Method and apparatus of providing haptic effect using a plurality of vibrators in a portable terminal

1. A method of providing a haptic effect using a plurality of vibrators in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

detecting whether a user's input information is generated;

determining a vibration strength level of each of the vibrators using the user's input information, including:

detecting a duration of the user's input information; and

determining the vibration strength level of each of the vibrators to increase proportionally to at least the detected duration; and

generating vibration according to the determined vibration strength via each of the vibrators,

wherein the user's input information comprises information for user's input position and distance information between the user's input position and each of the vibrators.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's input position is a position of a screen touched by the user or a position of a keypad activated by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein vibration strength level of the respective vibrators are determined depending on the relative distance between the user's input position and the respective vibrators.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the vibration strength level of each of the vibrators according to at least the duration comprises:

determining the vibration strength level according to relative distance information and the duration of the user's input information.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a shifted input position whenever the user input is shifted.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the vibration strength level of each of the vibrators using the user's input information comprises:

detecting a change in the center of gravity or a magnitude of centrifugal force exerted on an object according to a cornering direction of the object; and

changing vibration strength level of the respective vibrators to simulate the change in the center of gravity or the magnitude of centrifugal force.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the vibration strength level of each of the vibrators using the user's input information comprises changing vibration strength level of the respective vibrators in sequence according to a first position and a second position of a user's input to simulate avoiding an obstacle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the vibration strength level of each of the vibrators using the user's input information comprises:

generating a stronger vibration for each of the vibrators as the duration is longer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the vibration strength level of each of the vibrators using the user's input information comprises:

detecting a plurality of user's touches in a rotation manner; and

generating a rapid vibration on each of the vibrators when a gap between the plurality of user's touches is smaller and generating a slower vibration on each of the vibrators when a gap between the plurality of user's touches is larger.

10. An apparatus of providing a haptic effect using a plurality of vibrators in a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a user input unit in which a user's input information is generated;

a vibration strength determination unit detecting a duration of the user's input information, and determining a vibration strength level of each of the vibrators to increase proportionally to at least the detected duration of the user's input information; and

a control unit generating vibration according to the determined vibration strength via each of the vibrators,

wherein the input information of the user input unit comprises information for user's input position and distance information between the user's input position and each of the vibrators.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the user input unit detects a position of a screen touched by the user or a position of a keypad activated by the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the vibration strength determination unit determines vibration strength level of the respective vibrators are determined depending on the relative distance between the user's input position and the respective vibrators.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the vibration strength determination unit determines the vibration strength level of each of the vibrators according to relative distance information and the duration of the user's input information.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the user input unit detects a shifted input position whenever the user input is shifted and provides the shifted input position to the vibration strength determination unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, in a vehicle driving game, the vibration strength determination unit changes vibration strengths of the respective vibrators according to a change in the center of gravity or a magnitude of centrifugal force exerted on an object according to a cornering direction of the object.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, in an obstacle avoiding game, the vibration strength determination unit changes vibration strength level of the respective vibrators in sequence according to a first position and a second position of a user's input to simulate avoiding an obstacle.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the vibration strength determination unit generates a stronger vibration for each of the vibrators as the duration is longer.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the vibration strength determination unit detects a plurality of user's touches in a rotation manner; and generates a rapid vibration on each of the vibrators when a gap between the plurality of user's touches is smaller and generating a slower vibration on each of the vibrators when a gap between the plurality of user's touches is larger.