TACTILE FEEDBACK METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 20110248916A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: GRIFFIN, Jason Tyler, FAUBERT, Perry Allan
• Granted Patent: US 9,417,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method includes displaying on a display at least one selection option comprising a first selection option and detecting a touch or cursor on the display. Tactile feedback having a first characteristic is provided when the touch or cursor is at a first location associated with the first selection option. Tactile feedback having a second characteristic is provided when the touch or cursor is detected at a second location not associated with the first selection option.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a first selection option on a display;

detecting a touch or cursor on the display;

providing tactile feedback having a first characteristic when the touch or cursor is at a first location associated with the first selection option;

providing tactile feedback having a second characteristic when the touch or cursor is detected at a second location not associated with the first selection option.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising.

determining a direction of the touch or cursor;

when the direction is toward the first selection option, providing tactile feedback having a third characteristic;

when the direction is other than toward the first selection option, providing tactile feedback having a fourth characteristic.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third characteristic comprises vibration providing a low resistance to movement and the fourth characteristic comprises vibration providing a high resistance to movement.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration having a low friction effect and the second characteristic comprises vibration having a high friction effect.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is associated with the first selection option when the first location is associated with an active area of the first selection option and an area adjacent to the active area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying comprises displaying a plurality of selection options, comprising identifying one of the plurality of selection options as the first selection option.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting comprises identifying, with a predictive text algorithm, the first selection option.

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

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 8.

9. A method comprising:

displaying a first selection option on a touch-sensitive display;

detecting a touch moving along the touch-sensitive display;

determining a direction of the touch;

providing tactile feedback having a first characteristic when the direction is toward the first selection option;

providing tactile feedback having a second characteristic when the direction is other than toward the first selection option.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration at a first frequency, amplitude, and duration and the second characteristic comprises vibration at a second frequency, amplitude, and duration.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying comprises displaying a plurality of selection options, comprising identifying one of the plurality of selection options as the first selection option.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting comprises identifying, with a predictive text algorithm, the first selection option from a plurality of characters.

14. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive device;

a tactile feedback apparatus operably coupled to the touch-sensitive device;

a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive device and the tactile feedback apparatus and configured to;

display a selection option on a display;

engage the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a first characteristic when a touch or cursor is at a first location associated with the selection option;

engage the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a second characteristic when the touch or cursor is detected at a second location not associated with the selection option.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a direction of the touch or cursor;

when the direction is toward the selection option, engage the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a third characteristic;

when the direction is other than toward the selection option, engage the tactile feedback apparatus to providing tactile feedback having a fourth characteristic.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration having a low friction effect and the second characteristic comprises vibration having a high friction effect.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to identify, with a predictive text algorithm, one of a plurality of characters as the selection option.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises at least one piezoelectric device.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the touch-sensitive device is a touch-sensitive display.

20. A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a tactile feedback apparatus operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display;

a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display and the tactile feedback apparatus and configured to;

display a selection option on a touch-sensitive display;

determine a direction of a touch moving along the touch-sensitive display;

when the direction is toward the selection option, send a first signal to the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a first characteristic;

when the direction is other than toward the selection option, send a second signal to the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a second characteristic.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration at a first frequency and the second characteristic comprises vibration at a second frequency.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to identify, with a predictive text algorithm, one of a plurality of characters as the selection option.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 20, wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises at least one piezoelectric device.