KR100588526B1 - Method for making a library of multi-channel vibration type, and multi-channel vibration control device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multi-channel vibration type library for applying to a plurality of vibration motors and a multi-channel vibration control apparatus, wherein the method for manufacturing a multi-channel vibration library includes a) installing each of the vibration motors on an object. B) defining a vibration pattern to be applied to each vibration motor, c) designating a vibration pattern defined in step b) for one or more vibration motors of the plurality of vibration motors, Generating a vibration type and accordingly driving the plurality of vibration motors; d) repeating steps a) to c) to extract the optimum vibration type; and e) according to the optimum vibration type. And combining the vibration pattern information with the installation positions of the respective vibration motors and storing them in a library file. According to the present invention, various types of multi-channel vibrations can be defined and developed in the form of a library, thereby significantly reducing development period and effort when developing games and other applications using multi-channel vibrations.

Vibration motor, vibration pattern, vibration type, multichannel, library,

Description

METHOD FOR MAKING A LIBRARY OF MULTI-CHANNEL VIBRATION TYPE, AND MULTI-CHANNEL VIBRATION CONTROL DEVICE}

1 is a perspective view of a conventional game console with two vibration motors.

2 is an exemplary view of a vibration pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart of a method for fabricating a multichannel vibration library according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram of a system for manufacturing a multi-channel vibration library according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a configuration diagram of a multi-channel vibration control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart of a multi-channel vibration control method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

410: computer 420: control device

430 controller 440 driver

500: multi-channel vibration control device 510: memory

520: driver 530: controller

The present invention relates to the control of a vibration motor, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a library of vibration type (hereinafter referred to as "multi-channel vibration type") for applying to a plurality of vibration motors and a multi-channel vibration control device will be.

With the development of information processing technology, users of game machines or various portable devices are demanding that these devices provide more realistic interactions. Accordingly, there is an increasing interest in a method for providing a hardware environment that can deliver tactile information more realistically in addition to the transmission of conventional visual and auditory information.

Conventional vibration system provided in a game machine or a mobile phone, it is impossible to mount a large number of vibration motors due to the size limitation of the vibration motor, and thus the tactile information transmitted to the user is simply the vibration strength of the vibration motor It only changed the vibration frequency.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, International Patent Application PCT / JP01 / 00150 filed by SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT of Japan (International Publication No. WO 01/52030, International Publication Date: July 19, 2001) Discloses a console console with two different vibration motors. The console console may control vibration by varying the rotational speed of the two motors when the size of the vibration motor 20 and the eccentric member 21 are different from each other, and driven by a fixed driving voltage.

However, the game console console described above is limited to real vibration in various situations since only the combination of two vibration motors realizes a sense of vibration, and the vibration motor is added or removed for a more realistic vibration. When changing the arrangement position of the vibration motor or there is a problem that can not provide a vibration type suitable for the position combination of the changed vibration motor.

Therefore, in the related art, it is not easy for a developer who develops an application of a game software or various portable devices to effectively control a plurality of three-dimensional vibration motors and design a more realistic game environment.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, by producing a multi-channel vibration type library that can vibrate a plurality of vibration motors in three dimensions, by using a multi-channel vibration type library for games or various applications It is to make it easy to implement a suitable vibration method.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a control device that can utilize the above-described multichannel vibration type library for game machines, various portable terminal devices, vibration earphones, and the like.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of manufacturing a library of vibration type for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of: a) inputting a position for installing each of the vibration motors on the object; b) defining vibration patterns to be applied to each vibration motor; and c) specifying vibration patterns defined in step b) for one or more vibration motors of the plurality of vibration motors to generate vibration types. Driving the plurality of vibration motors, d) repeating steps a) to c) to extract an optimal vibration type, and e) generating vibration pattern information according to the optimal vibration type. And storing in a library file in combination with the installation location of the vibration motor.

At this time, the vibration type library manufacturing method is f) generating a new vibration type by combining a plurality of vibration pattern information according to the optimal vibration type stored in the library file, g) vibration type generated in step f) The method may further include storing information in the library file in combination with the installation position of each vibration motor.

Step a) includes the step of defining the vibration pattern on the basis of the vibration frequency and vibration time to be applied to each vibration motor, or based on the vibration frequency, vibration time and vibration intensity to be applied to each vibration motor It may include the step of defining the vibration pattern.

