PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8727802-B2
Application Number: US-201213625637-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector

Abstract:
A method and apparatus are described for generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a sensor is coupled to a receptacle for the connector and configured to sense a mating of the receptacle and a plug for the connector. An actuator is coupled to the receptacle, and a processing subsystem is coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to use the actuator to generate a synthetic tactile sensation based on information received from the sensor.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system that generates a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector in an electronic device, comprising:
 a sensor coupled to a receptacle for the connector and configured to sense a mating of the receptacle and a plug for the connector; 
 an actuator coupled to the receptacle; and 
 a processing subsystem coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to use the actuator to generate a synthetic tactile sensation based on information received from the sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense the mating of the plug and the receptacle before the plug is operatively connected to the receptacle. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mating the sensor is configured to sense includes an engagement of the plug and the receptacle and a disengagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to control a generation of a sound based on the information received from the sensor. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the processing subsystem is configured to control the generation of the sound by a piezoelectric actuator contemporaneously with the generation of the synthetic tactile sensation. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a universal serial bus connector. 
     
     
       8. A method for generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector in an electronic device, comprising:
 sensing a mating between a plug on the connector and a receptacle for the connector; and 
 generating the synthetic tactile sensation based on the sensed mating. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the synthetic tactile sensation includes generating the synthetic tactile sensation in the connector. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein sensing the mating between the plug and the connector includes sensing the mating before the plug is operatively connected to the receptacle. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein sensing the mating between the plug and the connector includes sensing an engagement of the plug and the receptacle and a disengagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further including generating a sound based on the sensed mating. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sound is generated contemporaneously with the synthetic tactile sensation. 
     
     
       14. A system that generates a motion of a connector in an electronic device, comprising:
 a sensor coupled to a receptacle for the connector and configured to sense a relative position of the receptacle and a plug for the connector; 
 an actuator coupled to the receptacle; and 
 a processing subsystem coupled to the sensor and the actuator, and configured to use the actuator to generate the motion based on information received from the sensor. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense the relative position of the plug and the receptacle before the plug is operatively connected to the receptacle. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense an engagement motion of the plug and the receptacle and a disengagement motion of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to use the actuator to generate the motion based on a connector type of the connector. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing subsystem is further configured to control a generation of a sound based on the information received from the sensor. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processing subsystem is configured to control the generation of the sound contemporaneously with the generation of the motion. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The described embodiments relate to techniques for generating a tactile sensation in an electronic device. More specifically, the described embodiments relate to techniques for generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector in an electronic device. 
     2. Related Art 
     The insertion and extraction of a connector plug into and out of a receptacle may often generate a tactile sensation. The tactile sensation may be due to the design of the plug and/or the receptacle and may use friction of the mating parts, springs, or magnets. However, designing a desired tactile sensation for the insertion or extraction of a plug into or out of a receptacle can be difficult due to manufacturing variations, environmental factors, and wear during use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  presents a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in accordance with the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  presents a block diagram illustrating a processing subsystem in accordance with the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  presents a block diagram illustrating a universal serial bus receptacle in accordance with the described embodiments. 
     
    
    
     In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same figure elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments. Thus, the described embodiments are not limited to the embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
     The data structures and code described in this detailed description are typically stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which may be any device or medium that can store code and/or data for use by an electronic device and/or processing subsystem with computing capabilities. For example, the computer-readable storage medium can include volatile memory or non-volatile memory, including flash memory, random access memory (RAM, SRAM, DRAM, RDRAM, DDR/DDR2/DDR3 SDRAM, etc.), magnetic or optical storage mediums (e.g., disk drives, magnetic tape, CDs, DVDs), or other mediums capable of storing data structures or code. Note that, in the described embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium does not include non-statutory computer-readable storage mediums such as transmission signals. 
     The methods and processes described in this detailed description can be included in hardware modules. For example, the hardware modules can include, but are not limited to, one or more application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), other programmable-logic devices, dedicated logic devices, and microcontrollers. When the hardware modules are activated, the hardware modules perform the methods and processes included within the hardware modules. In some embodiments, the hardware modules include one or more general-purpose circuits that are configured by executing instructions (program code, firmware, etc.) to perform the methods and processes. 
     The methods and processes described in the detailed description section can be embodied as code and/or data that can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium as described above. When a processing subsystem with computing capabilities reads and executes the code and/or data stored on the computer-readable storage medium, the processing subsystem performs the methods and processes embodied as data structures and code and stored within the computer-readable storage medium. For example, in some embodiments, a processor in a processing subsystem can read the code and/or data from a memory in the processing subsystem that comprises a computer-readable storage medium and can execute code and/or use the data to perform the methods and processes. 
