Sound output apparatus and sound output method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10516944-B2
Application number	US-201916242701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2019
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

A sound output apparatus includes a touchscreen, a vibrator and a controller. The vibrator produces sound by causing vibration of the touchscreen based on a sound signal. The controller (a) performs a predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is being detected by the touchscreen, and (b) does not perform the predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is not detected by the touchscreen.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sound output apparatus comprising:
a touchscreen;
a vibrator that produces sound by causing vibration of the touchscreen based on a sound signal; and
a controller that (a) performs a predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is being detected by the touchscreen, and (b) does not perform the predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is not detected by the touchscreen, wherein
the predetermined control lowers at least a first band of the sound signal.

2. The sound output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller also (a1) performs the predetermined control of the sound signal while an approach of the operation body to the touchscreen is being detected, and (b1) does not perform the predetermined control of the sound signal while an approach of the operation body to the touchscreen is not detected.

3. The sound output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
an upper limit of the first band is no greater than 500 Hz.

4. The sound output apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a display panel that faces the touchscreen.

5. A sound output apparatus comprising:
a touchscreen;
a vibrator that produces sound by causing vibration of the touchscreen based on a sound signal; and
a controller that (a) performs a predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is being detected by the touchscreen, and (b) does not perform the predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is not detected by the touchscreen, wherein
the controller amplifies at least a second band of the sound signal.

6. The sound output apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the second band is greater than 500 Hz.

7. The sound output apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a display panel that faces the touchscreen.

8. A sound output apparatus comprising:
a touchscreen;
a vibrator that produces sound by causing vibration of the touchscreen based on a sound signal; and
a controller that (a) performs a predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is being detected by the touchscreen, and (b) does not perform the predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is not detected by the touchscreen;
a pressure detector that detects a pressure applied to the touchscreen; and
a circuit that superimposes, on a signal output by the pressure detector, i) a signal having an antiphase of the sound signal or ii) a signal having an antiphase of an adjusted sound signal obtained by adjusting the sound signal.

9. The sound output apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
the circuit superimposes the signal having the antiphase of the adjusted sound signal on the signal output by the pressure detector, and
the adjusted sound signal is obtained by adjusting the sound signal in accordance with a vibration characteristic of the touchscreen.

10. A sound output method that uses a touchscreen, the sound output method comprising the steps of:
producing sound by causing vibration of the touchscreen based on a sound signal;
performing a predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is being detected by the touchscreen; and
not performing the predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is not detected by the touchscreen, wherein
the predetermined control: (i) lowers at least a first band of the sound signal, or (ii) amplifies at least a second band of the sound signal.

Assignees

• Denso Ten Ltd

Inventors

• Tanaka Takashi

Classifications

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title

• H04R2460/01

  Hearing devices using active noise cancellation · CPC title

• H04R2400/03

  Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones · CPC title