SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HAPTIC COMMANDS

• US 20180061194A1
• Filed: 08/28/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Mitsuhiro, Nagashima, Atsushi, Nakamura, Fusanobu, Yamamura, Kazunori
• Granted Patent: US 10,198,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0215 for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/161 Adjustable systems, i.e. where amplitude or direction of frequency of vibration can be varied
• 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: H02K 33/02 with armatures moved one way by energisation of a single coil system and returned by mechanical force, e.g. by springs
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/061 using rotary unbalanced masses for generating mechanical vibrations in general B06B1/16

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method are disclosed. The system includes a command module that generates haptic commands; a haptic actuator; a drive circuit that applies a first driving voltage in response to a first haptic command and applies a second driving voltage in response to a second haptic command. The apparatus includes a haptic actuator; a DC power supply; a first power supply circuit that outputs a first DC voltage; a second power supply circuit that outputs a second DC voltage higher than the first DC voltage; a drive circuit that applies a first driving voltage and a second driving voltage; and a controller that designates an operating mode. The method includes generating a first haptic command and a second haptic command; applying a first driving voltage to a haptic actuator; and applying a second driving voltage to the haptic actuator.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a command module that generates a first haptic command and a second haptic command;

a haptic actuator that vibrates with a magnitude varying in accordance with a magnitude of a driving voltage; and

a drive circuit that

applies a first driving voltage to the haptic actuator in response to the first haptic command, and

applies a second driving voltage larger than the first driving voltage to the haptic actuator in response to the second haptic command;

wherein a time for which the second driving voltage is applied is shorter than a time for which the first driving voltage is applied.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the haptic actuator comprises a movable element that performs a reciprocating linear operation through cooperation of a coil and a magnet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein

the second driving voltage has a frequency higher than a frequency of the first driving voltage.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein

the drive circuit applies a damping voltage following the second driving voltage to suppress free vibration of the movable element.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein

the haptic actuator is stored in a case;

and

a part of the movable element strikes against the case in response to application of the second driving voltage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein

the haptic actuator comprises an eccentric weight that performs a rotational motion through cooperation of a coil and a magnet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein

the haptic actuator comprises an eccentric weight that performs a bidirectional rotational motion through cooperation of a coil and a magnet.

8. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a haptic actuator that operates in a vibration mode and an impact mode;

a DC power supply;

a first power supply circuit that outputs an output voltage from the DC power supply as a first DC voltage;

a second power supply circuit, comprising a booster that steps up an output voltage to a second DC voltage higher than the first DC voltage;

a drive circuit that

applies, to the haptic actuator, a first driving voltage generated from the first DC voltage in the vibration mode, and

applies, to the haptic actuator, a second driving voltage generated from the second DC voltage in the impact mode; and

a controller that designates an operating mode of the haptic actuator to the drive circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the DC power supply comprises a single cell battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller stops the booster of the second power supply circuit after a predetermined period of time has passed in which the controller has not designated the impact mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first power supply circuit includes a booster that steps up the output voltage of the first power supply circuit in response to a decrease of the output voltage of the first power supply circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first power supply circuit includes a bypass switch that bypasses the booster of the first power supply circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller stops the booster of the first power supply circuit after a predetermined period of time has passed and the controller has not designated the vibration mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the drive circuit generates the second driving voltage without stepping down the second DC voltage.

15. A method, comprising

generating a first haptic command and a second haptic command;

applying, in response to the first haptic command, a first driving voltage to a haptic actuator for a predetermined time; and

applying, in response to the second haptic command, a second driving voltage higher than the first driving voltage to the haptic actuator for a time shorter than the predetermined time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising

stepping up the first driving voltage in response to a decrease in the first driving voltage.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising

striking a case with the haptic actuator in response to application of the second driving voltage.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising

applying a damping voltage to the haptic actuator after applying the second driving voltage.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein

the second driving voltage has a frequency higher than a frequency of the first driving voltage.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising

stepping up the second driving voltage with a booster;

and

stopping the booster after a predetermined amount of time has passed after applying the second driving voltage to the haptic actuator.