TOUCH-SCREEN DEVICE INCLUDING TACTILE FEEDBACK ACTUATOR
First Claim
1. A tactile feedback actuator comprising:
- a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap; and
a surface layer above the first and second electrodes;
wherein the first electrode receives a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency and the second electrode receives a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency, and the first and second electrodes are arranged such that the first and second stimulus voltages superimpose to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency, andthe beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tactile feedback actuator includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap, and a surface layer above the first and second electrodes. The first electrode receives a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency and the second electrode receives a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency, and the first and second electrodes superimpose the first and second stimulus voltages to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency. An object in contact with a portion of the surface layer is caused to vibrate at the beat frequency. The first electrode and the second electrode may constitute an electrode array including a plurality of column electrode segments, and a plurality of row electrode segments. An object in contact with a portion of the surface layer above one or more electrode segments is caused to vibrate at the beat frequency.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tactile feedback actuator comprising:
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a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap; and a surface layer above the first and second electrodes; wherein the first electrode receives a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency and the second electrode receives a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency, and the first and second electrodes are arranged such that the first and second stimulus voltages superimpose to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency, and the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing tactile feedback to a touch surface comprising the steps of:
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providing a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap; providing a surface layer above the first and second electrodes; stimulating the first electrode with a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency; stimulating the second electrode with a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency; and superimposing the first and second stimulus voltages to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency; wherein the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer.
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Specification