Synchronized array of vibration actuators in a network topology

摘要

The disclosure relates to a Synchronized Array of Vibration Actuators in a Network Topology providing synchronized arrays of low-cost, readily available vibration actuators to emulate superlative single actuators and bring together sets of these emulated high-performance actuators to create a broad range of desired control effects. Such actuator arrays may operate in both spatial and temporal modes, creating haptic effects that relate to the user via their position and orientation in space. The spatial mode may create h-pulses or the amplitude of a vibrational effect may change based on position of the device. The temporal mode may create vibrational effects that interact with the user to create an awareness of time. Additionally modes include performance, bandwidth, magnitude and reliability modes. The different control modalities may be combined together into a single vector control space, which spans the haptic capabilities of sets and/or subsets of actuators.

主权项

1. A vibration device, comprising:
a mounting platform; a plurality of linear resonant actuators attached to the mounting platform, each of the plurality of linear resonant actuators having a moveable mass and an axis of vibration in accordance with a direction of movement of the moveable mass, the axes of vibration of the plurality of actuators being arranged in a substantially parallel configuration; and a controller coupled to each of the plurality of actuators, the controller being configured to (1) control each actuator to impart a sinusoidal vibration force of a frequency, f1, onto the mounting platform, and (2) control amplitudes and phases of the sinusoidal vibration force from each actuator to generate a combined vibration waveform onto the mounting platform; the combined vibration waveform emulating a virtual vibration actuator having one or both of the following properties: a faster amplitude response than any one of the plurality of linear resonant actuators, or a larger amplitude response than any one of the plurality of linear resonant actuators for non-resonant frequencies.