Output Devices for Fabric-Based Electronic Equipment

• US 20180068538A1
• Filed: 11/14/2017
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kessler, Patrick, Podhajny, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,762,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724095 Worn on the wrist, hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724097 Worn on the head

Abstract

A fabric-based electronic device may include an electronic device housing coupled to fabric. Control circuitry may be mounted in the electronic device housing and may control the movement of an output device in the fabric that provides tactile output to a user. For example, the output device may include a wire enclosed within a flexible tube. The flexible tube may be intertwined with fibers in the fabric. The wire may include a kink or other irregularity that presses against the inner surface of the flexible tube. When the wire is rotated or moved into an appropriate position, the kink may press against the inner surface of the tube, which in turn forms a protrusion on the fabric. The protrusion may press against the user'"'"'s body and may therefore be used to obtain the attention of a user that is wearing or holding the fabric-based electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

fabric having first and second regions;

control circuitry; and

a haptic output device that moves the fabric in response to control signals from the control circuitry, wherein the haptic output device creates a protrusion on the first region of the fabric while the second region of the fabric remains flat.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the haptic output device raises the first region of the fabric relative to the second region of the fabric to create the protrusion.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the haptic output device vibrates the first region of the fabric while the second region of the fabric remains flat.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the haptic output device is configured to adjust a shape of the protrusion in response to the control signals from the control circuitry.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the haptic output device is configured to adjust a size of the protrusion in response to the control signals from the control circuitry.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the haptic output device is at least partially embedded within the fabric.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the control circuitry generates the control signals for the haptic output device to provide an alert to the user.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the haptic output device comprises a wire that moves within a tube.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the wire comprises a shape memory alloy.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the wire is configured to rotate within the tube.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

fabric having a first region surrounded by a second region;

control circuitry; and

an output device that moves the first region of the fabric between first and second positions based on control signals from the control circuitry, wherein;

when the first region of the fabric is in the first position, the first and second regions are coplanar; and

when the first region of the fabric is in the second position, the first region is raised relative to the second region.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the output device comprises a wire that is intertwined with the fabric.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the wire is moveable between a first shape in which the wire is smooth along its length and a second shape in which the wire has an irregularity that aligns with the first region of the fabric.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the second region of the fabric remains stationary as the first region is moved between the first and second positions.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the wire rotates within a polymer tube.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

fabric having first and second portions;

a wire intertwined with the fabric; and

an actuator coupled to the wire, wherein the actuator manipulates the wire to move the first portion of the fabric while the second portion of the fabric remains stationary.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the wire comprises a shape memory alloy.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the actuator comprises a rotary actuator that rotates the wire to move the first portion of the fabric.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the wire has a protrusion that moves the first portion of the fabric.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the wire is located in a polymer tube and wherein the wire moves within the polymer tube to move the first portion of the fabric.