Handheld device force induction

• US 8,901,783 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gregory, Sherman A., Renschler, Martin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addison, Karen B
• Application Number:
  US12/862,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20120049659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12, 310/14, 310/17, 310/19, 310/15, 310/12.01, 310/12.06, 310/12.22, 310/12.27, 310/12.24, 310/339, 310/338, 310/311, 310/319, 318/135, 318/119, 318/115, 318/686, 345156-173
• US Class Current: 310/12.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/00 Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with motors H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

Techniques for providing directional force induction in a handheld device for use in, e.g., personal navigation applications. In an exemplary embodiment, a magnetic element is provided on a mechanical support fixedly attached to a chassis of the handheld device. One or more conducting coils surround the support. Current is generated in the one or more conducting coils to accelerate the magnetic element relative to the support, causing a tactilely perceptible force to a user of the handheld device due to the recoil of the chassis from the movement of the magnetic element. In an exemplary embodiment, passive movement of the magnetic element due to, e.g., physical jostling of the handheld device, may be used to deliver energy back to the system for energy harvesting.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

a fixed support coupled to the chassis, the support having a first axis;

a magnetic element movable relative to the support along the first axis;

at least one conducting coil surrounding the first axis; and

a current control block configured to generate current through the at least one conducting coil according to a current profile, the current profile designed to move the magnetic element along the first axis such that, over at least one cycle, the maximum acceleration of the magnetic element in one direction along the first axis is greater than the maximum acceleration of the magnetic element in the other direction along the first axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handheld device, the chassis forming a chassis of the handheld device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the handheld device comprising a mobile phone.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, the handheld device comprising a personal navigation device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one conducting coil comprising a plurality of coils, the current control block configured to separately generate current profiles for each of the plurality of coils to move the magnetic element along the first axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the current control block comprising an active current generation block comprising:

a logic control unit for generating a magnitude and sign of a current desired to be present in the at least one coil; and

a digital-to-analog converter for converting the output of the logic control unit to an analog current.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the current control block comprising:

an active current generation block for generating the current profile;

a passive energy harvesting block for harvesting energy from a current present in the at least one coil to charge a re-chargeable energy source; and

a switching element selectively coupling the at least one coil to the active current generation block and the passive energy harvesting block.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one spring, a first end of the at least one spring fixedly coupled to the fixed support, a second end of the spring coupled to the magnetic element.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one auxiliary magnet positioned along the fixed support, the at least one auxiliary magnet configured to repel a closer end of the magnetic element within the fixed support.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the fixed support comprising a tube, the magnetic element provided within the interior of the tube for movement along a longitudinal axis of the tube.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

a fixed support coupled to the chassis, the support having a first axis;

a magnetic element movable relative to the support along the first axis;

at least one conducting coil surrounding the first axis; and

means for generating a current in the at least one conducting coil according to a current profile, the current profile designed to move the magnetic element along the first axis such that, over at least one cycle, the maximum acceleration of the magnetic element in one direction along the first axis is greater than the maximum acceleration of the magnetic element in the other direction along the first axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a handheld device, the chassis forming a chassis of the handheld device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the handheld device comprising a mobile phone.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, the handheld device comprising a personal navigation device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, the at least one conducting coil comprising a plurality of coils, the means for generating a current configured to separately generate current profiles for each of the plurality of coils to move the magnetic element along the first axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, the means for generating a current further comprising an active current generation block comprising:

means for generating a magnitude and sign of a current desired to be present in the at least one coil; and

means for converting the output of the means for generating a magnitude and sign to an analog current.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, the current control block comprising:

means for generating the current profile;

means for harvesting energy from a current present in the at least one coil to charge a rechargeable energy source; and

means for selectively coupling the at least one coil to the means for generating the current profile and the means for harvesting energy.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one spring, a first end of the at least one spring fixedly coupled to the fixed support, a second end of the spring coupled to the magnetic element.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one auxiliary magnet positioned along the fixed support, the at least one auxiliary magnet configured to repel a closer end of the magnetic element within the fixed support.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, the fixed support comprising a tube, the magnetic element provided within the interior of the tube for movement along a longitudinal axis of the tube.