Touch-based user interface with haptic feedback

• US 10,013,058 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Puskarich, Paul G., Pilliod, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOO, KUO-KONG
• Application Number:
  US12/887,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,842 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-176, 345168, 310317, 3404072, 324713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/092 Forming composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

One embodiment of a touch-based user interface may include a haptic feedback layer with one or more actuators configured to supply a haptic feedback. The one or more actuators may be embedded in a nonconductive material. The touch-based user interface may further include a printed circuit board layer underlying the haptic feedback layer. The printed circuit board layer may include one or more conductive traces configured to supply a voltage to the one or more actuators.

Claims

1. A touch-based user interface, comprising:

a haptic feedback layer comprising a layer of nonconductive material and one or more actuators embedded within the layer of nonconductive material, the one more actuators configured to supply a haptic feedback;

one or more force sensors configured to differentiate among a plurality of input commands based, at least in part, on an amount of force sensed by the one or more force sensors; and

a printed circuit board layer, disposed on a first side of the haptic feedback layer, and positioned between the haptic feedback layer and the one or more force sensors, the printed circuit board layer including one or more conductive traces configured to supply a voltage to the one or more actuators, wherein

a second side of the haptic feedback layer opposite to the first side is positioned toward an outermost surface of the touch-based user interface.

2. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more actuators is a piezoelectric actuator.

3. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board layer further comprises a capacitive sensor.

4. The touch-based user interface of claim 3, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a first layer of electrodes and a second layer of electrodes, the first layer of electrodes overlaying the second layer of electrodes to form a grid defining one or more spaces between the first layer of electrodes and the second layer of electrodes.

5. The touch-based user interface of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more actuators is aligned along at least one vertical axis with at least one of the one or more spaces of the grid.

6. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more force sensors are positioned underneath the printed circuit board layer.

7. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the haptic feedback layer.

8. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators is joined to the nonconductive material by an adhesive.

9. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more actuators is configured to move independently from another actuator of the one or more actuators.

10. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators form rows of actuators that extend laterally across the haptic feedback layer.

11. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, further comprising a cover layer overlaying the haptic feedback layer.

12. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive material has a modulus of rigidity to prevent the nonconductive material from moving relative to the one or more actuators when a voltage is supplied to the one or more actuators.

20. The touch-based user interface of claim 4, wherein the capacitive sensor measures a change in capacitance at a location at which a first electrode of the first layer of electrodes crosses above a second electrode of the second layer of electrodes.

13. A method for manufacturing a haptic feedback layer, comprising:

arranging one or more piezoelectric actuator strands so that each of the one or more piezoelectric actuator strands are spaced apart from one another;

melting a nonconductive material to form a liquid;

filling spaces between the piezoelectric actuator strands with the melted nonconductive material to form a blank so that the piezoelectric actuator strands are embedded within the nonconductive material;

cutting the blank to form a haptic feedback layer;

orienting one side of the haptic feedback layer toward a first side of a printed circuit board layer; and

coupling one or more force sensors to a second side of the printed circuit board layer that is opposite to the first side, wherein the one or more force sensors are configured to differentiate among a plurality of input commands based, at least in part, on an amount of force detected by the one or more force sensors.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the blank is cut along a plane perpendicular to a direction of extension of the piezoelectric actuator strands.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the blank is cut along a plane parallel to a direction of extension of the piezoelectric actuators strands.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the blank is cut such that only the nonconductive material between the piezoelectric actuator strands is cut.

17. A touch-based input device, comprising:

one or more actuators embedded within a layer of nonconductive material and configured to supply a haptic feedback; and

one or more force sensors embedded within a printed circuit board layer and configured to differentiate among a plurality of input commands based, at least in part, on an amount of force sensed by the one or more force sensors;

wherein the printed circuit board layer is attached to the layer of nonconductive material and comprises one or more conductive traces that supply a voltage to the one or more actuators, and the layer of nonconductive material is positioned toward an outermost surface of the touch-based user interface.

18. The touch-based input device of claim 17, wherein the outermost surface of the touch-based input device is configured to flex in response to a received force.

19. The touch-based input device of claim 17, wherein a first input command of the plurality of input commands is associated with a first gesture and a second input command of the plurality of input commands is associated with a second gesture.