CN116724283A - Method and apparatus for generating haptic effects in user devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A user device comprises a first part (101) and a second part (102), the second part (102) being a handheld body. The movable accessory (103) allows a user to hold the second part (102) and move the first part (101) with his hand. The haptic transducer (104) generates a haptic effect and includes a first half (105) and a second half (106). In the arrangement of permanent magnets, a first permanent magnet (201) is in the first half (105) and a second permanent magnet (202) is in the second half (106). A coil (203) in the haptic transducer (104) creates a dynamic magnetic force in the haptic transducer (104) under the influence of an electric current. The first half (105) is attached to the first part (101) being a user device and the second half (106) is attached to the second part (102) of a user device.

Description

Method and apparatus for generating haptic effects in user devices

Technical Field

The present utility model relates generally to the field of user devices having haptic effects as part of the user experience of the user device. The utility model relates in particular to electrically operated transducers that may be used to cause one or more surfaces of a user device to communicate haptic effects to a user.

Background

Haptic refers generally to techniques that use force, vibration, and/or movement to a user to create a touch experience. Haptic sensations can be used in hand-held user devices as an effect that makes the user experience more versatile. For example, a handheld controller used as part of the user interface of many video game devices may include means for generating haptic effects such as vibrations. Smart design haptic effects can be used to fool the human sensory system so that the user believes that macroscopic movements of, for example, a button under their finger are felt, even though there is actually only a relatively stable structure experiencing short, dense, elastic deformation or much less vibration.

In order to have optimal applicability in handheld user devices, the means for generating haptic effects should be small in size, have low power consumption, allow for other structures attached to the device in a variety of ways, and preferably can be manufactured at low cost.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object to provide a method and apparatus for generating haptic effects in a user device in an optimal manner. Another object is to enable haptic effects to be generated in such a part of a user device that is movably attached.

According to a first aspect, an apparatus for generating haptic effects in a user device is provided. The apparatus comprises a first part of the user device and a second part of the user device, the second part constituting a hand-held body of the user device. The movable accessory between the first and second parts of the user device allows a user of the user device to hold the second part with his hand and move the first part relative to the second part during use of the user device. The haptic transducer generates a haptic effect for a user during the use of the user device. The tactile transducer comprises a first half and a second half, and means of permanent magnets, wherein at least a first permanent magnet is located in said first half and at least a second permanent magnet is located in said second half. At least one coil is located in the tactile sensor and is configured to create a dynamic magnetic force in the tactile sensor under the influence of a current flowing through the coil. The first half is attached to the first part of the user equipment and the second half is attached to the second part of the user equipment.

According to one embodiment, the second component of the user device comprises a current source for feeding said current into said at least one coil.

According to one embodiment, the movable accessory is a swivel joint, a sliding joint or an elastically deformable joint, allowing the user to use the first part as a trigger pulled by a finger of the same hand holding the second part.

According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a detector configured to generate a detection signal in response to a user applying a force to the first component to move the first component relative to the second component. The controllable driver circuit may then generate the current to the coil in response to a control signal. A controller may be coupled to the detector and the driver circuit, the controller configured to generate the control signal in response to receiving the detection signal.

According to one embodiment, the detector and the haptic transducer are different elements.

According to one embodiment, the haptic transducer is configured to also operate as the detector.

According to one embodiment, the device comprises an electrical coupling between the coil and the controller for enabling the controller to detect a current induced in the coil and to use this detected current as the detection signal.

According to one embodiment, the first part is movable relative to the second part between a release position and an operating position. In the release position, the first and second halves of the tactile transducer may then be a first distance from each other. In the operational position, the first and second halves of the haptic transducer may be a second distance from each other, the second distance being less than the first distance.

According to one embodiment, the movable accessory is a swivel joint configured to allow rotation of the first part relative to the second part about an axis of rotation. The first and second halves of the tactile transducer may then be rotationally symmetrical about a common axis of symmetry and placed with the axis of symmetry coincident with the axis of rotation.

According to one embodiment, the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet have similarly named poles facing each other in the permanent magnet arrangement, and the magnetic repulsion between said similarly named poles pushes the first part to a release position away from the second part without any intentional reaction force caused by the user.

According to a second aspect, a method for generating haptic effects in a user device is provided. The method comprises responding to a detected predetermined manner of use of the user device by the user by flowing an electric current through a coil of a haptic transducer, the user device comprising two parts movably attached together, two halves of the coil of the haptic transducer being attached to respective ones of the two parts of the user device. The current creates a dynamic magnetic force that, along with a static magnetic force created by the permanent magnets of the haptic transducer, creates the desired haptic effect.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises detecting a predetermined movement of a first part of the user equipment relative to a second part thereof, and creating said current in response to said detection.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises performing said detection of the predetermined movement by detecting a current in said coil induced to the haptic transducer.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the utility model and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the utility model and together with the description help to explain the principles of the utility model. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a device of the type described above,

figure 2 shows a possible detail of the device of figure 1,

figure 3 shows a possible use of a separate detector,

figure 4 shows a possible use of a transducer also as a detector,

figure 5 shows a possible position of the component in the device,

FIG. 6 shows another possible position of the component in the device, and

fig. 7 shows a device arrangement according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

The term haptic transducer is used in this specification. This means in particular that the transducer described as an acoustic and/or haptic transducer in any of the following previous patents or utility model applications: FI20195599, FI20175942, FI20205298, FI20206132, US16/776,428, US16/138,993, US16/427,377, EP19216516.5, GB1420483.8, GB15801194.0, CN202020145485.4, FI20215082. These documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Certain features are common to the transducers represented and described herein as tactile transducers. The transducer comprises two parts, which may be referred to as a first half and a second half. The use of the term "half" does not mean that the components of the transducer should have dimensions, masses, diameters, heights, or any other dimension equal to each other. The term is used herein as an exemplary name only to explicitly refer to two major components of the transducer. Other names, such as "first transducer component" and "second transducer component" may also be used.

The transducer referred to herein comprises means of permanent magnets, wherein at least a first permanent magnet is located in a first half and at least a second permanent magnet is located in a second half. The purpose of the permanent magnet is to create a static magnetic force, possibly together with other components of the transducer, such as one or more surrounding cover components made of magnetic material. The static magnetic force may, for example, be such that there are one or more equilibrium positions in which the first and second halves of the transducer are at a local minimum of magnetic potential energy.

Typically, the physical structure of the transducer is such that there is a natural direction of movement in which at least one of the first and second halves can move relative to the other during operation. If the overall profile of the transducer is that of a box or container having a substantially flat bottom and a relatively flat top parallel thereto, the bottom may be generally defined by a first half and the top may be generally defined by a second half. In this case, the direction substantially perpendicularly through the symmetry axis of the bottom and top may be the natural direction of movement. The point or points along the natural direction of movement are then the equilibrium positions mentioned above.

Another common feature of haptic transducers here means that one or more coils are provided in the transducer. At least one such coil is configured to create a dynamic magnetic force in the haptic transducer under the influence of a current through the coil. There are various options for placing the coil(s) with respect to the first and second halves of the transducer and with respect to the permanent magnets constituting the permanent magnet arrangement. Each such choice may have its own advantages and disadvantages, but for the purposes of this description the location of the coil(s) (the precise configuration of the device like a permanent magnet) is of little significance.

