LINEAR VIBRATOR PROVIDING LOCALIZED HAPTIC FEEDBACK

• US 20120223824A1
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher
• Granted Patent: US 9,600,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

An apparatus for providing haptic feedback, including: a shell defining an aperture; a driver disposed within the shell; a mass disposed within the coil; and a projection connected to the mass and extending through the aperture. Also described herein is a method for providing generalized and localized haptic feedback, including the operations of: receiving an input signal; determining if the input signal corresponds to a generalized haptic feedback; if so, providing a first input to a linear vibrator; otherwise, providing a second input to a linear vibrator; wherein the linear vibrator outputs a generalized haptic feedback in response to the first input; and the linear vibrator outputs a localized haptic feedback in response to the second input.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing haptic feedback, comprising:

a shell defining an aperture;

a driver disposed within the shell;

a mass disposed within the coil; and

a projection connected to the mass and extending through the aperture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the driver comprises at least one coil; and

the mass is a magnetic material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one coil is configured to receive a first and second level of current;

the mass is displaced a first distance when the at least one coil receives the first level of current; and

the mass is displaced a second distance when the at least one coil receives the second level of current.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tap rod is configured to impact a surface when the mass is displaced the second distance, but not when the mass is displaced the first distance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the shell is housed within an enclosure; and

the surface is a sidewall of the enclosure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the enclosure comprises a portion of a mobile telephone.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the surface is a user input.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one coil is configured to receive the second level of current when the user input is touched.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the at least one coil comprises a first coil and a second coil;

the first level of current energizes the first coil but not the second coil; and

the second level of current energizes at least the second coil.

10. A method for providing generalized and localized haptic feedback for an electronic device, comprising:

receiving an input signal;

determining if the input signal corresponds to a generalized haptic feedback;

if so, providing a first input to a linear vibrator;

otherwise, providing a second input to a linear vibrator;

wherein

the linear vibrator outputs a generalized haptic feedback in response to the first input; and

the linear vibrator outputs a localized haptic feedback in response to the second input.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first input is a first current; and

the second input is a second current.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the operation of determining if the input signal corresponds to a generalized haptic feedback comprises:

sensing a user input; and

in response to sensing the user input, determining that the input signal does not correspond to a generalized haptic feedback.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the operation of determining that the input signal does not correspond to a generalized haptic feedback occurs after the user input has ceased.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the operation of sensing a user input comprises sensing a user touching a button; and

the localized haptic feedback is outputted to the button.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the operation of sensing a user input comprises sensing a user nearly touching a button; and

the localized haptic feedback is outputted to the button.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the operation of sensing a user input comprises capacitively sensing a user input.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the input signal is a remote communication initiated by a party other than the user.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the localized haptic feedback vibrates the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the localized haptic feedback emulates a feeling of interacting with a user input area.

20. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure;

a shell defining an aperture and surrounded by the enclosure;

a driver disposed within the shell;

a mass disposed within the coil;

a projection connected to the mass and extending through the aperture;

a touch sensor configured to sense a touch on the enclosure and operatively connected to the coil;

wherein

the projection is configured to move a first distance when the coil is energized to a first state;

the projection is configured not move a second distance when the coil is energized to a second state; and

the coil is configured to be energized to the first state in response to the touch sensor sensing a touch on the enclosure.