HAPTIC FEEDBACK SYSTEM

• US 20100079264A1
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: HOELLWARTH, Quin C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,289,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.200
• 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 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

Localized haptic feedback at discrete locations or regions of a surface is disclosed. Controllable haptic transmission nodes can be selectively controlled to transmit a haptic feedback signal to a surface. The nodes can be controlled between a first state that transmits the haptic feedback signal to the surface and a second state that dampens or prevents the haptic feedback signal to the surface. The nodes can be located around the perimeter of the surface, where each node can be associated with a particular location or region of the surface and can provide haptic feedback to that particular location or region when the node is selected. A touch surface of a touch sensitive device is an exemplary surface for using localized haptic feedback.

Claims

1. A haptic feedback device comprising:

a plurality of controllable nodes disposed between a first and a second surface, the controllable nodes being configured to change between transmission states and a non-transmission states so as to provide a localized haptic response in discrete regions of the first surface when the second surface is powered with a haptic signal.

2. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, further comprising a haptic signal generator configured to produce the haptic signal, the haptic signal generator being operatively coupled to the plurality of controllable nodes through the second surface.

3. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the controllable nodes are placed proximate and edge of the first surface.

4. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the controllable nodes are disposed around the perimeter of the first surface.

5. The haptic feedback device of claim 4, wherein some of the controllable nodes are disposed on a first side of the first surface and some of the controllable nodes are placed on a second side of the first surface, and wherein the controllable nodes on opposing sides are aligned with one another, each of the opposing controllable nodes forming a haptic path for the haptic signal at the first surface.

6. The haptic feedback device of claim 5, wherein a first set of nodes are aligned in a first direction, and a second set of controllable nodes are aligned in a second direction, the first and second directions being transverse to one another such that they intersect, the intersection of the haptic paths creating a haptic output region where the haptic signal can be felt by a user.

7. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the controllable nodes are configured to dampen the haptic signal to the first surface thereby creating the transmission and non transmission states.

8. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the controllable nodes are configured to decouple the haptic signal to the first surface thereby creating the transmission and non transmission states.

10. The haptic feedback device of claim 1 wherein the first surface is configured as a touch sensor panel.

11. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein each node comprises:

a movable bar; and

an electromechanical device attached to one end of the movable bar and configured to rotate the movable bar, the electromechanical device having a plurality of states, wherein the transmission state is a rigid state at which the other end of the movable bar is in direct contact with the surface and the non-transmission state is a loose state at which the other end of the movable bar is away from the surface.

12. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein each node comprises:

a flexible bar having a plurality of states, the transmission state being rigid in which the flexible bar is in contact with the surface and the non-transmission state being loose in which the flexible bar is away from the surface; and

an electromechanical device attached to the flexible bar and configured to trigger a particular state in the flexible bar.

13. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein each node comprises:

a dynamic material having a plurality of states, wherein, in the transmission state, the material is rigid and, in the non-transmission state, the material is loose.

14. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, further comprising a waveguide configured to transmit the haptic signal from the nodes in the transmission state to specific regions of the first surface.

9. The haptic feedback device further comprising a haptic controller that receives a signal indicating a location of an object near or at the first surface, and that selectively controls the controllable nodes to produce the localized haptic response at the location of the object relative to the first surface.

15. A touch sensitive device with a haptic system, comprising:

a surface;

a sensor arrangement configured to detect a location of an object in close proximity to the surface;

a haptic signal generator configured to produce a haptic signal when an object is detected; and

a plurality of haptic transmission nodes positioned at different locations relative to the surface, the haptic transmission nodes being configured to receive the haptic signal from the haptic signal generator, and to change states in order control the transmission of the haptic signal to the surface, the haptic transmission nodes associated with the location of the object substantially transmitting the haptic signal to the surface, the haptic transmission nodes not associated with the location of the object substantially not transmitting the haptic signal to the surface.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the haptic transmission nodes are positioned at different locations around a perimeter of the surface.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein haptic transmission nodes disposed on opposite sides of the surface are aligned with one another.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the sensor arrangement is a touch sensor arrangement having a plurality of touch pixels disposed across the surface.

19. The device of claim 18 further comprising a controller in communication with the touch pixels and the haptic transmission nodes, wherein the controller is configured to identify one or more of the nodes corresponding to the at least one touch pixel that detects the touch and to cause the identified one or more haptic transmission nodes to transmit the haptic signal to the location of the detected touch on the device.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the haptic signal includes first and second vibration waves, the device further comprising a first vibration motor configured to generate the first vibration wave to transmit to some of the nodes and a second vibration motor configured to generate the second vibration wave to transmit to the rest of the nodes.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the touch sensitive device with haptic system is incorporated in an electronic device selected from a mobile telephone, a digital media player or a computer.

22. A method for providing a haptic feedback signal to an input surface, comprising:

identifying at least one haptic transmission node corresponding to a location of an input on the input surface;

placing the identified haptic transmission node into a transmission state;

generating a haptic feedback signal; and

transmitting the generated haptic feedback signal via the at least one identified haptic transmission node to the location of the input on the input surface.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising determining whether the generated haptic feedback signal has been transmitted for a predetermined time.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising, if the generated haptic feedback signal has been transmitted for the predetermined time, stopping transmission of the generated haptic feedback signal, and reducing the transmission of the at least one haptic transmission node.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of haptic transmission nodes corresponding to a location of an input on the input surface; and

selectively transmitting the haptic feedback signal via the plurality of haptic transmission nodes to the input surface.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein selectively transmitting includes placing a first set of the haptic transmission nodes in a non transmission state while placing a second set of the haptic transmission nodes in a transmission state, the haptic transmission nodes in the transmission state corresponding the input location.