LOCALIZED HAPTIC RESPONSE

• US 20160062461A1
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grayhill Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grayhill Incorporated
• Inventors: Dooley, Kevin M., Kerner, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,048,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

Touch interfaces for electronic devices including one or more tactile response mechanisms. The tactile response mechanisms receive user input and provide a tactile response to the user to indicate that the user has selected a particular location or selectable area on the interface. The underside of the interface includes recesses and/or channels corresponding to on each specific touch or selectable area that localize the tactile response to the individual selectable areas.

Claims

1. An interface for an electronic device, comprising:

an outer surface including a selectable area;

a rear surface including a recess corresponding to the selectable area; and

a tactile response mechanism disposed in the recess and adapted to provide a tactile response to a user in response to the user selecting the selectable area, wherein the recess localizes the tactile response to the selectable area.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the recess includes a geometric pattern etched into the recess.

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein the geometric pattern is adapted to channel and localize the tactile response to the selectable area.

4. The interface of claim 2, wherein the geometric pattern is substantially circular and includes spokes extending from a substantially central portion of the geometric pattern to a substantially peripheral portion of the geometric pattern.

5. The interface of claim 2, wherein the geometric pattern is substantially rectangular and includes spokes extending from a substantially central portion of the geometric pattern to a substantially peripheral portion of the geometric pattern.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein the outer surface includes a symbol located on the selectable area to identify a function of the selectable area.

7. The interface of claim 1, wherein the tactile response mechanism is a piezoelectric actuator.

8. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed in the recess and adapted to detect a touch applied by the user and cause the tactile response mechanism to provide the tactile response.

9. An interface for an electronic device, comprising:

an outer surface including a selectable area; and

a rear surface including a recess corresponding to the selectable area and adapted to localize a tactile response to the selectable area.

10. The interface of claim 9, wherein the recess includes a geometric pattern etched into the recess.

11. The interface of claim 10, wherein the geometric pattern is adapted to channel and localize the tactile response to the selectable area.

12. The interface of claim 10, wherein the geometric pattern is substantially circular and includes spokes extending from a substantially central portion of the geometric pattern to a substantially peripheral portion of the geometric pattern.

13. The interface of claim 10, wherein the geometric pattern is substantially rectangular and includes spokes extending from a substantially central portion of the geometric pattern to a substantially peripheral portion of the geometric pattern.

14. The interface of claim 9, wherein the outer surface includes a symbol located on the selectable area to identify a function of the selectable area.

15. An interface for an electronic device, comprising:

an outer surface including a first and second selectable areas; and

a rear surface including;

a first recess corresponding to the first selectable area and adapted to localize a first tactile response to the first selectable area and prevent the first tactile response from propagating to the second selectable area; and

a second recess corresponding to the second selectable area, wherein the second recess is adapted to localize a second tactile response to the second selectable area and prevent the second tactile response from propagating to the first selectable area.

16. The interface of claim 15, wherein the first recess includes a first geometric pattern etched into the first recess.

17. The interface of claim 15, wherein the first and second selectable areas are adjacent to each other.

18. The interface of claim 16, wherein the first geometric pattern includes spokes extending from a substantially central portion of the first geometric pattern to a substantially peripheral portion of the first geometric pattern.

19. The interface of claim 15, further comprising:

a first piezoelectric actuator disposed in the first recess and adapted to provide the first tactile response to a user in response to the user selecting the first selectable area; and

a second piezoelectric actuator disposed in the second recess and adapted to provide the second tactile response to the user in response to the user selecting the second selectable area.