# US 2017/0287291 A1 · Electronic device including sound level based driving of haptic actuator and related methods

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- Number: US 2017/0287291 A1
- Document ID: US20170287291A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/252,829
- Filed: 2016-08-31
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Xuefeng WANG; SungChang LEE; Wei Guang WU; Yuanyuan SONG
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170287291A1

## CPC

- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- H04M 1/026: {Details of the structure or mounting of specific components}
- H04W 88/02: Terminal devices
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

An electronic device may include a device housing, a haptic actuator carried by the device housing, and an audio input transducer carried by the device housing. The electronic device may also include a controller coupled to the audio input transducer and the haptic actuator. The controller may be capable of determining a sound level of the haptic actuator, attempting to drive the haptic actuator to operate within a desired sound level range, and when unable to drive the haptic actuator within the desired sound level range, then generating a warning indication.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device comprising:
a device housing;
a haptic actuator carried by the device housing;
an audio input transducer carried by the device housing; and
a controller coupled to the audio input transducer and the haptic actuator and configured to
determine a sound level of the haptic actuator,
attempt to drive the haptic actuator to operate within a desired sound level range, and
when unable to drive the haptic actuator within the desired sound level range, then generate a warning indication.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the warning indication is indicative of haptic actuator failure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the warning indication comprises at least one of a visual and audible notification.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising wireless communications circuitry carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is configured to communicate, via the wireless communications circuitry, the warning indication.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising an audio output transducer carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is configured to cooperate with the audio output transducer to generate an offsetting sound at an offsetting sound level.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the audio input transducer is positioned within the device housing facing the haptic actuator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the haptic actuator comprises:
a haptic housing;
a field member movable within the haptic housing;
at least one magnet;
at least one coil cooperating with the at least one magnet to move the field member within the haptic housing.

### Claim 8

A method of operating an electronic device comprising a device housing, a haptic actuator carried by the device housing, an audio input transducer carried by the device housing, and a controller coupled to the audio input transducer and the haptic actuator, the method comprising:
using the controller for
determining a sound level of the haptic actuator,
attempting to drive the haptic actuator to operate within a desired sound level range, and
when unable to drive the haptic actuator within the desired sound level range, then generating a warning indication.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the warning indication is indicative of haptic actuator failure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the warning indication comprises at least one of a visual and audible notification.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the electronic device further comprises wireless communications circuitry carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is used for communicating, via the wireless communications circuitry, the warning indication.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the electronic device further comprises an audio output transducer carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is used for cooperating with the audio output transducer to generate an offsetting sound at an offsetting sound level.

### Claim 13

An electronic device comprising:
a device housing;
a haptic actuator carried by the device housing;
an accelerometer carried by the device housing; and
a controller coupled to the accelerometer and the haptic actuator and configured to
determine an acceleration of the haptic actuator,
attempt to drive the haptic actuator to operate within a sound level range based upon the determined acceleration, and
when unable to drive the haptic actuator within the desired sound level range, then generate a warning indication.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the warning indication is indicative of haptic actuator failure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the warning indication comprises at least one of a visual and audible notification.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13 further comprising wireless communications circuitry carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is capable of communicating, via the wireless communications circuitry, the warning indication.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13 further comprising an audio output transducer carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is configured to cooperate with the audio output transducer to generate an offsetting sound at an offsetting sound level.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the accelerometer is adjacent the haptic actuator.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the haptic actuator comprises:
a haptic housing;
a field member movable within the haptic housing;
at least one magnet;
at least one coil cooperating with the at least one magnet to move the field member within the haptic housing.

### Claim 20

A method of operating an electronic device comprising a device housing, a haptic actuator carried by the device housing, an accelerometer carried by the device housing, and a controller coupled to the accelerometer and the haptic actuator, the method comprising:
using the controller for
determining a sound level of the haptic actuator,
attempting to drive the haptic actuator to operate within a desired sound level range, and
when unable to drive the haptic actuator within the desired sound level range, then generating a warning indication.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20 wherein the warning indication is indicative of haptic actuator failure.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20 wherein the warning indication comprises at least one of a visual and audible notification.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic device further comprises wireless communications circuitry carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is used to communicate, via the wireless communications circuitry, the warning indication.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic device further comprises an audio output transducer carried by the device housing, and wherein the controller is used to cooperate with the audio output transducer to generate an offsetting sound at an offsetting sound level.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20 wherein the audio input transducer is positioned within the device housing facing the haptic actuator.