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US 9,505,032 B2Granted
Dynamic mass reconfiguration
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsColin M. Ely, Avi Hecht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods involving reconfigurable rotating masses are disclosed. One embodiment may take the form of a system having a motor and coupled weights attached to the motor. Operation of the motor rotates the coupled weights and the weights are dynamically reconfigurable to change the location of the center of mass relative to an axis of rotation.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a motor;
- a shaft attached to the motor;
- a first weight fixed with respect to the shaft;
- a second weight adjacent the first weight and free to rotate at least partially about the shaft;
- and
- a third weight operationally connected to the first and second weights, wherein:
- the third weight is configured to move outwardly from the shaft as a speed of the motor is increased;
- and
- the system is configured to become more balanced as the third weight moves outwardly from the shaft.
6 more elements
An apparatus for generating a haptic output, comprising:
- a first mass adjacent a shaft;
- a second mass adjacent the shaft and configured to rotate at least partially around the shaft;
- a third mass situated between the first and second masses;
- and
- a driver configured to rotate the shaft;
- wherein:
- the third mass is configured to move away from the shaft as a speed of the rotation increases;
- and
- a combined center of mass of the first and second masses moves toward an axis of rotation of the shaft as the speed of the rotation increases.
6 more elements
An electronic device, comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a display;
- a motor;
- a shaft attached to the motor;
- a first weight fixed with respect to the shaft;
- a second weight adjacent the first weight and free to rotate at least partially about the shaft;
- and
- a third weight operationally connected to the first and second weights, wherein:
- the third weight is configured to move outwardly from the shaft as a speed of the motor increases such that the first and second weights become more balances as the third weight moves outwardly from the shaft;
- and
- the first and second weights are configured to provide a haptic output for the electronic device.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.