Systems and methods for resonance detection

• US 8,156,809 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Tierling, Kollin M., Grant, Danny A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, ROSE MARY
• Application Number:
  US12/057,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 735/79
• US Class Current: 73/579
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 13/00 Measuring resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

Systems and methods for resonance detection are disclosed. For example, one method for resonance detection includes the step of transmitting an actuator signal to an actuator coupled to a surface of a device. The actuator signal is configured to cause the actuator to output a force to the surface. The method further includes the steps of receiving a response of the surface to the force; determining a resonant frequency of the surface based at least in part on the response; and outputting a signal indicative of the resonant frequency.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting an actuator signal to an actuator coupled to a touch surface of a device, the actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a force to the touch surface;

receiving a response of the touch surface to the force;

determining a resonant frequency of the touch surface based at least in part on the response, wherein the resonant frequency of the touch surface is based in part on user interaction with the touch surface; and

outputting a signal indicative of the resonant frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the resonant frequency comprises a fundamental frequency of the touch surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the force comprises a frequency and a duration.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the frequency increases during the duration.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting at least one selected frequency, and wherein the force comprises substantially only the at least one selected frequency.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one selected frequency comprises a plurality of selected frequencies, and wherein transmitting the actuator signal further comprises transmitting a plurality of actuator signals, each actuator signal comprising at least one of the selected frequencies, and transmitting each of the plurality of actuator signals to the actuator in succession.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining which of the selected frequencies is approximately the resonant frequency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is configured to generate a voltage in based at least in part on the response of the touch surface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the response comprises measuring the magnitude of the response.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the resonant frequency of the surface comprises:

determining a maximum magnitude of the response; and

determining the frequency of the response at the maximum magnitude.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for calibration.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a plurality of resonant frequencies, and outputting the plurality of resonant frequencies, wherein the plurality of resonant frequencies are associated with an object contacting with the surface.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal from a sensor indicating a contact with the touch surface, and wherein transmitting the actuator signal, receiving the response, and determining the resonant frequency occur during the contact with the touch surface.

15. A system comprising:

an actuator coupled to a touch surface of a device, the actuator configured to receive an actuator signal and to output a force to the surface;

a sensor configured to detect a response of the touch surface to the force and to transmit a sensor signal associated with the response;

a processor configured to;

transmit the actuator signal;

receive the sensor signal;

determine a resonant frequency of the touch surface based at least in part on the sensor signal, wherein the resonant frequency of the touch surface is based in part on user interaction with the touch surface; and

output a signal indicative of the resonant frequency.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the resonant frequency comprises a fundamental frequency of the touch surface.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the force comprises a frequency and a duration.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the frequency increases during the duration.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the force comprises substantially only a selected frequency.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the selected frequency comprises a plurality of selected frequencies, and wherein the actuator signal comprises a plurality of actuator signals, each actuator signal comprising at least one of the selected frequencies and transmitted to the actuator in succession.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to determine which one of the selected frequencies is approximately the resonant frequency.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is configured to generate a voltage in based at least in part on the response of the touch surface.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a magnitude of the response.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the resonant frequency of the surface by determining a maximum magnitude of the response, and determining the frequency of the response at the maximum magnitude.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request for calibration.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a plurality of resonant frequencies, wherein the plurality of resonant frequencies are associated with an object contacting with the touch surface.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the actuator signal, receive the sensor signal, and determine a resonant frequency of the touch surface based at least in part on the sensor signal, during a contact with the touch surface.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, comprising:

program code for transmitting an actuator signal to an actuator coupled to a touch surface of a device, the actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a force;

program code for receiving a response of the surface to the force;

program code for determining a resonant frequency of the touch surface based at least in part on the response, wherein the resonant frequency of the touch surface is based in part on user interaction with the touch surface; and

program code for outputting a signal indicative of the resonant frequency.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the resonant frequency comprises the fundamental frequency of the touch surface.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the force comprises a frequency and a duration.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the frequency increases during the duration.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising program code for selecting at least one selected frequency, and wherein the force comprises substantially only the selected frequency.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the selected frequency comprises a plurality of selected frequencies, and wherein transmitting the actuator signal further comprises transmitting a plurality of actuator signals, each actuator signal comprising at least one of the selected frequencies, and transmitting each of the plurality of actuator signals to the actuator in succession.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising program code to determine which of the selected frequencies is approximately the resonant frequency.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is configured to generate a voltage in based at least in part on the response of the touch surface.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein measuring the response comprises measuring the magnitude of the response.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein determining the resonant frequency of the surface comprises:

determining a maximum magnitude of the response, and

determining the frequency of the response at the maximum magnitude.

40. The method of claim 29, further comprising program code for receiving a signal from a sensor indicating a contact with the touch surface, and wherein the program code is configured to transmit the actuator signal, receive the response, and determine the resonant frequency during the contact.

41. An apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to transmit an actuator signal to an actuator coupled to a touch surface of a device, the actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a force to the touch surface;

circuitry configured to receive a response of the touch surface to the force;

a processor configured to determine a resonant frequency of the touch surface based at least in part on the response, wherein the resonant frequency of the touch surface is based in part on user interaction with the touch surface; and

circuitry configured to output a signal indicative of the resonant frequency.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the actuator signal, the circuitry is configured to receive the sensor signal, and the processor is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the touch surface based at least in part on the sensor signal, during a contact with the touch surface.