Button type actuator, button type actuator feedback system comprising same, and control method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12003196-B2
Application number	US-201817059446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	May 29, 2018
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A button type actuator according to one embodiment may comprise: a case; a button part having at least a part which is moved with respect to the case by a user's pressure; a vibrator connected to the button part and including a magnetic body; and a coil for generating a magnetic field on the vibrator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuator feedback system comprising:
a case;
a button part of which at least a portion moves with respect to the case;
a vibrator connected to the button part and comprising a magnetic body;
a coil configured to generate a magnetic field in the vibrator; and
a controller configured to apply, based on a magnitude or a direction of an induced electromotive force generated in the coil as the button part is manipulated by a user, a current to the coil to move the vibrator,
wherein the controller comprises:
an input detection unit configured to detect the induced electromotive force generated in the coil when the button part is manipulated; and
a signal control unit configured to determine, based on information on the induced electromotive force detected by the input detection unit, a time point when the vibrator starts to be moved.

2. The actuator feedback system of claim 1 , wherein
the button part is in an elastic plate-type membrane valve shape and is installed to cover at least a portion of an upper surface of the case.

3. The actuator feedback system of claim 1 , wherein
the vibrator is attached to a lower surface of the button part and is made of a bendable flexible material, and the magnetic body includes magnetic particles uniformly contained in the vibrator.

4. The actuator feedback system of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to apply the current to the coil in a plurality of modes to move the vibrator, based on a depth at which the button part is pressed.

5. The actuator feedback system of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to produce an audible sound, based on the magnitude or the direction of the induced electromotive force generated in the coil.

6. The actuator feedback system of claim 1 , wherein
the controller moves the vibrator when the magnitude of the induced electromotive force generated when the button part is pressed is equal to or larger than a set voltage magnitude.

7. The actuator feedback system of claim 1 , wherein
the controller moves the vibrator when the direction of the induced electromotive force is changed as the button part starts to be released from a state in which the button part is pressed.

8. The actuator feedback system of claim 1 , wherein
the signal control unit moves the vibrator at a time point when a voltage value of the induced electromotive force changes from a positive value to a negative value or at a time point when the voltage value of the induced electromotive force changes from the negative value to the positive value.

9. A method of controlling an actuator feedback system, the actuator feedback system comprising an actuator,
wherein the actuator comprises: a case; button part of which at least a portion moves with respect to the case by being manipulated by a user; a vibrator connected to the button part and comprising a magnetic body; and a coil configured to generate a magnetic field in the vibrator,
the method comprising:
an input detection step, for detecting an induced electromotive force generated in the coil when the button part is manipulated;
a determining step, for determining a time to move the vibrator based on a magnitude or a direction of the induced electromotive force; and
a drive step, for moving the vibrator.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein
in the drive step, moving the vibrator by applying a current to the coil in a plurality of modes, based on a depth at which the button part is pressed.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein
in the input detection step, generating an input feedback signal when a voltage magnitude of the detected induced electromotive force is equal to or larger than a set voltage magnitude.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein
the drive step is carried out at a time point when the direction of the induced electromotive force is changed.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
a movement pattern generation step, for generating information on a movement pattern of the vibrator based on a formation time point, the magnitude, or a duration time of the induced electromotive force.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein
the movement pattern generation step comprises:
a movement pattern setting step, for setting a type of the movement pattern based on the magnitude or the duration time of the induced electromotive force generated when the button part is manipulated.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein
the movement pattern generation step further comprises:
a movement time setting step, for determining a movement time of the vibrator based on the duration time or a voltage magnitude of the induced electromotive force generated when the button part is manipulated; and
a movement intensity setting step, for determining a movement intensity of the vibrator based on the voltage magnitude of the induced electromotive force generated when the button part is manipulated.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein
the drive step is carried out by applying a different input signal to the coil for each stage of the voltage magnitude of the induced electromotive force measured in the input detection step.

17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
a sound production step, for producing an audible sound based on the magnitude or the direction of the induced electromotive force.

18. A method of controlling an actuator feedback system, the actuator feedback system comprising an actuator,
wherein the actuator comprises: a case; a button part of which at least a portion moves with respect to the case by being manipulated by a user; a vibrator connected to the button part and comprising a magnetic body; and a coil configured to generate a magnetic field in the vibrator,
the method comprising:
an input detection step, for detecting an induced electromotive force generated in the coil when the button part is manipulated; and
a drive step, for moving the vibrator based on a magnitude or a direction of the induced electromotive force,
wherein
if a voltage magnitude of the induced electromotive force is larger than a first set voltage magnitude and smaller than a second set voltage magnitude, the drive step is carried out by determining that the button part is contacted by the user and applying a contact feedback signal to the actuator, and
if it is determined that the voltage magnitude of the induced electromotive force is equal to or larger than the first set voltage magnitude and the second set voltage magnitude, the drive step is carried out by determining that the button part is pressed by the user and applying an input feedback signal to the actuator.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein
in the drive step,
(i) if it is determined that the button part is pressed within a set input time from a time point when the button part is contacted, the contact feedback signal is not output, and
(ii) if it is determined that the button part is not pressed within the set input time from the time point when the button part is contacted, the contact feedback signal is output.

Assignees

• Ck Mat Lab Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Hyeong Jun
• Lee Jong Hun
• Son Ki Suk

Classifications

• H02N2/06 Primary

  Drive circuits; Control arrangements {or methods} · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F3/0202

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• H02N2/026

  by pressing one or more vibrators against the driven body · CPC title