SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ENERGY FROM ACTIVATION OF AN INPUT DEVICE IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090267892A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Faubert, Perry Allan
• Application Number:
  US12/108,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267892A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/064 by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

In this disclosure, a description of a system for providing feedback signals relating to input signals provided to an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: an input device; a transducer associated with the input device; and a feedback module to generate a feedback signal indicating activation of the input device on the electronic device based on signals from the input device. The input device may be a touchpad; the transducer may be a piezoelectric element; and the feedback module may cause the transducer to vibrate upon receiving an activation signal relating to activation of the input device. The feedback module may provide a voltage generated by the transducer during the activation of the input device to an energy storage circuit.

Claims

1. A system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device, comprising:

an input device;

a transducer associated with said input device; and

a feedback module to generate a feedback signal indicating activation of said input device on said electronic device based on signals from said input device.

2. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said input device is a touchpad;

said transducer is a piezoelectric element; and

said feedback module causes said transducer to vibrate upon receiving an activation signal relating to activation of said input device.

3. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said feedback module provides a voltage generated by said transducer during said activation of said input device to an energy storage circuit.

4. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said energy storage circuit provides a voltage for said feedback module.

5. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said energy storage circuit comprises a capacitor to store said voltage.

6. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transducer is set to vibrate with a force of less than 2 Newtons by said feedback module upon receiving said activation signal.

7. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transducer is set to vibrate with a frequency of between 100 Hz and 300 Hz upon receiving said activation signal.

8. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said feedback module comprises a plurality of transistors and a pulse width modulator circuit to drive said plurality of transistors to selectively cause said transducer to vibrate upon receiving said activation signal.

9. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said feedback module generates a voltage for an energy storage circuit from signals received from said transducer.

10. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said energy storage circuit includes a capacitor.

11. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said feedback module further comprises an energy recovery circuit to rectify said voltage for said energy storage circuit.

12. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said feedback module selectively applies a first voltage signal to said transducer to have said transducer operate as a sensor and a second voltage signal to said transducer to have said transducer operate as an actuator.

13. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said pulse width modulator circuit generates signals to cause said feedback module selectively generate said first and said second voltage signals.

14. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said feedback module selectively applies a first voltage signal to said transducer to have said transducer operate as a sensor and a second voltage signal to said transducer to have said transducer operate as an actuator.

15. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said transducer is located underneath said input device and is attached to a support structure.

16. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said transducer is attached to said support structure as a cantilever.

17. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transducer is embedded in a substrate in said input device.

18. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said transducer is located around a key region of said touchpad.

19. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said transducer is located in ridges on said cover around key layouts of said touchpad.

20. The system for providing feedback signals for input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said support structure is mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) of said device and flexes when a downward force is applied to said touchpad.