Tactile User Interface for an Electronic Device

• US 20110043457A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ortiz Hernandez, Luis M., Oliver, Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,456,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position

Abstract

A tactile interface for an electronic device includes a compliant portion, a first input sensor embedded in the compliant portion and a second input sensor. The first and second sensors produce differential output signal in responsive to tactile input forces applied in at least a common dimension or about a common axis. A processor detects and interprets the differential output signals as a tactile input at the touch input device.

Claims

1. An electronic device operable to receive a touch input, the electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a touch input device comprising,

an exterior surface pliable in response to a touch input,

a first sensor coupled to the exterior surface, and

a second sensor located within the housing of the electronic device,

wherein the first sensor and the second sensor each generate an output signal in response to a touch input on the pliable surface of the touch input device; and

a processor having an input coupled to an output of the first and second sensors, the processor is configured to determine an input signal based on a difference between the output signals of the first and the second sensors.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor each measure a signal indicative of a force along a single axis.

3. The input means of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are dynamic force sensors.

4. The input means of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface forms a part of the housing.

5. The input means of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface is a display surface.

6. A method of detecting a touch input in an electronic device, the method comprising:

generating a first signal in response to a touch input at a surface of a pliable portion of the electronic device with a first sensor embedded in the pliable portion of the electronic device;

generating a second signal in response to the touch input at the surface of the pliable portion of the electronic device with a second sensor removed from the pliable portion of the electronic device; and

detecting the touch input to the electronic device based on a difference between the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

generating the first signal includes generating a first signal in response to the touch input in a direction normal to the surface of the pliable portion of the electronic device with the first sensor, and

detecting the touch input to the electronic device includes detecting a touch input that is normal to the surface of the pliable portion of the electronic device based on the difference between the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein

generating the first signal includes generating a first signal in response to the touch input in a direction parallel to the surface of the pliable portion of the electronic device with the first sensor, and

detecting the touch input to the electronic device includes detecting a touch input that is parallel to the surface of the pliable portion of the electronic device based on the difference between the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein

generating the first signal includes generating a first signal in response to the touch input that is pivotal about an axis normal to the surface of the pliable portion of the electronic device with the first sensor, and

detecting the touch input to the electronic device includes detecting a touch input that is pivotal about an axis normal to the surface of the pliable portion of the electronic device based on the difference between the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor disposed within a housing of the portable electronic device; and

a touch input device coupled to the processor,

the touch input device comprising a compliant portion with a touch input surface, a first input sensor embedded in the compliant portion of the touch input device, and a second input sensor, the first and second sensors are coupled to the processor,

the first input sensor movable in at least one dimension in response to a touch input at the touch input surface of the compliant portion of the touch input device,

the processor configured to detect relative movement between the first and second sensors in at least one dimension in response to the touch input at the touch input surface of the compliant portion of the touch input device,

wherein the relative movement between the first and second sensors is proportional to an input of the touch input device.

11. The device of claim 10, the first and second touch sensors are accelerometers.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein

the first input sensor is movable in a direction normal to the touch input surface in response to a touch input at the touch input surface, and

the processor is configured to detect relative movement between the first and second sensors in the direction normal to the touch input surface in response to the touch input.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein

the first input sensor movable is in a direction parallel to the touch input surface in response to a touch input at the touch input surface, and

the processor is configured to detect relative movement between the first and second sensors in the direction parallel to the touch input surface in response to the touch input.

14. The device of claim 10 further comprising a display disposed on the housing, the touch input device is integrated with the display wherein the compliant portion with the touch input surface forms a portion of a display surface.

15. The device of claim 10, the first and second touch sensors are gyroscopes.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein

the first input sensor is pivotal about an axis normal to the touch input surface in response to a touch input at the touch input surface, and

the processor is configured to detect relative pivotal movement between the first and second sensors in response to the touch input.