Method and apparatus for controlling vibration intensity according to situation awareness in electronic device

• US 9,948,231 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Min-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Jason D
• Application Number:
  US13/908,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20140049883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 700280
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 31/00 Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A method of controlling vibration is provided. The method includes determining whether the electronic device is located on a flat surface if a vibration event of an electronic device occurs, measuring a first noise signal level before driving a vibration motor by using a microphone of the electronic device if the electronic device is located on the flat surface, measuring a second noise signal level after driving the vibration motor at a minimum vibration intensity, and controlling a driving intensity of the vibration motor by comparing the first noise signal level and the second noise signal level. Accordingly, an excessive noise may be avoided if a portable terminal vibrates on a hard surface such as a desk.

Claims

1. A method of controlling vibration, the method comprising:

receiving a call;

determining whether an electronic device is set to a vibration mode;

determining whether the electronic device is located on a flat surface if the electronic device is set to the vibration mode;

driving a vibration motor at a first vibration intensity if the electronic device is located on the flat surface;

measuring a noise signal level by using a microphone of the electronic device during receiving the call;

filtering the measured noise signal level to remove a noise signal generated due to the vibration of the vibration motor;

adjusting the driving intensity of the vibration motor to a second vibration intensity based on the filtered noise signal level; and

repeating the measurement, the filtration and the adjustment during receiving the call,

wherein the adjusting of the driving intensity of the vibration motor comprises;

determining whether a difference of the measured noise signal level and the filtered noise signal level is less than a threshold,

increasing the driving intensity of the vibration motor if the difference is less than the threshold, and

maintaining a current driving intensity of the vibration motor if the difference is greater than the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the electronic device is located on the flat surface comprises analyzing at least one detection signal by using at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, or a proximity sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

driving the vibration motor at a pre-set vibration intensity if the electronic device is not located on the flat surface.

4. A method of controlling vibration, the method comprising:

receiving a call;

determining whether an electronic device is set to a vibration mode;

determining whether the electronic device is located on a flat surface if electronic device is set to the vibration mode;

driving a vibration motor at a first vibration intensity if the electronic device is located on the flat surface;

measuring a noise signal level by using a microphone of the electronic device during receiving the call;

extracting a noise generated due to the driving of the vibration motor by filtering the noise signal;

adjusting the driving intensity of the vibration motor to a second vibration intensity based on the noise; and

repeating the measurement, the extraction and the adjustment during receiving the call,

wherein the adjusting of the driving intensity of the vibration motor comprises;

determining whether the noise is less than a threshold,

increasing the driving intensity of the vibration motor if the noise is less than the threshold, and

maintaining a current driving intensity of the vibration motor if the noise is greater than the threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the extracting of the noise generated due to the driving of the vibration motor by filtering the noise signal comprises:

determining an oscillation frequency of the vibration motor,

filtering a noise generated due to the driving of the vibration motor from the noise signal on the basis of the oscillation frequency of the vibration motor, and

measuring the filtered noise signal level.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining of whether the electronic device is located on the flat surface comprises analyzing at least one detection signal by using at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, or a proximity sensor.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

driving the vibration motor at a pre-set vibration intensity if the electronic device is not located on the flat surface.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a vibration motor;

at least one processor;

a memory; and

at least one instruction set stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one instruction set comprises;

an instruction for receiving a call,

an instruction for determining whether an electronic device is set to a vibration mode,

an instruction for determining whether the electronic device is located on a flat surface if the electronic device is set to the vibration mode,

an instruction for driving the vibration motor at a first vibration intensity if the electronic device is located on the flat surface,

an instruction for measuring a noise signal level by using a microphone of the electronic device during receiving the call,

an instruction for filtering the measured noise signal level to remove a noise signal generated due to the vibration of the vibration motor,

an instruction for adjusting the driving intensity of the vibration motor to a second vibration intensity based on the measured noise signal level, and

an instruction for repeating the measurement, the filtration, and the adjustment during receiving the call,

wherein the instruction for the adjusting of the driving intensity of the vibration motor comprises;

determining whether a difference of the measured noise signal level and the filtered noise signal level is less than a threshold,

increasing the driving intensity of the vibration motor if the difference is less than the threshold, and

maintaining a current driving intensity of the vibration motor if the difference is greater than the threshold.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the instruction for determining whether the electronic device is located on the flat surface comprises an instruction for analyzing at least one detection signal by using at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, or a proximity sensor.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one instruction set further comprises an instruction for driving the vibration motor at a pre-set vibration intensity if the electronic device is not located on the flat surface.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a vibration motor;

at least one processor;

a memory; and

at least one instruction set stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one instruction set comprises;

an instruction for receiving a call,

an instruction for determining whether an electronic device is set to a vibration mode,

an instruction for determining whether the electronic device is located on a flat surface if the electronic device is set to the vibration mode,

an instruction for driving the vibration motor at a first vibration intensity if the electronic device is located on the flat surface,

an instruction for measuring a noise signal level by using a microphone of the electronic device during receiving the call,

an instruction for extracting a noise generated due to the driving of the vibration motor by filtering the noise signal,

an instruction for adjusting the driving intensity of the vibration motor to a second vibration intensity based on the noise, and

an instruction for repeating the measurement, the extraction and the adjustment during receiving the call,

wherein the instruction for the adjusting of the driving intensity of the vibration motor comprises;

determining whether the noise is less than a threshold,

increasing the driving intensity of the vibration motor if the noise is less than the threshold, and

maintaining a current driving intensity of the vibration motor if the noise is greater than the threshold.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instruction for extracting the noise generated due to the driving of the vibration motor by filtering the noise signal comprises:

an instruction for determining an oscillation frequency of the vibration motor,

an instruction for filtering a noise generated due to the driving of the vibration motor from the noise signal on the basis of the oscillation frequency of the vibration motor, and

an instruction for measuring the filtered noise signal level.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instruction for determining whether the electronic device is located on the flat surface comprises an instruction for analyzing at least one detection signal by using at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, or a proximity sensor.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one instruction set further comprises an instruction for driving the vibration motor at a pre-set vibration intensity if the electronic device is not located on the flat surface.