MULTIFUNCTIONAL HAPTIC ACTUATOR

Abstract

A multifunctional haptic actuator (1) having a plurality of functional actuation modes, comprising an actuation arrangement (2) and at least one moveable energy storage (3). The actuation arrangement (2) provides and/or facilitates movement of the energy storage (3) along and/or around a plurality of actuation axes. The energy storage (3) is adapted for supplying electric charge to drive the actuation arrangement (2), and storing electric charge generated by the actuation arrangement (2). A first functional actuation mode comprises generating mechanical vibrations by supplying electric charge from the energy storage (3) to the actuation arrangement (2), the electric charge generating movement of the energy storage (3). A second functional actuation mode comprises generating electric charge by means of mechanical vibrations of the energy storage (3), the vibrations generating electric charge in the actuation arrangement (2), the electric charge being stored in the energy storage (3). This solution provides an actuator the components of which can be used in several different actuation modes such as for providing haptic feedback and harvesting energy, hence reducing the need for separate components for each mode.

Claims

1. A multifunctional haptic actuator (1) having a plurality of functional actuation modes said haptic actuator (1) comprising an actuation arrangement (2) and at least one moveable energy storage (3), said actuation arrangement (2) providing and/or facilitating movement of said energy storage (3) along and/or around a plurality of actuation axes, said energy storage (3) being adapted for supplying electric charge to drive said actuation arrangement (2), and storing electric charge generated by said actuation arrangement (2), a first functional actuation mode comprising generating mechanical vibrations by supplying electric charge from said energy storage (3) to said actuation arrangement (2), said electric charge generating movement of said energy storage (3), and a second functional actuation mode comprising generating electric charge by means of mechanical vibrations of said energy storage (3), said vibrations generating electric charge in said actuation arrangement (2), said electric charge being stored in said energy storage (3).

2. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein said vibrations are generated at frequencies below 30 Hz, preferably below 20 Hz.

3. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein said actuation arrangement (2) generates electromagnetic or piezoelectric forces, and wherein, in said first functional actuation mode, said electric charge supplied from said energy storage (3) to said actuation arrangement (2) generating said forces, said forces generating movement of said energy storage (3), and in said second functional actuation mode, mechanical vibrations of said energy storage (3) generating said forces, said forces generating electric charge to be stored in said energy storage (3).

4. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a third functional actuation mode, said third functional actuation mode comprising generating electric charge in said actuation arrangement (2) by means of a magnetic energy transmitter, said electric charge being stored in said energy storage (3).

5. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of actuation axes comprises at least one linear axis and/or at least one rotation axis.

6. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein movement of said energy storage (3) is executed along and/or around said plurality of actuation axes simultaneously.

7. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein movement of said energy storage (3) is executed along a first actuation axis (A1), a second actuation axis (A2), and a third actuation axis (A3), simultaneously or sequentially, said first actuation axis (A1), said second actuation axis (A2), and said third actuation axis (A3) forming a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.

8. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein said actuation arrangement (2) comprises a voice coil actuator, said voice coil actuator comprising a first magnet-and-coil arrangement (4) generating movement along said first actuation axis (A1), said voice coil actuator comprising a second magnet-and-coil arrangement (5) generating movement along said second actuation axis (A2) and said third actuation axis (A3).

9. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 8, wherein said first magnet-and-coil arrangement (4) comprises a first magnet (6a) and a first coil (6b) arranged adjacent said first magnet (6a), and said second magnet-and-coil arrangement (5) comprises a second magnet (7a) and a second coil (7b) arranged adjacent said second magnet (7a).

10. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 9, wherein said first coil (6b) is arranged such that it extends around a periphery said first magnet (6a), and said second magnet-and-coil arrangement (5) further comprises a third magnet (8a) and a third coil (8b) arranged adjacent said third magnet (8a), a fourth magnet (9a) and a fourth coil (9b) arranged adjacent said fourth magnet (9a), and a fifth magnet (10a) and a fifth coil (10b) arranged adjacent said fifth magnet (10a), said second magnet-and-coil arrangement (5) being arranged such that it extends around a periphery of said first magnet-and-coil arrangement (4).

11. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 8, wherein said rotation axis is identical to said first actuation axis (A1), and rotation around said rotation axis is generated by said first magnet-and-coil arrangement (4).

12. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein said actuation arrangement (2) comprises a multi-layered piezoelectric actuator, or any one of electromechanical polymer-metal composite or alloy material, magnetorestricitive material, electroactive material, photoactive material, temperature active material, and magnetoactive material.

13. The haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one elastic element (11) limiting the movement of said energy storage (3) along and/or around said plurality of actuation axes.

14. A multifunctional haptic actuation system (12) for an electronic device comprising the haptic actuator (1) according to claim 1, a processor (13), control circuitry (14), and a flexible battery cable (15) extending from said energy storage (3) to an exterior of said haptic actuator (1).

15. The multifunctional haptic actuation system (12) according to claim 14, wherein said haptic actuation system further comprises at least one position sensor (16) adapted for tracking the position of said haptic actuator (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the aspects, embodiments and implementations will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a multifunctional haptic actuator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the multistep actuation system shown in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a multifunctional haptic actuation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a multifunctional haptic actuator 1 having a plurality of functional actuation modes.

[0031] The haptic actuator 1 comprises an actuation arrangement 2 and at least one moveable energy storage 3, preferably arranged within a housing (not shown). The actuation arrangement 2 facilitates movement of the energy storage 3 along and/or around a plurality of actuation axes A1, A2, A3, the energy storage 3 functioning as a seismic mass. The plurality of actuation axes may comprise at least one linear axis and/or at least one rotation axis. The rotation axis may be identical to the first actuation axis A1. Movement of the energy storage 3 may be executed along and/or around the plurality of actuation axes simultaneously.

[0032] The energy storage 3, e.g. a battery, is adapted for supplying electric charge to drive the actuation arrangement 2, and for storing electric charge generated by the actuation arrangement 2.

[0033] A first functional actuation mode comprises generating mechanical vibrations by supplying electric charge from the energy storage 3 to the actuation arrangement 2, the electric charge generating movement of the energy storage 3, also referred to as haptic feedback mode.

[0034] A second functional actuation mode comprises generating electric charge by means of mechanical vibrations of the energy storage 3, the vibrations generating electric charge in the actuation arrangement 2, and the electric charge being stored in the energy storage 3, also referred to as energy harvesting mode.

[0035] The vibrations may be generated at frequencies below 30 Hz, preferably below 20 Hz.

[0036] In one embodiment, the actuation arrangement 2 generates electromagnetic or piezoelectric forces. In the first functional actuation mode, the electric charge supplied from the energy storage 3 to the actuation arrangement 2 generates the forces, and the forces generate movement of the energy storage 3. In the second functional actuation mode, mechanical vibrations of the energy storage 3 generate the forces, and the forces generate electric charge to be stored in the energy storage 3.

[0037] The haptic actuator 1 may further comprise a third functional actuation mode, the third functional actuation mode comprising generating electric charge in the actuation arrangement 2 by means of a magnetic energy transmitter, the electric charge being stored in the energy storage 3, also referred to as wireless charging mode.

[0038] In one embodiment, the movement of the energy storage 3 is executed along a first actuation axis A1, a second actuation axis A2, and a third actuation axis A3, simultaneously or sequentially, the first actuation axis A1, the second actuation axis A2, and the third actuation axis A3 forming a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0039] The actuation arrangement 2 comprises a voice coil actuator comprising a first magnet-and-coil arrangement 4, generating movement along the first actuation axis A1, and a second magnet-and-coil arrangement 5, generating movement along the second actuation axis A2 and the third actuation axis A3. The coils may be embedded into the cover of a battery housing or a mobile device.

[0040] The first magnet-and-coil arrangement 4 may comprises a first magnet 6a and a first coil 6b arranged adjacent the first magnet 6a. The first coil 6b may be arranged such that it extends around a periphery the first magnet 6a. In one embodiment, rotation around the rotation axis is generated by the first magnet-and-coil arrangement 4.

[0041] The second magnet-and-coil arrangement 5 may comprise a second magnet 7a and a second coil 7b arranged adjacent the second magnet 7a. The second magnet-and-coil arrangement 5 may furthermore comprise a third magnet 8a and a third coil 8b arranged adjacent the third magnet 8a, a fourth magnet 9a and a fourth coil 9b arranged adjacent the fourth magnet 9a, and a fifth magnet 10a and a fifth coil 10b arranged adjacent the fifth magnet 10a. The pairs of magnet and coil are preferably distributed equidistantly around the first magnet-and-coil arrangement 4, such that the second magnet-and-coil arrangement 5 extends around a periphery of the first magnet-and-coil arrangement 4, i.e. the first coil 6b being arranged between the first magnet 6a and the second magnet-and-coil arrangement 5.

[0042] The actuation arrangement 2 may furthermore comprise a multi-layered piezoelectric actuator, or any one of electromechanical polymer-metal composite or alloy material, magnetorestricitive material, electroactive material, photoactive material, temperature active material, and magnetoactive material (not shown).

[0043] The haptic actuator may also comprise at least one elastic element 11, shown in FIG. 2, limiting the movement of the energy storage 3 along and/or around the plurality of actuation axes. The elastic element 11 may limit the displacement of the energy storage 3 yet provide maximum alterations of the magnetic flux with respect to the coils fixed position, without constraining the mechanical resonance of the actuator to a specific value within a dynamic range of frequencies.

[0044] The present invention furthermore relates to a multifunctional haptic actuation system 12 for an electronic device, such as a smartphone, laptop computer, tablet computer, or wearable device such as a watch or bracelet. As shown in FIG. 3, the haptic actuation system 12 comprises the above-described haptic actuator 1, a processor 13, control circuitry 14, and a flexible battery cable 15 extending from the energy storage 3 to an exterior of the haptic actuator 1. The flexible battery cable 15 allows the energy storage 3 of the haptic actuator 1 move towards and from the magnet-and-coil arrangements 4, 5 along the predefined direction or/and to turn around the rotation axis by producing the proper vector of torque.

[0045] The processor 13 controls the functional actuation modes and functionalities of the coils operating differently to harvest energy or excite the energy storage 3 oscillations. The control circuitry 14 can be activated when the coils are capable of harvesting electromagnetic energy as a result of mechanical displacements (vibration) of the magnets, or from a wireless charging power transmitter. In contrast, a coil driving mechanism (not shown) may be activated when the software application of a mobile device needs to deliver haptic information to the user.

[0046] The haptic actuation system 12 may further comprise at least one position sensor 16 adapted for tracking the position of the haptic actuator 1. The position sensor 16 tracks the position by increasing the efficiency of the different functional actuation modes.

[0047] The various aspects and implementations have been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

[0048] The reference signs used in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this disclosure. As used in the description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.