Haptic feedback using a keyboard device

• US 20060267949A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an input device;

a keyboard;

a processor configured to receive a first signal from the input device; and

an actuator configured to receive a second signal from the processor, the second signal based at least in part on the first signal and configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect to the keyboard.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises at least one of a mouse, a trackball, a touchpad, or a touch screen.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect comprises at least one of a vibrotactile force, a kinesthetic force, a contact force or an inertial force.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises an input device actuator, the input device actuator configured to receive a third signal from the processor, the third signal configured to cause the input device actuator to output a haptic effect to the input device.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises one of a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator

6. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal from an input device;

transmitting a second signal to an actuator, the second signal based at least in part on the first signal;

outputting a haptic effect to a keyboard based at least in part on the second signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein outputting the haptic effect further comprises moving a cover portion of the keyboard, the cover portion moveably coupled to a base portion of the keyboard.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting a third signal to an input device actuator; and

outputting a haptic effect to the input device based at least in part on the third signal.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a keyboard comprising a top portion and a base portion, the top portion moveably coupled to the base portion; and

an actuator configured to output an haptic effect to the top portion of the keyboard.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the actuator is further configured to move the top portion of the keyboard into contact with a user.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the haptic effect comprises a contact force.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the haptic effect comprises both a contact force and an inertial force.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the top portion is moveably coupled to the base portion by at least one of a rotary hinge, a flex coupling, a mechanical bearing, or a flexure.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the top portion is rotatably coupled to the base portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the top portion is translatably coupled to the base portion.

16. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises one of a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator

17. An apparatus comprising:

a keyboard;

a cover portion of the keyboard comprising a compliant material, the cover portion configured to be contacted by a user; and

an actuator coupled to the cover portion;

the actuator configured to provide a haptic effect to the cover portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the haptic effect is applied indirectly to the compliant material.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the compliant material comprises a rubber diaphragm.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the actuator comprises one of a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator