Localized and/or Encapsulated Haptic Actuators and Elements
First Claim
1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a cover glass; and
a haptic actuator coupled to the cover glass, comprising;
piezoelectric material; and
a pattern of voltage electrodes coupled to the piezoelectric material;
wherein;
the voltage electrodes of the pattern of voltage electrodes are individually controllable; and
the pattern of voltage electrodes is operable to supply voltage to different portions of the piezoelectric material to deform the piezoelectric material at one of multiple different locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, a haptic actuator includes piezoelectric material and a pattern of voltage electrodes coupled to a surface of the piezoelectric material. The voltage electrodes are individually controllable to supply voltage to different portions of the piezoelectric material. Different sections of the piezoelectric material are operable to deflect, producing haptic output at those locations, in response to the application of the voltage. Differing voltages may be provided to one or more of the voltage electrodes to affect the location of the deflection, and thus the haptic output. In various embodiments, a haptic output system incorporates a sealed haptic element. The sealed haptic element includes a piezoelectric component that is coupled to one or more flexes and is sealed and/or enclosed by the flex(es) and an encapsulation or sealing material.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a cover glass; and a haptic actuator coupled to the cover glass, comprising; piezoelectric material; and a pattern of voltage electrodes coupled to the piezoelectric material; wherein; the voltage electrodes of the pattern of voltage electrodes are individually controllable; and the pattern of voltage electrodes is operable to supply voltage to different portions of the piezoelectric material to deform the piezoelectric material at one of multiple different locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic device, comprising:
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a piezoelectric wafer having a surface; voltage electrodes that cover a portion of the surface and define gaps between each other; and a processing unit electrically coupled to the voltage electrodes operable to produce deflections at different sections of the piezoelectric wafer by varying voltages supplied to the voltage electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A haptic actuator, comprising:
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a piezoelectric substrate; a first voltage conductor coupled to a surface of the piezoelectric substrate; and a second voltage conductor coupled to the surface of the piezoelectric substrate and separated from the first voltage conductor;
wherein;the piezoelectric substrate produces haptic output at different locations depending on voltages of the first and second voltage conductors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A haptic element comprising:
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a piezoelectric component comprising; a piezoelectric sheet; a first electrode formed on a first face of the sheet; and a second electrode formed on a second face of the sheet; a first flex comprising a first contact, the first flex positioned relative to the first face such that the first electrode and the first contact are electrically connected; a second flex comprising a second contact, the second flex positioned relative to the second face such that the second electrode and the second contact are electrically connected; and a seal disposed around a periphery of the piezoelectric component and between the first flex and the second flex such that the first flex, the second flex, and the seal enclose the piezoelectric component. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A haptic element comprising:
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a piezoelectric component comprising; a piezoelectric sheet; a first electrode formed on a first face of the sheet; and a second electrode having a first portion formed on a second face of the sheet and having a second portion formed on the first face of the sheet; a flex comprising a first contact and a second contact, the flex positioned relative to the first face such that the first electrode and the first contact are electrically connected and the second electrode and the second contact are electrically connected; and an encapsulation layer disposed over the piezoelectric component thereby enclosing the piezoelectric component against the flex. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A haptic output system comprising:
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an input surface; and an array of haptic elements subjacent the input surface, each haptic element of the array of haptic elements comprising; a piezoelectric component comprising an electrode; a flex comprising an electrical contact electrically connected to the electrode; and an encapsulation layer disposed over the piezoelectric component and in contact with the flex, thereby enclosing the piezoelectric component against the flex. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification