DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A HAPTIC FEEDBACK FROM A KEYLESS INPUT UNIT

• US 20110050406A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PI Ceramic Gmbh
• Original Assignee: PI Ceramic Gmbh
• Inventors: Hennig, Eberhard, Ditas, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,471,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• 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

The invention relates to a device for the production of a haptic feedback from keyless input units such as touchscreens or keypads in mobile IT devices such as mobile telephones, PDAs, music or multimedia players, cameras, navigation devices, etc. The market demands a device which can produce a haptic signal for a touchscreen such that the display is movable as a whole essentially perpendicular to the housing surface at least in one direction. In order to resolve this object the invention provides for a device for the production of a haptic feedback from a keyless input unit, whereby the device has an elastic, essentially plate-shaped substrate, which at least comprises a first support location for fixing the substrate on a structure of the input device and at least a second support location for fixing the substrate on the input unit, and is formed to support the input unit movably with respect to the structure of the input device, whereby a piezoelectric element between the first and second support locations of the substrate is arranged in such a manner that with an electrical drive to the piezoelectric element one of the support locations is moved transverse to the plane of the plate-shaped substrate.

Claims

1. Device for the production of a haptic feedback from a keyless input unit of an input device, wherein the device has an elastic, essentially plate-shaped substrate, which at least comprises a first support location for fixing the substrate on a structure of the input device and at least a second support location for fixing the substrate on the input unit, and is formed to support the input unit movably with respect to the structure of the input device, wherein a piezoelectric element between the first and second support locations of the substrate is connected to it such that a unimorphous bending element results and with an electrical drive to the piezoelectric element one of the support locations is moved transverse to the plane of the plate-shaped substrate.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is embedded in the substrate.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein a piezoelectric element is fitted to an upper side and/or an underside of the substrate.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein several second support locations are arranged symmetrically, preferably mirrored, preferably doubly mirrored, on the substrate.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second support locations are located on the first and second support sections, which are connected via a ridge.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the support sections, preferably the first and second support sections is/are cut free from the substrate.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support sections extend in each case laterally, preferably perpendicular, to the ridge, preferably on both sides of the ridge.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein a second support location is arranged on one free end of a second support section.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein a first support section is arranged between two second support sections and/or vice versa.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one first support section forms a frame surrounding a second support section at least over half of its circumference, preferably over its complete circumference and/or vice versa.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is arranged in and/or on a second support section.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed in one piece.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is produced from printed circuit board material, metal, plastic or ceramics.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is produced from electrically conducting material and/or coated with electrically conducting material.

15. A mobile input device with a keyless input unit and a mechanism for production of a haptic feedback from the keyless input unit according to claim 1, wherein, wherein one of the first support locations of the substrate is fixed on a structure of the input device and one of the second support locations of the substrate is fixed on the input unit.

16. A device according to claim 2, wherein a piezoelectric element is fitted to an upper side and/or an underside of the substrate.

17. A device according to claim 2, wherein several second support locations are arranged symmetrically, preferably mirrored, preferably doubly mirrored, on the substrate.

18. A device according to claim 3, wherein several second support locations are arranged symmetrically, preferably mirrored, preferably doubly mirrored, on the substrate.

19. A device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second support locations are located on the first and second support sections, which are connected via a ridge.

20. A device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second support locations are located on the first and second support sections, which are connected via a ridge.