actuator, anda second actuator having a first member and a second member, the first member thereof being operatively coupled to a second portion of the base member, and the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the second actuator; and
means for synchronously vibrating at least the first and second ones of the plurality of actuators;
wherein the plurality of actuators further includes a third actuator having a first member and a second member, the first member thereof being coupled to a third portion of the base member, the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the third actuator, and the first, second and third actuators being oriented such that the vibration device is operable to generate a three dimensional combined vibration force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to synchronized vibration devices that can provide haptic feedback to a user. A wide variety of actuator types may be employed to provide synchronized vibration, including linear actuators, rotary actuators, rotating eccentric mass actuators, and rocking mass actuators. A controller may send signals to one or more driver circuits for directing operation of the actuators. The controller may provide direction and amplitude control, vibration control, and frequency control to direct the haptic experience. Parameters such as frequency, phase, amplitude, duration, and direction can be programmed or input as different patterns suitable for use in gaming, virtual reality and real-world situations.
173 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A vibration device, comprising:
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a base member; a plurality of actuators being coupled to the base member and including; a first actuator having a first member and a second member, the first member thereof being operatively coupled to a first portion of the base member, and the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the first actuator, and a second actuator having a first member and a second member, the first member thereof being operatively coupled to a second portion of the base member, and the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the second actuator; and means for synchronously vibrating at least the first and second ones of the plurality of actuators; wherein the plurality of actuators further includes a third actuator having a first member and a second member, the first member thereof being coupled to a third portion of the base member, the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the third actuator, and the first, second and third actuators being oriented such that the vibration device is operable to generate a three dimensional combined vibration force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vibration device, comprising:
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a base member; a first actuator operatively attached to the base member, the first actuator being operable to generate a first vibration force having a first frequency of vibration and a first magnitude of vibration associated therewith, the first actuator being further operable to impart the first vibration force to the base member; a second actuator operatively attached to the base member, the second actuator being operable to generate a second vibration force having a second frequency of vibration and a second magnitude of vibration associated therewith, the second actuator being further operable to impart the second vibration force to the base member; means for controlling the first and second actuators so that the first frequency of vibration is substantially identical to the second frequency of vibration; means for independently modulating the magnitudes of the first and second vibration forces to control a direction of a combined vibration force applied onto the base member, wherein the combined vibration force is a vector sum of the first and second vibration forces; and means for controlling timing of vibrations of the first and second actuators so that peaks of the magnitudes of the first and second vibration forces occur substantially concurrently. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A vibration device, comprising:
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a base member; a first actuator operatively attached to the base member and having a member moveable relative to the base, the first actuator being operable to apply a first force onto the base member; a second actuator operatively attached to the base member and having a member moveable relative to the base, the second actuator being operable to apply a second force onto the base member; means for controlling timing of the first and second actuators such that the moveable member of each of the first and second actuators repeatedly reverses direction of motion relative to the base member at substantially the same time; and means for independently modulating magnitudes of the first and second forces to control a direction of a combined force applied onto the base member, wherein the combined force is a vector sum of the first and second forces. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A vibration device, comprising:
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a base member; a first actuator operatively attached to the base member and having a member moveable relative to the base, the first actuator being operable to apply a first force onto the base member; a second actuator operatively attached to the base member and having a member moveable relative to the base, the second actuator being operable to apply a second force onto the base member; and means for controlling timing of the first and second actuators such that the moveable member of each of the first and second actuators repeatedly reverses direction of motion relative to the base member at substantially the same time; and means for independently modulating magnitudes of the first and second forces to control a magnitude of a combined force applied onto the base member, wherein the combined force is a vector sum of the first and second forces. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method for operating a vibration device, comprising:
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providing a first actuator operable to generate a first vibration force having a first frequency of vibration and a first magnitude of vibration associated therewith, the first actuator being further operable to impart the first vibration force to a base member; providing a second actuator operable to generate a second vibration force having a second frequency of vibration and a second magnitude of vibration associated therewith, the second actuator being further operable to impart the second vibration force to the base member; controlling the first and second actuators so that the first frequency of vibration is substantially identical to the second frequency of vibration; independently modulating the magnitudes of the first and second vibration forces to control a direction of a combined vibration force applied onto the base member, wherein the combined vibration force is a vector sum of the first and second vibration forces; and controlling timing of vibrations of the first and second actuators so that peaks of the magnitudes of the first and second vibration forces occur substantially concurrently.
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35. A method of controlling a vibration device comprising:
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providing a first actuator having a member moveable relative to a base, the first actuator being operable to apply a first force onto the base member; providing a second actuator having a member moveable relative to the base, the second actuator being operable to apply a second force onto the base member; controlling timing of the first and second actuators such that the moveable member of each of the first and second actuators repeatedly reverses direction of motion relative to the base member at substantially the same time; and independently modulating magnitudes of the first and second forces to control a direction of a combined force applied onto the base member, wherein the combined force is a vector sum of the first and second forces.
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Specification