     In the following description, we refer to “some embodiments.” Note that “some embodiments” describes a subset of all of the possible embodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  presents a block diagram illustrating a receptacle in an electronic device in accordance with the described embodiments. Electronic device  100  includes receptacle  102 , actuator  104 , sensor  106 , and electrical power source  108 . Electrical power source  108  is coupled to processing subsystem  110 , actuator  104  and sensor  106 , and processing subsystem  110  is coupled to actuator  104  and sensor  106 . 
     Electronic device  100  can be (or can be included in) any device that includes a receptacle for a connector plug in accordance with embodiments. For example, electronic device  100  can be (or can be included in) a laptop computer, desktop computer, a server, an appliance, a subnotebook/netbook, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, or another device. Note that electronic device  100  can include other subsystems (not shown) including but not limited to memory subsystems (e.g., volatile and non-volatile), communications subsystems, display subsystems, data collection subsystems, audio and/or video subsystems, alarm subsystems, media processing subsystems, input/output (I/O) subsystems and/or one or more other processing subsystems (e.g., CPUs). Note that one or more of these subsystems may be powered by electrical power source  108  or by another power source, such as an electrical adapter or a battery. 
     Receptacle  102  may be any receptacle for a connector plug and includes without limitation a universal serial bus (USB) receptacle, an RJ45 receptacle, an HDMI receptacle, an audio cable/microphone receptacle (e.g., for headphone/microphone), an IEEE 1394 receptacle, or any other connector receptacle. 
     Actuator  104  is any type of actuator powered by an electrical power source that can impart motion of any type to receptacle  102 . Actuator  104  may include but is not limited to one or more of the following: a piezoelectric actuator (e.g., resonant mode piezoelectric actuator), a pager vibrator motor, a vibrating actuator, a shaped memory alloy (SMA) actuator, a reaction mass actuator, or any other actuator that can convert electrical power into mechanical motion such as vibration. Actuator  104  is connected to and powered by electrical power source  108  and connected to and controlled by processing subsystem  110 . Actuator  104  may include an amplifier to amplify the control signal from processing subsystem  110  to drive one or more subsystems of actuator  104  that produce the mechanical motion. In some embodiments, actuator  104  may also be controlled by processing subsystem to produce a sound, or actuator  104  may include a separate subsystem that can be controlled by processing subsystem  110  to produce a sound. For example, in some embodiments, actuator  104  may include a piezoelectric actuator that can mechanically vibrate receptacle  102  to produce a tactile sensation and also can be controlled to produce a sound. Note that, in some embodiments, processing subsystem  110  may control other subsystems of electronic device  100  to produce a sound (e.g., an audio subsystem of electronic device  100  that includes speakers). 
     Sensor  106  is any type of sensor that can sense the presence of a connector plug mating with receptacle  102  either while the connector plug is engaging with receptacle  102  or disengaging with receptacle  102 . Sensor  106  may sense the mating of a connector with receptacle  102  using any method, including but not limited to detecting force (e.g., while engaging or disengaging the plug from receptacle  102 ), optical detection (e.g., using light scattered by a plug or the interruption of a beam by the plug), magnetic sensor, magnetic reed switch, electrical continuity (e.g., with plug or receptacle body or sensing a connection of mate first contacts), physical presence of plug (e.g., using a piezoelectric flapper or sensor, or a contact switch), or any other method. Sensor  106  is connected to and powered by electrical power source  108  and is coupled to and transmits sensing information to processing subsystem  110 . 
     Additionally, sensor  106  may be configured to sense a direction of motion of a connector plug in receptacle  102  using an increase or decrease in the detection signal. For example if sensor  106  includes an optical detector or magnetic sensor, the process of engaging and disengaging a connector plug into and out of receptacle  102  may result in a changing detection signal in sensor  106 . For instance, if sensor  106  is an optical detector, then engaging a connector plug into receptacle  102  may increase the light scattered by the plug resulting in an increase in the detected scattered light signal as the connector is engaged, while the process of disengaging the connector results in a decrease in the detected scattered light signal as the connector is disengaged. 
     Additionally, in some embodiment, sensor  106  may be composed of two or more sensing devices positioned to detect different degrees of engagement between a connector plug and receptacle  102 . Note that the two or more sensing devices may be the same type of sensor (e.g., contact switches), or may be different types of sensors (e.g., a contact switch and a piezoelectric flapper). The connector plug motion direction can then be detected based on the signals from the two or more sensing devices and their orientation in receptacle  102 . 
