Synchronized vibration device for haptic feedback
First Claim
1. A vibration device adapted to produce haptic sensations, 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 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 the base member, and the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the second actuator; and
means for modified synchronization of vibration of at least the first and second ones of the plurality of actuators, wherein the second actuator vibrates at a frequency that is an integer multiple of the vibration frequency of the first actuator, the value of the integer being greater than one;
wherein vibrations from the first and second actuators are superimposed to produce a combined force vector Fcombined according to the following equation;
Fcombined=a1A1+a2A2,where a1 and a2 are unit vectors aligned with corresponding directions of the first actuator and the second actuator, respectively;
wherein the combined force vector Fcombined is controlled by modifying amplitudes of vibration of the first and second actuators when repeated superposition of peak amplitudes occur.
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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.
142 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A vibration device adapted to produce haptic sensations, 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 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 the base member, and the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the second actuator; and means for modified synchronization of vibration of at least the first and second ones of the plurality of actuators, wherein the second actuator vibrates at a frequency that is an integer multiple of the vibration frequency of the first actuator, the value of the integer being greater than one; wherein vibrations from the first and second actuators are superimposed to produce a combined force vector Fcombined according to the following equation;
Fcombined=a1A1+a2A2,where a1 and a2 are unit vectors aligned with corresponding directions of the first actuator and the second actuator, respectively; wherein the combined force vector Fcombined is controlled by modifying amplitudes of vibration of the first and second actuators when repeated superposition of peak amplitudes occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. 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 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 the base member, and the second member thereof being moveable relative to the first member of the second actuator; means for synchronously vibrating the first and second actuators, wherein the second actuator the means for synchronously vibrating is configured to vibrate the second actuator at a frequency that is an integer multiple of a vibration frequency of the first actuator, the value of the integer being greater than one; and means for exciting the first and second actuators at a resonant frequency; wherein vibrations from the first and second actuators are superimposed to produce a combined force vector Fcombined according to the following equation;
Fcombined=a1A1+a2A2,where a1 and a2 are unit vectors aligned with corresponding directions of the first actuator and the second actuator, respectively; wherein the combined force vector Fcombined is controlled by modifying amplitudes of vibration of the first and second actuators when repeated superposition of peak amplitudes occur. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vibratory control system, comprising:
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a plurality of actuators coupled to a base, the plurality of actuators including at least first and second actuators; a first driver operatively coupled to the first actuator, the first driver being configured to provide a signal waveform having a first vibration frequency to the first actuator; a second driver being operatively coupled to the second actuator, the second driver being configured to provide a signal waveform having a second vibration frequency to the second actuator; and a controller coupled to the plurality of drivers, the controller being configured to generate the signal waveforms for the first and second drivers and being operable to synchronously vibrate the first and second actuators to produce a pattern using the signal waveforms; wherein the second vibration frequency is an integer multiple of the first vibration frequency, the value of the integer being greater than one, and wherein vibrations from the first and second actuators are superimposed to produce a combined force vector Fcombined according to the following equation;
Fcombined=a1A1+a2A2,where a1 and a2 are unit vectors aligned with corresponding directions of the first actuator and the second actuator, respectively; wherein the combined force vector Fcombined is controlled by modifying amplitudes of vibration of the first and second actuators when repeated superposition of peak amplitudes occur. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A vibratory control system, comprising:
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a plurality of actuators coupled to a base, the plurality of actuators including at least first and second actuators; a first driver operatively coupled to the first actuator, the first driver being configured to provide a signal waveform having a first vibration frequency to the first actuator; a second driver being operatively coupled to the second actuator, the second driver being configured to provide a signal waveform having a second vibration frequency to the second actuator; and a controller coupled to the plurality of drivers, the controller being configured to generate the signal waveforms for the first and second actuators and being operable to synchronously vibrate the first and second actuators via the first and second drivers to generate a combined torque vibration on the base; wherein the second vibration frequency is an integer multiple of the first vibration frequency, the value of the integer being greater than one, and wherein vibrations from the first and second actuators are superimposed by the controller such that beginnings of cycles of vibration are controlled to occur at the same time according to the integer multiple to produce a combined force vector Fcombined according to the following equation;
Fcombined=a1A1+a2A2,where a1 and a2 are unit vectors aligned with corresponding directions of the first actuator and the second actuator, respectively; wherein the combined force vector Fcombined is controlled by modifying amplitudes of vibration of the first and second actuators when repeated superposition of peak amplitudes occur. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification