METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING HAPTIC FEEDBACK TO NON-INPUT LOCATIONS

• US 20170024013A1
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: CRUZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan Manuel, GOSLINE, Andrew, GRANT, Danny, RAMSTEIN, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 10,275,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

A handheld apparatus includes a top surface that includes a touch screen defining a plurality of keys, and a bottom surface on an opposite side of the first surface. The apparatus further includes a processor and an actuator coupled to the processor and located on the bottom surface. The processor is adapted to detect an object moving across the keys and in response generate an actuation signal to the actuator to generate a haptic feedback on the back surface.

Claims

1. A haptically-enabled device comprising:

a touch sensitive surface;

a second surface different from the touch sensitive surface;

a processor; and

a haptic output device communicatively coupled to the processor and physically coupled to the second surface;

wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to detect a selection;

wherein the processor, in response to the selection, generates a signal to the haptic output device to generate a non-vibratory haptic feedback; and

wherein the signal causes the haptic output device to bow outwards to change a shape of the second surface, wherein the change of shape provides the haptic feedback.

2. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the selection is detected in response to a direct contact or a proximity contact.

3. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to be a front surface when the device is in use, and the second surface is adapted to be a rear surface when the device is in use.

4. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises a piezoelectric material adapted to be directly contacted by a user and functions as at least part of the second surface.

5. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises a rotating paddle adapted to move the second surface.

6. The haptically-enabled device of claim 5, wherein the second surface comprises a flexible material.

7. The haptically-enabled device of claim 1, wherein generating the non-vibratory haptic feedback comprises moving at least a part of the second surface outward during a first duration and the non-vibratory haptic feedback ends when the outward movement of the first duration has ended.

8. A method of generating haptic feedback on a haptically-enabled device that comprises a touch sensitive surface, a second surface different from the touch sensitive surface, a processor, and a haptic output device communicatively coupled to the processor and physically coupled to the second surface, the method comprising:

detecting at the touch sensitive surface a selection; and

in response to the selection, generating a signal to the haptic output device to generate a non-vibratory haptic feedback;

wherein the signal causes the haptic output device to bow outwards to change a shape of the second surface, wherein the change of shape provides the haptic feedback.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selection is detected in response to a direct contact or a proximity contact.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to be a front surface when the device is in use, and the second surface is adapted to be a rear surface when the device is in use.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the haptic output device comprises a piezoelectric material adapted to be directly contacted by a user and functions as at least part of the second surface.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the haptic output device comprises a rotating paddle adapted to move the second surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second surface comprises a flexible material.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the generate the non-vibratory haptic feedback comprises moving at least a part of the second surface outward during a first duration and the non-vibratory haptic feedback ends when the outward movement of the first duration has ended.

15. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate haptic feedback on a haptically-enabled device that comprises a touch sensitive surface, a second surface different from the touch sensitive surface, a processor, and a haptic output device communicatively coupled to the processor and physically coupled to the second surface, the generating haptic feedback comprising:

detecting at the touch sensitive surface a selection; and

in response to the selection, generating a signal to the haptic output device to generate a non-vibratory haptic feedback;

wherein the signal causes the haptic output device to bow outwards to change a shape of the second surface, wherein the change of shape provides the haptic feedback.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the selection is detected in response to a direct contact or a proximity contact.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the touch sensitive surface is adapted to be a front surface when the device is in use, and the second surface is adapted to be a rear surface when the device is in use.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the haptic output device comprises a piezoelectric material adapted to be directly contacted by a user and functions as at least part of the second surface.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the haptic output device comprises a rotating paddle adapted to move the second surface and the second surface comprises a flexible material.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the generating the non-vibratory haptic feedback further comprises moving at least a part of the second surface outward during a first duration and the non-vibratory haptic feedback ends when the outward movement of the first duration has ended.