METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HAPTIC ENABLED FLEXIBLE TOUCH SENSITIVE SURFACE

• US 20080303782A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Grant, Danny A., Ramstein, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an electronic interactive device having a haptic enabled flexible touch sensitive surface are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic interactive device includes a flexible touch sensitive surface, a flexible screen (or display), and an actuator. The flexible touch sensitive surface is deposited over the flexible screen and is capable of receiving an input, such as, for example, from a user. The flexible screen displays an image via a displaying window. The actuator is coupled to the flexible screen and provides haptic feedback in response to the input.

Claims

1. An electronic interactive device comprising:

a flexible touch sensitive surface capable of receiving an input;

a flexible screen coupled to said flexible touch sensitive surface; and

an actuator coupled to said flexible screen and configured to provide haptic feedback in response to said input.

2. The electronic interactive device of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible battery coupled to said actuator and configured to provide power to said electronic interactive device; and

a flexible chip, coupled to said flexible battery, capable of processing data for displaying imagines on said flexible screen in response to said input, wherein said flexible chip further provides a haptic signal in response to said input for activating said actuator to generate said haptic feedback.

3. The electronic interactive device of claim 2, wherein said flexible screen is configured to display an image.

4. The electronic interactive device of claim 1, wherein said flexible touch sensitive surface includes a bendable or a foldable touch sensitive surface, which further includes a plurality of flexible regions capable of receiving said input.

5. The electronic interactive device of claim 4, wherein said plurality of said flexible regions are capable of activating a first set of said plurality of said flexible regions in response to a bending position of said flexible screen.

6. The electronic interactive device of claim 4, wherein said plurality of said flexible regions are capable of activating a second set of said plurality of said flexible regions in response to a folding position of said flexible screen.

7. The electronic interactive device of claim 3, wherein said flexible screen is a rollable display, a foldable display, or a bendable electronic paper.

8. The electronic interactive device of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a flexible actuator.

9. The electronic interactive device of claim 8, wherein said flexible actuator is a strip of piezoceramic, Shape Memory Alloy, or electroactive polymers

10. The electronic interactive device of claim 8, wherein said flexible actuator is situated between said flexible screen and said flexible touch sensitive surface, whereby said flexible screen, said flexible touch sensitive surface, and said flexible actuator are capable of rolling, folding, or bending at a substantially the same degree.

11. A method of providing haptic feedback for an input and output device, comprising:

monitoring a plurality of regions on a first surface of a flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein a second surface of said flexible touch sensitive surface is deposited over a flexible display;

sensing a contact on one of said plurality of regions if said flexible touch sensitive surface;

generating an input signal in response to said contact and sending said input signal to a processing unit; and

generating haptic feedback in response to said input signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said generating haptic feedback in response to said input signal further includes:

generating a partial imaging signal when said flexible display is in a flexible position;

initiating a haptic signal in response to said input signal and said partial imaging signal; and

providing said haptic signal to an actuator.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said monitoring a plurality of regions on a first surface of a flexible touch sensitive surface further includes:

identifying an effective displaying window of said flexible display if said flexible display is in a rolled-up position; and

activating a set of regions of said flexible touch sensitive surface to create an effective touch sensitive surface in response to said effective displaying window.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said monitoring a plurality of regions on a first surface of a flexible touch sensitive surface further includes:

identifying an effective displaying window of said flexible display if said flexible display is in a folding position; and

activating a set of regions of said flexible touch sensitive surface to create an effective touch sensitive surface in response to said effective displaying window.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said generating a partial imaging signal when said flexible display is in a flexible position further includes determining said flexible display is in a bending position.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said generating a partial imaging signal when said flexible display is in a flexible position further includes determining said flexible display is in a rolled-up position.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said generating a partial imaging signal when said flexible display is in a flexible position further includes determining said flexible display is in a folding position.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said generating haptic feedback further includes activating at least one fiber of shape memory alloy to create a haptic sensation.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said generating haptic feedback further includes activating at least one fiber of electroactive polymers to create a haptic sensation.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said generating haptic feedback further includes activating at least one strip made of piezoelectric materials to create a haptic sensation.

21. A handheld device having a flexible screen, comprising:

a flexible touch sensitive surface capable of receiving an input;

a flexible screen coupled to said flexible touch sensitive surface and configured to display an image in response to said input;

a first handle coupled to first end of said flexible screen and a second handle coupled to second end of said flexible screen, wherein when said first handle and said second handle are in closed position, said flexible screen is in a rolled-up position, and when first handle and second handle are in open position, said flexible screen is in a displaying position; and

an actuator coupled to said flexible screen and configured to provide haptic feedback in response to said input.

22. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said flexible touch sensitive surface further includes at least a portion of said flexible touch sensitive surface is deposited over said first handle.

23. The handheld device of claim 22, wherein said flexible touch sensitive surface further includes at least a portion of said flexible touch sensitive surface is deposited over said second handle.

24. The handheld device of claim 23, wherein said flexible touch sensitive surface further includes at least a portion of said flexible touch sensitive surface is deposited over said flexible screen.

25. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said actuator coupled to said flexible screen is a vibrotactile motor situated in said first handle.

26. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said actuator coupled to said flexible screen is a vibrotactile motor situated in said second handle.

27. The handheld device of claim 21, wherein said actuator coupled to said flexible screen is a flexible actuator anchored to said flexible screen.

28. An apparatus for providing force feedback for an input and output device, comprising:

means for monitoring a plurality of regions on a first surface of a flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein said flexible touch sensitive surface is deposited over a flexible display;

means for detecting an input on a touched region of said plurality of regions;

means for generating an input signal associated to said touched region and sending said input signal to a processing unit; and

means for generating haptic feedback on said device in response to said input signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said means for generating haptic feedback on said device in response to said input signal further includes:

means for generating a partial imaging signal when said flexible display is in a flexible position;

means for initiating a haptic signal in response to said input signal and said partial imaging signal; and

means for providing said haptic signal to an actuator.

30. A system comprising a flexible touch sensitive display device having a touch sensitive surface portion, a screen portion, and an actuator portion, wherein:

said touch sensitive surface portion is capable of receiving an input,

said flexible screen portion, placed adjacent to said touch sensitive surface portion, is configured to display an image, and

said actuator portion, coupled to said screen portion, is configured to provide haptic feedback in response to said input.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a power supply coupled to said actuator portion and configured to provide power to said system; and

a chip, coupled to said power supply, capable of processing data for displaying imagines on said screen portion in response to said input.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said chip further provides a haptic signal in response to said input for activating said actuator portion to generate said haptic feedback.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein said flexible touch sensitive display device is rollable, bendable or foldable.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said power supply is a flexible battery.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said power supply includes a plurality of solar cells or photovoltaic cells, which convert light energy into electric energy.