Device and method for providing haptic user interface in mobile terminal

• US 20080155415A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Ki Tae, YOON, Sang Hyeon
• Application Number:
  US11/962,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A device and method for providing a haptic user interface in a mobile terminal that can provide a haptic response to user manipulation are provided. The device for providing a haptic user interface in a mobile terminal includes a pointing device for receiving manipulation from a user to control a pointer; a display unit for displaying the pointer on a screen; a memory unit for storing information of a voltage level to be supplied to a vibration unit according to a coordinate value of the pointer; a controller for outputting a control signal based on the coordinate value of the pointer in the display unit according to movement of the pointing device and information of the memory unit; and a vibration unit for generating a vibration according to the control signal. Therefore, by generating a vibration according to movement of a pointer, a user can feel a response to manipulation of the user interface with the sense of touch as well as the sense of sight, thereby providing interest and convenience to the user.

Claims

1. A device for providing a haptic user interface in a mobile terminal, the device comprising:

a pointing device for receiving manipulation from a user to control a pointer;

a display unit for displaying the pointer on a screen;

a memory unit for storing information of a voltage level to be supplied to a vibration unit according to a coordinate value of the pointer;

a controller for outputting a control signal based on the coordinate value of the pointer displayed in the display unit according to movement of the pointing device and information of the memory unit; and

a vibration unit for generating a vibration according to the control signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the coordinate value of the pointer is pixel information of a position on the screen at which a tip of the pointer is positioned.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery module for supplying power; and

a power supply unit for converting power of the battery module to a voltage level corresponding to the control signal and outputting the voltage to the vibration unit.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the controller outputs, if the pointer is moving, a control signal for controlling the power supply unit to supply a voltage of a first level to the vibration unit.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the vibration unit generates a vibration by rotating a motor with the supplied voltage of the first level.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the voltage of the first level is the lowest voltage to drive the vibration unit.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the controller outputs, if the pointer is positioned at a coordinate of a specific position, a control signal for controlling the power supply unit to supply to the vibration unit a voltage of a second level different from the voltage of the first level.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the vibration unit generates a vibration by rotating a motor with the supplied voltage of the second level.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the voltage of the second level is higher than the voltage of the first level.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the controller outputs, if the coordinate value of the pointer is within a coordinate range of an item frequently used by the user, a control signal for controlling the power supply unit to supply a voltage of a third level to the vibration unit.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the vibration unit generates a vibration by rotating a motor with the supplied voltage of the third level.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the voltage of the third level is higher than the voltage of the second level.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls to supply to the vibration unit a voltage of a level corresponding to the coordinate value of the pointer that is set according to data stored in the memory unit.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the vibration according to a menu level.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one further vibration unit.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the controller controls the at least two vibration units to generate a vibration having different vibration characteristics according to movement of the pointer.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller controls at least two vibration units to generate vibration according to a movement direction of the pointer.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the vibration unit to gradually adjust the vibration generated by the vibration unit.

19. A method of providing a haptic user interface in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

moving a pointer on a screen by user manipulation;

generating a vibration of a first intensity according to the movement of the pointer; and

generating, if the pointer is positioned at a specific area, a vibration of a second intensity different from the vibration of the first intensity.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the specific area is an area of a specific menu item for performing a specific function.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating, if the pointer is positioned at an area of a frequently used menu item, a vibration of a third intensity.

22. A method of providing a haptic user interface in a mobile terminal, comprising:

moving a pointer on a screen by user manipulation; and

generating vibration of an intensity that is set corresponding to an area at which the pointer is positioned.

23. A method of providing a haptic user interface in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

moving an indicator;

generating a vibration corresponding to a movement direction of the indicator; and

generating a vibration corresponding to an area at which the indicator is positioned.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating, when a menu is changed, a vibration corresponding to a level of the menu.