TOUCH-BASED USER INTERFACE WITH HAPTIC FEEDBACK

• US 20120068957A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Puskarich, Paul G., Pilliod, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,013,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/092 Forming composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

One embodiment of a touch-based user interface may include a haptic feedback layer with one or more actuators configured to supply a haptic feedback. The one or more actuators may be embedded in a nonconductive material. The touch-based user interface may further include a printed circuit board layer underlying the haptic feedback layer. The printed circuit board layer may include one or more conductive traces configured to supply a voltage to the one or more actuators.

Claims

1. A touch-based user interface, comprising:

a haptic feedback layer comprising one or more actuators configured to supply a haptic feedback, the one or more actuators embedded in a nonconductive material; and

a printed circuit board layer underlying the haptic feedback layer, the printed circuit board layer including one or more conductive traces configured to supply a voltage to the one or more actuators.

2. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more actuators is a piezoelectric actuator.

3. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board layer further comprises a capacitive sensor.

4. The touch-based user interface of claim 3, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a first layer of electrodes and a second layer of electrodes, the first layer of electrodes overlaying the second layer of electrodes to form a grid defining one or more spaces between the first and second layers of electrodes.

5. The touch-based user interface of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more actuators is aligned along at least one vertical axis with at least one of the one or more spaces of the grid.

6. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, further comprising one or more force sensors.

7. The touch-based user interface of claim 6, wherein the one or more force sensors are positioned underneath the printed circuit board layer.

8. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the haptic feedback layer.

9. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators is joined to the nonconductive material by an adhesive.

10. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more actuators is configured to move independently of the other of the one or more actuators.

11. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators form rows of actuators that extend laterally across the haptic feedback layer.

12. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, further comprising a cover layer overlaying the haptic feedback layer.

13. The touch-based user interface of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive material has a sufficiently high modulus of rigidity so that the nonconductive material does not move relative to the one or more actuators when a voltage is supplied to the one or more actuators.

14. A method for manufacturing a haptic feedback layer, comprising:

arranging one or more piezoelectric actuators so that the one or more piezoelectric actuators are spaced apart from one another; and

filing any spaces between the piezoelectric actuators with a nonconductive material.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

applying an adhesive to an edge surface of the one or more piezoelectric actuators.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more piezoelectric actuators defines at least a portion of an outer surface of the haptic feedback layer.

17. A method for manufacturing a haptic feedback layer, comprising:

arranging one or more piezoelectric actuator strands so that the one or more piezoelectric actuator strands are spaced apart from one another;

filling any spaces between the piezoelectric actuator strands with a nonconductive material to form a blank; and

cutting the blank to form a haptic feedback layer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the blank is cut along a plane perpendicular to a direction of extension of the piezoelectric actuator strands.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the blank is cut along a plane parallel to a direction of extension of the piezoelectric actuators strands.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the blank is cut such that only the nonconductive material between the piezoelectric actuator strands is cut.