System, apparatus and method for haptic commands

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10198919-B2
Application number	US-201715687978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 26, 2016
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for generating haptic effects, 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 comprising a first power supply circuit comprising a first booster, and a second power supply circuit comprising a second booster that
applies a first driving voltage from the first power supply circuit and the first booster to the haptic actuator in response to the first haptic command,
applies a second driving voltage larger than the first driving voltage from the second power supply circuit and the second booster to the haptic actuator in response to the second haptic command, and
steps up the first driving voltage with the first booster in response to a decrease of the first driving voltage;

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;
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.

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 bypass switch that bypasses the booster of the first power supply circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , 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.

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

14. A method, comprising
generating a first haptic command and a second haptic command;
generating a first driving voltage with a first power supply circuit that comprises a first booster;
generating a second driving voltage with a second power supply circuit that comprises a second booster;
applying, in response to the first haptic command, the first driving voltage to a haptic actuator for a predetermined time;
applying, in response to the second haptic command, the second driving voltage, higher than the first driving voltage to the haptic actuator for a time shorter than the predetermined time; and
stepping up the first driving voltage with the first booster in response to a decrease in the first driving voltage.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising
striking a case with the haptic actuator in response to application of the second driving voltage.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising
applying a damping voltage to the haptic actuator after applying the second driving voltage.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein
the second driving voltage has a frequency higher than a frequency of the first driving voltage.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising
stepping up the second driving voltage with the second booster; and
stopping the second booster after a predetermined amount of time has passed after applying the second driving voltage to the haptic actuator.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd
• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Yamazaki Mitsuhiro
• Nagashima Atsushi
• Nakamura Fusanobu
• Yamamura Kazunori

Classifications

• H02K7/061

  using rotary unbalanced masses (for generating mechanical vibrations in general B06B1/16) · CPC title

• B06B1/0215

  for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes · CPC title

• B06B1/161

  Adjustable systems, i.e. where amplitude or direction of frequency of vibration can be varied · CPC title

• G08B6/00 Primary

  Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems · CPC title

• H02K33/02

  with armatures moved one way by energisation of a single coil system and returned by mechanical force, e.g. by springs · CPC title