Self adapting haptic device

• US 8,860,562 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hill, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US13/943,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407, 340/514, 340/540, 340/541, 340/635, 340/638, 340/665, 340/10.2, 455/550.1, 455/567, 455/574, 455/575.3, 455/566
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• 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: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method for operating a haptic device including driving a haptic device using a control signal, measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device and comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency. A control signal is adjusted based on the comparison to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

Claims

1. A method for operating a haptic device comprising:

driving a haptic device using a control signal;

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying a control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of measuring the frequency comprises:

isolating a vibration signal of the haptic device;

finding a plurality of peaks in the vibration signal; and

determining a period of the vibration signal from the plurality of peaks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the haptic device comprises a motor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the control signal comprises modifying a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising repurposing a sensor upon actuation of the haptic device to take measurements related to the operation of the haptic device.

7. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, performs a method for operating a haptic device associated with the electronic device, the method comprising;

driving a haptic device using a control signal;

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying a control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein measuring the frequency comprises:

isolating a vibration signal of the haptic device;

finding a plurality of peaks in the vibration signal; and

determining a period of the vibration signal from the plurality of peaks.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the haptic device comprises a motor.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein modifying the control signal comprises modifying a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.

12. The device of claim 7, further comprising instructions for causing a sensor associated with the electronic device to take measurements related to the operation of the haptic device upon actuation of the haptic device.

13. A computer-readable storage medium encoding computer executable instructions which, when executed by at least on processor, performs a method for operating a haptic device associated with an electronic device, the method comprising:

driving a haptic device using a control signal;

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying a control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein measuring the frequency comprises:

isolating a vibration signal of the haptic device;

finding a plurality of peaks in the vibration signal; and

determining a period of the vibration signal from the plurality of peaks.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the haptic device comprises a motor.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein modifying the control signal comprises modifying a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for causing a sensor associated with the electronic device to take measurements related to the operation of the haptic device upon actuation of the haptic device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a phone and further wherein modifying a control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency occurs after a predetermined number of rings of the phone.