HAPTIC FEEDBACK CASE FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

• US 20120154133A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: LIM, Jeong Mook, SHIN, Hee Sook, LIM, Yo-An, PARK, Jun Seok, KYUNG, KI-UK, KIM, Hyungon
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• 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: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/01 Manufacture or treatment

Abstract

Disclosed is a haptic feedback case for electronic equipment, including: a main body configured to accommodate the electronic equipment; a communication unit configured to receive haptic generation information from the electronic equipment; a filmy type actuator configured to generate haptic sensations; and a control unit configured to operate the film type actuator according to the haptic generation information input from the communication unit.

Claims

1. A haptic feedback case for electronic equipment, comprising:

a main body configured to accommodate the electronic equipment;

a communication unit configured to receive haptic generation information from the electronic equipment;

a film type actuator configured to generate haptic sensations; and

a control unit configured to operate the film type actuator according to the haptic generation information input from the communication unit.

2. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a connector that is connected to the electric equipment to receive power and the haptic generation information.

3. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 1, wherein the main body further includes the connector that is connected to the electronic equipment to receive power.

4. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 3, wherein the communication unit receives the haptic generation information from the electronic equipment by short range wireless communication.

5. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 3, further comprising a power supply device configured to supply the power through the connector to the control unit.

6. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 5, wherein the power supply device is a battery.

7. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 1, wherein the haptic generation information includes at least one of a click event, a menu event, a next-page event, a lock-page event, a text-highlight event, a music event, and a GUI (Graphic User Interface) operation event in the electronic equipment.

8. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 1, wherein the film type actuator includes:

a fixing member attached to a bottom surface of the main body;

a film type flexible part attached to the fixing member and having the length expanded and contracted according to an operating signal of the control unit; and

a haptic generation member contacting the film type flexible part to output a movement of the film type flexible part as haptic sensations.

9. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 8, wherein one side of the haptic generation member is further provided with a haptic augmented member.

10. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 8, wherein the fixing member is an elastic material.

11. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 10, wherein the elastic material is conductive.

12. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 8, wherein the film type flexible part comprises electro active polymer, electro active cellulose, and shape memory alloy.

13. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 8, wherein the film type flexible part is arranged in plurality so as to be parallel with each other.

14. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 8, wherein the film type flexible part and the haptic generation member partially contact each other.

15. The haptic feedback case for electronic equipment of claim 1, wherein the communication unit, the film type actuator, and the control unit are buried in the bottom surface of the main body.