Electronic device with audio and haptic capability

• US 20070145857A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Young, Hoi, Cranfill, David, Bohan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/320,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

An actuator (102), suitable for use with an electronic device, is provided. The actuator includes a thin-film sensor (104) and a transducer (106). The transducer is bonded to the thin-film sensor. The thin-film sensor is capable of sensing an input, and the transducer is capable of providing a tactile output in response to the input.

Claims

1. An actuator comprising:

a thin-film sensor; and

a transducer bonded to the thin-film sensor, wherein the transducer is capable of providing a tactile output.

2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises:

a first transducer layer bonded to a first side of a suspension layer; and

a second transducer layer bonded to a second side of the suspension layer.

3. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the transducer is further capable of providing an audio output.

4. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric ceramic transducer.

5. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the thin-film sensor comprises one or more printed traces, the one or more printed traces for providing directional functions.

6. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the thin-film sensor is one from a group of:

a resistive touch-screen sensor and a capacitive touch-screen sensor.

7. The actuator of claim 2 further comprising:

a mounting frame coupled to the suspension layer.

8. The actuator of claim 7, wherein the mounting frame is further coupled to the thin-film sensor.

9. A navigation device for use with an electronic device, the navigation device comprising:

a thin-film sensor capable of providing an input to the electronic device; and

a transducer bonded to the thin-film sensor, wherein the transducer is capable of providing a vibrotactile output, in response to the input, and an audio output.

10. The navigation device of claim 9, wherein the thin-film sensor comprises one or more printed traces for providing the input to the electronic device.

11. The navigation device of claim 9, further comprising a display module to provide a visual feedback in response to the input provided through the thin-film sensor.

12. An electronic device comprising:

an actuator, the actuator comprising;

a thin-film sensor, wherein the thin-film sensor is capable of providing an input to the electronic device; and

a piezoelectric transducer bonded to the thin-film sensor, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is capable of providing a tactile feedback in response to the input; and

an electronic circuit coupled to the actuator, the electronic circuit capable of providing an analog signal to the piezoelectric transducer to generate the tactile feedback.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the electronic circuit comprises:

a controller capable of receiving the input and converting the input to a digital signal;

a processor coupled to the first controller, the processor capable of processing the digital signal;

a digital to analog converter coupled to the processor, the digital to analog converter capable of converting the digital signal into the analog signal; and

an amplifier coupled to the digital to analog converter, the amplifier capable of amplifying the analog signal.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is further capable providing an audio output, wherein the electronic circuit is capable of providing an electric signal to generate the audio output.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further capable of generating the electric signal, wherein the electrical signal is converted into an audio signal by the digital to analog converter.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the audio signal is amplified by the amplifier.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller includes an analog to digital converter for converting the input to the digital signal.