Augmenting mobile computing device audio output via vibration elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9594428-B2
Application number	US-201314126796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2013
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention utilize one or more vibration elements to enhance the audio output of a computing device. These vibration element(s) may comprise any conventional vibrating element including a mass element (i.e., counterweight) electrically driven via an actuator to produce the vibrations. The size of the mass element/counterweight may be selected based on the desired strength and frequency for the vibration components (i.e., lower frequencies may utilized larger/heavier mechanisms). Computing devices may process audio data and separately output some of the data for speakers (higher frequency data), and some of the data for vibration elements (lower frequency data). The surface where the device is placed creates a sounding board structure and the vibration elements generate the sensation of physical motion at low, sub-bass and sub-audio frequencies. This physical motion may be perceived by the user as low-frequency audio data, thereby enhancing the audio output of the speakers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an audio digital signal processor (DSP);
an audio subsystem to output audio data processed by the audio DSP, the audio subsystem comprising:
one or more speakers to output a first portion of the audio data processed by the audio DSP; and
a plurality of vibration elements for generating vibration movements onto a surface contacting the system based, at least in part, on a second portion of the audio data processed by the audio DSP;

a controller to selectively activate or deactivate each vibration element of the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on a context of an application executed via the system;
one or more motion sensors to generate sensor data for the generated vibration movement; and
a display;
wherein the controller is further to modify operation of one or more vibration elements of the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on the sensor data indicating an adverse effect of the generated vibration movement on performance of the system, wherein the adverse effect on performance of the system includes an adverse effect on visual performance of the display of the system.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a keyboard; and
a frame including a hinge coupling the display and the keyboard, wherein the plurality of vibration elements are disposed on a portion of the frame opposite the keyboard.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a plurality of pads disposed on the portion of the frame opposite the keyboard; wherein the plurality of vibration elements are included in the plurality of pads.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame;
wherein the display is a touchscreen display included in the frame, and wherein the plurality of vibration elements are disposed on a portion of the frame separate from the touchscreen display.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of vibration elements are included in a bezel surrounding the touchscreen display.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the adverse effect on visual performance of the display of the system includes an adverse impact on clarity of the display.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
calibration logic to:
cause the plurality of vibration elements to generate an initial set of vibration movements onto the surface; and
measure a propagation of the initial set of vibration movements onto the surface;
wherein the controller is further to deactivate one or more vibration elements of the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on the measured propagation of the initial set of vibration movements.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the calibration logic to further:
determine which of the plurality of vibration elements are contacting the surface; and
deactivate any vibration element of the plurality of vibration elements that is not contacting the surface.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
an audio sensor to capture the audio data output by the audio subsystem; wherein the calibration logic to further control the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on the captured audio data.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more motion sensors include an accelerometer; and
wherein the controller is to modify operation of one or more vibration elements of the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on sensor data received from the accelerometer.

11. An article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon to cause a processor to perform operations including:
transmitting control signals to one or more vibration elements of a plurality of vibration elements in a system to generate an initial set of vibration movements onto a surface contacting the plurality of vibration elements, the system including a display;
receiving measurement data from one or more motion sensors regarding a propagation of the initial set of vibration movements;
selectively activating one or more vibration elements of the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on the received measurement data;
transmitting a first portion of audio data of an application to an audio speaker;
transmitting control data to the one or more activated vibration elements for the activated vibration elements to generate vibration movements onto the contacting surface, the control data based, at least in part, on a second portion of the audio data of the application; and
modifying operation of one or more vibration elements of the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on the measurement data indicating an adverse effect of the generated vibration movements on performance of the system, wherein the adverse effect on performance of the system includes an adverse effect on visual performance of the display of the system.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11 , wherein the operations further include:
determining which of the plurality of vibration elements are contacting the surface; and
deactivating any vibration element of the plurality of vibration elements not contacting the surface.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 11 , wherein the operations further include:
capturing, via an audio sensor, audio data output by the audio subsystem; and
controlling the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on the captured audio data.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 11 , wherein the operations further include:
activating the plurality of vibration elements based, at least in part, on an application context.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a first audio amplifier component;
one or more speakers to output audio data received from the first audio amplifier component;
a second audio amplifier component;
a plurality of vibration counterweights for generating vibration movements onto a contacting surface;
an actuator for each of the vibration counterweights to drive the respective vibration counterweight based, at least in part, on audio data received from the second audio amplifier component;
a controller to selectively activate or deactivate each of the actuators based, at least in part, on a context of an application executed via the apparatus;
one or more motion sensors to generate feedback data for generated vibration movement; and
a display;
wherein the controller is further to modify operation of one or more of the actuators based, at least in part, on the feedback data indicating an adverse effect of the generated vibration movement on performance of the apparatus, wherein the adverse effect on performance of the apparatus includes an adverse effect on visual performance of the display of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
calibration logic to:
cause the actuators to drive the plurality of vibration counterweights to generate an initial set of vibration movements onto the contacting surface;
measure a propagation of the initial set of vibration movements onto the surface; and
deactivate at least one of the actuators based, at least in part, on the measured propagation of the initial set of vibration movements.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the calibration logic to further:
determine which of the plurality of vibration counterweights are contacting the surface; and
deactivate the actuators corresponding to the vibration counterweights not contacting the surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
a

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Tao Jiancheng
• Wong Hong W

Classifications

• G06F3/162

  Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title

• H04R3/12

  for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} · CPC title

• G06F3/167

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

• G06F3/016 Primary

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