     Electrical power source  108  may be any source of electrical power that can power actuator  104 , sensor  106  and processing subsystem  110 . Electrical power source  108  may include but is not limited to a battery, an electrical adapter or other DC power supply, or a capacitor (e.g., low leakage capacitor). In some embodiments, one or more of actuator  104 , sensor  106  and processing subsystem  110  may be powered by other power sources (not shown) in electronic device  100 . 
     Processing subsystem  110  is any processing subsystem that can receive an input from sensor  106  and output a control signal to actuator  104 . Processing subsystem  110  may be implemented in any technology and may include any type of hardware module, software, firmware, and/or any other general purpose or special purpose logic. Processing subsystem  110  may include but is not limited to application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), other programmable-logic devices, dedicated logic devices, and microcontrollers. Processing subsystem  110  is discussed in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  presents a block diagram illustrating a processing subsystem in accordance with the described embodiments. Processing subsystem  110  includes processor  202 , memory  204 , and I/O  206  all coupled to bus  208 . 
     Processor  202  includes one or more devices configured to perform computational operations. For example, processor  202  can include one or more central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), dedicated logic circuits, and/or programmable-logic devices. 
     Memory  204  includes one or more devices for storing data and/or instructions for processor  202  and input/output (I/O)  206 . For example, memory  204  can include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, and/or other types of memory. In addition, memory  204  can include firmware and mechanisms for controlling access to memory or other subsystems (not shown) in electronic device  100 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, memory  204  includes one or more excitation profiles that can be output by processing subsystem  110  to control actuator  104  to generate a synthetic tactile sensation. The excitation profile may include information about the composition of the frequency, amplitude, and duration of the motion generated by actuator  104  to create the synthetic tactile sensation. 
     I/O  206  includes input and output subsystems for inputting and outputting digital and/or analog signals to and from processing subsystem  110 . For example, I/O  206  may include one or more digital and/or analog programmable input and output ports and analog-to-digital input ports. Processor  202  uses I/O  206  to communicate with actuator  104  and sensor  106 , and may also allow processing subsystem  110  to communicate with other subsystems (not shown) in electronic device  100  including but not limited to memory subsystems, processing subsystems, audio subsystems, and/or display subsystems. 
     Processor  202 , memory  204 , and I/O  206  are coupled together using bus  208 . Bus  208  is an electrical, optical, or electro-optical connection that these subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one another. Although only one bus  208  is shown for clarity, different embodiments can include a different number or configuration of electrical or other connections among the subsystems. 
     Although processor  202 , memory  204  and I/O  206  are shown as separate subsystems in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, some or all of a given subsystem can be integrated into one or more of the other subsystems in processing subsystem  110 . Although alternative embodiments can be configured in this way, for clarity we describe the subsystems separately. 
     Although we use specific subsystems to describe processing subsystem  110 , in alternative embodiments, different subsystems may be present in processing subsystem  110 . For example, processing subsystem  110  may include one or more additional processors  202 , memories  204 , and/or I/Os  206 . Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present in processing subsystem  110 . For example, in some embodiments, processor  202  may be implemented using one or more dedicated logic circuits and separate memory  204  may be omitted. Moreover, in some embodiments, processing subsystem  110  may include one or more additional subsystems that are not shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functionality of processing subsystem  110  may be implemented in multiple ways. For example, processing subsystem  110  may be implemented using one or more hardware modules (e.g., microcontrollers and/or other integrated circuits) in electronic device  100 . Similarly, a portion of the functionality of processing subsystem  110  may be implemented in software that executes on a processor of electronic device  100 , and/or combinations of in-situ hardware and/or software components in electronic device  100 . 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 1  operates as follows. When a plug for a connector is inserted into receptacle  102 , sensor  106  senses the mating and sends a signal to processing subsystem  110 . Note that, in some embodiments, sensor  106  may be configured to sense engagement between the plug and receptacle  102  at a point in the mating process prior to full engagement. For example, in some embodiments, sensor  106  may be a magnetic sensor, a piezoelectric beam sensor, a simple switch, or an optical sensor that detects the presence of the plug for a connector as the plug is inserted into receptacle  102 , but before the plug is operationally engaged in receptacle  102 . Additionally, in some embodiments, sensor  106  may also be used to detect when the mating process is reversed. 
     When processing subsystem  110  receives a signal from sensor  106  indicating that a connector plug is mating (e.g., engaging or disengaging) with receptacle  102 , then processing subsystem  110  controls actuator  104  to generate a motion which is transmitted to receptacle  102 , creating a synthetic tactile sensation. Actuator  104  may physically contact, be coupled to, strike or otherwise generate motion in receptacle  102  so that when actuator  104  is activated, motion created by actuator  104  is transferred to receptacle  102  to generate the synthetic tactile sensation. In some embodiments, processing subsystem  110  controls actuator  104  to create a motion profile based on the type of receptacle that receptacle  102  is (e.g., a USB plug, an RJ45 plug, or a power adapter) and on information received from sensor  106 . The motion profile may include adjusting parameters of the motion, including but not limited to the composition of the frequency, amplitude, and duration of the motion to create the synthetic tactile sensation in receptacle  102 . The information received from sensor  106  may include but is not limited to whether the plug is engaging or disengaging from receptacle  102 . For example, processing subsystem  110  may control actuator  104  to generate a first motion profile when sensor  106  detects that the connector plug is being engaged into receptacle  102 , and a second motion profile when sensor  106  detects that the connector plug is being disengaged from receptacle  102 . 
     Additionally, in some embodiments, processing subsystem  110  may also be coupled to other subsystems in electronic device  100  and may use information from these subsystems in addition to information from sensor  106  to determine the motion profile used to generate the synthetic tactile sensation. The information received by processing subsystem  110  from other subsystems in electronic device  100  may include but is not limited to one or more of: the configuration of applications or processes running on electronic device  100 , the power usage of electronic device  100 , the state of charge of a battery in electronic device  100 , other connectors plugged into electronic device  100  (e.g., data, peripheral and/or electrical power connectors), and/or if the plug is correctly inserted into receptacle  102 . For example, if electronic device  100  is downloading data through a connector (e.g., Ethernet cable) plugged into receptacle  102 , a predetermined synthetic tactile sensation may be generated if the connector is unplugged during the downloading process to alert a user. Furthermore, if receptacle  102  is a receptacle for a power adapter and processing subsystem  110  detects that electronic device  100  is being powered by a battery with a state of charge below a predetermined limit, then another predetermined tactile sensation may be generated when an adapter is plugged into receptacle  102 . 
     Additionally, processing subsystem  110  may control actuator  104  and/or a subsystem of electronic device  100  to produce a sound in addition to the synthetic tactile sensation. In some embodiments, the sound may be produced by actuator  104 , and in some embodiments, the sound may be produced in other subsystems of electronic device  100  (e.g., an audio subsystem, not shown). 
       FIG. 3  presents a block diagram illustrating a USB receptacle in accordance with described embodiments.  FIG. 3  includes USB receptacle  302 , sensor  304  and piezoelectric actuator  306 , each coupled to microcontroller  308  and battery  310 . 
     USB receptacle  302  can be any receptacle for a USB connector plug and may be in any type of electronic device, such as electronic device  100 . Sensor  304  is a sensor with a rounded protrusion that intrudes into the opening of USB receptacle  302 . When a USB connector plug is inserted into USB receptacle  302 , the protrusion is pushed and sensor  304  is activated. Sensor  304  may be any type of mechanical or electromechanical switch. For example, sensor  304  could be a contact switch or a piezoelectric cantilevered protrusion. 
     Piezoelectric actuator  306  is a resonant mode piezoelectric actuator that is powered by battery  310  and in contact with USB receptacle  302 , so that when piezoelectric actuator  306  is activated, it vibrates USB receptacle  302 . Microcontroller  308  is a microcontroller programmed so that, when sensor  304  is activated, microcontroller  308  activates piezoelectric actuator  306 . Microcontroller  308  may include programming to generate a predetermined synthetic tactile sensation in USB receptacle  302  using one or more predetermined compositions of frequency, amplitude, and duration to control piezoelectric actuator  306 . Additionally, in some embodiments, microcontroller  308  may control piezoelectric actuator  306  to produce a predetermined sound in addition to a predetermined synthetic tactile sensation. 
     Battery  310  can be any battery in the electronic device. In some embodiments, electrical power from battery  310  is sent through a power management unit in the electronic device that may regulate and/or convert the electrical power from battery  310  to one or more other voltages which are then used to operate sensor  304 , piezoelectric actuator  306  and microcontroller  308 . 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     Although the above-described embodiments include only one each of actuator  104 , sensor  106  and processing subsystem  110 , some embodiments may include more than one of each of these mechanisms. For example, in some embodiments, more than one sensor may be used to sense a connector plug mating with receptacle  102 , or more than one actuator may be used to generate the synthetic tactile sensation. Additionally, in some embodiments, some or all of the above-described functions can be implemented in one integrated mechanism. For example, a sensor may include an integrated processing subsystem that is coupled to a separate actuator. 
     The foregoing descriptions of embodiments have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the embodiments. The scope of the embodiments is defined by the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120924
Publication Date: 20140520
Grant Date: 20140520
Priority Date: 20120924
Inventors: ANASTAS GEORGE V.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R13/6683", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/641", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6691", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6691", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/641", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6683", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 50339260