The haptic effect produced by the transducer is a result of feeding a current of the desired waveform to the coil(s). Under the combined influence of the dynamic magnetic force thus created and the static magnetic force inherent to the arrangement of permanent magnets, a relative movement is created between the first and second halves of the transducer. The attachment of the first and second halves of the transducer to the further components of the device housing the transducer further conveys the relative movement so that the end user will use their feel to feel the result of the relative movement. The user may perceive the result of the relative movement directly or indirectly by touching at least one of those components to which at least one of the first and second halves of the user device is attached, such that there are one or more additional components therebetween.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an apparatus for generating haptic effects in a user device. The apparatus comprises a first part 101 and a second part 102 of the user equipment. Wherein the second part 102 constitutes the hand-held body of the user device. This means that the second member 102 has a size and shape that enables a human user to grasp and hold with one or both hands. Typically, but not necessarily, the first part 101 of the user equipment is smaller than the second part 102.

The apparatus shown in fig. 1 comprises a movable accessory 103, here called a movable joint, between the first and second parts 101 and 102 of the user equipment. The purpose of the movable accessory 103 is to allow a user of the user device to hold the second part 102 with his hand and to move the first part 101 relative to the second part 102 during use of the user device. As an illustrative, non-limiting example, it is conceivable that the user device is a game controller that the user uses to play a video game. In this case, the second component 102 may be a handheld body of the game controller, while the first component 101 may be a trigger, joystick, knob, or similar user interface feature that the user may manipulate through the use of one or more fingers.

The apparatus comprises a haptic transducer 104 for generating a haptic effect for a user during said use of the user device. The tactile transducer 104 includes a first half 105 and a second half 106. Also included in the tactile transducer is a means of permanent magnets as described above, although not shown in fig. 1. At least a first permanent magnet is located in the first half 105 and at least a second permanent magnet is located in the second half 106. The component included (and positioned) in the haptic transducer 104 is at least one coil configured to create a dynamic magnetic force in the haptic transducer 104 under the influence of a current flowing through the coil.

The first half 105 of the tactile transducer 105 is attached to the first part 101 of the user device and the second half 106 is attached to the second half 102 of the user device. Thus, in view of the movable attachment between the first and second parts 101 and 102 of the user device, the first half 105 of the tactile transducer 104 moves with the first part 101 of the user device and the second half 106 of the tactile transducer 104 moves with the second part 102 of the user device.

Attaching the first half 105 to the first component 101 on the one hand and the second half 106 to the second component 102 on the other hand means that the haptic effect generated by the haptic transducer 104 in either or both of the first component 101 and the second component 102 can be felt by the user. According to the above illustrative example, if the user device is a game controller and the first part 101 is a trigger, the user may feel a feeling such as a vibration effect and/or a feeling that the sensory system spoofs movement when pulling the trigger.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of certain more detailed components of an apparatus according to an embodiment. The first and second halves 105 and 106 of the tactile transducer are shown as part of the first and second components 101 and 102 of the user device. The first permanent magnet 201 and the second permanent magnet 202 are each located in their respective halves of the tactile transducer, both having the general contour of a relatively flat plate or tablet. The polarity of the permanent magnets is schematically shown with shading. In this embodiment, similarly named poles of the first and second permanent magnets face each other in the arrangement of permanent magnets. This has the natural result that a portion of the static magnetic force generated is a repulsive force that attempts to push the first half 105 of the haptic transducer away from the second half 106.

As is known from many of the patent applications mentioned above and incorporated herein by reference, other structures of the cover member like a tactile transducer can direct a magnetic field in order to create a balanced attractive magnetic force. Since the magnitude of both the repulsive force and the attractive force depend on distance, they together can create one or more equilibrium positions where the net magnetic force in the direction of movement is zero. However, the repulsive force described above may also be used as an addition or alternative to the return spring. In such an embodiment, the magnetic repulsion between similarly named poles of the permanent magnet pushes the first part to a release position away from the second part without any intentional reaction force caused by the user. Such a function may be particularly useful if the first part 101 of the user device is a spring, a joystick, a knob or other feature that should always be returned to the release position when the user is not actively operating it.

