SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING FRICTION AND VIBROTACTILE EFFECTS

• US 20150145657A1
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Levesque, Vincent, Modarres, Ali, Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Weddle, Amaya Becvar, Birnbaum, David M., Grant, Danny A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,639,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A system includes a sensor configured to sense an input received from a user at a surface; a first haptic output device configured to generate a first haptic effect at the surface based on the input received from the user, the first haptic effect comprising a friction effect at the surface; a second haptic output device configured to generate a second haptic effect, the second haptic effect comprising vibrotactile feedback; and a processor configured to receive an input signal from the sensor and output a first drive signal to the first haptic output device to generate the first haptic effect and to output a second drive signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense an input received from a user at a surface;

a first haptic output device configured to generate a first haptic effect at the surface based on the input received from the user, the first haptic effect comprising a friction effect at the surface;

a second haptic output device configured to generate a second haptic effect, the second haptic effect comprising vibrotactile feedback; and

a processor configured to receive an input signal from the sensor and output a first drive signal to the first haptic output device to generate the first haptic effect and to output a second drive signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first haptic output device comprises an electrostatic device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first haptic output device comprises an ultrasonic vibration device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second haptic output device comprises an actuator.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator, a voice coil, a magnetic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an ultrasonic energy actuator, an eccentric mass actuator, an electroactive polymer actuator, or a shape memory alloy.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a touch screen comprising the surface.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the touch screen comprises a display configured to display an image.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising an input device, wherein the first haptic effect is configured to provide orientation cues for use of the input device and wherein the second haptic effect is associated with the image being displayed by the display.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first haptic effect is associated with the image being displayed by the display and the second haptic effect is associated with an event not associated with the image being displayed by the display.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the event is a notification.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first haptic effect is associated with movement of the image by the user.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second haptic effect is associated with an interaction of the image displayed by the display with an edge of the display.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second haptic effect is associated with movement of the image without interaction by the user.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second haptic effect is associated with an interaction of the image displayed by the display with a second image displayed by the display.

15. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first haptic effect is associated with alteration of the image by the user from a first configuration to a second configuration, and wherein the second haptic effect is associated with the image being held in the second configuration.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first haptic effect is generated when the user interacts with the image by sliding across the surface at a location of the image, and wherein the second haptic effect is generated when the user interacts with the image by pressing against the surface at the location of the image.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect are generated at substantially the same time.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect alternate over time.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first haptic effect is generated for a first predetermined amount of time and then the second haptic effect is generated for a second predetermined amount of time.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second haptic effect is generated when the user hovers over the surface.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first haptic effect is generated in a first range of frequencies, and wherein the second haptic effect is generated in a second range of frequencies, a low end of the first range of frequencies being less than a low end of the second range of frequencies, and a high end of the first range of frequencies being less than a high end of the second range of frequencies.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the first range of frequencies overlaps with the second range of frequencies.

23. A method comprising:

sensing an input at a touch surface of a user interface by a user;

generating a first haptic effect at the touch surface in response to the sensed input, the first haptic effect comprising a friction effect; and

generating a second haptic effect in the user interface, the second haptic effect comprising vibrotactile feedback.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying an image through the touch surface.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first haptic effect is configured to provide orientation cues for use of an input device, and wherein the second haptic effect is associated with the image being displayed.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first haptic effect is associated with the image being displayed, and wherein the second haptic effect is associated with an event not associated with the image being displayed.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the event is a notification.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first haptic effect is associated with movement of the image being displayed by the user.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the second haptic effect is associated with an interaction of the image displayed by the display with an edge of the display.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the second haptic effect is associated with movement of the image without interaction by the user.

31. The method according to claim 28, further comprising displaying a second image at the same time the image is being displayed, wherein the second haptic effect is associated with an interaction of the image being displayed with the second image being displayed.

32. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first haptic effect is associated with alteration of the image by the user from a first configuration to a second configuration, and wherein the second haptic effect is associated with the image being held in the second configuration.

33. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first haptic effect is generated when the user interacts with the image by sliding across the touch surface at a location of the image, and wherein the second haptic effect is generated when the user interacts with the image by pressing against the touch surface at the location of the image.

34. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect are generated at substantially the same time.

35. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect alternate over time.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the first haptic effect is generated for a first predetermined amount of time and then the second haptic effect is generated for a second predetermined amount of time.

37. The method according to claim 23, wherein the second haptic effect is generated when the user hovers over the touch surface.

38. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first haptic effect is generated in a first range of frequencies, and wherein the second haptic effect is generated in a second range of frequencies, a low end of the first range of frequencies being less than a low end of the second range of frequencies, and a high end of the first range of frequencies being less than a high end of the second range of frequencies.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the first range of frequencies overlaps with the second range of frequencies.