HAPTIC FEEDBACK BUTTON

• US 20190361531A1
• Filed: 01/26/2018
• Published: 11/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chung-Ang University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
• Original Assignee: Chung-Ang University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
• Inventors: CHOI, Seung Tae
• Granted Patent: US 10,963,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/20 with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/87 Electrodes or interconnections, e.g. leads or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/88 Mounts; Supports; Enclosures; Casings

Abstract

Provided is a haptic feedback button, which includes: a substrate; a lower electrode provided on an upper portion of the substrate, and formed by patterning a ground electrode and a touch sensing electrode; an upper electrode, provided above the lower electrode with an interval from the lower electrode, to which a driving voltage is applied; and a cover provided on an upper portion of the upper electrode, wherein a piezoelectric polymer is provided on an upper portion of the lower electrode or a lower portion of the upper electrode so that fretting vibration may be generated when the piezoelectric polymer is in close contact with the lower electrode or the upper electrode that are disposed to face each other.

Claims

1. A haptic feedback button comprising:

a substrate;

a lower electrode provided on the substrate and formed by patterning a ground electrode and a touch sensing electrode;

an upper electrode which is provided above the lower electrode and spaced an interval from the lower electrode and to which a driving voltage is applied; and

a cover provided on the upper electrode,

wherein a piezoelectric polymer is provided on the lower electrode or below the upper electrode, and, when the piezoelectric polymer is pressed against the lower electrode or the upper electrode disposed to face the lower electrode, a fretting vibration is generated.

2. The haptic feedback button of claim 1, wherein a support spacer is provided between edge portions of the lower electrode and the upper electrode to form a gap.

3. The haptic feedback button of claim 2, wherein each of the upper electrode, the cover, and the support spacer is made of a transparent material.

4. The haptic feedback button of claim 2, wherein each of the cover and the upper electrode is made of a flexible material.

5. The haptic feedback button of claim 2, wherein at least a part of the cover is made of a stiff material.

6. The haptic feedback button of claim 5, wherein a central spacer is provided between the substrate and the lower electrode such that a central portion of the lower electrode is formed to be bent upward.

7. The haptic feedback button of claim 5, wherein an edge portion of the cover and the edge portion of the upper electrode are formed to be bent upward.

8. The haptic feedback button of claim 5, wherein an edge portion of the upper electrode is formed to be bent upward.

9. The haptic feedback button of claim 5, wherein a hinge groove is formed in the edge portion of the cover such that a thickness of the edge portion of the cover is relatively small.

10. The haptic feedback button of claim 5, wherein:

a support layer is provided below the lower electrode; and

an elastic coefficient and a thickness of the support layer are designed to form a resonance in a frequency ranging from 100 to 250 Hz.

11. The haptic feedback button of claim 5, wherein the cover includes:

a stiff portion made of a stiff material; and

a flexible portion provided on the stiff portion and made of a flexible material,

wherein an edge portion of the stiff portion is formed to be incised.

12. The haptic feedback button of claim 11, wherein the incised edge portion of the stiff portion is filled with the flexible portion.

13. The haptic feedback button of claim 5, wherein the cover includes:

a flexible portion made of a flexible material and formed only on an edge portion of the cover; and

a stiff portion provided on the flexible portion and made of a stiff material.

14. The haptic feedback button of claim 1, wherein:

the ground electrode is patterned in a central portion of the haptic feedback button; and

the touch sensing electrode is patterned to surround a periphery of the ground electrode.

15. The haptic feedback button of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric polymer includes a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based ferroelectric polymer or a relaxor ferroelectric polymer

16. The haptic feedback button of claim 15, wherein:

the PVDF-based ferroelectric polymer includes P(VDF-TrFE); and

the relaxor ferroelectric polymer includes P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) or P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE).