Projected Field Haptic Actuation

• US 20090189873A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Huska, Andrew P., Peterson, Cody George, Schlosser, James William
• Granted Patent: US 8,310,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

An electronic device includes a touch surface that can be physically engaged by a user. The touch surface is operably connected to an actuator arm which, in turn, is connected to an actuator array. Drive electronics sense a user'"'"'s movement relative to the touch surface and, responsively, drive the actuator array effective to move the actuator arm and, in turn, provide haptic feedback to the user through the touch surface.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a touch surface that can be physically engaged by a user, the touch surface comprising a generally planar top surface;

an actuator array operably coupled to the touch surface, wherein the actuator array comprises an electrically-deformable material; and

drive electronics operably coupled to the actuator array and configured to electrically drive the electrically-deformable material, responsive to sensing a user'"'"'s movement relative to the touch surface, effective to move the touch surface along one or more vectors that are generally parallel to a plane defined by the top surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electro-active polymer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a hand-held device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch surface comprises glass.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch surface comprises plastic.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one vector is in a direction away from the user.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one vector is in a direction toward the user.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more vectors comprise at least one vector that is in a direction away from the user and at least one other vector that is in a direction toward the user.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch surface comprises a touch screen.

10. A device comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen mounted within the housing and configured to be physically engaged by a user, the touch screen comprising a generally planar top surface;

an actuator arm within the housing;

an actuator array within the housing and fixedly mounted to the actuator arm;

connector means for fixedly mounting the touch screen to the actuator arm; and

drive electronics configured to sense a user'"'"'s movement relative to the touch screen and, responsively, drive the actuator array effective to move the actuator arm in one or more directions generally parallel to a plane defined by the generally planar top surface, wherein movement of the actuator arm moves the touch screen relative to the housing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the actuator array comprises an electrically-deformable material.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the actuator array comprises an electrically-deformable material comprising an electro-active polymer.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the actuator array comprises an actuator frame, at least one electrically-deformable region supported by the actuator frame, and at least one actuator disk that is fixedly mounted on said electrically-deformable region, wherein said at least one actuator disk is fixedly mounted to the actuator arm.

14. The device of claim 10 further comprising a haptics customizing engine within the housing and configured to load haptic profiles to effectuate movement in the one or more directions.

15. The device of claim 10 further comprising a computer readable storage medium within the housing and configured to store one or more profiles that can be used to affect movement of the touch screen.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a hand-held device.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a device other than a hand-held device.

18. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

at least one other touch screen; and

means for moving said at least one other touch screen relative to the housing responsive to sensing a user'"'"'s movement relative to said at least one other touch screen.

19. A method comprising:

detecting a user'"'"'s movement relative to, or physical engagement of, a touch surface on an electronic device; and

responsive to said detecting, activating an electrically-deformable material within the electronic device effective to move the touch surface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the touch surface comprises a generally planar top surface and said activating is effective to move the touch surface in one or more directions generally parallel to a plane defined by the generally planar top surface.