Controlling haptic sensations for vibrotactile feedback interface devices
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing manipulatable by a user;
an actuator coupled to the housing and including an eccentric mass coupled to a rotatable shaft of the actuator defining an axis of rotation;
a circuit coupled to the actuator, the circuit configured to produce a control signal such that, when the control signal is received by the actuator, the actuator produces a force effect having a magnitude and a frequency by rotating the mass about the axis of rotation in a first direction, the magnitude of the vibration being based on a duty cycle of the control signal and being independent of the frequency; and
an obstacle member configured to be contacted with the mass when the mass is rotated, wherein the obstacle member is a spring member including a compliance portion configured to increase energy in the movement of the mass in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the mass comes into contact with the obstacle member.
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises an actuator that includes an eccentric mass that is coupled to a rotatable shaft of the actuator which defines an axis of rotation. A circuit is coupled to the actuator, the circuit is configured to produce a control signal such that, when the control signal is received by the actuator. The actuator is configured to produce a force effect having a magnitude and a frequency by rotating the mass about the axis of rotation in a first direction. The magnitude of the vibration is based on a duty cycle of the control signal and independent of the frequency. An obstacle member is coupled to the actuator and includes a compliance portion configured to increase energy in the movement of the mass in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the mass comes into contact with the obstacle member.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a housing manipulatable by a user; an actuator coupled to the housing and including an eccentric mass coupled to a rotatable shaft of the actuator defining an axis of rotation; a circuit coupled to the actuator, the circuit configured to produce a control signal such that, when the control signal is received by the actuator, the actuator produces a force effect having a magnitude and a frequency by rotating the mass about the axis of rotation in a first direction, the magnitude of the vibration being based on a duty cycle of the control signal and being independent of the frequency; and an obstacle member configured to be contacted with the mass when the mass is rotated, wherein the obstacle member is a spring member including a compliance portion configured to increase energy in the movement of the mass in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the mass comes into contact with the obstacle member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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an actuator including an eccentric mass coupled to a rotatable shaft of the actuator defining an axis of rotation; a circuit coupled to the actuator, the circuit configured to produce a control signal such that, when the control signal is received by the actuator, the actuator produces a force effect having a magnitude and a frequency by rotating the mass about the axis of rotation in a first direction, the magnitude of the vibration being based on a duty cycle of the control signal and being independent of the frequency; and an obstacle member configured to be contacted with the mass when the mass is rotated, wherein the obstacle member includes a compliance portion configured to increase energy in the movement of the mass in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the mass comes into contact with the obstacle member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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selecting an actuator including an eccentric mass coupled to a rotatable shaft of the actuator defining an axis of rotation; producing a control signal from a circuit to the actuator, producing a force effect having a magnitude and a frequency by rotating the mass about the axis of rotation in a first direction, the magnitude of the vibration being based on a duty cycle of the control signal and being independent of the frequency; and selecting an obstacle member configured to be contacted with the mass when the mass is rotated, the obstacle member including a compliance portion configured to increase energy in the movement of the mass in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the mass comes into contact with the obstacle member.
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Specification