GB2378616A

GB2378616A - Dual alerting mobile device

Info

Publication number: GB2378616A
Application number: GB0119670A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Bentley Cammish
Original assignee: Ubinetics Ltd
Current assignee: Aeroflex Cambridge Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-11
Filing date: 2001-08-11
Publication date: 2003-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-11
Also published as: GB2378616B; GB0119670D0

Abstract

A hand-held mobile device comprising an audible sounder 20, a vibrating device 10 and a processor 18; the processor 18 being electrically coupled to the audible sounder 20 and the vibrating device 10 and operable to control independently both the audible sounder 20 and the vibrating device 10; the audible sounder 20 being operable to emit sounds as specified by the processor 18; the vibrating device 10 being operable to vibrate under control of the processor 18; and the processor 18 being configured to operate the audible sounder 20 and vibrating device 10 in synchronicity in response to a predetermined condition. Preferably a plurality of vibration patterns provide rhythmic or melodic accompaniment to a plurality of sound outputs, perhaps in musical harmony. The vibration patterns may be user customised.

Description

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SOUNDS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating sounds.

In many hand-held mobile devices, such as mobile telephones or personal digital assistants (PDAs), an audible alert is used in order to make the user aware of a certain condition or state such as incoming data or telephone calls, messages, alerts, alarms, battery condition etc. Typically a mobile device uses a piezo-buzzer for its audio alert, since these are compact and light weight, and may readily be mounted on the circuit board in the device.

Moving coil speakers are not used commonly used to produce audible alerts since they are relatively heavy and are not sufficiently compact.

There is a desire to produce distinctive audible alerts consisting of appealing tunes or musical sequences. Piezo-buzzers emit sounds over a range of frequencies and, under the control of a processor, are operable to produce simple melodies. However, because piezobuzzers cannot generate sufficiently audible low frequency sounds, such melodies are consequently restricted to musical notes over a limited range of relatively high frequency notes. Bass notes, and rhythmic effects such as drum beats, are not achievable.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand-held mobile device comprising an audible sounder, a vibrating device and a processor; the processor being electrically coupled to the audible sounder and the vibrating device, and operable to control independently both the audible sounder and the vibrating device; the audible sounder being operable to emit sounds as specified by the processor; the vibrating device being operable to vibrate under control of the processor; and the processor being configured to operate the

audible sounder and vibrating device in synchronicity in response to a predetermined condition. The term'in synchronicity'is used herein to mean that the audible sounder and vibrating device are independently operated together, either simultaneously or in some kind of musical or rhythmic pattern. Operating the vibrating device and audible sounder in synchronicity advantageously enables more interesting and appealing ring tones and other audible alerts to be generated.

Preferably the hand-held mobile device is configured such that the vibrating device is operable to cause the mobile device to vibrate against a surface such as a desk on which it is placed, the processor controlling the vibrations of the vibrating device such that the vibrations of the mobile device against the surface are in synchronicity with the output of the audible sounder. This advantageously provides two types of vibration that may be generated in synchronicity with the audible sounder: vibration of the vibrating device itself, and vibration of the mobile device as a whole against a surface on which it is placed.

Preferably the vibrating device is further operable to vibrate at a plurality of selectable frequencies as selected by the processor. Such vibrations at different frequencies are perceived by the user as different musical notes, and accordingly this feature of the invention advantageously enables interesting melodic and harmonic effects to be produced when the vibrations are generated in synchronicity with the audible sounder.

Preferably the frequency of vibration of the vibrating device is specified by the processor such that the frequency of the vibrations generated complements the output of the audible sounder. This thereby gives rise to an audible alert that is musically interesting and appealing.

Particularly preferably the audible sounder is operated at a first frequency and the vibrating device at a second frequency, the first and second frequencies being of a predetermined ratio such that they are in musical harmony.

Particularly preferably the vibrations generated by the vibrating device provide a melodic or rhythmic accompaniment to the output of the audible sounder.

Particularly preferably the processor is operable such that a user may customise melodies by adding vibration patterns thereto. This enables the user to be creative, customising existing melodies produced by the audible sounder by adding vibration patterns as desired.

The invention enables more realistic tunes and melodies to be emitted from the hand held mobile device with a real feeling of bass, at a low cost and without using conventional moving-coil speakers that are undesirably large. Since mobile devices (especially mobile phones) may well incorporate a vibrating device as standard, it is possible to implement the invention without needing to add any additional components to the mobile device.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of alerting a user of a hand-held mobile device to a condition such as an incoming communication, performed by a processor in the mobile device and comprising operating an audible sounder and a vibrating device in synchronicity.

Preferably the processor specifies the frequency of vibration of the vibrating device such that the frequency of the vibrations generated complements or harmonises with the output of the audible sounder.

Particularly preferably the processor operates the vibrating device to provide a melodic or rhythmic accompaniment to the output of the audible sounder.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates internal components of a mobile device such as a mobile phone; and Figure 2 illustrates a mobile device in use on a surface such as a desk.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a hand-held mobile device such as a mobile phone comprises a processor 18 electrically coupled to an audible sounder 20 and a vibrating device 10. The application of the invention is by no means limited to mobile phones, though, and may alternatively be realised in, inter alia, personal digital assistants, hand-held games and toys, laptop computers, and other hand-held portable electronic devices with which a user interacts.

The vibrating device 10 is a miniature multi-pole core-less micro motor with an off-axis mass, and is activated on command from the processor 18. The vibrating device 10 comprises an

off-axis mass 12 that is rotatably driven by the drive motor 16 via a drive shaft 14. The drive motor 16 is typically of the flat'pancake'variety, such as manufactured by Panasonic, and is secured inside the main chassis or body of the mobile device as far as possible from its centre of gravity in order to maximise the vibrating effect. As the motor is driven, rotation of the off-axis mass generates vibrations. These vibrations are transmitted to the body of the mobile device as a whole, and are thereby perceived by the user.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the speed of rotation of the motor 16, and hence the frequency of the vibrations, is variable, being controlled by the processor 18.

When vibrating, the vibrating device 10 also generates an audible tone. The pitch of this tone may be changed by varying the frequency of vibration of the device. Higher frequency vibrations give rise to a higher pitched tone.

When the vibrating device is operating, the mobile device as a whole may also vibrate against a surface such as a desk on which it has been placed. This effect gives rise to additional audible sounds that may be perceived by a user.

An audible sounder 20 is also electrically coupled to, and controlled by, the processor 18.

The audible sounder 20 may be operated to generate tones such as a melody, which are emitted from the mobile device via an aperture in its casing. Such audible sounders are commonly used to generate audible alerts in mobile phones.

The processor 18 is configured to control independently, and potentially simultaneously, the vibrating device 10 and the audible sounder 20.

In response to a predetermined condition such as the receipt of an incoming telephone call, the processor 18 is configured to operate the audible sounder 20 and the vibrating device 10 in synchronicity. The audible sounder 20 and the vibrating device 10 are independently operated, both under the control of the processor 18, using software either hard-coded in the processor or programmable by a user. Additional signal processing or amplification devices may also be employed.

As shown in Figure 2, the mobile device 40 alerts the user by emitting audible tones 46 from the audible sounder 44. and also by generating vibrations 48. These vibrations may be from the vibrating device itself, or alternatively may be vibrations of the body of the mobile device 40 against a surface 42 such as a desktop. The user may therefore experience the alert, comprising audible tones and vibrations, through both the senses of touch and hearing.

The audible sounder 20 typically produces tones of a relatively high pitch. The vibrations generated by the vibrating device (either vibrating itself or causing the body of the mobile device to vibrate against a surface) are typically of a lower pitch. The vibrating device 10 may therefore be operated to provide a sound or tone to accompany the output of the audible sounder 20. By varying the frequency of vibrations the pitch of this accompanying tone may be varied. This thereby provides a relatively straightforward means of creating audible alerts that are musically more interesting than conventional monophonic tunes. The vibration tone may be varied to provide bass notes to accompany a melody played by the audible sounder.

A wide variety of effects may be produced by the vibrating device 10 to accompany the output from the audible sounder 20. Sustained bass notes may be generated by maintaining operation of the vibrating device, whereas pulsed bass notes may be obtained by repeatedly activating and deactivating the vibrating device. Different pitches of bass notes may be obtained by varying the frequency of vibration. Other rhythmic effects may be produced as a consequence of the body of the mobile device vibrating against the surface.

The user may customise existing audible alerts by adding his own pattern of vibrations, which may then be stored in the memory of the mobile device. Audible alerts having accompanying vibration patterns may also be downloaded to the mobile device from the Internet or mobile telecommunications providers.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A hand-held mobile device comprising an audible sounder, a vibrating device and a processor; the processor being electrically coupled to the audible sounder and the vibrating device, and operable to control independently both the audible sounder and the vibrating device; the audible sounder being operable to emit sounds as specified by the processor; the vibrating device being operable to vibrate under control of the processor; and the processor being configured to operate the audible sounder and vibrating device in synchronicity in response to a predetermined condition.
2. A hand-held mobile device as claimed in Claim 1 configured such that the vibrating device is operable to cause the mobile device to vibrate against a surface such as a desk on which it is placed, the processor controlling the vibrations of the vibrating device such that the vibrations of the mobile device against the surface are in synchronicity with the output of the audible sounder.
3. A hand-held mobile device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the vibrating device is further operable to vibrate at a plurality of selectable frequencies as selected by the processor.
4. A hand-held mobile device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the frequency of vibration of the vibrating device is specified by the processor such that the frequency of the vibrations generated complements the output of the audible sounder.

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5. A hand-held mobile device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the audible sounder is operated at a first frequency and the vibrating device at a second frequency, the first and second frequencies being of a predetermined ratio such that they are in musical harmony.
6. A hand-held mobile device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the vibrations generated by the vibrating device provide a melodic or rhythmic accompaniment to the output of the audible sounder.
7. A hand-held mobile device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the processor is operable such that a user may customise melodies by adding vibration patterns thereto.
8. A method of alerting a user of a hand-held mobile device to a condition such as an incoming communication, performed by a processor in the mobile device and comprising operating an audible sounder and a vibrating device in synchronicity.
9. A method as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the processor specifies the frequency of vibration of the vibrating device such that the frequency of the vibrations generated complements the output of the audible sounder.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the audible sounder is operated at a first frequency and the vibrating device at a second frequency, the first and second frequencies being of a predetermined ratio such that they are in musical harmony.

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11. A method as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the processor operates the vibrating device to provide a melodic or rhythmic accompaniment to the output of the audible sounder.
12. A hand-held mobile device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.