Touch-sensitive display with tactile feedback

• US 20030179190A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Franzen, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

The invention relates to a touch-sensitive display with tactile feedback, comprising a first layer S₁, a mechanically flexible display medium, a second layer S₂ with at least one receptor, and a third layer S₃ with at least one controllable actuator. The second layer S₂ is disposed in such a way that the receptor detects a contact in at least one section of the first layer S₁ and generates at least one first signal. The third layer S₃ is disposed in such a way that the controllable actuator mechanically manipulates the first layer S₁ at least in some points of the section. The display is further provided with a control device μP that is designed and contacted with the second layer S₂ and the third layer S₃ to generate in an initial state at least one second signal for controlling the actuator, at least one modified second signal being generated on the basis of the first signal.

Claims

1. Touch-sensitive display with tactile feedback, characterized by

a) a first layer S₁ with a mechanically flexible display medium,

b) a second layer S₂ with at least one receptor,

c) a third layer S₃ with at least one controllable actuator,

d) the second layer S₂ being disposed in such a way that receptor detects a contact in at least one section of the first layer S₁ and generates at least one first signal,

e) the third layer being disposed in such a way that the controllable actuator mechanically manipulates the first layer S₁ at least in some points of the section,

f) a control device μ

P which is designed and contacted with the second layer S₂ and the third layer S₃ in such a way that in an initial state at least one second signal for controlling the actuator is generated, whereby at least one modified second signal is generated on the basis of the first signal.

2. Display according to claim 1, characterized in that the display medium is a membrane which is designed in accordance with the “

electronic paper”

, “

microencapsulated electrophoretic display”

or “

organic electroluminescence”

technologies.

3. Display according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receptor is designed as a light grid.

4. Display according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

a) the actuator is a first matrix arrangement of electrically and/or magnetically driven moveable pins N_l . . . N_m,

b) the pins N_l . . . N_m can move perpendicular to the surface of the first layer S₁.

5. Display according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that

a) the receptor is a second matrix arrangement of electrically and/or magnetically driven moveable pins N_l . . . N_m,

b) the pins N_l . . . N_m can move perpendicular to the surface of the first layer S₁.

6. Display according to claim 5, characterized in that the second layer S₂ and third layer S₃ form a common layer, whereby the pins N_l . . . N_m of the first matrix arrangement and the pins N_l . . . N_m of the second matrix arrangement are located beside one another.

7. Display according to claim 6, characterized in that the pins N_l . . . N_m are designed to act simultaneously as actuator and receptor.

8. Display according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the pins N_{l . . . Nm} are piezoelectric elements.

9. Display according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the pins N_l . . . N_m are electromagnetic elements.

10. Display according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second layer S₂ is a sensor mat.

11. Display according to claim 10, characterized in that

a) the first layer S₁ comes to be located beneath the second layer S₂,

b) the second layer S₂ is transparent and flexible.