TRANSPARENT COMPOSITE PIEZOELECTRIC COMBINED TOUCH SENSOR AND HAPTIC ACTUATOR

• US 20110261021A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Modarres, Ali, Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Grant, Danny A., Ramstein, Christophe
• Application Number:
  US13/092,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20110261021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/1071 with electrical and mechanical input and output, e.g. having combined actuator and sensor parts

Abstract

A haptic device includes a substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell configured to measure a deformation of a surface of the cell and to provide a haptic feedback effect as a result of the deformation.

Claims

1. A haptic device, comprising:

a substrate; and

a substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell overlaying the substrate, the piezoelectric cell comprising

a sensor piezoelectric layer configured to generate a first signal when the sensor piezoelectric layer is deformed, and

an actuator piezoelectric layer configured to provide a haptic effect upon receipt of a second signal that is based on the first signal.

2. The haptic device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor piezoelectric layer overlays the actuator piezoelectric layer.

3. The haptic device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator piezoelectric layer overlays the sensor piezoelectric layer.

4. The haptic device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is configured to display an image, and wherein the image is viewable through the substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell.

5. The haptic device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cells overlaying the substrate.

6. The haptic device according to claim 5, further comprising a vibration isolator located between adjacent piezoelectric cells and configured to isolate vibration in one of the piezoelectric cells from other piezoelectric cells.

7. The haptic device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration isolator comprises a polymer.

8. The haptic device according to claim 6, wherein the vibration isolator comprises a gap between the cells.

9. The haptic device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate and the substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell are flexible and configured for gross deformations.

10. A haptic device, comprising:

a substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell configured to measure a deformation of a surface of the cell and to provide a haptic effect as a result of the deformation, the cell comprising

a first electrode,

a second electrode, and

a plurality of piezo ceramic materials in between the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein when an electric field is created between the first electrode and the second electrode, the piezo ceramic materials actuate to provide the haptic effect.

11. The haptic device according to claim 10, further comprising a display configured to display an image, wherein the substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell overlays the display so that the image is visible through the substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell.

12. The haptic device according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cells.

13. The haptic device according to claim 12, further comprising a vibration isolator located between adjacent piezoelectric cells and configured to isolate vibration in one of the piezoelectric cells from other piezoelectric cells.

14. The haptic device according to claim 13, wherein the vibration isolator comprises a polymer.

15. The haptic device according to claim 14, wherein the vibration isolator comprises a gap between the cells.

16. The haptic device according to claim 10, wherein the substantially transparent composite piezoelectric cell is flexible and configured for gross deformations.

17. A haptic device, comprising:

a substantially transparent piezoelectric sensor layer comprising an array of sensor cells;

a substantially transparent piezoelectric actuator layer comprising an array of independently actuatable actuator cells; and

a display configured to display an image viewable through the substantially transparent piezoelectric sensor layer and the substantially transparent piezoelectric actuator layer.

18. The haptic device according to claim 17, wherein the array of sensor cells includes more cells that the array of actuator cells.

19. The haptic device according to claim 17, further comprising a second substantially transparent piezoelectric actuator layer comprising a second array of independently actuatable actuator cells.

20. The haptic device according to claim 19, wherein the array of sensor cells includes more cells than the second array of actuator cells.

21. The haptic device according to claim 17, wherein the display, the substantially transparent piezoelectric sensor layer, and the substantially transparent piezoelectric actuator layer are flexible and configured for gross deformations.

22. The haptic device according to claim 17, wherein the substantially transparent piezoelectric actuator layer overlays the display and the substantially transparent piezoelectric sensor layer overlays the substantially transparent piezoelectric actuator layer.

23. The haptic device according to claim 17, wherein the substantially transparent piezoelectric sensor layer overlays the display and the substantially transparent piezoelectric actuator layer overlays the substantially transparent piezoelectric sensor layer.