1. An electronic device comprising:
a piezoelectric element;
a sound generating unit that is vibrated by the piezoelectric element and generates a vibration sound to be transmitted while vibrating part of a human body; and
a detection unit that detects contact of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, wherein
a volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a detection result of the detection unit.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the detection unit detects a contact position of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to the contact position detected by the detection unit.
3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound increases as the contact position approaches one end of the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound decreases as the contact position approaches the other end of the sound generating unit.
4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the vibration sound is changed to a sound volume associated with a position on the sound generating unit.
5. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a movement amount of the contact position with time.
6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the detection unit detects a pressing force of the part of the human body against the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to the pressing force.
7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound increases as the pressing force increases, and
the volume of the vibration sound decreases as the pressing force decreases.
8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the detection unit detects a contact area of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a size of the contact area detected by the detection unit.
9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound increases as the contact area increases, and
the volume of the vibration sound decreases as the contact area decreases.
10. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a change in the contact position in a first direction, and
tone of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a change in the contact position in a second direction.
11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein
the piezoelectric element is provided near an end in a longitudinal direction of the sound generating unit,
the first direction is the longitudinal direction of the sound generating unit, and
the second direction is a lateral direction of the sound generating unit.
12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the vibration sound is changed when the part of the human body is an ear.
13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein
the detection unit detects a contact range of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, and
the detection unit determines whether the part of the human body is the ear based on the detected contact range.
14. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a region of the sound generating unit to be vibrated is larger than a region having a length corresponding to a distance between an inferior crus of antihelix and an antitragus of a human ear and a width corresponding to a distance between a tragus and an antihelix.
15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sound generating unit configures part of or the entire of any of a display panel, an operation panel, a cover panel, and a lid panel for enabling a rechargeable battery to be removable.
16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein
the sound generating unit is the display panel, and
the piezoelectric element is arranged outside of a display region for a display function of the display panel.
17. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein deformation for transmitting an air conduction sound and a human body vibration sound is generated at any portion of the sound generating unit.
18. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the sound generating unit comprises a plurality of portions vibrated in a direction intersecting with a principal plane of the sound generating unit in a vibrating region thereof, and
a value of an amplitude of the vibration is changed from positive to negative or vice versa with time, at each of the portions.
19. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sound generating unit is vibrated by the piezoelectric element and generates an air conduction sound and the vibration sound.
20. A control method performed by an electronic device comprising a sound generating unit and a piezoelectric element, the control method comprising:
vibrating the sound generating unit with the piezoelectric element to cause the sound generating unit to generate a vibration sound to be transmitted while vibrating part of a human body;
detecting contact of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit; and changing a volume of the vibration sound corresponding to a detection result at the detecting.
21. A non-transitory storage medium that stores a control program that causes, when executed by an electronic device comprising a sound generating unit and a piezoelectric element, the electronic device to execute:
vibrating the sound generating unit with the piezoelectric element to cause the sound generating unit to generate a vibration sound to be transmitted while vibrating part of a human body;
detecting contact of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit; and changing a volume of the vibration sound corresponding to a detection result at the detecting.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus comprising an optical element for receiving an input of optical energy and distributing the optical energy into a first output and a second output, wherein the optical element comprises;
(a) a first surface;
(b) a second surface; and
(c) a movable membrane, wherein the movable membrane interposes the first surface and the second surface;
wherein the first surface and the membrane are substantially parallel and form a first optically resonant cavity having a first cavity length, and wherein the first cavity length varies in response to an environmental stimulus;
wherein the second surface and the membrane are substantially parallel and form a second optically resonant cavity having a second cavity length, and wherein the second cavity length varies in response to the environmental stimulus; and
wherein the ratio of optical energy in the first output to the optical energy in the second output is a function of the first cavity length and the second cavity length.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first photodetector for providing a first electrical signal based on the optical energy in the first output.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:
a second photodetector for providing a second electrical signal based on the optical energy in the second output; and
a processor for receiving the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal and providing a composite output signal based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the optical element interposes the first photodetector and the second photodetector.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first photodetector and the second photodetector are disposed on the same side of the optical element, and wherein the first output is a beam of optical energy that is reflected from the optical element, and further wherein the second output is a beam of optical energy that transits at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a substrate that is at least partially transmissive to the optical energy, wherein the substrate comprises the first surface and a third surface, and wherein the first surface is proximate to the membrane and the third surface is distal to the membrane and further wherein the third surface comprises a mirror that is at least partially reflective for the optical energy.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first surface is substantially anti-reflective for the optical energy.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the environmental stimulus is selected from the group consisting of acoustic energy, pressure, and acceleration.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical element further comprises a proof mass, wherein the proof mass and the movable membrane are mechanically coupled.
10. An optical displacement sensor comprising:
(1) a source of input light, wherein the input light is characterized by a first wavelength;
(2) an optical element for receiving the input light and distributing it into a first optical output and a second optical output, wherein the ratio of the first optical output to the second optical output is a function of an environmental stimulus, and wherein the optical element comprises;
(a) a first optical cavity that is optically resonant at the first wavelength, wherein said first optical cavity has a first cavity length that is a function of the environmental stimulus; and
(b) a second optical cavity that is optically resonant at the first wavelength, wherein said second optical cavity has a second cavity length that is a function of the environmental stimulus;
wherein the first optical cavity and the second optical cavity are mechanically coupled such that the sum of the first cavity length and the second cavity length is substantially constant; and
(3) a first photodetector for providing a first electrical output based on one of the first optical output and the second optical output.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:
(4) a second photodetector for providing a second electrical output based on the other one of the first optical output and the second optical output; and
(5) a processor for receiving the first electrical output and the second electrical output and providing a third electrical output based on the first electrical output and the second electrical output.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the environmental stimulus is selected from the group consisting of acoustic energy, pressure, and acceleration, and nuclear energy.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the optical element further comprises (c) a first substrate, wherein the first substrate comprises a first surface and a membrane that is physically-adapted to move in response to the environmental stimulus, and wherein the first surface and the membrane collectively define the first optical cavity.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the optical element further comprises (d) a second surface, wherein the membrane interposes the first surface and the second surface, and wherein the second surface and the membrane collectively define the second optical cavity.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the optical element further comprises (d) a second substrate, wherein the second substrate comprises a second surface, and wherein the second surface and the membrane collectively define the second optical cavity.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first substrate further comprises a second surface, and wherein the first substrate is at least partially transmissive for light characterized by the first wavelength, and wherein the first surface is proximate to the membrane and the second surface is distal to the membrane, and further wherein the second surface comprises a first mirror that is at least partially reflective for light characterized by the first wavelength.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first surface is substantially anti-reflective for light characterized by the first wavelength.