Self adapting haptic device

• US 9,202,355 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• 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:
  US14/512,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20150061848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/514, 340/540, 340/541, 340/665, 340/635, 340/638, 340/10.2, 455/550.1, 455/567, 455/574, 455/575.3, 455/566
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 of adjusting user alerts in an electronic device, the method comprising:

initiating operation of a haptic device by overdriving a control signal provided to the haptic device to reduce a spin-up time of a motor of the haptic device; and

actively braking the motor of the haptic device to stop operation of the haptic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein overdriving a control signal comprises increasing a duty cycle of a pulse width modulated signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein actively braking the motor comprises shorting leads of the motor to generate an inductive braking effect.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein actively braking the motor comprises applying an opposite polarity to leads of the motor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying the control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the act of measuring the frequency comprises:

isolating a vibration signal of the haptic device;

finding a plurality of peaks in the vibration signal; and

determining a period of the vibration signal from the plurality of peaks.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the haptic device comprises a vibrating motor.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, performs a method for operating a haptic device, the method comprising;

initiating operation of a haptic device by overdriving a control signal provided to the haptic device to reduce a spin-up time of a motor of the haptic device; and

actively braking the motor of the haptic device to stop operation of the haptic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein overdriving a control signal comprises increasing a duty cycle of a pulse width modulated signal applied to the haptic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein actively braking the motor comprises shorting leads of the motor to generate an inductive braking effect.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein actively braking the motor comprises applying an opposite polarity to leads of the motor.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising instructions for:

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying the control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the act of measuring the frequency comprises:

isolating a vibration signal of the haptic device;

finding a plurality of peaks in the vibration signal; and

determining a period of the vibration signal from the plurality of peaks.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the control signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein actively braking the motor comprises underdriving the motor.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoding computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs a method for operating a haptic device, the method comprising:

initiating operation of the haptic device by overdriving a control signal provided to the haptic device; and

actively braking a motor of the haptic device to stop operation of the haptic device.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein overdriving a control signal comprises increasing a duty cycle of a pulse width modulated signal applied to the haptic device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein actively braking the motor comprises shorting leads of the motor to generate an inductive braking effect.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

measuring a frequency related to the operation of the haptic device;

comparing the measured frequency with a target frequency; and

modifying the control signal to drive the haptic device to the target frequency.