Method and apparatus for providing haptic feedback

• US 20040012560A1
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Vassallo, Steven P., Martin, Kenneth M., Jasso, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,535,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

Products and processes for providing haptic feedback are described. One such product includes a rocker switch and an actuator in communication with the rocker switch. The rocker switch is operable to output a first signal. The actuator is operable to provide haptic feedback associated with the first signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a rocker switch operable to output a first signal; and

an actuator in communication with the rocker switch, the actuator operable to provide haptic feedback associated with the first signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor operable to receive the first signal and to communicate a second signal to the actuator, the second signal associated with the first signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is operable to associate a value with a setting of the rocker switch in a first mode and to control a rate of change of the value in a second mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a processor-controlled electromechanical actuator.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of voice coil actuators, piezo-electric actuators, electro-active polymer actuators, eccentric mass actuators, moving magnet actuators, and resistive actuators.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a compliant member disposed proximate to the rocker switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a biasing element, the biasing element comprising a first end and a second end, the first end in communication with the rocker switch and the second end in communication with the actuator.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a switch operable to output a first signal, the switch comprising a first contact, a second contact, and a contact assembly operable to communicate with the first and second contacts; and

an actuator in communication with the contact assembly, the actuator operable to provide a processor-controlled force to the contact assembly, the processor-controlled force displacing the contact assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a processor operable to receive the first signal and to communicate a second signal to the actuator, the second signal associated with the first signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is operable to associate a value with a setting of the switch in a first mode and to control a rate of change of the value in a second mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises a processor-controlled electromechanical actuator.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of voice coil actuators, piezo-electric actuators, electro-active polymer actuators, eccentric mass actuators, moving magnet actuators, and resistive actuators.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a biasing element, the biasing element comprising a first end and a second end, the first end in communication with the switch and the second end in communication with the actuator.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first compliant member disposed proximate the first contact and a second compliant member disposed proximate the second contact.

15. A method comprising:

providing a rocker switch operable to output a first signal; and

disposing an actuator in communication with the rocker switch, the actuator operable to provide haptic feedback associated with the first signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a processor operable to receive the first signal and to communicate a second signal to the actuator, the second signal associated with the first signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to associate a value with a setting of the rocker switch in a first mode and to control a rate of change of the value in the second mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a processor-controlled electromechanical actuator.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of voice coil actuators, piezo-electric actuators, electro-active polymer actuators, eccentric mass actuators, moving magnet actuators, and resistive actuators.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a biasing element, the biasing element comprising a first end and a second end, the first end in communication with the rocker switch and the second end in communication with the actuator.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising disposing a compliant member proximate the switch.

22. A method comprising:

providing a switch operable to output a first signal, the switch comprising a first contact, a second contact, and a contact assembly operable to communicate with the first and second contacts; and

disposing an actuator in communication with the contact assembly, the actuator operable to provide a processor-controlled force to the contact assembly, the processor-controlled force displacing the contact assembly.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a processor operable to receive the first signal and to communicate a second signal to the actuator, the second signal associated with the first signal.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the processor is operable to associate a value with a setting of the switch in a first mode and to control a rate of change of the value in a second mode.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a processor-controlled electromechanical actuator.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of voice coil actuators, piezo-electric actuators, electro-active polymer actuators, eccentric mass actuators, moving magnet actuators, and resistive actuators.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a biasing element, the biasing element comprising a first end and a second end, the first end in communication with the switch and the second end in communication with the actuator.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

disposing a first compliant member proximate the first contact; and

disposing a second compliant member proximate the second contact.