ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME TO PROVIDE TACTILE FEEDBACK

• US 20100156823A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Weber, Arnett Ryan, Paleczny, Todd Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/578,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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

Abstract

A method includes determining an adjustable response setting for an electronic device, detecting a touch event on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device, and imparting, by an actuator, a first force on the touch-sensitive display by increasing the first force over a ramp-up time period and reducing the first force over a depression time period, to simulate actuation of a switch based on the adjustable response setting.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an adjustable response setting for an electronic device;

detecting a touch event on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device; and

imparting, by an actuator, a first force on the touch-sensitive display by increasing the first force over a ramp-up time period and reducing the first force over a depression time period, to simulate actuation of a switch based on the adjustable response setting.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the depression time period is established based on the adjustable response setting.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining a value of an external force applied to the touch-sensitive display prior to imparting the first response force.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising comparing a value of a force applied to the touch-sensitive display to a threshold, wherein imparting the first force is carried out in response to determining that the applied force exceeds the threshold.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the threshold is established based on the adjustable response setting.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising imparting, by the actuator, a second force by increasing the force over a release period of time and decreasing the second force over a ramp-down period of time.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the release period of time is established based on the adjustable response setting.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining a value of an external force applied to the touch-sensitive display after imparting the first force.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising comparing the value to a second threshold and wherein imparting the second force is carried out in response to determining that the force value falls below the second threshold.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second threshold is established based on the adjustable response setting.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ramp up time period is longer than the depression time period to simulate actuation of a switch based on the adjustable response setting.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the adjustable response setting comprises receiving input to select the adjustable response setting via the touch-sensitive display.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method according to claim 1.

14. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to provide an adjustable response setting and to detect a touch; and

an actuator configured to impart a force on the touch-sensitive display by increasing the force over a ramp-up time period and reducing the force over a depression time period, to simulate actuation of a switch based on the adjustable response setting.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14, comprising a processor configured to determine the adjustable response setting by receiving input, via the touch-sensitive display, to select the adjustable response setting.

16. The portable electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the ramp up time period is longer than the depression time period to simulate actuation of a dome switch based on the adjustable response setting.