Modulation of haptic feedback

• US 9,019,088 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zawacki, Jennifer Greenwood, Kelso, Scott Edwards, Ramirez Flores, Axel, Locker, Howard, Nicholson, John Weldon, Hunt, John Miles
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/537,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1
• 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

Abstract

The subject disclosure is directed towards a technology by which a device includes one or more haptic feedback mechanisms that may be operated in a controlled manner to output amplitude-controlled vibrations. In one aspect, the vibrations from at least two haptic feedback mechanisms are combined, providing different amplitudes at different device locations. In one aspect, a haptic feedback mechanism outputs vibrations with a one amplitude in one state, and another, different amplitude in at least one other state, as controlled by the controller. The different states may correspond to different weights being driven at different times, and/or different positions of one or more weights.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a screen;

a plurality of haptic feedback mechanisms spaced about the screen at a plurality of locations; and

a controller which controllably operates each haptic feedback mechanism of the plurality of haptic feedback mechanisms to output a respective amplitude-controlled vibration at each location of the plurality of locations;

wherein at least one of the plurality of haptic feedback mechanisms comprises at least two weights and a motor operated by the controller, wherein the motor is operated by the controller to selectively output vibration at a first amplitude by rotating a first weight in a first state, and at a second amplitude different from the first amplitude by rotating the first weight and a second weight in a second state; and

wherein the device comprises an electromechanical mechanism operated by the controller, wherein the electromechanical mechanism is operated to couple the first weight and the second weight to one another for rotating both the first weight and the second weight in the second state.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the plurality of haptic feedback mechanisms to combine vibration from at least two haptic feedback mechanisms to provide vibration having different amplitudes at different locations on the screen.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls at least two haptic feedback mechanisms to combine vibration from each haptic feedback mechanism of the at least two haptic feedback mechanisms to provide vibration having different amplitudes at different times.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operates the motor in a first direction to rotate the first weight in the first state, and operates the motor in a second direction to rotate the first weight and a second weight in the second state.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical mechanism comprises a solenoid.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the motor is operated by the controller to output vibration at the first amplitude by rotating the first weight as moved into one position by the electromechanical mechanism, and to output vibration at the second, different amplitude by rotating the first weight as moved into another position by the electromechanical mechanism.

7. A device, comprising:

a display that comprises a plurality of locations;

at least one vibration producing mechanism juxtaposed at least adjacent to the display to produce a vibration at the display, the at least one vibration producing mechanism comprising at least a first weight, a second weight, and a motor;

a processor which operates the at least one vibration producing mechanism to produce a vibration, wherein the motor is operated by the processor to produce vibration at a first amplitude by rotating the first weight in a first instance, and wherein the motor is operated by the processor to produce vibration at a second amplitude different from the first amplitude by rotating the first weight and the second weight in a second instance; and

at least one element operable to couple the first weight and the second weight together for rotation of both the first weight and the second weight in the second instance.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor determines at least one vibration frequency.

9. The device of claim 7, comprising plural vibration producing mechanisms, wherein the processor operates the plural vibration producing mechanisms to output haptic feedback at each location of the plurality of locations, wherein vibration from a first vibration producing mechanism add to and subtract from vibration of at least a second vibration producing mechanism to vary respective amplitudes of the haptic feedback at different locations on the display.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor receives data from at least one program executing at the device and operates the vibration producing mechanism based upon the data to output vibration at the first amplitude in the first instance and at the second amplitude different from the first amplitude in the second instance.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the motor rotates a first amount of weight in the first instance and a second amount of weight different from the first amount of weight in the second instance.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the motor rotates the first weight in one position in the first instance and in a different position in the second instance.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first weight and the second weight is linearly moveable with respect to the other weight of the first weight and the second weight to change an amplitude of vibration at one or more locations of display.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one element comprises a solenoid.

15. A method, comprising:

providing as display that comprises a plurality of locations;

providing at least one vibration producing mechanism juxtaposed at least adjacent to the display to produce a vibration at the display, the at least one vibration producing mechanism comprising at least a first weight, a second weight, and a motor;

providing a controller which operates the at least one vibration producing mechanism to produce a vibration, wherein the motor is operated by the controller to produce vibration at a first amplitude by rotating the first weight in a first instance, and wherein the motor is operated by the controller to produce vibration at a second amplitude different from the first amplitude by rotating the first weight and the second weight in a second instance; and

providing at least one element operable to engage the first weight with the second weight for rotation of the first weight and the second weight in the second instance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the controller varies eccentricity of at least one component of at least one vibration producing mechanism to provide vibration at different amplitudes.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein controller varies an effective weight for at least one vibration producing mechanism to provide vibration at different amplitudes.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising:

providing plural vibration producing mechanisms, wherein the controller controls vibration from plural vibration producing mechanisms at a common time.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one element comprises a solenoid.