In the embodiment of fig. 2, the coil 203 has the shape of a relatively flat ring surrounding the second permanent magnet 202. Many other shapes are possible for the coil, such as many other positions relative to the permanent magnet. As non-limiting examples, the coils may be stacked on top of or below one or more permanent magnets, or the coils may be located in an opening in the center of a ring-shaped permanent magnet or several groups of ring-shaped permanent magnets.

Another feature shown in the embodiment of fig. 2 is the provision of a current source 204 in the second part 102 of the user equipment. Since the second part 102 constitutes the hand-held body of the user device and is typically larger in size than the first part 101, placing the current source 204 in the second part may give more degrees of freedom in the structural design of the user device than trying to squeeze it in the first part 101. If the second component 102 is also connected to a larger device, as if there were a power line between the second component 102 and such a larger device, the current source 204 could be conceptually considered as the route taken by current through the second component 102, even though the actual, original current source would be farther away. To simplify the design, it is advantageous to have the coil 203 in that half of the haptic transducer that is attached to the portion of the user device that houses the current source 204. However, this is not a necessary requirement, as various connector arrangements may be utilized to power the coils, even from different parts of the device.

The exact nature of the movable accessory 103 between the first and second parts 101 and 102 of the user device is not very important. For example, it may be a swivel joint, a sliding joint or an elastically deformable joint. As mentioned above, one possible reason for providing such a movable attachment is to allow the user to utilize the first part 101 as a trigger that is pulled by a finger of the same hand holding the second part 102.

Fig. 3 shows an example of the connection between some possible other components of the device. In the embodiment of fig. 3, the apparatus comprises a detector 301 configured to generate a detection signal in response to a user applying a force to the first part 101 to move the first part 101 relative to the second part 102. In the arrangement, here in the second part 102, a controllable driver circuit 302 for generating a current to the coil in response to a control signal is also included. A controller 303 is coupled to the detector 301 and the driver circuit 302. The controller 303 is configured to generate the control signal in response to receiving the detection signal.

The embodiment of fig. 3 includes the advantage that the controller 303 (which may be a microprocessor or microcontroller, for example) may time the generation of haptic feedback to the user in a precise manner with reference to how the user operates the user device. Referring again to the trigger example, the detector 301 may inform the controller 303 when, how far, and/or how fast the trigger is pulled by the user. The controller 303 may then instruct the driver to generate a current that causes the user to only feel the appropriate tactile feedback that should be generated by such operation of the trigger.

The detector 301 and the tactile transducer may be different elements of the user device, as implied by drawing them separately in fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows another alternative in which the tactile transducer 104 is configured to also operate as a detector. Such an embodiment may take advantage of, for example, the fact that relative movement of the first and second portions of the user device (i.e., pulling the trigger, for example) results in corresponding relative movement of the first and second halves of the tactile transducer 104. This in turn means that a relative movement of at least one of the permanent magnets of the permanent magnet construction with respect to the coil can induce a current of a detectable magnitude and direction in the coil. There may be an electrical coupling between the coil and the controller for enabling the controller to detect the current induced into the coil. If the controller 303 has suitable means for detecting such a current, it may use it as the detection signal described above.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a broad class of possible embodiments, wherein the first part 101 is movable relative to the second part 102 between a release position (shown on the left in fig. 5) and an operating position (shown on the right). In the released position, the first and second halves 105 and 106 of the tactile transducer are a first distance from each other. In the operational position, the first and second halves 105 and 106 of the tactile transducer are a second distance from each other. Wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. The idea here is that the actual operating position of the haptic transducer (i.e. the relative position of the first and second halves that facilitate the effective generation of the haptic effect) should occur in the operating position of the first part 101, since the user is more likely to be given haptic feedback when operating the movable first part 101 than when not operating the movable first part.

