Persistent tactile event notification

• US 20070125636A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kallqvist, Claes, Karan, Bilgi
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/521
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing tactile event notification for an electronic apparatus is disclosed. When an event is detected in the electronic apparatus, a portion of the electronic apparatus is displaced in response to the event. An event can be any type of occurrence or alert in the electronic apparatus for which the user needs to be notified.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus for tactile event notification, comprising:

a processor adapted to detect an event; and

a displacement device adapted to displace a portion of the electronic apparatus when the event is detected.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises least one solenoid coil with a displaceable core arranged to displace the portion of the electronic apparatus when the event is detected.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of keys, wherein at least one key is arranged to be displaced by a first end of the solenoid coil when the event is detected.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of keys are arranged to be displaced when the event is detected.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a switch for activating a visual notification of the event on a display, wherein the switch is arranged to be activated by a second end of the solenoid coil when the at least one key is brought back to a non-displaced position after having been in a displaced position.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a group of keys is arranged to be displaced together to indicate a type of event.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3. wherein an individual key is arranged to be displaced to indicate a type of event.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a portion of a key is arranged to be displaced when the event is detected.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each key is associated with a short-cut function.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a key to be displaced is specifically selected when a detected event is a telephone call from a telephone number associated with a speed dial number for the key to be displaced.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the electronic apparatus forms a symbol when said portion is displaced.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the displacement device comprises:

a membrane on a chassis of the electronic apparatus, wherein the membrane is arranged to be displaced by a first end of the displacement device when an event is detected.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a switch for activating a visual notification of the event on a display. wherein the switch is arranged to be activated by a second end of the displacement device when the membrane is brought back from a displaced position to a non-displaced position.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the membrane is made of plastic or rubber.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device is an electrical motor, which is arranged to displace a plurality of housing portions of the electronic apparatus in relation to each other when the event is detected.

16. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the electrical motor is arranged to displace the plurality of housing portions an amount, which is dependent on the importance of the event, which is detected.

17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the amount of displacement is dependent on the number of events that have been detected.

18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device is arranged to repeatedly displace the portion a predetermined number of times when the event is detected.

19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 18. wherein the displacement device is arranged to repeat the displacement of the portion for a predetermined number of times. which is dependent on the importance of the event.

20. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15. comprising a display wherein a visual notification of the event is displayed on the display when the housing portions are moved from their displaced position.

21. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1. wherein the electronic apparatus is a mobile terminal.

22. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a watch.

23. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises:

an air chamber with a displaceable section; and

a pressurization device for pressurizing the air chamber when the event is detected. wherein the displaceable section is arranged to be displaced when the air chamber is pressurized.

24. The electronic apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the air chamber is positioned at the back of a watch or watchstrap.

25. The electronic apparatus according to claim 23. wherein the displaceable section of the air chamber is positioned on a chassis of the electronic apparatus.

26. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1. wherein the displacement device comprises a plurality of piezo-electric materials and a voltage device, wherein the piezo-electric materials are arranged to be fed with opposite voltages to cause one piezo-electric material to expand and the other piezo-electric material to contract when the event is detected.

27. The electronic apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device is a mobile terminal.

28. The electronic apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the mobile terminal is a watch and the back of the watch or a watchstrap comprises the piezo-electric materials.

29. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises:

a slidable button, wherein the slidable button is arranged to be displaced when the event is detected.

30. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises:

a cover on the electronic apparatus, wherein the cover is displaced when the event is detected.

31. The electronic apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising:

a display, which is covered by the cover when the cover is positioned in a non-displaced position, and wherein the display is adapted to display a message regarding the event when the cover is positioned in a displaced position.

32. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to detect at least one event in of the group including:

receiving a message, receiving a telephone call;

an alert, an alert of a calendar entry of a calendar, a note entry of a note manager, or a task entry of a task manager.

33. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a wireless accessory to a mobile terminal.

34. A method for providing tactile event notification for an electronic apparatus, comprising the steps of:

detecting an event; and

displacing a portion of the electronic apparatus in response to detecting the event.