In addition, the above-described method may further include h) searching for information stored in the library file and changing it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable recording medium comprising instructions for performing each of the above-described steps.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for producing a library of vibration type for vibrating the plurality of vibration motors by connecting to a plurality of vibration motors, wherein the system is a position for installing the respective vibration motors on an object. Defining a vibration pattern to be applied to each vibration motor, specifying the vibration pattern for at least one vibration motor among the plurality of vibration motors, and designating the plurality of vibration patterns according to the vibration pattern information assigned to each vibration motor. Processing means for providing a driving command to drive the vibration motor and combining the vibration pattern information designated for each vibration motor with the position of each vibration motor input from the input means in a library file; and the driving command from the processing means. Receiving the vibration pattern information assigned to each of the vibration motors According to a control means for providing an output for driving the plurality of vibration motors.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibration motor control device for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors, wherein the vibration motor control device includes information of vibration patterns designated for one or more vibration motors of the plurality of vibration motors, respectively. Storage means for storing a library of vibration type including an installation position of each vibration motor, drive means for providing an output for driving the plurality of vibration motors, connected to the storage means and drive means, and storing Control means for retrieving a specific vibration type from the means and controlling the driving means to drive the plurality of vibration motors according to the information of the vibration pattern included in the retrieved vibration type.

In this case, the vibration pattern may be specified based on the vibration frequency and vibration time to be applied to each vibration motor, or may be specified based on the vibration frequency, vibration time and vibration intensity to be applied to each vibration motor.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors, wherein the method includes information of vibration patterns designated for one or more vibration motors of the plurality of vibration motors and the installation of the respective vibration motors. Storing a library of vibration types including a location, retrieving a particular vibration type from the storage means, and driving the plurality of vibration motors according to information of vibration patterns included in the retrieved vibration types It includes.

Finally, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable recording medium storing a vibration type library for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors, the vibration type library having a vibration pattern to be applied to each vibration motor. Defining the vibration pattern is defined for each of the one or more vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors to define the vibration type, by combining the vibration pattern information according to the vibration type with the installation position of each vibration motor Save it.

In this case, the recording medium may include a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) chip, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or the like.

On the other hand, the vibration motor used in the present invention is preferably a brushless vibration motor.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the following embodiments are only intended to illustrate the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

2 illustrates a vibration pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, various basic vibration patterns 310, 320, 330, and 340 may be defined based on the frequency and duty cycle of the driving voltage or current applied to the vibration motor. The illustrated vibration patterns all have the same vibration intensity (amplitude), but may be defined in consideration of the strength of vibration by adjusting the output applied to the motor.

The vibration pattern is intended to be applied to one vibration motor. The vibration pattern may be equally applied to a plurality of motors, and may be defined differently when using a plurality of motors having different specifications.

The vibration frequency of the vibration motor is determined as the number of times the vibration motor is ON / OFF per second, and can be set in the range of 100 times per second to zero times per second (no vibration). The operating time of the vibration motor can be specified within the range of, for example, 0.1 to 10 seconds.

Thereafter, the above-described vibration pattern may be assigned to each of the plurality of vibration motors as shown in FIG. 2 to generate one vibration type.

According to FIG. 2, first each vibration pattern 210, 220, 230, 240 is defined, and then the vibration pattern 210 is assigned to the first vibration motor to generate the vibration type, and the vibration pattern 220 Is assigned to the second vibration motor, and likewise, the vibration patterns 230 and 240 are assigned to the vibration motor 3 and the vibration motor 4, respectively. One thing to note is that the same vibration pattern may be identically assigned to several vibration motors, and it is also possible to change the above-described assignment relationship.

The designation relationship between the vibration pattern and the vibration motor described above generates one vibration type, and the vibration type may be actually output by the plural vibration motors to experience and select a name of the vibration type suitable for the feeling of vibration.

Figure 3 shows step by step a method for manufacturing a multi-channel vibration library according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

First, a plurality of vibration motors are installed in an object, such as a game machine or a mobile phone, and then position information of each vibration motor is input (S300). The input of the location information may be input via an input means such as a keyboard or may use other known methods.

Subsequently, as described with reference to FIG. 2, a vibration pattern to be applied to each vibration motor is defined (S310), and each vibration pattern defined in step S310 is assigned to one or more vibration motors among the plurality of vibration motors. Generates a vibration type and thereby drives the plurality of vibration motors (S320). In the present specification, the vibration type is generated by combining the vibration patterns of each of the plurality of vibration motors (including the case where they do not vibrate), and means a total vibration feeling of each vibration generated by the plurality of vibration motors.

