Haptic Response Apparatus for an Electronic Device

• US 20090160763A1
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid, Gitzinger, Thomas, Cauwels, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,395,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A user input for an electronic device includes a haptic feedback layer (100) and a touch sensitive user interface (200). The haptic feedback layer (100) provides a tactile response to a user when the user actuates a user actuation target (301) on the touch sensitive user interface (200) to simulate a popple-style button. The haptic feedback layer (100) includes a chassis (101) and a plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams (105,106) emanating therefrom, further separated by a support beam (113), and spanning at least a portion of the haptic feedback layer (100). One or more piezoelectric actuators (119) are coupled to the cantilever beams and are responsive to a controller (201). When the controller detects user actuation of the touch sensitive user interface (200), the controller (201) causes at least one of the piezoelectric actuators to actuate in accordance with an actuation signal.

Claims

1. A user input for electronic device, comprising:

a touch sensitive user interface having a continuous fascia and one or more sub-layers;

a controller coupled to the touch sensitive user interface, and configured to detect user contact with the touch sensitive user interface;

a haptic feedback layer coupled to the controller and disposed beneath the touch sensitive user interface, the haptic feedback layer comprising;

a chassis defining a perimeter of the haptic feedback layer;

a plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams emanating from the chassis and spanning across at least a portion of the haptic feedback layer; and

one or more piezoelectric actuators, responsive to the controller and coupled to the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams;

wherein when the controller detects the user contact, the controller causes at least one of the one or more piezoelectric actuators to actuate.

2. The user input of claim 1, wherein the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams span horizontally across the touch sensitive user interface.

3. The user input of claim 1, wherein the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams span vertically across the touch sensitive user interface.

4. The user input of claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises one or more support beams spanning the chassis, wherein the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams are grouped in beam pairs such that each beam pair is separated by one of the one or more support beams.

5. The user input of claim 4, wherein each of the one or more support beams comprises a reinforcing shape across at least a subsection of its cross section.

6. The user input of claim 5, wherein the reinforcing shape comprises an arch, wherein the arch rises at least twice a height of one of the one or more piezoelectric actuators.

7. The user input of claim 5, wherein the touch sensitive user interface comprises a plurality of user actuation targets, wherein the reinforcing shape is disposed below one of a row or a column of the plurality of user actuation targets.

8. The user input of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams emanates from the chassis at a first end, further wherein each of the plurality oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams is coupled to the chassis at a distal end by a coupling member.

9. The user input of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams has a beam width, further wherein each coupling member has a member width, wherein the member width is less than the beam width.

10. The user input of claim 8, wherein each coupling member comprises a U-shaped aperture.

11. The user input of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams comprises a preformed recess, wherein one of the one or more piezoelectric actuators is disposed in the preformed recess.

12. The user input of claim 1, wherein the controller causes the one or more piezoelectric actuators to actuate in pairs.

13. The user input of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive user interface comprises a morphing user interface.

14. The user input of claim 1, wherein the controller causes the one or more piezoelectric actuators to actuate in accordance with an actuation signal configured to provide a popple button sensation tactile feedback.

15. The user input of claim 1, wherein a first set of cantilever beams emanating from a first side of the chassis actuate out of phase with a second set of cantilever beams emanating from a second side of the chassis.

16. The user input of claim 1, wherein when the controller detects the user contact, the controller causes the one or more piezoelectric actuators to actuate asynchronously so as to provide a predetermined haptic response wave.

17. A portable electronic communication device having a user interface comprising:

a capacitive touch sensor;

a haptic feedback layer disposed beneath the capacitive touch sensor, the haptic feedback layer comprising;

a chassis defining a perimeter of the haptic feedback layer;

a plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams emanating from the chassis and spanning across at least a portion of the haptic feedback layer; and

one or more piezoelectric actuators coupled to the plurality of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams;

electronic circuitry coupling the capacitive touch sensor and the haptic feedback layer, the electronic circuitry being configured to drive the one or more piezoelectric actuators in response to an object contacting the user interface.

18. The portable electronic communication device of claim 17, wherein the user interface further comprises a continuous fascia and a segmented optical shutter configured to present one of a plurality of keypad configurations by transitioning segments of the segmented optical shutter from opaque states to pellucid states.

19. The portable electronic communication device of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of keypad configurations comprises a plurality of actuation targets, wherein when the capacitive touch sensor detects contact with an particular actuation target, the electronic circuitry is configured to drive a pair of piezoelectric actuators disposed beneath the particular actuation target.

20. The portable electronic communication device of claim 17, wherein the chassis further comprises one or more support beams spanning the chassis, wherein each pair of oppositely facing, interlaced cantilever beams are separated by one of the one or more support beams.