FRICTION AUGMENTED CONTROLS AND METHOD TO CONVERT BUTTONS OF TOUCH CONTROL PANELS TO FRICTION AUGMENTED CONTROLS

• US 20150185848A1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: LEVESQUE, Vincent, OLIEN, Neil, ULLRICH, Christopher J., BIRNBAUM, David M., WEDDLE, Amaya Becvar
• Application Number:
  US14/585,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20150185848A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• 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 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A system includes a touch control panel configured to receive an input from a user, a controller in signal communication with the touch control panel and configured to control at least one operational setting of a powered apparatus, and a haptic output device in signal communication with the controller and configured to simulate an input button of the touch control panel by outputting a friction effect to the user as the user provides the input.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a touch control panel configured to receive an input from a user;

a controller in signal communication with the touch control panel and configured to control at least one operational setting of a powered apparatus; and

a haptic output device in signal communication with the controller and configured to simulate an input button of the touch control panel by outputting a friction effect to the user as the user provides the input.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the friction effect is generated by electrostatic friction.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the haptic output device comprises an electrostatic friction layer that covers only a portion of the touch control panel coinciding with the input button.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the friction effect is generated by ultrasonic vibrations.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the haptic output device comprises a piezoelectric actuator connected to a surface of the touch control panel.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the haptic output device comprises a flexible layer connected to the surface of the touch control panel and coinciding with the input button, the piezoelectric actuator being embedded in the flexible layer, and wherein a rigid frame having an opening coinciding with the input button overlays the flexible layer.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered apparatus is a kitchen appliance.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered apparatus is a light fixture.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered apparatus is medical equipment.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered apparatus is an industrial machine.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered apparatus is a smartphone.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered apparatus is located in a vehicle.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the powered apparatus is a computer monitor.

14. A method for converting a control button to an augmented control button, the method comprising:

identifying at least one feature of the control button to be converted to the augmented control button;

assigning a friction effect for each feature identified; and

programming a haptic output device to provide the assigned friction effect for playback on a touch control panel.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one feature includes an edge of the control button.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one feature includes a texture of the control button.