Next, while repeating the above-described steps (S300 to S330) (S330), to generate a plurality of vibration types of the same or different positions for the plurality of vibration motors, the vibration type ( Choose "Optimal Vibration Type" below.

The optimal vibration type can be selected as one or more that is most suitable for an object, installation location and / or game (or application) by driving the motors with one or more vibration types depending on the installation location of the multiple vibration motors.

For example, the above-described steps may be described. For example, steps S310 may be repeated to produce a vibration library for four vibration motors (motor 1, motor 2, motor 3, and motor 4). Assume that 3, pattern 4 is defined.

Table 1 shows an example of defining five vibration types (type 1, type 2, type 3, type 4, type 5) by repeating step S320 by step S330.

Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Motor 1 Pattern 1 Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4 Motor 2 Pattern 2 Pattern 1 Pattern 3 Pattern 3 Pattern 3 Motor 3 Pattern 3 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 2 Pattern 2 Motor 4 Pattern 4 Pattern 2 Pattern 4 - -

Referring to Table 1, in Type 1, Motor 1, Motor 2, Motor 3, and Motor 4 are assigned to Pattern 1, Pattern 2, Pattern 3, and Pattern 4, respectively, and the remaining types (Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4). Also in 4), the pattern assigned to each motor can be confirmed.

Note that no vibration pattern is specified for motor 4 in type 4 and type 5. Therefore, when vibrating a plurality of vibrating motors according to the type 4 and the type 5, the motors 1 to 4 vibrate according to the vibration patterns assigned to each, but the motor 4 does not vibrate.

Table 2 shows an example of configuring a new vibration type (type 6) by specifying a plurality of vibration patterns for each motor by the above-described step (S320).

Type 6 Time order Motor 1  Pattern 1 → Pattern 2 → Pattern 3 → Pattern 1 → Pattern 2 → Pattern 3 Motor 2  Pattern 2 → Pattern 2 → Pattern 2 → Pattern 2 → Pattern 2 → Pattern 2 Motor 3  Pattern 2 → Pattern 3 → Pattern 4 → Pattern 4 → Pattern 3 → Pattern 2 Motor 4  Pattern 4 → Pattern 4 → Pattern 4 → Pattern 3 → Pattern 3 → Pattern 3

Referring to Table 2, a plurality of types 6 are selected in the order of pattern 1, pattern 2, pattern 3, pattern 1, pattern 2, and pattern 3 for motor 1, and also for motor 2, motor 3, and motor 4. You can see that a series of patterns are selected in chronological order.

Of the six vibration types (types 1 to 6), if it is determined that the type 1 is most suitable for use in the position information of the plurality of vibration motors input in step S300, it is selected as the optimal vibration type. Accordingly, the vibration patterns of the vibration motors corresponding to the type 1, that is, the pattern 1, the pattern 2, the pattern 3, and the pattern 4, are combined with the location information and stored in the library file.

Of course, the sense of vibration will be different according to the position of each vibration motor, so change the position of the vibration motor within the range allowed by the structure of the object to which the motor is installed and repeat the above steps to extract the best possible vibration type. Can be.

In this case, if the library file does not exist initially, a library file may be generated and the information may be stored, and if the library file already exists, the library file may be input in addition to the existing library file. Alternatively, separate library files may be generated for each position combination of the vibration motors, and one library file may store optimal vibration types according to vibration feelings to be implemented (for example, a car crash or shooting in a game). have.

Regarding the structure of library files, redundancy of data can be reduced when hierarchically configuring and storing vibration patterns and vibration types. That is, the vibration type stores the order of vibration patterns and the like, and the vibration pattern may be configured in a manner of storing information such as vibration frequency, vibration time, and vibration intensity, or vice versa.

Regarding the position information of the vibration motor, vibration types corresponding to the same position combination may be configured to share the position information by using the position combination of the plurality of vibration motors as one category. Alternatively, it is also possible to combine and store the vibration pattern of each vibration motor according to the vibration type and the location information of the vibration motor, respectively.

Subsequently, referring to step S350, since a plurality of vibration types generated in step S340 may exist in the library file, a plurality of vibration types are selected and combined to form a new vibration type (S350). The vibration type is selected in the order of type 1, type 2, type 2, type 3, type 1, and type 4 to configure a new type of vibration (type 7), and it is stored in a library file (S360).

The type of vibration generated by step S350 (e.g., type 7) does not assign a vibration pattern to each vibration motor as in the type of vibration generated by step S320, but rather a vibration that targets the entire vibration motor. It is created by combining the types sequentially. Therefore, in generating the vibration type, it is not necessary to designate a pattern for each vibration motor, that is, for each channel, and thus, the library file may be very easy to use.

4 shows a configuration of a system for manufacturing a multi-channel vibration library according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is composed of a computer (PC) 410 and a control device 420.

First, the computer 410 inputs position information on which a plurality of vibration motors are installed on an object, designates a vibration pattern to be applied to each of the vibration motors, and applies a vibration pattern to one or more vibration motors of the plurality of vibration motors. Select the vibration type. In addition, the computer 410 applies a command to the control device to execute the vibration type, and generates a library file by combining the information of the vibration pattern according to the vibration type with the position information of the plurality of vibration motors. The functions of the computer 410 may be implemented on one hardware, but may be implemented on separate hardware.

Next, the control device 420 is composed of a controller 430 and N drivers 540 for providing a drive signal to a plurality of vibration motors (motor 1, motor 2, ..., motor N), The controller 430 receives an instruction including a predetermined parameter from the computer 410 and controls the plurality of drivers 440 according to information related to the vibration pattern or the vibration type included in the instruction. Accordingly, the driver 540 drives each vibration motor by setting the frequency, duration, and vibration intensity of the output signal for each vibration pattern.

The motor drive instruction for a particular drive pattern that computer 410 provides to control device 420 may include, for example, three parameters Mn, Vn, and Tn.

The parameter Mn is for designating a vibration motor, and may be selected from 1 to N when driving N vibration motors. The parameter Vn represents the vibration frequency of the vibration motor, that is, the number of ON / OFF operations of the vibration motor per unit time. For example, when Vn is 5, the ON / OFF operation is repeated 500 times per second. Finally, the operating time of the vibration motor is designated by the parameter Tn. For example, when displayed in units of 1/100 second, when Tn is 50, the operation time is 0.5 seconds.

In addition to the motor driving command may include a command to repeat the already transmitted motor driving command. As an alternative, it is also possible to further include a parameter to repeat the motor drive command already sent in the motor drive command.

Although not shown, the controller 420 may include a display unit such as an LCD display window to display operation information of the motor.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of a multi-channel vibration control apparatus 500 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The memory 510 stores a group of vibration types, and N (N> 1). And a driver 520 which provides an output for driving the vibration motors (motor 1, motor 2, ..., motor N), respectively, and a controller 530 which controls the above-mentioned devices.

First, the memory 510 may be provided in the form of an IC chip, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or the like, and stores a library generated by the aforementioned multichannel vibration library manufacturing method. That is, the vibration types stored in the memory 510 include information on the installation position of each vibration motor and vibration patterns designated for one or more vibration motors of the plurality of vibration motors, respectively. Here, the meaning of the vibration pattern and the vibration type is as described above.

The driver 520 may be provided with an output terminal for providing a separate driver for each motor as shown, or for providing a drive signal to a plurality of motors as one driver assembly. It is already described that the vibration pattern of each motor can be changed by controlling the frequency, duration, intensity, etc. of the drive signal output from the driver.

The controller 530 may control the operations of the memory 510 and the driver 520, exchange data with these components, and process the data internally.

For example, upon receiving a command signal from the outside instructing to drive a specific vibration type stored in the memory 510, the controller 530 searches the memory 510 to provide specific information on the specific vibration method (eg, N). The vibration pattern for each of the three vibration motors and / or the installation position of the N vibration motors), and controls the driver 520 to drive the N vibration motors according to the retrieved information.

In addition, when the controller 530 receives a command signal from the outside instructing the memory 510 to search for information on a specific vibration type, the controller 530 searches for the memory 510 to provide specific information about the specific vibration type. To provide. Accordingly, an external device such as a user or a PC may access or change as necessary specific information about the specific vibration method.

If the user wants to change the information on the specific vibration method, the controller 530 transmits a change command including the changed information to the controller 530 so that the controller 530 stores the library stored in the memory 510 according to the change command. Will be corrected.

