# US 12,190,716 B2 · Methods and apparatus for outputting a haptic signal to a haptic transducer

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- Number: US 12,190,716 B2
- Document ID: US12190716B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/170,277
- Filed: 2023-02-16
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-04
- Assignees: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
- Applicants: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
- Inventors: Anthony S. Doy; Nermin Osmanovic; Carl L. Ståhl
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12190716B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/285: Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- A63F 13/54: involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback}
- H03F 3/183: with semiconductor devices only
- H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F)
- H04R 2400/03: Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H03F: AMPLIFIERS
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for outputting a haptic signal to a haptic transducer. A method for triggering a haptic signal being output to a haptic transducer comprises receiving an audio signal for output through an audio output transducer; determining whether the audio signal comprises a haptic trigger based on an indication of a rate of change of an amplitude of the audio signal, and responsive to determining that the audio signal comprises a haptic trigger, triggering the haptic signal to be output to the haptic transducer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for generating a haptic signal for output to a haptic transducer, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, an audio signal for output through an audio output transducer;
determining, by the processor, whether the audio signal comprises a haptic trigger based on an indication of a rate of change of an amplitude of the audio signal being greater than a threshold value indicating that the audio signal is suitable for output in conjunction with a haptic signal;
responsive to determining that the audio signal comprises the haptic trigger, mapping, by the processor, energy in the haptic trigger at frequencies outside of an intended frequency range to frequencies within the intended frequency range in the haptic signal to generate the haptic signal, wherein the mapping is performed by:
under-sampling data in the audio signal comprising the haptic trigger, such that the energy in the haptic trigger at frequencies above the intended frequency range is shifted into frequencies within the intended frequency range wherein the intended frequency range comprises frequencies that, when input into the haptic transducer, result in a haptic event that is able to be felt by a user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
adjusting, by the processor, a dynamic range of the haptic trigger to generate the haptic signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of mapping further comprises:
distorting audio signal energy at frequencies below the intended frequency range in the haptic trigger, such that corresponding harmonic energy is created within the intended frequency range in the haptic signal.

### Claim 4

A processor for generating a haptic signal for output to a haptic transducer, comprising:
an input configured to receive an audio signal for output through an audio output transducer;
a haptic trigger detection block configured to determine whether the audio signal comprises a haptic trigger based on an indication of a rate of change of an amplitude of the audio signal being greater than a threshold value indicating that the audio signal is suitable for output in conjunction with a haptic signal; and
a haptic signal generator configured to:
responsive to determining that the audio signal comprises the haptic trigger, mapping energy in the haptic trigger at frequencies outside of an intended frequency range to frequencies within the intended frequency range in the haptic signal to generate the haptic signal,
wherein the mapping is performed by: undersampling data in the audio signal comprising the haptic trigger such that the energy in the haptic trigger at frequencies above the intended frequency range is shifted into frequencies within the intended frequency range wherein the intended frequency range comprises frequencies that, when input into the haptic transducer, result in a haptic event that is able to be felt by a user.