Haptic output device and method of generating a haptic effect in a haptic output device

• US 10,175,761 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Grant, Danny A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US15/632,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20170293360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A haptic output device includes a touch surface, a sensor configured to sense an input at the touch surface, and a controller configured to read the sensor, identify a location of the input, switch from a read mode to a write mode, and write a voltage based on the location of the input to generate an electrostatic output.

Claims

1. A haptic output device comprising:

a capacitive touch screen having an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer provides a surface of the capacitive touch screen;

a conductive layer including a sensor configured to sense a touch input that is in contact with the surface of the capacitive touch screen of the haptic output device;

one or more electrodes proximate the conductive layer; and

a controller configured to

read the sensor,

identify a location of the touch input based on a reading of the sensor, and

write a voltage to at least one electrode of the one or more electrodes based on the location of the touch input to generate an electrostatic output.

2. The haptic output device of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrodes are located in between the insulating layer and the conductive layer.

3. The haptic output device of claim 2, wherein the electrostatic output simulates a friction force or texture as the touch input moves on the surface of the capacitive touch screen, wherein the electrostatic output simulates the friction force or texture by sending an electric signal to an object from which the touch input is received.

4. The haptic output device of claim 2, wherein a strength of the electrostatic output is based on a thickness of the insulating layer that separates the one or more electrodes from an object in contact with the surface of the capacitive touch screen.

5. The haptic output device of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is configured to multiplex between sensing the touch input and writing the voltage.

6. The haptic output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to read the sensor in a reading mode, switch from the reading mode to a writing mode, and write the voltage in the writing mode.

7. The haptic output device of claim 6, wherein a timing for switching between the reading mode and the writing mode of the controller is based on a settling time of corresponding signals.

8. The haptic output device of claim 1, wherein a same voltage level is used for sensing the touch input and generating the electrostatic output.

9. The haptic output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

read the sensor using a first voltage level;

determine a first location based on the reading of the sensor using the first voltage level; and

at the first location, read the sensor using a second voltage level, wherein the second voltage level is also used for generating the electrostatic output.

10. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to write the voltage to electrodes that include the at least one electrode, wherein the one or more electrodes are proximate an entire surface of the capacitive touch screen.

11. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to write the voltage to electrodes that include the at least one electrode, wherein the one or more electrodes are in an area proximate the location of the touch input.

12. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a plurality of touch inputs at the surface of the capacitive touch screen, wherein the controller is configured to identify locations of the plurality of touch inputs on the surface.

13. The haptic output device according to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to write the voltage to electrodes proximate the locations of the plurality of touch inputs to generate a plurality of localized electrostatic outputs.

14. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to drive an electrode of the one or more electrodes that is closest to the location of the touch input to generate the electrostatic output.

15. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more electrodes comprise a plurality of electrodes, wherein the controller is configured to drive different electrodes of the plurality of electrodes to generate multi-touch localized electrostatic outputs.

17. The haptic output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a contact area between the touch input and the at least one electrode of the one or more electrodes, and to cause a magnitude of the electrostatic output to be based on the contact area.

16. A method comprising:

reading, by a controller in a reading mode, a sensor included in a conductive layer of a haptic output device, wherein the sensor senses a touch input that is in contact with the haptic output device, wherein the haptic output device further includes one or more electrodes proximate the conductive layer;

identifying, by the controller, a location of the touch input based on the reading of the sensor;

switching from the reading mode to a writing mode; and

writing, by the controller in the writing mode, a voltage to at least one electrode of the one or more electrodes based on the location of the touch input to generate an electrostatic output.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a contact area between the touch input and the at least one electrode of the one or more electrodes, wherein a magnitude of the electrostatic output is based on the contact area.