Method and apparatus for providing haptic feedback to non-input locations

• US 10,275,030 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Gosline, Andrew, Grant, Danny, Ramstein, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/285,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20170024013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

A handheld apparatus includes a top surface that includes a touch screen defining a plurality of keys, and a bottom surface on an opposite side of the first surface. The apparatus further includes a processor and an actuator coupled to the processor and located on the bottom surface. The processor is adapted to detect an object moving across the keys and in response generate an actuation signal to the actuator to generate a haptic feedback on the back surface.

Claims

1. A haptically-enabled device;

comprising;

a touch sensitive surface;

a second surface different from the touch sensitive surface;

a processor; and

a haptic output device communicatively coupled to the processor and physically coupled to the second surface, the haptic output device including a rotating paddle adapted to move the second surface;

wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to receive information;

wherein the processor, in response to the information, generates a signal to the haptic output device causing the rotating paddle to generate a non-vibratory haptic feedback where a portion of the second surface

bows outward during a first duration to change a shape of the second surface and the non-vibratory haptic feedback ends when outward movement of the second surface during the first duration has ended.

2. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the information is received by the touch sensitive surface in response to a direct contact or a proximity contact to the touch sensitive surface.

3. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to be a front surface when the device is in use, and the second surface is adapted to be a rear surface when the device is in use.

4. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises a piezoelectric material adapted to be directly contacted by a user and functions as at least part of the second surface.

5. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the second surface comprises a flexible material.

6. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the second surface forms a rear surface of a housing of the haptically-enabled device.

7. A method of generating haptic feedback on a haptically-enabled device including a touch sensitive surface, a second surface different from the touch sensitive surface, a processor, and a haptic output device communicatively coupled to the processor and physically coupled to the second surface, the haptic output device including a rotating paddle adapted to move the second surface, the method comprising:

receiving information at the touch sensitive surface; and

in response to the information, generating a signal to the haptic output device causing the rotating paddle to generate a non-vibratory haptic feedback where a portion of the second surface bows outward during a first duration

to change a shape of the second surface and the non-vibratory haptic feedback ends when outward movement of the second surface during the first duration has ended.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information is received by the touch sensitive surface in response to a direct contact or a proximity contact to the touch sensitive surface.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to be a front surface when the device is in use, and the second surface is adapted to be a rear surface when the device is in use.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the haptic output device comprises a piezoelectric material adapted to be directly contacted by a user and functions as at least part of the second surface.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the second surface comprises a flexible material.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the second surface forms a rear surface of a housing of the haptically-enabled device.

13. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate haptic feedback on a haptically-enabled device including a touch sensitive surface, a second surface different from the touch sensitive surface, a processor, and a haptic output device communicatively coupled to the processor and physically coupled to the second surface, the haptic output device including a rotating paddle adapted to move the second surface, the generating haptic feedback comprising:

receive information at the touch sensitive surface; and

in response to the information, generating a signal to the haptic output device causing the rotating paddle to generate a non-vibratory haptic feedback where a portion of the second surface bows outward during a first duration

to change a shape of the second surface and the non-vibratory haptic feedback ends when outward movement of the second surface during the first duration has ended.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the information is received by the touch sensitive surface in response to a direct contact or a proximity contact to the touch sensitive surface.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to be a front surface when the device is in use, and the second surface is adapted to be a rear surface when the device is in use.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the haptic output device comprises a piezoelectric material adapted to be directly contacted by a user and functions as at least part of the second surface.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the second surface comprises a flexible material.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the second surface forms a rear surface of a housing of the haptically-enabled device.