Granted Patent B2

US 8,120,585 · App. 11/600,661 · Granted Feb 21, 2012

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. A method comprising:

defining a plurality of parameters for a vibration control pulse comprising a start pulse and a stop pulse, wherein said plurality of parameters comprises at least an intensity parameter, said intensity parameter being factor that is configured to be used to compute shape of said vibration control pulse and to control at least strength of said vibration control pulse;

using said intensity parameter together with a vibration nominal voltage to compute voltage of said vibration control pulse between said start pulse and said stop pulse;

using said intensity parameter to compute duration of said start pulse and said stop pulse; and

outputting said vibration control pulse to a vibration element to provide tactile feedback.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said vibration element forms a part of a touch screen.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said vibration element forms a part of a battery powered mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said start pulse comprises a positive voltage and said stop pulse comprises a negative voltage.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of parameters further comprises at least one of a vibration nominal start pulse, and a vibration nominal stop pulse.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of parameters are defined in an application program interface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said vibration element comprises a haptic actuator.

8. A device comprising;

a processor configured to execute a program comprising an application program interface configured to define a plurality of parameters for a vibration control pulse comprising a start pulse and a stop pulse, wherein said plurality of parameters comprises at least an intensity parameter, said intensity parameter being a factor that is configured to be used to compute shape of said vibration control pulse and to control at least strength of said vibration control pulse;

the application program interface being configured to use said intensity parameter together with a vibration nominal voltage to compute voltage of said vibration control pulse between said start pulse and said stop pulse;

the application program interface being configured to use said intensity parameter to compute duration of said start pulse and said stop pulse; and

a vibration element configured to provide tactile feedback in response to said vibration control pulse.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said vibration element forms a part of a touch screen.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said start pulse comprises a first polarity and said stop pulse comprises a second, opposite polarity.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said application program interface further comprises a plurality of parameters comprising at least one of a vibration nominal start pulse, and a vibration nominal stop pulse.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein said vibration element comprises a haptic actuator.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said vibration control pulse has a negative polarity.

14. A method comprising:

defining at least a first intensity parameter for a first vibration control pulse comprising a first start pulse and a first stop pulse, said first intensity parameter being a factor that is configured to be used to compute shape of said first vibration control pulse and to control at least strength of said first vibration control pulse;

using said first intensity parameter together with a first vibration nominal voltage to compute voltage of said first vibration control pulse between said first start pulse and said first stop pulse;

using said first intensity parameter to compute duration of said first start pulse and said first stop pulse;

outputting said first vibration control pulse to a vibration element to provide tactile feedback;

defining at least a second intensity parameter for a second vibration control pulse comprising a second start pulse and a second stop pulse, said second intensity parameter being a factor that is configured to be used to compute shape of said second vibration control pulse and to control at least strength of said second vibration control pulse;

using said second intensity parameter together with a second vibration nominal voltage to compute voltage of said second vibration control pulse between said second start pulse and said second stop pulse;

using said second intensity parameter to compute duration of said second start pulse and said second stop pulse; and

outputting said second vibration control pulse to said vibration element to provide tactile feedback wherein said first intensity parameter is different from said second intensity parameter.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said vibration element forms a part of a touch screen.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said vibration element forms a part of a mobile phone.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said first and second intensity parameters are defined in an application program interface.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said vibration element comprises a haptic actuator.

19. A non-transitory medium with a program of machine-readable instructions configured to be executed by a digital data processor, to perform actions comprising:

defining a plurality of parameters for a vibration control pulse comprising a start pulse and a stop pulse, wherein said plurality of parameters comprises at least an intensity parameter, said intensity parameter being a factor that is configured to be used to compute shape of said vibration control pulse and to control at least strength of said vibration control pulse;

using said intensity parameter together with a vibration nominal voltage to compute voltage of said vibration control pulse between said start pulse and said stop pulse;

using said intensity parameter to compute duration of said start pulse and said stop pulse; and

outputting said vibration control pulse to a vibration element to provide tactile feedback.

20. The medium of claim 19 wherein said vibration element forms a part of a touch screen.

21. The medium of claim 19 wherein said vibration element forms a part of a battery powered mobile device.

22. An integrated circuit comprising:

first circuitry configured to define a plurality of parameters for a vibration control pulse comprising a start pulse and a stop pulse, wherein said plurality of parameters comprises at least an intensity parameter, said intensity parameter being a factor that is configured to be used to compute shape of said vibration control pulse and to control at least strength of said vibration control pulse;

the first circuitry being configured to use said intensity parameter together with a vibration nominal voltage to compute voltage of said vibration control pulse between said start pulse and said stop pulse;

the first circuitry being configured to use said intensity parameter to compute duration of said start pulse and said stop pulse; and

second circuitry configured to output said vibration control pulse to a vibration element of a touch screen to provide tactile feedback.

23. An integrated circuit comprising:

first circuitry configured to define a plurality of parameters for a vibration control pulse comprising a start pulse and a stop pulse, wherein said plurality of parameters comprises at least an intensity parameter, said intensity parameter being a factor that is configured to be used to compute shape of said vibration control pulse and to control at least strength of said vibration control pulse;

the first circuitry being configured to use said intensity parameter together with a vibration nominal voltage to compute voltage of said vibration control pulse between said start pulse and said stop pulse;

the first circuitry being configured to use said intensity parameter to compute duration of said start pulse and said stop pulse; and

second circuitry configured to output said vibration control pulse to a vibra module.

Assignments (11)