Vibration Control in Electronic Devices Using Harmonic Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices experience undesirable bouncing and noise when vibrating on a surface, which can lead to damage or discomfort, due to the high intensity of vibrating alerts.

Innovation Solution

Equipping electronic devices with sensors, such as microphones or accelerometers, to detect higher-order harmonics indicating bouncing, and automatically adjusting the vibration intensity or frequency of the vibrating element to suppress these unwanted effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high intensity vibration is used for alerting, then the alert effectiveness is improved, but harmful bouncing and noise are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert effectivenessVSAvoidbouncing and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors (microphones, accelerometers) to detect bouncing and noise generated by vibration, then feeds this information back to the controller which adjusts the vibration parameters in real-time to suppress harmful effects while maintaining alert effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically changes vibration parameters (intensity, frequency, duration) based on detected conditions, reducing intensity when bouncing is detected and maintaining higher intensity when safe, thus resolving the contradiction between alert effectiveness and harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vibration intensity is reduced to prevent bouncing, then harmful effects are minimized, but alert effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebouncing and noiseVSAvoidalert effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static vibration intensity to dynamic adjustment, where the controller continuously monitors for bouncing and adapts the vibration intensity in real-time, allowing the system to maintain high intensity when safe and reduce it only when necessary to prevent harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic sensing and adjustment cycles, continuously monitoring for bouncing conditions and adjusting vibration parameters periodically, ensuring alert effectiveness is maintained while harmful effects are suppressed when detected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sensors and control systems are added to detect and suppress bouncing, then harmful effects are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebouncing and noiseVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing multi-functional components (microphones and accelerometers that serve both media processing and vibration detection purposes) and integrates control functions into the existing processor, thereby reducing the need for additional dedicated components and minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If continuous monitoring and adjustment of vibration is implemented, then bouncing is effectively suppressed, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebouncing and noiseVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic sensing and adjustment rather than continuous operation, activating sensors and control mechanisms only when vibration is active and bouncing is detected, thereby suppressing harmful effects while minimizing power consumption during non-vibration periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Effectively reduces noise and movement of the device, ensuring the alert is perceived by the user while minimizing power consumption and preventing potential damage.

Implementation Method 1

a vibrating element operable to vibrate the electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

detecting, with the sensor, the presence of an audible higher-order harmonic signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHarmonic detection:

Data Source

PatentUS9024738B2Apparatus, systems and methods for mitigating vibration of an electronic device

Publication Date: 2015.05.05 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

According to one aspect, an electronic device that includes a vibrating element adapted to vibrate the electronic device, at least one sensor operable to detect the presence of an audible higher-order harmonic above a fundamental frequency when the vibrating element is active. The device also includes a processor operable to adjust the vibrating element to reduce the audible higher-order harmonic when the audible higher-order harmonic is detected.