IP Library Granted Patent US 10,664,057
Granted Patent B2
US 10,664,057 · App. 16/031,883 · Granted May 26, 2020

Electronic device and control method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,664,057
App. No.
16/031,883
Granted
May 26, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

To appropriately control an input portion by haptic feedback an electronic device has a vibration generator vibrating an input portion in response to contact with the input portion, a driving circuit portion supplying a driving signal having an acceleration period including a first pulse of a predetermined pulse width vibrating the vibration generator by resonance and a deceleration period including a second pulse of a phase opposite to the phase of the first pulse to the vibration generator, and a vibration control portion changing the number of first pulses included in the driving signal supplied to the vibration generator by the driving circuit portion according to the operating environment.

Claims (27)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a vibration generator configured to vibrate an input portion in response to contact with the input portion;

a driving circuit portion configured to supply a driving signal to the vibration generator, the driving signal having an acceleration period including at least one first pulse of a predetermined pulse width vibrating the vibration generator by resonance, and a deceleration period including at least one second pulse of a phase opposite to a phase of the first pulse; and

a vibration control portion configured to change a number of first pulses included in the driving signal supplied to the vibration generator by the driving circuit portion according to an operating environment, wherein

the operating environment includes an operating voltage of the driving circuit portion which is a driving voltage of the driving signal, and

the vibration control portion changes the number of first pulses according to a comparison of a predetermined threshold value and the operating voltage, and makes a maximum acceleration of the vibration fall within a predetermined range.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , further including:

an acceleration detection portion configured to detect the maximum acceleration of the vibration, wherein

the vibration control portion changes the number of first pulses and makes the maximum acceleration of the vibration detected by the acceleration detection portion fall within the predetermined range.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein

the driving signal includes a modulated waveform obtained by subjecting at least one of the first pulses to pulse width modulation in the acceleration period, and

the vibration control portion changes a duty ratio of the modulated waveform according to a set vibration intensity level.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration control portion changes the number of first pulses according to the operating voltage and makes the maximum acceleration of the vibration fall within the predetermined range and a power consumption in operating the vibration generator is minimized.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a vibration generator configured to vibrate an input portion in response to contact with the input portion;

a driving circuit portion configured to supply a driving signal to the vibration generator, the driving signal having an acceleration period including at least one first pulse of a predetermined pulse width vibrating the vibration generator by resonance, and a deceleration period including at least one second pulse of a phase opposite to a phase of the first pulse; and

a vibration control portion configured to change a number of first pulses included in the driving signal supplied to the vibration generator by the driving circuit portion according to an operating environment, wherein

the operating environment includes the operating temperature, and

when the operating temperature reaches a predetermined threshold temperature, the vibration control portion reduces the number of first pulses.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein

the vibration control portion estimates the operating temperature based on an operation frequency of the vibration generator.

7. A control method comprising:

in response to contact with an input portion, supplying a driving signal with a driving circuit portion, the driving signal having an acceleration period including at least one first pulse of a predetermined pulse width configured to vibrate a vibration generator by resonance and a deceleration period including at least one second pulse of a phase opposite to the phase of the first pulse to the vibration generator;

vibrating the input portion with the vibration generator based on the driving signal; and

changing a number of first pulses included in the driving signal according to an operating environment with a vibration control portion, wherein

the operating environment includes an operating voltage of the driving circuit portion which is a driving voltage of the driving signal, and

the number of first pulses is changed according to a comparison of a predetermined threshold value and the operating voltage so as to make a maximum acceleration of the vibration fall within a predetermined range.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2021
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LTD
Reel/Frame 055110/0378 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2018
From: YAMAZAKI, MITSUHIRO; NAKAMURA, FUSANOBU; YAMAMURA, KAZUNORI; SANTIAGO, JAKE LAURENCE PAT
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 046310/0593 →