# US 2019/0378385 A1 · Tactile transducer with digital signal processing for improved fidelity

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0378385 A1
- Document ID: US20190378385A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/501,601
- Filed: 2019-05-06
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-16
- Assignees: Taction Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Taction Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Silmon James Biggs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190378385A1

## CPC

- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type}
- H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083}
- H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response
- H04R 2400/03: Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04S 1/005: {For headphones}
- H04S 2400/11: Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field (H04S2420/13 takes precedence)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- 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)
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS

## Abstract

The apparatus and methods of the present invention provide improved accuracy of response for a tactile transducer included in a body-mounted device such as a headphone, VR/AR headset or similar device. Accuracy is increased through the application of digital signal processing, such as with Infinite Impulse Response filters or Finite Impulse Response filters.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for altering the frequency response of a tactile transducer included in a headphone, said method comprising:
digital signal processing of the signal to be produced by said tactile transducer, said processing comprising filters with a plurality of virtual filter poles;
where the pass-band of said digital processing lies below 500 Hz;
and where said digital signal processing is employed to create at least a notch filter within the pass band to reduce at least one natural resonance of said tactile transducer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said digital signal processing employs infinite impulse response filtering.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said digital filtering flattens a plurality of resonances of the tactile transducer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said at least a tactile transducer is oriented in said headphone so that it shears the skin parallel to the sagittal plane of the wearer's head.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said headphone comprises a plurality of cushions comprising a compressible material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said tactile transducer comprises a plurality of magnets.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said headphone comprises a plurality of tactile transducers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said digital signal processing employs finite impulse response filtering.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1 in which said digital filtering also comprises dynamic range compression.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method as in claim 9 in which the amount of compression applied varies with signal level.

### Claim 11

A system for altering the frequency response of a tactile transducer included in a headphone, said method comprising:
at least a tactile transducer comprising at least a magnet, at least coil of conducive wire, and a plurality of flexures connecting at least a subassembly comprising said at least a magnet and a subassembly comprising at least said coil, where said at least a tactile transducer is attached to at least an earcup of said headphone;
at least a microprocessor configured to process digital signals comprising the signal to be produced by said tactile transducer, said processing comprising filters with a plurality of virtual filter poles;
where the pass-band of said digital processing lies below 500 Hz;
and where said digital signal processing is employed to create at least a notch filter within the pass band to reduce at least one natural resonance of said tactile transducer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said digital signal processing employs infinite impulse response filtering.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said digital filtering flattens a plurality of resonances of the tactile transducer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said at least a tactile transducer is oriented in said headphone so that it shears the skin parallel to the sagittal plane of the wearer's head.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said headphone comprises a plurality of cushions comprising a compressible material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said tactile transducer comprises a plurality of magnets.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said headphone comprises a plurality of tactile transducers.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said digital signal processing employs finite impulse response filtering.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

A system as in claim 11 in which said digital filtering also comprises dynamic range compression.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A system as in claim 19 in which the amount of compression applied varies with signal level.