Feedback responsive input arrangements

• US 20070043725A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steve, Andre, Bart, Ligtenberg, Chris, Whang, Eugene, Huppi, Brian, Bronstein, Chad, Brenneman, Scott, Zeliff, Zachary
• Application Number:
  US11/204,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043725A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

Feedback responsive input arrangements are presented where arrangements includes: a sensor in mechanical communication with a surface layer, the sensor configured to generate electronic signals in response to applied forces exerted upon the surface layer; a processing module configured to convert electronic signals into user-defined programmatic dimensions; and a tactile feedback response component configured to actuate in response to electronic signals. In some embodiments, user defined programmatic dimensions are selected from the group consisting of: a state dimension, a magnitude dimension, and a temporal dimension. In some embodiments, the processing module is further configured to process user-defined programmatic dimensions into user-defined programmatic actions. In some embodiments, user-defined programmatic actions are coupled to graphical environments, the graphical environments configured to provide a graphic feedback response based on user-defined programmatic actions. In some embodiments user-defined programmatic actions are coupled to an aural environment, the aural environment configured to provide an aural feedback.

Claims

1. A feedback responsive input arrangement comprising:

a sensor in mechanical communication with a surface layer, the sensor configured to generate a first electronic signal in response to an applied force exerted upon the surface layer;

a processing module configured to convert the first electronic signal into at least one user-defined programmatic dimension; and

a tactile feedback response component configured to actuate in response to the first electronic signal.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one user defined programmatic dimension is selected from the group consisting of:

a state dimension, a magnitude dimension, and a temporal dimension.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the processing module is further configured to process the at least one user-defined programmatic dimension into at least one user-defined programmatic action.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the at least one user-defined programmatic action is coupled to a graphical environment, the graphical environment configured to provide a graphic feedback response based on the at least one user-defined programmatic action.

5. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the at least one user-defined programmatic action is coupled to an aural environment, the aural environment configured to provide an aural feedback response based on the at least one user-defined programmatic action

6. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the at least one user-defined programmatic action is selected from the group consisting of:

a selection, a de-selection, a hold, a magnitude registration, a start, and a stop.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a force-sensing capacitor, a force-sensing resistor, a strain gauge, and a force-sensing piezo cell.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the tactile feedback response component is selected from the group consisting of:

a motor with eccentric weight, a piezo electric motor, a solenoid, a voice coil actuator, a hydraulic cylinder, and a pneumatic actuator.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein the motor with eccentric weight further comprises a surface feature configured to receive an impact generated by the motor.

10. An array of feedback responsive input arrangements comprising:

an array of sensors in mechanical communication with an array of surface layers, the array of sensors configured to generate a plurality electronic signals in response to a plurality of applied forces exerted upon the array of surface layers;

a processing module configured to convert the plurality electronic signals into at least one user-defined programmatic dimension; and

a tactile feedback response component configured to actuate in response to the plurality electronic signals.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the at least one user-defined programmatic dimension is selected from the group consisting of:

a state dimension, a magnitude dimension, and a temporal dimension.

12. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the processing module is further configured to process the at least one user-defined programmatic dimension into at least one user-defined programmatic action.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the at least one user-defined programmatic action is coupled to a graphical environment, the graphical environment configured to provide a graphic feedback response based on the at least one user-defined programmatic action.

14. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the at least one user-defined programmatic action is coupled to an aural environment, the aural environment configured to provide an aural feedback response based on the at least one user-defined programmatic action

15. A system of controlling a feedback responsive input arrangement comprising:

an input module for receiving an input force;

a processing module for converting the input force into at least one user-defined programmatic action; and

an output module for providing user directed feedback in response to the at least one user-defined programmatic action.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the input module comprises:

a sensor for receiving the input force, the sensor generating a first electronic signal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a force-sensing capacitor, a force-sensing resistor, a strain gauge, and a force-sensing piezo cell.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the processing module comprises:

conditioning circuitry for receiving the first electronic signal;

a controller for converting the first electronic signal into at least one user-defined programmatic action;

a driver configured to generate a feedback response signal in response to the at least one user-defined programmatic action; and

a driver power source for delivering power in response to the feedback response signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the output module comprises:

an actuator component for delivering a tactile feedback response based on the feedback response signal, the actuator component receiving power from the driver power source;

a graphical user interface for delivering a graphical feedback response based on the at least one user-defined programmatic action; and

an aural component for delivering an aural feedback response based on the at least one user-defined programmatic action.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the actuator component is selected from the group consisting of:

a motor with eccentric weight, a piezo electric motor, a solenoid, a voice coil actuator, a hydraulic cylinder, and a pneumatic actuator.

21. A method for providing user responsive feedback comprising:

receiving a user input;

generating a first electronic signal based on the user input;

generating at least one user-defined programmatic dimension based on the first electronic signal; and

providing user responsive feedback based on the at least one user-defined programmatic dimension.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

conditioning the first electronic signal.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one user-defined programmatic dimension is selected from the group consisting of:

a state dimension, a magnitude dimension, and a temporal dimension.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the user responsive feedback is selected from the group consisting of:

a tactile feedback response, a graphical feedback response, and an aural feedback response.