Actuator Vibration Control for Intermittent Feedback Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

User experience is compromised due to variations in actuator arrangements, leading to perceived continuous vibrations instead of intermittent vibrations across different user devices, affecting immersion in gaming and other interactive experiences.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that acquires vibration information, calculates an intermittency index, and sets operation modes for actuators to ensure consistent intermittent vibration feedback, either by continuous output from a single actuator or shared discontinuous output from multiple actuators based on the index.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the same actuator continuously outputs intermittent vibrations, then the vibration feedback is simple to control, but the intermittency may not be easily identified by the user depending on actuator arrangement and device characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidintermittency perception accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of actuators based on the calculated intermittency index. When the index indicates poor intermittency perception, the system switches from continuous output by one actuator to discontinuous shared output by multiple actuators, thereby adjusting the vibration delivery parameters to improve user perception while maintaining control simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the operation mode of actuators based on real-time calculation of the intermittency index. The control strategy transitions between different operational states (single actuator continuous vs. multiple actuators discontinuous) depending on the perceived intermittency quality, making the system adaptive rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple actuators share intermittent vibrations discontinuously, then the intermittency is easily identified by the user, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintermittency perception accuracyVSAvoidactuator control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-diagnosis and self-adjustment by automatically calculating the intermittency index based on device characteristics and vibration information, then autonomously determining the appropriate operation mode without requiring external intervention or complex manual configuration, thereby managing complexity through automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the calculated intermittency index as feedback to adjust actuator operation modes. By continuously monitoring whether the intermittency is easily identified and adjusting the control strategy accordingly, the system optimizes perception accuracy while managing complexity through closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If vibration feedback is provided without considering actuator arrangement differences, then the control process is simple, but the user experience deteriorates due to inconsistent vibration perception across different devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoiduser experience consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by tailoring the vibration output strategy to the specific characteristics of each device and actuator arrangement. Instead of using a uniform approach for all devices, the system calculates device-specific intermittency indices and adjusts the operation mode accordingly, ensuring optimal vibration perception for each local configuration while maintaining overall system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3770729B1Information processing device, information processing method, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3770729B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3770729B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3770729B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To propose a mechanism capable of suppressing deterioration in user experience accompanied by feedback due to vibration. [Solution] An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires vibration information for outputting intermittent vibration to an actuator; and a setting unit that sets an operation mode of a plurality of actuators capable of outputting vibration to the same user based on the vibration information as a first operation mode in which the same actuator continuously outputs each of the intermittent vibrations based on the vibration information or as a second operation mode in which the plurality of actuators share the intermittent vibrations while the same actuator discontinuously outputs each of the intermittent vibrations based on the vibration information. [Selected Drawing] FIG. 1