Haptic interface for touch screen embodiments

• US 20080062144A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elckon Limited, Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Shahoian, Erik, Schena, Bruce, Rosenberg, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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. A method of scrolling in a touch screen comprising:

selecting a touch screen through which a graphical user interface is displayed, wherein the touch screen is coupled to a processor running a software program configured to provide the graphical user interface;

sensing a user'"'"'s input onto the touch screen via a sensor coupled to the touch screen, wherein the user'"'"'s input causes graphical objects in the graphical user interface to scroll in a vertical direction, the sensor outputting a sensor signal associated with a rate of the scrolling of the graphical objects;

processing the sensor signal and outputting an activating signal based on the rate of scrolling indicated by the sensor signal;

outputting a plurality of haptic effect pulses via an actuator to be felt by the user, the pulses output at a rate proportional to the rate of scrolling indicated by the sensor signal.

2. An electronic device capable of outputting different haptic effects simultaneously, the electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen coupled to the housing;

an actuator coupled to the touch screen and the housing, wherein the actuator is configured to output a force upon receiving an activating signal from a processor,

wherein the electronic device outputs a first haptic effect upon the actuator directing the force to the touch screen, and

wherein the electronic device is capable of simultaneously outputting a second haptic effect upon the actuator directing the force to the housing.

3. An actuator assembly for a touch screen device, comprising;

a touch screen capable of displaying graphical objects therethrough and receiving input from a user to manipulate the graphical objects;

a plurality of piezo-electric transducers coupled to the touch screen, the piezo-electric transducers positioned adjacent to one another and capable of individually or collectively being activated upon receiving an activating signal,

wherein the actuator assembly outputs a first haptic effect upon two or more piezo-electric transducers operating simultaneously, and

wherein the actuator assembly outputs a second haptic effect upon two or more piezo-electric transducers operating at different times, wherein a magnitude of the first haptic effect is stronger than that of the second haptic effect.

4. A haptic enabled electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen coupled to the housing;

a diaphragm coupled to the touch screen;

an actuator coupled to the diaphragm, the actuator further comprising

a circular body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface is proximal to the touch screen and the second surface is distal to the touch screen;

a mass positioned at the center of the circular body on the second surface; and

means for powering the actuator, wherein the actuator moves in a direction perpendicular to the touchscreen to output a haptic effect to be felt by a user in contact with the housing.

5. A method of outputting haptic effects in an electronic device having a touch screen, the method comprising;

displaying graphical object through a touch screen capable of receiving input from a user to manipulate the graphical objects;

sensing input from the user via the touch screen via a sensor coupled to the touch screen, wherein the sensor outputs a sensor signal;

outputting an activating signal to at least one of a plurality of piezo-electric transducers coupled to the touch screen in response to the sensor signal, the piezo-electric transducers positioned adjacent to one another;

outputting a first haptic effect from at least two of the piezo electric transducers operating in response to receiving the activating signal;

outputting a second haptic effect from at least one of the piezo electric transducers operating in response to receiving the activating signal, wherein a magnitude of the first haptic effect is greater than that of the second haptic effect.