Haptic devices having multiple operational modes including at least one resonant mode

A method, comprising:

• receiving a drive signal;
• applying the drive signal to a first electro-mechanical transducer, the electro-mechanical transducer having a plurality of operational modes in response to the drive signal, each operational mode from the plurality of operational modes having its own combination of at least one resonant mode from a plurality of resonant modes;
• applying the drive signal to a second electro-mechanical device different from the first electro-mechanical device, the second electro-mechanical device and the first electro-mechanical device collectively having the plurality of operational modes, the plurality of operational modes including a first operational mode and a second operational mode;
• and
• changing from the first operational mode to the second operational mode by altering a characteristic of the drive signal.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a signal source, the signal source being configured to output a haptic feedback signal;
• a driver, the driver being configured to receive the haptic feedback signal and output a drive signal having a predetermined drive frequency;
• and
• an electro-mechanical transducer being configured to receive the drive signal, the electro-mechanical transducer being operative in a plurality of operational modes, each operational mode from the plurality of operational modes having at least one resonant mode from a plurality of resonant modes, wherein the electro-mechanical transducer outputs a haptic effect in the at least one resonant mode in response to the predetermined drive frequency.

A method of producing a haptic effect in a handheld communication device, the method comprising:

• providing a cantilevered transducer having a first fixed end and a second end which is flexibly moveable with respect to the first fixed end, the transducer having a mass fixed thereon a predetermined length from the first end;
• receiving a drive signal associated with a haptic feedback signal, the drive signal having operating at a drive frequency;
• and
• applying the drive signal to the transducer to produce a haptic effect, the electro-mechanical transducer operating in at least one resonant mode from a plurality of resonant modes in response to the drive frequency of the drive signal.