Piezoelectric switch with tactile response

• US 5,982,304 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Selker, Edwin Joseph, Betts, Jonathan Noble
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/823,472
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 341/20, 341/27, 341/34, 200/513, 200/516, 200/517, 200/5 A, 200/512, 361/680, 310/339, 310/340, 310/319
• US Class Current: 341/27
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 Piezoelectric touch switches

Abstract

A piezoelectric keyswitch for providing tactile response comprises a bimorphic piezoelectric element anchored at its edge, and a keypad mounted on the bimorphic piezoelectric element spaced from the anchored edge so that depression of the keypad flexes the element to generate an electrical signal. A drive circuit responds to the electrical signal to provide a drive signal to bend the piezoelectric element to provide upward tactile feedback to the keypad.

Claims

1. A keyswitch providing tactile response, comprising:

a bimorphic piezoelectric element anchored on the outer edge thereof;

a keypad mounted on said bimorphic piezoelectric element spaced from said anchored edge so that depression of said keypad flexes said element to generate an electrical signal; and

a drive circuit responsive to said electrical signal to provide a drive signal to said bimorphic piezoelectric element to flex said element to provide upward tactile feedback to said keypad, said drive circuit providing said drive signal a predetermined delay time after said depression of said keypad, said predetermined delay time such as to cause said drive signal to be delivered to said keypad at substantially the time that an operator'"'"'s finger is compressed at its maximum force against said keypad.

2. The keyswitch of claim 1, wherein said drive circuit comprises:

two monostable multivibrators to provide said drive signal at said specific delay time.

3. A keyswitch providing tactile response, comprising:

a circular bimorphic piezoelectric element anchored at the edge thereof;

a keypad mounted on said bimorphic piezoelectric element at the center and spaced from said anchored edge so that depression of said keypad flexes said element to generate an electrical signal; and

a drive circuit responsive to said electrical signal to provide a drive signal to said bimorphic piezoelectric element to flex said element to provide upward tactile feedback to said keypad, said drive circuit providing said drive signal a predetermined delay time after said depression of said keypad, said predetermined delay time such as to cause said drive signal to be delivered to said keypad at substantially the time that an operator'"'"'s finger is compressed at its maximum force against said keypad.

4. The keyswitch of claim 3, wherein said drive circuit comprises:

two monostable multivibrators to provide said drive signal at said specific delay time.

5. A tactile feedback circuit for a keyswitch comprising:

a sensor circuit for detecting actuation of said keyswitch;

two monostable multivibrators for providing an output signal after a specific delay time, said output signal having a predetermined pulse length; and

a drive circuit for providing a tactile feedback signal to said keyswitch in response to said output signal, said tactile feedback signal having said predetermined pulse length.

6. The tactile feedback circuit of claim 5:

further comprising a piezoelectric element as an element of said keyswitch; and

wherein said drive circuit provides a high voltage tactile feedback signal.