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US 9,779,592 B1Granted
Geared haptic feedback element
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorStorrs T. Hoen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thin haptic feedback element suitable to provide a perceivable single pulse haptic feedback including an electromagnetic coil, a permanent magnet or other magnetic field source rotatably coupled to an eccentric mass through a torque-increasing drive train. The haptic feedback element may rapidly accelerate and decelerate the eccentric mass to produce a perceivable haptic feedback.
Claims20
A haptic feedback element comprising:
- an electromagnetic coil having a core;
- a magnetic field source rotatable about a first axis, the magnetic field source positioned proximate the core;
- a first gear fixedly coupled to the magnetic field source;
- a second gear rotatably coupled to the first gear, the second gear rotatable about a second axis;
- and
- a mass element fixedly coupled to the second gear positioned eccentrically to the second axis;
- wherein
- a first angular displacement of the first gear causes a second angular displacement in the second gear.
5 more elements
A method of providing haptic feedback comprising:
- receiving a request for haptic feedback;
- providing current of a first polarity to an electromagnetic coil magnetically proximate a rotatable magnetic field source;
- providing current of a second polarity to the electromagnetic coil;
- and
- applying a braking current to the electromagnetic coil that causes an eccentric mass rotatably coupled to the rotatable magnetic field source to decelerate.
2 more elements
A haptic feedback element comprising:
- a single-phase stepping motor with a drive axis;
- a first gear fixedly coupled to the drive axis;
- a second gear rotatably coupled to the first gear, the second gear rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- a mass element fixedly coupled to the second gear positioned eccentrically to axis of rotation;
- and
- a commutator configured to operate the single-phase stepping motor synchronously.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.