Variable-eccentricity tactile generator
AssigneeSony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
InventorsMatthew J. Murray, Michael Townsend, Chris Eaton, Gregory S. Patterson
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Abstract
A tactile generator comprises an eccentric mass that imparts a vibration as it rotates about a rotational axis. The mass is radially movable with respect to the rotational axis such that the distance between the mass and the axis is variable. Varying the distance of the mass from the axis varies the amount of vibration generated when the mass is rotated. The amount of vibration may be controlled responsive to a detected level of ambient noise.
Claims45
A tactile generator comprising:
- an electric motor;
- an eccentric mass rotated by the motor about a rotational axis to produce vibration, the mass being radially movable to vary a distance between the mass and the axis;
- and
- wherein the distance of the mass from the axis is dependent on a rotational speed of the mass, and varying the distance of the mass from the axis varies the amount of vibration generated when the mass is rotated.
A wireless communications device comprising:
- a transceiver coupled to an antenna to communicate with a remote party;
- a controller to generate control signals responsive to a detected ambient noise level;
- and
- a tactile generator responsive to the control signals, the tactile generator comprising:
- an electric motor;
- an eccentric mass rotated by the motor about a rotational axis to produce vibration, the mass being radially movable to vary a distance between the mass and the axis;
- and
- wherein varying the distance of the mass from the axis varies the amount of vibration generated when the mass is rotated.
A method of providing tactile functions in a wireless communications device comprising:
- rotating an eccentric mass about a rotational axis to impart a vibration to the wireless communications device;
- and
- varying a radial distance of the mass from the axis to vary the amount of vibration generated when the mass is rotated, wherein the vibration produced by the rotating mass is dependent on a rotational speed of the mass.
A tactile generator comprising:
- an eccentric mass rotated about a rotational axis, the mass being radially movable to vary a distance between the mass and the axis;
- and
- wherein the distance of the mass from the axis is dependent on a rotational speed of the mass, and varying the distance of between the mass and the axis varies the amount of vibration generated when the mass is rotated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.