Haptic notifications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10490035-B2
Application number	US-201715800630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2017
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a haptic actuator or a device having a haptic actuator that is capable of producing short, sharp and crisp pulses in a short amount of time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of providing haptic output, the method comprising:
applying an input voltage waveform to a haptic actuator comprising an actuator mass wherein:
applying the input voltage waveform to the haptic actuator causes a momentum of the actuator mass to increase from zero to a peak intensity; and
wherein the increase in momentum from zero to the peak intensity occurs during a first time period of between approximately three milliseconds and approximately twenty milliseconds, and wherein the first time period starts when the input voltage waveform is initially applied to the haptic actuator.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peak intensity is approximately 1500 gram millimeters per second or higher.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input voltage waveform further causes the actuator mass of the haptic actuator to change from the peak intensity to less than or equal to ten percent of the peak intensity between approximately three milliseconds and approximately twenty milliseconds.

4. A method of moving an actuator mass of a haptic actuator, the method comprising:
applying an input atom to the haptic actuator, wherein the input atom:
causes the actuator mass of the haptic actuator to move in accordance with the input atom; and
causes a momentum of the actuator mass to increase from a first momentum of substantially zero in an output momentum waveform to a peak intensity of the output momentum waveform of approximately 1500 gram millimeters per second or higher between a first time period between approximately three milliseconds and approximately twenty milliseconds.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the input atom is represented as a substantially square input waveform.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the input atom further causes the momentum of the actuator mass to decrease from the peak intensity in the output momentum waveform to a second momentum of substantially zero in the output momentum waveform in a second time period between approximately three milliseconds and approximately twenty milliseconds.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the input atom causes the actuator mass of the haptic actuator to move in accordance with an output displacement waveform, wherein the output displacement waveform starts from a substantially zero displacement and reaches a peak displacement intensity during the first time period.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the input atom further causes the actuator mass of the haptic actuator to return to a displacement of substantially zero in the output displacement waveform during a second time period of between approximately three milliseconds and approximately twenty milliseconds.

9. An electronic device comprising:
one or more processing units;
a memory comprising a library of haptic inputs; and
a haptic actuator, wherein the one or more processing units are configured to:
receive or identify an alert event or notification;
select from the library of haptic inputs, based on the alert event or notification, one or more haptic inputs to apply to the haptic actuator; and
generate each of the selected one or more haptic inputs to have one or more respective parameters, wherein:
the one or more respective parameters comprises a length of playback, an intensity level during playback, and a time period at which each of the one or more haptic inputs is to be played by the haptic actuator; and

for at least one alert or notification, there are at least two haptic inputs selected to apply to the haptic actuator.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing units comprises a synthesizer engine.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the selected one or more haptic inputs comprise an input voltage waveform.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the intensity level can be based on a maximum amplitude, a default amplitude, or a default power output.

13. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the alert event or notification is associated with a plurality of haptic inputs.

14. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing units is adapted to apply the selected one or more haptic inputs to the haptic actuator to cause the haptic actuator to move in accordance with an output waveform associated with the selected one or more haptic inputs.

15. An electronic device comprising:
one or more processing units;
a memory comprising a library of input waveforms; and
a haptic actuator, wherein the one or more processing units are configured to:
select at least one input waveform from the library of input waveforms based on a determined state of the electronic device, wherein the selected at least one input waveform is adapted to cause the haptic actuator to move in accordance with an output waveform associated with the input waveform; and
wherein:
adaptation of the input waveform comprises adapting at least one of a length of playback, an intensity level during playback, and a time period at which the input waveform is to be played by the haptic actuator; and
for at least one determined state of the electronic device, at least two input waveforms are selected from the library of input waveforms.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the intensity level can be based on a maximum amplitude, a default amplitude, or a default power output.

17. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the determined state of the electronic device corresponds to an alert notification.

18. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processing units comprises a synthesizer engine.

19. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processing units is adapted to apply the selected input waveform to the haptic actuator to cause the electronic device to move in accordance with the output waveform associated with the input waveform.

20. A method for causing haptic output in an electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving an alert event at the electronic device;
selecting, based on the alert event, one or more input atoms from a library of input atoms stored in a memory of the electronic device; and
generating a haptic input comprising the selected one or more input atoms to apply to a haptic actuator of the electronic device, wherein:
the haptic input is generated based on a length of playback, an intensity level during playback, and a time period at which the one or more input atoms are to be played by the haptic actuator; and
for at least one alert event, at least two input atoms are selected to apply to the haptic actuator.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the haptic input is generated by a synthesizer engine.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the intensity level can be based on a maximum amplitude, a default amplitude, or a default power output.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein an input voltage waveform for at least one of the selected one or more input atoms of the haptic input is a square wave.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the alert event is associated with a plurality of input atoms.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the library of input atoms is a predefined library.

26. The method of claim 20 , further comprising applying the haptic input to the haptic actuator to cause the haptic actuator to move in accordance with an output waveform associated with the haptic input.

27. An electro

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Morrell John B
• Harley Jonah A
• Hoen Storrs T
• Degner Brett W
• Moussette Camille
• Guetta Anthony
• Weiss Samuel B
• Scott Douglas A

Classifications

• H04M19/047

  Vibrating means for incoming calls · CPC title

• H01H2003/008

  with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction · CPC title

• G08B6/00 Primary

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

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• H04L12/1895

  for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates · CPC title