Haptic input devices

• US 20050017947A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Schena, Bruce M., Rosenberg, Louis B., Shahoian, Erik J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric

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.

Claims

1-58. -58. (cancelled).

59. An apparatus, comprising:

a substantially-planar contact surface;

a piezoelectric member including a metal diaphragm disposed between the substantially-planar contact surface and a ground; and

a spacer having a mass disposed between the substantially-planar contact surface and the ground and adjacent to the metal diaphragm, the mass of the spacer configured to cause the piezoelectric actuator to oscillate at a predetermined frequency to provide haptic feedback.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the haptic feedback is in response to an input associated with the substantially-planar contact surface.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising a processor in communication with the substantially-planar contact surface and the piezoelectric actuator.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the predetermined frequency is associated with a resonant frequency of the apparatus.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the predetermined frequency is associated with a modulation of a carrier frequency of the piezoelectric actuator.

64. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the substantially-planar contact surface is coupled to the ground via a spring element.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the predetermined frequency is associated with a spring constant of the spring element.

66. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the spacer is coupled to the ground via a spring element.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the predetermined frequency is associated with a spring constant of the spring element.

68. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the ground comprises a contact pad.

69. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the ground comprises a housing.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the housing is associated with a handheld device.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the handheld device comprises one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, and an electronic book.

72. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein a touch screen comprises the substantially-planar contact surface.

73. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein a touchpad comprises the substantially-planar contact surface.

74. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the substantially-planar contact surface is textured.

75. An apparatus, comprising:

a substantially-planar contact surface;

a piezoelectric member coupled to the substantially-planar contact surface; and

a spring element configured to couple the substantially-planar contact surface to a ground, a spring constant of the spring element configured to cause the piezoelectric actuator to oscillate at a predetermined frequency to provide haptic feedback.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the haptic feedback is in response to an input associated with the substantially-planar contact surface.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the predetermined frequency is associated with a resonant frequency of the apparatus.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the predetermined frequency is associated with a modulation of a carrier frequency of the piezoelectric actuator.

79. The apparatus of claim 75, further comprising a spacer disposed between the substantially-planar contact surface and the ground, the predetermined frequency being associated with a mass of the spacer.

80. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the ground comprises a housing.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the housing is associated with a handheld device.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein a touch screen comprises the substantially-planar contact surface.

83. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein a touchpad comprises the substantially-planar contact surface.

84. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the substantially-planar contact surface is textured.

85. An apparatus, comprising:

a ferromagnetic element having a center pole disposed between two side poles, the center pole being associated with a coil;

at least one magnet configured to be in magnetic communication with the center pole and the side poles;

a substantially-planar contact surface coupled to the at least one magnet; and

a coupling means disposed between the substantially-planar contact surface and the ferromagnetic element, the coupling means configured to facilitate a relative motion between the substantially-planar contact surface along with the at least one magnet and the ferromagnetic element when the coil carries a current.

86. An apparatus of claim 85, wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of rollers.

87. An apparatus of claim 86, wherein the rollers are coupled to a cage member.

88. An apparatus of claim 85, wherein the substantially-planar contact surface is coupled to the at least one magnet via a backing plate.

89. An apparatus of claim 88, wherein the backing plate comprise steel.

90. An apparatus of claim 88, further comprising a flexure element disposed between the backing plate and the ferromagnetic element, the flexure element configured to provide a spring centering force between the backing plate and the ferromagnetic element.

91. An apparatus of claim 85, wherein a touch screen comprises the substantially-planar contact surface.

92. An apparatus of claim 85, wherein the relative motion corresponds with an input associated with the substantially-planar contact surface.