In the embodiment of fig. 5, the movement of the first part 101 relative to the second part 102 is a rotational movement about an axis 501. However, the same principle can be readily applied to, for example, linear movement, wherein the first member will slide along a pair of guide rails or tracks. The nature of the relative movement is not limited in any way.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment, wherein the movable attachment is also a swivel joint. The swivel joint is configured to allow the first component 101 to rotate relative to the second component about the axis of rotation 601. The second part is not shown in fig. 6, but it is easy to understand how the swivel joint can be realized by e.g. engaging a circular shaft 602 in the first part 101 with a corresponding circular hole or groove in the second part.

In the embodiment of fig. 6, the first half 105 and the second half 106 of the tactile transducer are rotationally symmetric about a common symmetry axis 603. The term "rotationally symmetric" is used herein in a broad sense such that details that are not important to the actual operation, such as the location of the input and output wires connecting the coils in the transducer to an external current source, are not considered. The first and second halves 105 and 106 of the tactile transducer are placed with their symmetry axis 603 coincident with the rotation axis 601. This has the advantage that the geometrical factors affecting the operation of the haptic transducer do not change at all during operation. Accordingly, all kinds of haptic effects can be generated regardless of whether the user has operated the first part 101 and, if so, to what extent.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment wherein the first part of the user equipment comprises a first sub-part 701 and a second sub-part 702. As previously described, the haptic transducer 104 includes a first half and a second half. As a distinction from the other embodiments described above, the first half of the tactile transducer 104 is attached to a first sub-component 701 of the first component and the second half is attached to a second sub-component 702 of the first component.

The first and second sub-components 701 and 702 are coupled to each other by a suspension 703. According to one embodiment, the suspension 703 constitutes a resilient suspension for moving the first sub-part 701 relative to the second sub-part 702 under the influence of the haptic effect generated by the haptic transducer 104. Another possibility is that the suspension 703 constitutes a rigid suspension for subjecting the first sub-part 701 to elastic deformation under the influence of the haptic effect generated by the haptic transducer 104. Thus, the terms "elastic" and "rigid" are used herein as relative definitions. Their meaning will be explained by checking whether the haptic effect generated mainly involves moving the entire first sub-part 701 relative to the second sub-part 702 or whether they mainly involve (at least) the elastically deformed first sub-part 701.

The suspension 703 may comprise elements having a shape and/or a material that is resilient, such as springs and/or solid blocks of elastomeric material. Additionally or alternatively, they may comprise rigid attachment means, such as glue, screws, rivets, welds, etc. In some embodiments, they may comprise a joint arrangement, such as a rotary joint or a sliding joint. In one embodiment, the suspension device includes a joint located in one direction of the tactile sensor and a spring or other resilient member located in the other direction such that movement of the first sub-component caused by the tactile sensor is of a nature to move around the joint while tending to return to a release position defined by the resilient member.

In the embodiment of fig. 7, magnetic repulsion between the two halves of the tactile transducer 104 may be utilized as the spring force. In other words, the first permanent magnet in the first half and the second permanent magnet in the second half of the haptic transducer 104 may have similarly named poles facing each other in the permanent magnet arrangement. The magnetic repulsion between the similarly named poles then pushes the first sub-component 701 to a released position away from the second sub-component 702 without any intentional reaction force caused by the user.

Since it is assumed that the first part 101 is relatively small with respect to the second part 102 of the user equipment, also in the embodiment of fig. 7 the current source 204 is part of the second part. There is a connection 704 for allowing current generated in the current source 204 to flow into the coil in the tactile transducer 104. The connection 704 is advantageously configured such that it does not impede movement of the first component relative to the second component. Fig. 7 schematically shows how the connection 704 passes through a swivel of which the shaft 602 is a part. Sliding connector rings or other known means may be used in such a solution. Other ways are also possible, for example by using loose connection portions of wires between the first and second parts, preferably in a suitably hidden position.

One class of embodiments may be generally described, an example of which is schematically illustrated in fig. 7, such that an apparatus for generating haptic effects in a user device includes a first component of the user device and a second component of the user device that forms a handheld body of the user device. A movable accessory is provided between said first and second parts of the user device for allowing a user of the user device to hold the second part with a hand and to move the first part relative to the second part during use of the user device. According to other embodiments described previously, the purpose of the haptic transducer included in the device is to generate haptic effects for the user during the use of the user device. In this particular type of embodiment, the first component includes a first sub-component and a second sub-component, and the haptic transducer includes a first half and a second half. Wherein the first half is attached to the first sub-component of a first component and the second half is attached to the second sub-component of a first component.

A subclass of this class of embodiments may have the first and second sub-components connected to each other by a resilient suspension for moving the first sub-component relative to the second sub-component under the influence of a haptic effect generated by the haptic transducer.

Another subclass of the class of embodiments may have the first and second sub-components coupled to each other by a rigid suspension device so as to subject the first sub-component to elastic deformation under the influence of a haptic effect generated by the haptic transducer.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that as the technology advances, the basic idea of the utility model can be implemented in various ways. The utility model and its embodiments are thus not limited to the examples described above, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus for generating haptic effects in a user device, comprising:

a first component of the user equipment,

a second part of the user device, wherein the second part constitutes a hand-held body of the user device,

-a movable accessory between the first part and the second part of the user device for allowing a user of the user device to hold the second part with his hand and to move the first part relative to the second part during use of the user device, and

-a haptic transducer for generating a haptic effect for the user during the use of the user device;

characterized in that the tactile sensor comprises:

a first half and a second half,

-means of permanent magnets, wherein at least a first permanent magnet is located in said first half and at least a second permanent magnet is located in said second half, and

-at least one coil located in the haptic transducer and configured to create a dynamic magnetic force in the haptic transducer under the influence of a current flowing through the coil;

wherein the first half is attached to the first part of the user equipment and the second half is attached to the second part of the user equipment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second component of the user device comprises a current source for feeding the current into the at least one coil.

3. The device of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the movable accessory is a swivel joint, a sliding joint, or an elastically deformable joint to allow the user to use the first component as a trigger pulled by a finger of the same hand holding the second component.

4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising:

a detector configured to generate a detection signal in response to the user applying a force to the first component to move the first component relative to the second component,

-a controllable driver circuit for generating said current to said coil in response to a control signal, and

-a controller coupled to the detector and the driver circuit, the controller being configured to generate the control signal in response to receiving the detection signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detector and the haptic transducer are different elements.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the haptic transducer is configured to also operate as the detector.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, comprising an electrical coupling between the coil and the controller for enabling the controller to detect a current induced into the coil and to use the detected current as the detection signal.

8. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein:

said first part being movable relative to said second part between a release position and an operating position,

-in the release position, the first half and the second half of the tactile transducer are at a first distance from each other, and

-in the operating position, the first half and the second half of the tactile transducer are at a second distance from each other, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein:

the movable accessory is a swivel joint configured to allow rotation of the first part relative to the second part about an axis of rotation,

-the first half and the second half of the haptic transducer are rotationally symmetrical about a common symmetry axis and are placed with the symmetry axis coinciding with the rotation axis.

10. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein:

-said first permanent magnet and said second permanent magnet have similarly named poles facing each other in said permanent magnet arrangement, and

-magnetic repulsion between the similarly named poles urges the first part to a release position away from the second part without any intentional reaction force caused by the user.

11. A method for generating haptic effects in a user device, the method comprising:

-responding to a detected predetermined manner of user use of a user device by flowing an electric current through a coil of a haptic transducer, the user device comprising two parts movably attached together, the two halves of the haptic transducer being attached to respective ones of the two parts of the user device such that the electric current creates a dynamic magnetic force that together with a static magnetic force created by a permanent magnet of the haptic transducer produces a desired haptic effect.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

-detecting a predetermined movement of a first part of the user equipment with respect to a second part thereof, and

-generating said current in response to said detection.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

-performing the detection of a predetermined movement by detecting a current induced in the coil of the haptic transducer.