ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING ACTUATOR FOR PROVIDING TACTILE OUTPUT

• US 20120032892A1
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: PASQUERO, Jerome, FYKE, Steven Henry, STOBBE, Scott James
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

An electronic device includes a base, a membrane coupled to and spaced from the base, an actuator disposed between the base and the membrane, and spaced from the membrane when the actuator is not actuated, and a controller configured to control actuation of the actuator to cause the actuator to contact the membrane.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a base;

a membrane coupled to and spaced from the base;

an actuator disposed between the base and the membrane, and spaced from the membrane when the actuator is not actuated;

a controller configured to control actuation of the actuator to cause the actuator to contact the membrane.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is actuated by the controller.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator strikes the membrane when actuated.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a watch.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is on a back of the electronic device for tactile output.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, comprising a display on a front of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises an elastically deformable sheet.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the membrane comprises plastic.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising a processor connected to the controller, and a short-range communication device connected to the processor to communicate with a handheld electronic communication device.

11. A method of controlling an electronic device, comprising:

detecting an event;

actuating an actuator disposed between a base and a membrane, to cause the actuator to strike the membrane to provide tactile output in response to detecting the event.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the event comprises receipt of a notifier at the electronic device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the notifier comprises a notification of receipt of an email or a calendar reminder.

14. The method according to claim 11, comprising receiving a query at the electronic device.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein detecting the event comprises receiving data from a handheld electronic communication device.