Haptic Controller Standby Control for Fast Wake and Parameter Retention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing haptic interfaces face challenges in reducing the time required to exit low-power mode, leading to prolonged system performance degradation and loss of parameters affecting the generation of vibration feedback.

Innovation Solution

A controller design that maintains power supply to digital circuit blocks during standby mode, allowing for reduced access and parameter retention, and employs a controlled sequence for transitioning in and out of standby mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the controller enters low-power mode to reduce energy consumption, then power savings are achieved, but the time required to exit low-power mode increases and system performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidexit time from low-power mode
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is divided into analog circuit blocks and digital circuit blocks that can be independently controlled. The analog blocks remain operational while digital blocks enter low-power mode, allowing selective power management that reduces overall power consumption without completely shutting down the controller, thus enabling faster exit from low-power state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller maintains power supply to essential analog circuit blocks before entering low-power mode, preserving critical functionality and parameters. This preliminary action ensures that when exiting low-power mode, the system can quickly resume operation without requiring full system initialization, thereby reducing exit time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the controller enters low-power mode to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but parameters affecting vibration feedback generation are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidparameter integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The controller separates analog and digital circuit blocks, allowing digital blocks to enter low-power mode while analog blocks maintain operation. This segmentation preserves parameter integrity in the analog domain (such as sensor readings and vibration feedback parameters) while still achieving power savings in the digital processing domain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The analog circuit blocks continue to operate continuously even when digital blocks are in low-power mode, maintaining the continuity of useful actions such as sensor signal processing and vibration feedback generation. This ensures parameter integrity is maintained without complete system shutdown.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4586062B1Controller and vibration feedback device
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4586062B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4586062B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4586062B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(m)

AI summary

A controller includes a press detector that suppresses an output of a first press detection signal while receiving a first drive period signal indicating a drive period of an actuator, and includes a drive signal generator that generates a first drive signal to drive the actuator based on a drive startup signal that is externally received in response to the first press detection signal being externally output, generates a second drive signal to drive the actuator based on the first detection signal that is output from a sensor in response to vibration of an operation device caused by the first drive signal, and outputs the first drive period signal during a period in which the actuator is driven by the first drive signal and the second drive signal.