Haptics signal generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024395120-A1
Application number	US-202418793115-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 2, 2024
Priority date	Aug 18, 2021
Publication date	Nov 28, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A haptics signal generator configured to generate a haptics signal for driving a haptics transducer by amplitude modulating and frequency modulating a carrier signal based on an input audio signal.

First claim

1 . A haptics signal generator configured to generate a haptics signal for driving a haptics transducer by bandwidth modulating a carrier signal based on an input audio signal.

2 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 25 , configured to:
generate a frequency-control signal based on the input audio signal; and frequency modulate the carrier signal based on the frequency-control signal.

3 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 2 , configured to generate the frequency-control signal so that its magnitude is a function of:
a characteristic or dominant frequency or phase or a dominant pitch frequency of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom; and/or a frequency or phase of defined features, characteristics or portions of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom; and/or an amplitude or magnitude or envelope of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom, or a rate of change thereof; and/or an amplitude or magnitude or envelope of defined or extracted features, characteristics or portions of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom, or a rate of change thereof; and/or an amplitude or magnitude or envelope of a combined signal, or a rate of change thereof, the combined signal generated by combining amplitudes or magnitudes or envelopes of defined or extracted features, characteristics or portions of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom; and/or a frequency bandwidth of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom.

4 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 2 , configured to frequency modulate the carrier signal based on the frequency-control signal so that:
a frequency component of the haptics signal, such as a dominant frequency peak of the haptics signal or a centre frequency fh of the haptics signal or a frequency peak of the haptics signal corresponding to a carrier frequency fc of the carrier signal, is a function of a magnitude of the frequency-control signal; and/or a frequency component of the haptics signal, such as a dominant frequency peak of the haptics signal or a centre frequency fh of the haptics signal or a frequency peak of the haptics signal corresponding to a carrier frequency fc of the carrier signal, oscillates in frequency at a frequency defined by a magnitude of the frequency-control signal; and/or a frequency component of the haptics signal, such as a dominant frequency peak of the haptics signal or a centre frequency fh of the haptics signal or a frequency peak of the haptics signal corresponding to a carrier frequency fc of the carrier signal, oscillates in frequency over a frequency bandwidth defined by a configuration parameter.

5 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 1 , configured to control and/or limit a frequency bandwidth or a peak modulation frequency deviation of the haptics signal based on one or more of:
a resonant frequency of the haptics transducer; a predetermined threshold value or a configuration parameter; a Q factor of the haptics transducer; one or more harmonic frequencies of the haptics transducer or peaks in a frequency response of the haptics transducer; and a Q factor of a resonant frequency or one or more harmonic frequencies of the haptics transducer or peaks in a frequency response of the haptics transducer.

6 .- 10 . (canceled)

11 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 26 , configured to:
generate an amplitude-control signal based on the input audio signal; and amplitude modulate the carrier signal based on the amplitude-control signal.

12 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 11 , configured to generate the amplitude-control signal so that its magnitude is a function of:
an amplitude or magnitude or envelope of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom; and/or an amplitude or magnitude or envelope of defined or extracted features, characteristics or portions of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom; and/or an amplitude or magnitude or envelope of a combined signal, the combined signal generated by combining amplitudes or magnitudes or envelopes of defined or extracted features, characteristics or portions of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom.

13 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 11 , configured to amplitude modulate the carrier signal based on the amplitude-control signal so that an amplitude of the haptics signal is a function of a magnitude of the amplitude-control signal.

14 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input audio signal is a composite signal comprising a plurality of component signals.

15 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 14 , wherein at least one of the component signals is, or comprises, an audio signal, a video signal, an audio-visual signal, an ultrasonic signal, an electromagnetic signal, a biometric signal, a synthetic signal and/or a sensor signal.

16 . A haptics signal generator configured to generate a haptics signal for driving a haptics transducer by frequency modulating and bandwidth modulating a carrier signal based on an input audio signal.

17 . A haptics signal generator configured to generate a haptics signal for driving a haptics transducer by frequency modulating a carrier signal based on an input signal, wherein the haptics signal generator is configured to control and/or limit a frequency bandwidth or a peak frequency deviation of the haptics signal based on one or more of:
a resonant frequency of the haptics transducer; a predetermined threshold value or a configuration parameter; a Q factor of the haptics transducer; one or more harmonic frequencies of the haptics transducer or peaks in a frequency response of the haptics transducer; and a Q factor of a resonant frequency or one or more harmonic frequencies of the haptics transducer or peaks in a frequency response of the haptics transducer.

18 . A haptics system, comprising:
the haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 1 ; and said haptics transducer.

19 . The haptics system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein:
the haptics transducer has a resonant frequency f0 or another frequency peak fp in its frequency response, optionally being a harmonic of the resonant frequency f0; and a carrier frequency fc of the carrier signal is substantially the same as or within a predetermined range of the resonant frequency f0 or the frequency peak fp.

20 . A host device comprising the haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 1 .

21 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 1 , configured to:
generate a bandwidth-control signal based on the input audio signal; and bandwidth modulate the carrier signal based on the bandwidth-control signal.

22 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 21 , wherein bandwidth modulating the carrier signal comprises controlling a peak modulation frequency deviation of the haptics signal based on the bandwidth-control signal,
optionally wherein the peak modulation frequency deviation is a maximum deviation of a centre frequency fh of the haptics signal from a carrier frequency fc of the carrier signal.

23 . The haptics signal generator as claimed in claim 21 , configured to generate the bandwidth-control signal so that its magnitude is a function of:
a characteristic or dominant frequency or phase or a dominant pitch frequency of the input audio signal or a signal derived therefrom; and/or a frequency or phase of defined features, characteristics or porti

Assignees

• Cirrus Logic Int Semiconductor Ltd

Inventors

• Lal Anil
• Kurek Michael
• Sepehr Hamid

Classifications

• G10H2220/311

  with controlled tactile or haptic feedback effect; output interfaces therefor · CPC title

• G10H1/125

  using a digital filter · CPC title

• G10H1/045

  by electromechanical means · 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