Electronic device including actuator and method of controlling same for providing tactile output
View Patent ↗A method of controlling an electronic device includes detecting receipt of an input, determining a response number in response to receipt of the input, and actuating an actuator of the electronic device a discrete integer number of times based on the response number.
1. A method of controlling an electronic device, comprising:
detecting receipt of an input;
determining a response number in response to receipt of the input by communicating with a second electronic device and receiving the response number from the second electronic device; and
actuating an actuator at the electronic device a discrete integer number of times based on the response number.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising determining an associated query based on the input received.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein determining the response number comprises sending the query to the second electronic device.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein communicating comprises communicating wirelessly with the second electronic device.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein actuating comprises repeatedly actuating the actuator until the discrete integer number equals the response number or until the input is discontinued.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the discrete integer number equals the response number.
7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising determining that the input is maintained and, in response, actuating the actuator the discrete number of times.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the response number comprises a number of electronic messages received.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the response number comprises a number of new electronic messages.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein actuating the actuator comprises controlling the actuator to strike a surface the discrete number of times to provide the tactile output.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein actuating the actuator comprises charging and discharging a piezoelectric actuator to strike a surface to provide the tactile output.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein actuating the actuator comprises controlling a vibrator motor to provide tactile output the discrete number of times.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method according to claim 1 .
14. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
an actuator disposed in the housing; and
a processor coupled to the actuator to cause the electronic device to carry out the method according to claim 1 .