Use of an accelerometer to control vibrator performance

• US 8,084,968 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murray, Matthew J., Eaton, William Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDA, RINA I
• Application Number:
  US11/856,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20090072768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 318/461, 318/114, 318/600
• US Class Current: 318/114
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/16 operating with systems involving rotary unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• 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: H02P 7/2855 whereby the speed is regulated by measuring the motor speed and comparing it with a given physical value

Abstract

A mobile device includes a vibrator, an accelerometer that senses a parameter of rotation, and a processor. The vibrator includes a drive motor and a drive circuit. The accelerometer senses a speed of rotation of the vibrator. The processor analyzes the sensed speed of rotation and generates a drive voltage that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive motor to produce a pre-determined, desired rotational speed. In another embodiment, the accelerometer senses an amplitude of a vibration produced by the vibrator. The processor analyzes the sensed amplitude of a vibration and generates a drive voltage that is received by the drive circuit to adjust the drive motor to produce a pre-determined, desired vibration amplitude. The processor may also compare the sensed parameter with a pre-determined desired parameter of rotation and generate a signal responsive to a result of the comparison and based on stored vibrator calibration curves.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a vibrator, the vibrator including a drive motor and a drive circuit;

an accelerometer, the accelerometer sensing a speed of rotation of the vibrator; and

a processor configured for;

obtaining, from a vibrator calibration profile, a drive voltage corresponding to a desired rotational speed, wherein the vibrator calibration profile is a profile of voltages versus rotational speeds for the vibrator;

delivering the drive voltage to the drive circuit to produce the desired rotational speed of the vibrator;

receiving, from the accelerometer, the sensed speed of rotation of the vibrator;

comparing the sensed speed of rotation with the desired rotational speed;

in response to determining the sensed speed of rotation is different from the desired rotational speed, obtaining a correction drive voltage from the vibrator calibration profile; and

delivering the correction drive voltage to the drive circuit to adjust a current rotational speed of the vibrator to produce the desired rotational speed, wherein the correction drive voltage increases or reduces the drive voltage.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for revising the vibrator calibration profile so that the drive voltage now corresponds to the sensed speed of rotation.

4. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer continually senses the speed of rotation of the vibrator and in response, the processor obtains and delivers the drive voltage to control the drive circuit and maintain the vibrator at the desired rotational speed.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer senses an amplitude of a vibration produced by the vibrator, the processor configured for:

obtaining, from a second vibrator calibration profile, a second drive voltage corresponding to a desired vibration amplitude, wherein the second vibrator calibration profile is a profile of voltages versus vibration amplitudes;

delivering the second drive voltage to the drive circuit to produce the desired vibration amplitude; and

receiving, from the accelerometer, the sensed vibration amplitude of the vibrator.

6. The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured for:

comparing the sensed vibration amplitude with the desired vibration amplitude;

in response to determining the sensed vibration amplitude is different from the desired vibration amplitude, obtaining a second correction drive voltage from the second vibrator calibration profile; and

delivering the second correction drive voltage to the drive circuit to adjust a current vibration amplitude to produce the desired vibration amplitude, wherein the second correction drive voltage increases or reduces the second drive voltage.

7. The mobile device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured for:

revising the second vibrator calibration profile so that the second drive voltage now corresponds to the sensed vibration amplitude.

8. The mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the accelerometer continually senses the amplitude of the vibration of the vibrator and in response, the processor obtains and delivers the second drive voltage to control the drive circuit and maintain the drive motor at the desired vibration amplitude.

9. A method for controlling a vibrator in a mobile device comprising:

obtaining, from a vibrator calibration profile, a drive voltage corresponding to a desired rotational speed, wherein the vibrator calibration profile is a profile of voltages versus rotational speeds for the vibrator;

delivering the drive voltage to a drive circuit associated with the vibrator to produce the desired rotational speed of the vibrator;

receiving, from an accelerometer, a sensed speed of rotation of the vibrator;

comparing the sensed speed of rotation with the desired rotational speed;

in response to determining the sensed speed of rotation is different from the desired rotational speed, obtaining a correction drive voltage from the vibrator calibration profile; and

delivering the correction drive voltage to control the vibrator to adjust a current rotational speed of the vibrator to produce the desired rotational speed, wherein the correction drive voltage increases or reduces the drive voltage.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising sensing the speed of rotation using the accelerometer.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising revising the vibrator calibration profile so that the drive voltage now corresponds to the sensed speed of rotation.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising

obtaining, from a second vibrator calibration profile, a second drive voltage corresponding to a desired vibration amplitude, wherein the second vibrator calibration profile is a profile of voltages versus vibration amplitudes;

delivering the second drive voltage to the drive circuit to produce the desired vibration amplitude;

receiving, from the accelerometer, the sensed vibration amplitude of the vibrator

comparing the sensed vibration amplitude with the desired vibration amplitude;

in response to determining the sensed vibration amplitude is different from the desired vibration amplitude, obtaining a second correction drive voltage from the second vibrator calibration profile; and

delivering the second correction drive voltage to the drive circuit to adjust a current vibration amplitude to produce the desired vibration amplitude, wherein the second correction drive voltage increases or reduces the second drive voltage.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising revising the second vibrator calibration profile so that the drive voltage now corresponds to the sensed vibration amplitude.

14. A mobile device comprising:

a vibrator, the vibrator including a drive motor and a drive circuit;

a sensor, the sensor sensing an amplitude of vibration of the vibrator; and

a processor configured for;

obtaining, from a vibrator calibration profile, a drive voltage corresponding to a desired vibration amplitude, wherein the vibrator calibration profile is a profile of voltages versus vibration amplitudes;

delivering the drive voltage to the drive circuit to produce the desired vibration amplitude;

receiving, from the sensor, the sensed vibration amplitude of the vibrator;

comparing the sensed vibration amplitude with the desired vibration amplitude;

in response to determining the sensed vibration amplitude is different from the desired vibration amplitude, obtaining a correction drive voltage from the vibrator calibration profile; and

delivering the correction drive voltage to the drive circuit to adjust a current vibration amplitude to produce the desired vibration amplitude, wherein the correction drive voltage increases or reduces the drive voltage.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured for:

revising the vibrator calibration profile so that the drive voltage now corresponds to the sensed vibration amplitude.