Haptic interface for laptop computers and other portable devices
First Claim
1. A haptic feedback touch control for inputting signals to a computer and for outputting forces to a user of the touch control, the touch control comprising:
- a touch input device including an approximately planar touch surface operative to provide a position signal based on a location on said touch surface which said user contacts, said position signal representing said location in two dimensions;
wherein said computer receives position information derived from said position signal; and
at least one actuator coupled to said touch input device, said actuator outputting a force on said touch input device to laterally move said touch input device approximately parallel to a surface of said touch input device to provide a haptic sensation to said user contacting said touch surface, wherein said actuator outputs said force based on force information output by said computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A haptic feedback touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that provides position information to a computer based on a location of user contact. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position information, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user. The actuator can move the touchpad laterally, or a separate surface member can be actuated. A flat E-core actuator, piezoelectric actuator, or other types of actuators can be used to provide forces. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A haptic feedback touch control for inputting signals to a computer and for outputting forces to a user of the touch control, the touch control comprising:
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a touch input device including an approximately planar touch surface operative to provide a position signal based on a location on said touch surface which said user contacts, said position signal representing said location in two dimensions;
wherein said computer receives position information derived from said position signal; and
at least one actuator coupled to said touch input device, said actuator outputting a force on said touch input device to laterally move said touch input device approximately parallel to a surface of said touch input device to provide a haptic sensation to said user contacting said touch surface, wherein said actuator outputs said force based on force information output by said computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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23. A haptic feedback touch control for inputting signals to a computer and for outputting forces to a user of the touch control, the touch control comprising:
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a touch input device including an approximately planar touch surface operative to provide a position signal based on a location on said touch surface which said user presses, said position signal representing said location in two dimensions, wherein said computer receives position information derived from said position signal;
a surface member located adjacent to said touch input device, wherein said user can contact said surface when pressing said touch input device; and
at least one actuator coupled to said surface member, said actuator outputting a force on said surface member to provide a haptic sensation to said user contacting said surface member, wherein said actuator outputs said force based on force information output by said computer.
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36. A method for providing haptic feedback to a touch input device that provides input to a computer device, said computer device implementing a graphical environment, the method comprising:
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providing said touch input device that is contacted by a user, said touch input device including at least one sensor for determining a location of said contact on a planar surface of said touch input device by said user and providing said computer device with a position signal indicating said location; and
providing an actuator coupled to said touch input device, said actuator receiving control signals derived from force information output by said computer device, wherein said force information causes said actuator to output a force on said touch input device, said force being correlated with an interaction occurring in said graphical environment between said cursor and a different graphical object, wherein said force causes said touch input device to translate laterally and approximately parallel to said planar surface of said touch input device.
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43. An actuator providing a linear force output, the actuator comprising:
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a grounded ferromagnetic piece including a center pole located between two side poles;
a coil wrapped around said center pole;
a magnet positioned adjacent to said center pole and said side poles, wherein an air gap is provided between said magnet and said ferromagnetic piece; and
a backing plate coupled to said magnet, wherein said backing plate and said magnet move with respect to said grounded ferromagnetic piece when current is flowed in said coil. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51)
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49. A haptic touch device comprising:
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a piezoelectric transducer coupled to a ground, said piezoelectric transducer including a metal diaphragm coupled to a ceramic element;
a planar sensing element operative to sense a location of a contact from a user on a surface of said planar sensing element;
a spacer provided between said piezoelectric transducer and said planar sensing element, wherein said metal diaphragm contacts said spacer; and
a spring element coupled between said planar sensing element and said ground, said spring element providing a spring restoring force to said planar sensing element.
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52. A method for providing haptic feedback to a touch input device that provides input to a computer device, said computer device implementing a graphical environment, the method comprising:
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receiving a position signal from said touch input device, said position signal indicating a contact location on a surface of said touch input device where said user is pressing said surface;
determining in which of a plurality of regions said contact location is positioned, wherein said surface of said touch input device is divided into said plurality of regions; and
providing force information to cause at least one actuator to output a force to said user operating said touch input device, said force associated with said user moving an object on or over said surface of said touch input device. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification