Signal generation device, signal generation method, and signal generation program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12146785-B2
Application number	US-202318296602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2023
Priority date	Oct 7, 2020
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

A signal generation device that generates a waveform signal to cause a target object to generate a vibration according to a phenomenon. The device includes an envelope information acquisition unit that acquires first envelope information indicative of a first envelope of a first waveform signal corresponding to a first phenomenon, and second envelope information indicative of a second envelope of a second waveform signal corresponding to a second phenomenon. The device also includes a synthesis unit that generates a composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the envelopes based on the first envelope information and the second envelope information; and a modulation unit that modulates a force wave by the composite envelope to generate the waveform signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A signal generation device for causing a target object to vibrate according to a phenomenon, comprising:
an envelope information acquisition unit configured to acquire first envelope information indicative of a first envelope of a first waveform signal corresponding to a first phenomenon, and second envelope information indicative of a second envelope of a second waveform signal corresponding to a second phenomenon;
a synthesis unit configured to generate a composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the respective envelopes based on the first envelope information and the second envelope information; and
a modulation unit configured to modulate a force wave based on the composite envelope to generate a waveform signal that causes the target object to vibrate.

2. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the first envelope has a sign that is the same as a sign of the second envelope.

3. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the first envelope has a sign that is different than a sign of the second envelope.

4. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first waveform signal is started at a first timing based on a start timing of the first phenomenon,
the second waveform signal is started at a second timing based on a start timing of the second phenomenon, and
the synthesis unit is configured to generate the composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the first envelope started at the first timing and the second envelope started at the second timing.

5. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a weighting information acquisition unit configured to acquire weighting information indicative of weighting the first envelope and the second envelope, respectively,
wherein the synthesis unit is further configured to generate the composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the first envelope and the second envelope based on the acquired weighting information.

6. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the force wave is a wave vibrating during a generation period of the first envelope and a generation period of the second envelope.

7. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the force wave has a cycle.

8. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory and a processor configured to execute software on the memory that provides:
the envelope information acquisition unit to acquire the first envelope information and the second envelope information,
the synthesis unit to generate the composite envelope, and
the modulation unit to modulate the force wave.

9. The signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the waveform signal is configured as an electronic signal that is converted by a haptic element in the target object to cause the target object to vibrate as a mechanical vibration.

10. A method for generating a waveform signal for causing a target object to vibrate according to a phenomenon, the method comprising:
acquiring first envelope information indicative of a first envelope of a first waveform signal corresponding to a first phenomenon;
acquiring second envelope information indicative of a second envelope of a second waveform signal corresponding to a second phenomenon;
generating a composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the respective envelopes based on the first envelope information and the second envelope information; and
modulating a force wave based on the composite envelope to generate the waveform signal that causes the target object to vibrate.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first envelope has a sign that is the same as a sign of the second envelope.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first envelope has a sign that is different than a sign of the second envelope.

13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
starting the first waveform signal at a first timing based on a start timing of the first phenomenon;
starting the second waveform signal at a second timing based on a start timing of the second phenomenon; and
generating the composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the first envelope started at the first timing and the second envelope started at the second timing.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
acquiring weighting information indicative of weighting the first envelope and the second envelope, respectively; and
generating the composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the first envelope and the second envelope based on the acquired weighting information.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the force wave is a wave vibrating during a generation period of the first envelope and a generation period of the second envelope.

16. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising providing the waveform signal as an electronic signal that is converted by a haptic element in the target object to cause the target object to vibrate as a mechanical vibration.

17. A signal generation program that configures a signal generation device to generate a waveform signal for causing a target object to vibrate according to a phenomenon, the signal generation program that, when executed by a processor of a computer, configures the signal generation device to:
acquire first envelope information indicative of a first envelope of a first waveform signal corresponding to a first phenomenon;
acquire second envelope information indicative of a second envelope of a second waveform signal corresponding to a second phenomenon;
generate a composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the respective envelopes based on the first envelope information and the second envelope information;
modulate a force wave by the composite envelope to generate the waveform signal that causes the target object to vibrate.

18. The signal generation program according to claim 17 , wherein, when executed by the processor, further configures the signal generation device to:
start the first waveform signal at a first timing based on a start timing of the first phenomenon;
start the second waveform signal at a second timing based on a start timing of the second phenomenon; and
generate the composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the first envelope started at the first timing and the second envelope started at the second timing.

19. The signal generation program according to claim 17 , wherein, when executed by the processor, further configures the signal generation device to:
acquire weighting information indicative of weighting the first envelope and the second envelope, respectively; and
generate the composite envelope obtained by synthesizing the first envelope and the second envelope based on the acquired weighting information.

20. The signal generation program according to claim 17 , wherein, when executed by the processor, further configures the signal generation device to provide the waveform signal as an electronic signal that is converted by a haptic element in the target object to cause the target object to vibrate as a mechanical vibration.

Assignees

• Murata Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Matsuura Masaru

Classifications

• H03C1/46

  Modulators with mechanically-driven or acoustically-driven parts · CPC title

• G06F3/016

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

• A63F13/42

  by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle · CPC title

• A63F13/44

  involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot · CPC title

• G01H17/00 Primary

  Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves, not provided for in the other groups of this subclass · CPC title