Self adapting haptic device

• US 9,640,048 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• 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:
  US14/942,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20160071384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 3404071, 3404072, 340514, 340540, 340541, 340635, 340665, 340638, 340 102, 4555501, 455567, 455574, 4555753, 455566
• 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 providing haptic output for an electronic device, comprising:

determining, using one or more sensors associated with the electronic device, an operating environment of the electronic device;

causing a haptic actuator of the electronic device to output a first type of haptic output at a first frequency based, at least in part, on the determined operating environment;

determining, using the one or more sensors, when the operating environment of the electronic device changes;

determining an initial target frequency based on the changed operating environment;

determining if the initial target frequency is to be optimized;

causing the haptic actuator of the electronic device to output a second type of haptic output at a second frequency that is the initial target frequency when the initial target frequency is not optimized and is a modification of the initial target frequency when initial target frequency is optimized, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising optimizing the first type of haptic output based, at least in part, on the determined operating environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein optimizing the first type of haptic output comprises tuning the haptic actuator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an ambient light sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure the first type of haptic output.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoding computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor performs a method for providing haptic output for an electronic device, comprising:

determining, using one or more sensors associated with the electronic device, an environment in which the electronic device is operating;

causing a haptic actuator of the electronic device to output a first type of haptic output at a first frequency based, at least in part, on the determined environment;

determining, using the one or more sensors, when the environment changes;

determining an initial target frequency based on the changed operating environment;

determining if the initial target frequency is to be optimized;

causing the haptic actuator of the electronic device to output a second type of haptic output at a second frequency that is the initial target frequency when the initial target frequency is not optimized and is a determined from the initial target frequency by a dithering process when initial target frequency is optimized, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions for optimizing the first type of haptic output based, at least in part, on the determined environment.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein optimizing the first type of haptic output comprises tuning the haptic actuator.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an ambient light sensor.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions for causing the one or more sensors to measure the first type of haptic output.

13. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

one or more sensors operative to determine an environment in which the computing device is operating and operative to determine when the environment changes; and

a haptic actuator operative to output a first type of haptic output at a first frequency when the computing device operates in the environment and a second, different type of haptic output at a second frequency when the environment changes;

wherein the processor is operative to select the second frequency by optimizing an initial target frequency.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is operative to optimize the first type of haptic output based, at least in part, on the determined environment.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein optimizing the first type of haptic output comprises tuning the haptic actuator.

16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an ambient light sensor.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer.

18. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an image capture sensor.

19. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an infrared detector.

20. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors indicate an orientation of the computing device.