SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A FEEDBACK SIGNAL IN RESPONSE TO AN INPUT SIGNAL PROVIDED TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090267920A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: FAUBERT, Perry Allan, Hui, Edward, LOWLES, Robert James
• Granted Patent: US 9,274,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: a display; an input device; an input module to detect activation of the input device; and a input module to generate a feedback signal for the electronic device based on signals from the input module. In system, the input device is a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element and the input module may cause the transducer to vibrate upon receiving an activation signal from the input module.

Claims

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

an input device; and

an input module coupled to the input device, the input module configured to detect a force being applied to said input device, and to generate a feedback signal for said electronic device based upon an applied force detected as an activation signal by said input device.

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

said input device is a piezoelectric element; and

said input module causes said input device to vibrate upon receiving said activation signal.

3. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a display; and

a cover for said display, wherein said input device is embedded in a substrate above said display.

4. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said piezoelectric element is a fibre.

5. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein input device further comprises a plurality of electrodes associated with said piezoelectric element, said plurality of electrodes comprising indium titanium oxide.

6. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a first set of said plurality of electrodes are associated with a first region along said fibre and a second set of said plurality of electrodes are associated with a second region along said fibre.

7. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said input module analyzes said activation signal to determine if said applied force was applied at either of said first region or said second region in said fibre and then selectively causes said fibre to vibrate around either said first region or said second region.

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

9. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said input device is set to vibrate with a frequency of between 100 Hz and 300 Hz upon receiving said activation signal.

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

11. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said input module generates a voltage for an energy storage circuit from signals received from said input device.

12. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said energy storage circuit includes a capacitor.

13. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said input module further comprises an energy recovery circuit to rectify said voltage for said energy storage circuit.

14. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said input module selectively applies a first voltage signal to said piezoelectric element to have said piezoelectric element operate as a sensor and a second voltage signal to said piezoelectric element to have said piezoelectric element operate as an actuator.

15. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said pulse width modulator circuit generates signals to cause said input module to selectively generate said first and said second voltage signals.

16. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said input module selectively applies a first voltage signal to said piezoelectric element to have said piezoelectric element operate as a sensor and a second voltage signal to said piezoelectric element to have said piezoelectric element operate as an actuator.

17. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said input device is embedded in a substrate in said display.

18. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said piezoelectric fibre is arranged in a grid pattern above said display.

19. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said piezoelectric fibre is located between keys in said display.

20. The system for providing feedback signals to input signals provided to an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said piezoelectric fibre is located in ridges on said cover around key layouts in said display.

21. A wireless communication device having a display and an input device comprising:

an input module coupled to the input device, the input module configured to detect a force being applied to the input device, the input module further configured to generate a feedback signal to the input device based upon the detected applied force as an activation signal,

wherein the input device is embedded in a substrate disposed on the display.

22. The wireless communication device as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said input device is a piezoelectric element.