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US 12,632,114 B2Granted
Gap sensing via engine coil
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsDenis G. Chen, Darya Amin-Shahidi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A haptic engine for an electronic device includes a coil assembly and a stator. The coil assembly may be coupled to an input structure, such as a button cap. In an gap sensing mode, a first voltage may be driven through the coil assembly to determine an impedance of the coil assembly. The impedance is then used to determine a gap between the coil assembly and the stator. In a haptic drive mode, a second voltage is driven through the coil assembly to produce a haptic output.
Claims13
An electronic device comprising:
- a plurality of housing elements;
- an input structure at least partially moveable with respect to at least one housing element of the plurality of housing elements;
- a coil assembly mechanically coupled to the input structure such that movement of the input structure causes movement of the coil assembly;
- a stator having a surface that is separated by a gap from a surface of the coil assembly;
- and
- a circuit operatively coupled to a processor and comprising a first sense resistor and a second sense resistor, the circuit and the processor configured to:
- drive a first signal through the coil assembly;
- determine a distance of the gap, the determination based at least in part on an impedance of the coil assembly when driving the first signal through the coil assembly;
- and
- switch current from a first path to a second path, wherein:
- the first path includes the coil assembly electrically coupled to the first sense resistor and electrically isolated from the second sense resistor;
- and
- the second path includes the coil assembly electrically coupled to the second sense resistor and electrically isolated from the first sense resistor.
10 more elements
A device comprising:
- a housing defining an opening;
- a button positioned at least partially within the opening and moveable with respect to the housing;
- a coil assembly comprising a casing, and a coil disposed in the casing, the coil assembly mechanically coupled to the button such that movement of the button causes movement of the coil assembly;
- a stator connected within the housing with a surface of the stator separated from a surface of the casing, forming a gap;
- one or more force sensors mechanically coupled to one or both of the button or the coil assembly;
- a flexible printed circuit board disposed within the housing;
- wherein:
- one or more first wires connect the flexible printed circuit board to the coil;
- and
- one or more second wires connect the flexible printed circuit board to the one or more force sensors;
- and
- a processor operatively coupled to the flexible printed circuit board, the processor and the flexible printed circuit board configured to:
- drive a first signal through the coil assembly;
- and
- determine a distance of the gap, the determination based at least in part on impedance of the coil assembly when driving the first signal through the coil assembly.
12 more elements
A method of sensing a gap via a reluctance engine coil, for controlling haptic output, comprising:
- switching a circuit from a haptic drive mode to an inductive sensing mode;
- applying, via the circuit in the inductive sensing mode, a first signal to the reluctance engine coil;
- measuring a voltage from a force sensor mechanically coupled to the reluctance engine coil;
- measuring, via the circuit in the inductive sensing mode, an inductance and resistance of the reluctance engine coil, the measuring based at least in part on the first signal;
- determining, via the circuit in the inductive sensing mode, a distance of the gap associated with the reluctance engine coil and a stator, the determination based at least in part on the measured inductance, measured voltage, and measured resistance;
- and
- switching the circuit from the inductive sensing mode to the haptic drive mode.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.