Haptic driver with attenuation

Abstract

In each of the various embodiments, a haptic driver is configured to attenuate a drive signal of an actuator. In particular, the haptic drivers described herein are configured to identify the resonance frequency of the actuator and to attenuate the haptic drive signal within a range of frequencies, the range being based on the identified resonance frequency. As a result, the strength of haptic effects produced by the actuator may be more uniform along a wider frequency range.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A haptic driver comprising:
 a memory configured to receive a digital haptic drive signal;   a configuration controller configured to receive haptic control data;   a signal modifier configured to modify the digital haptic drive signal according to the haptic control data; and   a digital-to-analog converter configured to covert the digital haptic drive signal to an analog haptic drive signal.   
     
     
         3 . The haptic driver according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a power stage configured to vary a voltage level of the analog haptic drive signal according to the haptic control data.   
     
     
         4 . The haptic driver according to  claim 2 , wherein the signal modifier attenuates the digital haptic drive signal at frequencies corresponding to a resonance frequency range of a haptic output device. 
     
     
         5 . The haptic driver according to  claim 4 , wherein the haptic output device is a high definition haptic output device that is configured to produce wide bandwidth haptic effects. 
     
     
         6 . The haptic driver according to  claim 2 , wherein the signal modifier attenuates the digital haptic drive signal using a notch filter. 
     
     
         7 . The haptic driver according to  claim 2 , wherein the haptic control data includes at least one of resonance frequency data, resonance bandwidth data, and attenuation data. 
     
     
         8 . A haptic driver comprising:
 a memory configured to receive a digital haptic drive signal;   a configuration controller configured to receive haptic control data;   a digital-to-analog converter configured to covert the digital haptic drive signal to an analog haptic drive signal; and   a signal conditioner configured to modify the analog haptic drive signal according to the haptic control data.   
     
     
         9 . The haptic driver according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a power stage configured to vary a voltage level of the analog haptic drive signal according to the haptic control data.   
     
     
         10 . The haptic driver according to  claim 8 , wherein the signal conditioner attenuates the analog haptic drive signal at frequencies corresponding to a resonance frequency range of a haptic output device. 
     
     
         11 . The haptic driver according to  claim 10 , wherein the haptic output device is a high definition haptic output device that is configured to produce wide bandwidth haptic effects. 
     
     
         12 . The haptic driver according to  claim 8 , wherein the signal conditioner attenuates the analog haptic drive signal using a notch filter. 
     
     
         13 . The haptic driver according to  claim 8 , wherein the haptic control data includes at least one of resonance frequency data, resonance bandwidth data, and attenuation data. 
     
     
         14 . The haptic driver according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a resonance detector configured to detect a resonance frequency range for a haptic output device.   
     
     
         15 . The haptic driver according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined by monitoring operation of the haptic output device;   wherein the resonance frequency range is supplied by the haptic output device or is determined by using a look-up table; or   wherein the resonance frequency range is automatically determined using back-EMF.   
     
     
         16 . A method for operating a haptic driver comprising:
 receiving, at a memory, a digital haptic drive signal;   receiving, at a configuration controller, haptic control data;   modifying, at a signal modifier, the digital haptic drive signal according to the haptic control data; and   converting, at a digital-to-analog, the digital haptic drive signal to an analog haptic drive signal.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 varying, at a power stage, a voltage level of the analog haptic drive signal according to the haptic control data.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the signal modifier attenuates the digital haptic drive signal at frequencies corresponding to a resonance frequency range of a haptic output device. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the haptic output device is a high definition haptic output device that is configured to produce wide bandwidth haptic effects. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the signal modifier attenuates the digital haptic drive signal using a notch filter. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the haptic control data includes at least one of resonance frequency data, resonance bandwidth data, and attenuation data.