Multiple Actuation Handheld Device

• US 20100073304A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Heubels, Robert W., Grant, Danny A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,749,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

A device includes a housing, a processor that is coupled to the housing, the processor is configured to process a software program stored in a memory. A touch screen is coupled to the housing and configured to display graphical objects, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user'"'"'s interaction with the touch screen is provided to the processor. A first actuator is coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing. The first actuator is configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen upon receiving a first activating signal from the processor. A second actuator is coupled to the housing and configured to output a second haptic effect to the housing upon receiving a second activating signal from the processor. The first activating signal is associated with a foreground event and the second activating signal is associated with a background event occurring in the software program.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing;

a processor coupled to the housing, the processor configured to process a software program stored in a memory;

a touch screen coupled to the housing, the touch screen configured to display graphical objects, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user'"'"'s interaction with the touch screen is provided to the processor;

a first actuator coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing, the first actuator configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen upon receiving a first activating signal from the processor; and

a second actuator coupled to the housing, the second actuator configured to output a second haptic effect to the housing upon receiving a second activating signal from the processor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first activating signal is associated with a foreground event occurring in the software program.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second activating signal associated with a background event occurring in the software program.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the foreground event occurs as a result of the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch screen.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator only outputs the first haptic effect when a sensor coupled to the touch screen indicates the user touching the touch screen.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the user touches the touch screen with a stylus.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator outputs the first haptic effect and the second actuator outputs the second haptic effect at substantially the same time.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator outputs the first haptic effect and the second actuator outputs the second haptic effect at different times.

9. A method for operating a mobile device comprising:

displaying a graphical environment through a touch screen of a housing of the mobile device;

sensing a position of a user'"'"'s input in contact with the touch screen;

identifying a haptic event occurring in association with an interaction within the graphical environment; and

transmitting an activating signal to an actuator, wherein the actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the touch screen upon determining the haptic event is a foreground event.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the foreground event occurs as a result of the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch screen.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuator only outputs the haptic effect when a sensor of the touch screen indicates the user touching the touch screen.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuator only outputs the haptic effect when a sensor of the touch screen indicates the user touching the touch screen with a stylus.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuator is a screen actuator, the method further comprising transmitting an activating signal to a housing actuator, wherein the housing actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the housing upon determining the haptic event is a background event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at substantially the same time.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at different times.

16. A method for operating a mobile device comprising:

displaying a graphical environment through a touch screen of a housing of the mobile device;

sensing a position of a user'"'"'s input in contact with the touch screen;

identifying a haptic event occurring in association with an interaction within the graphical environment; and

transmitting an activating signal to an actuator, wherein the actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the housing upon determining the haptic event is a background event.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the actuator is a housing actuator, the method further comprising transmitting an activating signal to a screen actuator, wherein the screen actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the touch screen upon determining the haptic event is a foreground event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at substantially the same time.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at different times.

20. A device comprising:

a housing;

a processor coupled to the housing, the processor configured to process a software program stored in a memory;

a touch screen coupled to the housing, the touch screen configured to display one or more virtual strings, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user'"'"'s interaction with the virtual string on the touch screen is provided to the processor; and

an actuator coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing, the actuator configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen upon the sensor signal indicating the user contacting with the virtual string.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the actuator outputs a second haptic effect to the touch screen upon the sensor signal indicating the user no longer in contact with the virtual string.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the actuator outputs a second haptic effect to the touch screen upon the sensor signal indicating the user dragging a finger or stylus a predetermined distance from the virtual string.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the actuator outputs a second haptic effect to the touch screen upon the sensor signal indicating the user dragging a finger or stylus a predetermined distance from the virtual string and after a predetermined amount of time.