Finally, Figure 6 shows the flow of a multi-channel vibration control method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention,

First, a set of vibration types generated by the vibration type library manufacturing method or system described above are provided (S600). Subsequently, a specific vibration type is searched among the vibration types (S610) to obtain information related to the detected vibration type (for example, information on vibration patterns designated for one or more vibration motors among a plurality of vibration motors). Since the obtained information includes information for driving each motor, the plurality of vibration motors are driven accordingly (S620).

On the other hand, in the above-described embodiments, the vibration motor is preferably a brushless vibration motor, in particular a coin-type brushless vibration motor, which is a brushless vibration motor can be made more compact than a conventional vibration motor This is because it is more advantageous to install two vibration motors on the object.

As described above, according to the present invention, since various types of multichannel vibration types suitable for various applications can be defined in advance in the form of a library, a vibration type library prepared in advance when developing games and other applications using multichannel vibrations Can significantly save development time and effort.

In addition, according to the present invention, by providing a multi-channel vibration control device equipped with the library, there is an advantage that the various multi-channel vibration mode can be easily applied to various devices, such as a game machine, a portable terminal device.

Claims (16)

A method of fabricating a vibration type library for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors, a) inputting a position for installing each vibrating motor to an object; b) defining vibration patterns to be applied to each vibration motor; c) assigning each vibration pattern defined in step b) to at least one vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors to generate a vibration type, thereby driving the plurality of vibration motors; d) repeating steps a) to c) to extract the optimal vibration type; e) combining the vibration pattern information according to the optimal vibration type with the installation position of each of the vibration motor to store in a library file Vibration type library production method comprising a. The method of claim 1, f) generating a new vibration type by combining a plurality of vibration pattern information according to the optimal vibration type stored in the library file; g) combining the vibration type information generated in step f) with the installation position of each vibration motor and storing the vibration type information in the library file. The method of claim 1, wherein the step a) includes defining the vibration pattern based on vibration frequency and vibration time to be applied to each vibration motor. The method of claim 1, wherein the step a) includes defining the vibration pattern based on vibration frequency, vibration time, and vibration intensity to be applied to each vibration motor. The method of claim 1, h) retrieving information stored in the library file and modifying it. A computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions for performing each step according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A system for manufacturing a vibration type library for vibrating the plurality of vibration motors by connecting to a plurality of vibration motors, Means for inputting a position for installing each vibrating motor to an object; Define a vibration pattern to be applied to each vibration motor, designate the vibration pattern defined for at least one vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors, and drive the plurality of vibration motors according to the vibration pattern information assigned to each vibration motor. Processing means for providing a driving command, and combining the vibration pattern information designated for each vibration motor with the position of each vibration motor input from the input means, and storing the vibration pattern information in a library file; Control means for receiving the drive command from the processing means and providing an output for driving the plurality of vibration motors according to the vibration pattern information assigned to each of the vibration motors Vibration type library production system comprising a. A vibration control device for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors, Storage means for storing a library of vibration type including information of vibration patterns designated for at least one vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors and an installation position of each vibration motor; Drive means for providing an output for driving the plurality of vibration motors; Control means connected to said storage means and drive means, said control means for retrieving a particular vibration type from said storage means and controlling said drive means to drive said plurality of vibration motors according to information of vibration patterns included in said retrieved vibration type Vibration control device comprising a. The vibration control apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vibration pattern is designated based on a vibration frequency and a vibration time to be applied to each vibration motor. The vibration control apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vibration pattern is specified based on vibration frequency, vibration time, and vibration intensity to be applied to each vibration motor. The vibration control device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of vibration motors are brushless vibration motors. As a method for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors, Storing a library of vibration type including information of vibration patterns designated for at least one vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors and an installation position of each vibration motor; Retrieving a particular type of vibration from the storage means; Driving the plurality of vibration motors according to the information of the vibration pattern included in the searched vibration type. Vibration control method comprising a. A computer-readable recording medium for storing a library of vibration types for vibrating a plurality of vibration motors, wherein the library of vibration types Define vibration patterns to apply to each vibration motor, Each of the defined vibration patterns is specified for at least one vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors to define a vibration type, Storing the vibration pattern information according to the vibration type in combination with the installation position of each vibration motor And a computer readable recording medium. The recording medium of claim 13, wherein the vibration pattern is defined based on vibration frequency and vibration time to be applied to each vibration motor. The recording medium of claim 13, wherein the vibration pattern is defined based on vibration frequency, vibration time, and vibration intensity to be applied to each vibration motor. 14. The recording medium of claim 13, wherein the computer readable recording medium is a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) chip.

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