ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING RIGID INPUT SURFACE WITH PIEZOELECTRIC HAPTICS AND CORRESPONDING METHOD
First Claim
1. An electronic device providing haptic feedback to a user, comprising:
- a rigid input surface;
a piezoelectric element attached to a side of the rigid input surface;
sensors disposed adjacent to the rigid input surface for sensing when the user selects various portions of the rigid input surface, the sensors providing electrical signals indicative of the touched portions; and
a controller that receives the electrical signals from the sensors, and in response thereto causes drive signals to be provided to the piezoelectric element causing deformation of the piezoelectric element and bending of the rigid input surface, wherein the bending of the rigid input surface provides haptic feedback to the user in response to the user selection of the rigid input surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device and corresponding method provide haptic feedback to a user. The electronic device includes a rigid input surface, a piezoelectric element directly attached to the rigid input surface, sensors disposed adjacent to the rigid input surface for sensing when the user selects various portions of the rigid input surface, the sensors providing electrical signals indicative of the selected portions, and a controller that receives the electrical signals from the sensors, and in response thereto causes drive signals to be provided to the piezoelectric element causing deformation of the piezoelectric element and bending of the rigid input surface, wherein the bending of the rigid input surface provides haptic feedback to the user in response to the user selecting of the rigid input surface.
77 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electronic device providing haptic feedback to a user, comprising:
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a rigid input surface; a piezoelectric element attached to a side of the rigid input surface; sensors disposed adjacent to the rigid input surface for sensing when the user selects various portions of the rigid input surface, the sensors providing electrical signals indicative of the touched portions; and a controller that receives the electrical signals from the sensors, and in response thereto causes drive signals to be provided to the piezoelectric element causing deformation of the piezoelectric element and bending of the rigid input surface, wherein the bending of the rigid input surface provides haptic feedback to the user in response to the user selection of the rigid input surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of providing haptic feedback to a user of an electronic device, the electronic device having a rigid input surface, comprising:
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sensing when the user selects various portions of the rigid input surface with sensors disposed adjacent to the rigid input surface, the sensors providing electrical signals indicative of the selected portions; and driving a piezoelectric element attached to the rigid input surface based on the electrical signals provided by the sensors, the driving of the piezoelectric element causing deformation of the piezoelectric element and bending of the rigid input surface, wherein the bending of the rigid input surface provides haptic feedback to the user in response to the user selection of the rigid input surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mobile computing device, comprising:
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a rigid input surface; a piezoelectric element attached to the rigid input surface; sensors disposed adjacent to the rigid input surface for sensing when the user selects various portions of the rigid input surface, the sensors providing electrical signals indicative of the selected portions; and a drive circuit that causes drive signals to be provided to the piezoelectric element in response to the electrical signals from the sensors, the drive signals causing deformation of the piezoelectric element and bending of the rigid input surface, wherein the bending of the rigid input surface provides haptic feedback to the user in response to the user selecting of the rigid input surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification