Reluctance Haptic Engine With Flexible Gap Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional haptic mechanisms in electronic devices are large and occupy significant space, limiting device compactness and battery life, necessitating a more compact solution for haptic output generation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a reluctance haptic engine with a core and attractor separated by a gap, where flexible support members maintain the gap and an electrical current generates a reluctance force to actuate the engine, producing haptic outputs by reducing or increasing the gap between the core and attractor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional motors and actuation mechanisms are used for haptic output, then reliable haptic feedback is achieved, but device size increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical motors with a magnetic field-based reluctance haptic engine. The system uses electromagnetic interaction between a permanent magnet and a magnetizable material to generate haptic feedback, eliminating the need for complex mechanical actuation mechanisms and significantly reducing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using a permanent magnet with specific remanence properties and controlling the magnetic circuit geometry. By adjusting the air gap distance and magnetic path configuration, the system achieves efficient haptic output with minimal energy consumption and compact dimensions.
2Reliability
If traditional motors and actuation mechanisms are used for haptic output, then reliable haptic feedback is achieved, but battery operation time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical motors with a magnetic field-based reluctance haptic engine. The system uses electromagnetic interaction between a permanent magnet and a magnetizable material to generate haptic feedback, eliminating the need for complex mechanical actuation mechanisms and significantly reducing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The permanent magnet in the reluctance haptic engine provides its own magnetic field, eliminating the need for continuous electrical power to maintain the magnetic field. Only brief electrical pulses are needed to actuate the haptic feedback, dramatically reducing energy consumption and extending battery operation time.
3Volume of moving object
If compact haptic mechanisms are implemented, then device size is reduced, but haptic output effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using a permanent magnet with specific remanence properties and controlling the magnetic circuit geometry. By adjusting the air gap distance and magnetic path configuration, the system achieves efficient haptic output with minimal energy consumption and compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a magnetizable material with specific magnetic properties in the movable component. This material is selected to maximize magnetic coupling efficiency with the permanent magnet, ensuring strong haptic feedback output despite the compact size of the actuator.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for compact haptic output generation, enabling localized or global haptic feedback in electronic devices while optimizing space usage and battery life by reducing the size of haptic mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The core may comprise a conduction loop configured to receive an electrical current to generate a reluctance force that causes a transition from the unactuated configuration to an actuated configuration
Implementation Method 2
The first flexible support member and the second flexible support member may be configured to, in the unactuated configuration, maintain the gap between the core and the attractor and during the transition from the unactuated configuration to the actuated configuration, deform as the gap between the attractor and the core is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A reluctance haptic engine for an electronic device includes a core, an attractor, and one or more flexible support members. The core and/or the attractor may be coupled to an input structure, such as a button cap, trackpad cover, touchscreen cover, or the like. In an unactuated configuration, flexible support members maintain a gap between the core and the attractor. An electrical current may be applied to one or more conduction loops of the core to actuate the reluctance haptic engine and provide a haptic output by moving the input structure. The electrical current may cause a magnetic flux that results in a reluctance force that pulls the attractor and the core together and causes the input structure to move (e.g., translate, rotate, oscillate, vibrate, or deform) to produce a haptic output.