{
  "patent_number": "US 9652041",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Precisely Stopping Device Vibrations for Better Touch Feedback",
  "original_title": "Haptic device with linear resonant actuator",
  "summary": "This patent describes a method for precisely stopping the tiny vibrations in a device, like a phone, by sending a special 'braking' signal to make touch feedback feel sharper and more controlled.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a haptic output device that generates precise vibrations. It works by first sending a 'driving signal' to an actuator to start a vibration. The clever part is how it stops the vibration: a processor calculates a specific 'braking signal' based on the driving signal's frequency. This braking signal has a 'reverse phase' and is sent at a precisely determined time and strength to quickly cancel out any lingering vibration. For example, when your smartphone gives a short, crisp 'tap' feedback for a button press, this technology helps ensure that the vibration starts and stops very cleanly, preventing a mushy or prolonged buzz. Claim 1 specifically covers scenarios where the driving signal's frequency is different from the actuator's natural resonant frequency, while Claim 12 covers when it's the same.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Haptic effects generated by actuators that are not linear resonant actuators, such as eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motors (Claim 7).",
    "Stopping vibrations without using a distinct 'braking signal' that has a reverse phase to the driving signal (Claim 1, 12).",
    "Braking signals whose frequency is not the resonant frequency of the actuator (Claim 1) or the same as the driving signal (Claim 12).",
    "Systems where the starting time and amplitude of the braking signal are not determined based on the driving signal's frequency (Claim 1, 12).",
    "Haptic feedback that relies solely on turning off the driving signal without an active braking pulse to stop the vibration."
  ],
  "filed": "2016-11-04",
  "granted": "2017-05-16",
  "expires": "2036-11-04",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Immersion",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/immersion",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Li Jiang",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/li-jiang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/juan-manuel-cruz-hernandez"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 33,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "telecommunications",
    "automotive"
  ],
  "abstract": "A haptic output device having an actuator and a processor is presented. The actuator is configured to generate a haptic effect. The processor is configured: (i) to communicate a driving signal to the actuator, wherein the driving signal comprises at least one cycle of a periodic signal, and wherein the driving signal has a first frequency that is different than a resonant frequency of the actuator; (ii) to determine, based on the first frequency of the driving signal, a starting time of a braking signal, wherein a frequency of the braking signal is the resonant frequency of the actuator; (iii) to determine, based on the first frequency of the driving signal, an amplitude of the braking signal; and (iv) to communicate the braking signal to the actuator at the determined starting time and at the determined amplitude.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9652041/haptic-device-with-linear-resonant-actuator",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9652041/haptic-device-with-linear-resonant-actuator/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US9652041",
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}