Haptic device with indirect haptic feedback

• US 10,331,285 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Colgate, James Edward, Peshkin, Michael A., Glassmire, John, Alexander, Laura Winfield
• Primary Examiner(s): Ketema, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US15/797,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 345173
• 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 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface, applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface, modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a friction force applied to the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture.

Claims

1. A method of creating a haptic effect on a touch surface, the method including the steps of:

detecting a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface;

applying a mechanical force to the first and second appendages at the detected locations on the touch surface;

modulating the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a coefficient of friction between the touch surface and the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture;

wherein the coefficient of friction between the touch surface the first appendage is adjustable independently of the coefficient of friction between the touch surface and the second appendage.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical force is a vibration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical force is modulated to simulate a rough texture.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical force is modulated to adjust the coefficient of friction between the touch surface and the first appendage or second appendage as it moves across the touch surface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical force is modulated based on the locations of the first appendage and second appendage on the touch surface.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the mechanical force is modulated based on the velocity of the first appendage or second appendage as it moves across the touch surface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical force is modulated based on the position of the first appendage relative to the second appendage.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the touch surface is mounted to a display screen.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein mechanical force is modulated to simulate the texture of an object displayed on a screen.

18. The device of claim 8 wherein mechanical force is modulated to simulate the texture of an object displayed on a screen.

10. A haptic device including:

a position detection unit that detects a location of a first appendage and a second appendage on a touch surface;

a mechanical force generation unit that applies a mechanical force on the first appendage and second appendage at the detected locations on the touch surface,

wherein the mechanical force unit modulates the amplitude of the mechanical force to adjust a coefficient of friction between the touch surface and the first appendage and second appendage to simulate a texture;

wherein the coefficient of friction between the touch surface and the first appendage is adjustable independently of the coefficient of friction between the touch surface and the second appendage.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the mechanical force is a vibration.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the mechanical force is modulated to simulate a rough texture.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the mechanical force is modulated to adjust the coefficient of friction between the touch surface and the first appendage or second appendage as it moves across the touch surface.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the mechanical force is modulated based on the locations of the first appendage and second appendage on the touch surface.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the mechanical force is modulated based on the velocity of the first appendage or second appendage as it moves across the touch surface.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the mechanical force is modulated based on the position of the first appendage relative to the second appendage.

17. The device of claim 10 wherein the touch surface is mounted to a display screen.