Feedback device in an electronic device

• US 10,297,119 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wiederhold, Curtis P., Bard, Benjamin A., Crosby, Justin D., Verweij, Hugo D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Small, Naomi J
• Application Number:
  US14/567,017
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 3404071
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

An electronic device can include one or more actuators. The actuator or actuators may be operably connected to a feedback surface. Movement is produced in at least one actuator that causes an audio output. The movement in the actuator(s) by itself may produce the desired audio output. The movement in the actuator(s) can produce a force in at least one direction that produces movement in the feedback surface, and the movement in the feedback surface produces audio output. The movement in the actuator may also provide a haptic output to a user.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a substantially flat feedback surface;

at least one actuator operably connected to a side edge of the substantially flat feedback surface; and

a processing device operably connected to the at least one actuator, wherein the processing device transmits an actuator input signal to the at least one actuator that causes the at least one actuator to produce;

a first force that produces vertical movement in the substantially flat feedback surface to produce an audio output; and

a second force that produces horizontal movement in the substantially flat feedback surface to produce a haptic output.

2. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the processing device is operably connected to a memory.

3. The electronic device as in claim 2, wherein the memory stores a plurality of actuator input signals with each actuator input signal including at least one waveform characteristic that differs from at least one waveform characteristic of the other actuator input signals.

4. The electronic device as in claim 1, further comprising a connection member operably connected between the substantially flat feedback surface and the at least one actuator, wherein the first and second forces move the connection member and the substantially flat feedback surface.

5. The electronic device as in claim 3, further comprising an output adjustment mechanism for adjusting the audio output of the electronic device by selecting a different actuator input signal.

6. The electronic device as in claim 5, wherein the output adjustment mechanism adjusts the haptic output produced in the substantially flat feedback surface by selecting a different actuator input signal.

7. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one actuator comprises a first actuator;

the electronic device further comprises a second actuator; and

the first force produced by the first actuator opposes a force produced by the second actuator to cause the substantially flat feedback surface to bend.

8. The electronic device as in claim 1, further comprising a movable mechanism operably attached to the substantially flat feedback surface and to a substrate.

9. The electronic device as in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first or second forces causes the substantially flat feedback surface to rotate vertically with respect to the movable mechanism.

10. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the substantially flat feedback surface comprises an input surface of a trackpad.

11. The electronic device as in claim 7, wherein:

the side edge comprises a first side edge; and

the second actuator is operably connected to a second side edge of the substantially flat feedback surface.

12. The electronic device as in claim 11, wherein the first side edge is opposite the second side edge.

13. The electronic device as in claim 7, wherein the first force is greater that the force produced by the second actuator.

14. The electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement is perpendicular to a plane defined by the side edge.

15. The electronic device as in claim 1, further comprising a gel, wherein:

the vertical movement moves the substantially flat feedback surface from a first position to a second position; and

the gel returns the substantially flat feedback surface to the first position from the second position.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a feedback surface;

an electromagnetic actuator operatively connected to the feedback surface and comprising one or more magnets disposed around a shaft and a coil disposed around at least one of the one or more magnets; and

a processing device operably connected to the electromagnetic actuator, wherein the processing device is adapted to transmit actuator input signals to the electromagnetic actuator that causes the one or more magnets to move along the shaft in at least one direction and produce an audio output and a haptic output when the coil receives a first actuator input signal having a first frequency component and a second frequency component;

wherein;

the electromagnetic actuator causes vertical movement of the feedback surface to produce the audio output; and

the electromagnetic actuator causes horizontal movement of the feedback surface to produce the haptic output.

17. The electronic device as in claim 16, wherein the electronic device comprises a wearable communication device.

18. A method of operating an actuator in an electronic device to produce a haptic output and an audio output, the method comprising:

receiving, by the actuator, a first actuator input signal having a first frequency;

outputting, based on the first actuator input signal, vertical movement in a feedback surface coupled to the actuator to produce a ticking sound;

receiving, by the actuator, a second actuator input signal having a second frequency that is different than the first frequency; and

outputting, based on the second actuator input signal, horizontal movement in the feedback surface coupled to the actuator to produce a haptic output.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the first frequency is equal to or greater than a first value.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the second frequency is equal to or less than a second value, the second value being equal to or less than the first value.