Haptic feedback for touchpads and other touch controls
First Claim
1. A method of outputting localized haptic effects comprising:
- selecting a housing having a touch screen coupled thereto;
coupling a plurality of actuators to the housing;
outputting an activating signal to two or more of the actuators to produce a localized haptic effect upon the touch screen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, 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 contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer'"'"'s display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.
-
Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A method of outputting localized haptic effects comprising:
-
selecting a housing having a touch screen coupled thereto;
coupling a plurality of actuators to the housing;
outputting an activating signal to two or more of the actuators to produce a localized haptic effect upon the touch screen.
-
-
2. A haptic feedback device comprising:
-
a set of two or more actuators each configured to impart haptic force to the haptic feedback device; and
a controller configured to activate a first subset of the set of two or more actuators to provide a first haptic effect, and to activate a second subset of the set of two or more actuators to provide a second haptic effect, wherein the second haptic effect is different from the first haptic effect.
-
-
3. A haptic feedback device comprising:
-
a housing having a touch screen capable of receiving user input;
one or more actuators configured to impart haptic effects in a plurality of directions, wherein at least two of the directions are orthogonal to one another and are felt by the user.
-
-
4. A method of selectively outputting haptic effects in a portable device comprising:
-
sensing a user'"'"'s input on a touch screen of the portable device, wherein the user'"'"'s input is in contact with the touch screen;
outputting a haptic effect via an actuator to the portable device upon sensing the user'"'"'s input at a predetermined location on the touch screen;
sensing whether the user'"'"'s input remains in contact with the touch screen for a predetermined amount of time; and
terminating outputting the haptic effect when the contact with the touch screen exceeds the predetermined amount of time.
-
-
5. A computer, comprising:
-
a processor configured to run a software program;
a touch screen configured to display a graphical object of the software program, the touch screen configured to receive a user'"'"'s input;
a sensor coupled to the touch screen, wherein the sensor outputs a sensor signal associated a position of the user'"'"'s input on the touch screen, wherein the processor receives the sensor signal and compares the position of the user'"'"'s input relative to an edge of the graphical object and outputs an activating signal when the user'"'"'s input is at or near the edge; and
an actuator configured to output a haptic effect upon receiving the activating signal.
-
Specification