Tactile force feedback device

• US 6,646,632 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Wegmuller, David, Loughnane, Paul, McVicar, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moyer, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US09/728,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-157, 345/161-163, 345/167, 345/184, 345/701-702
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A tactile force feedback apparatus for an input device comprises an inertial member having a movable portion being movable relative to the input device. A magnetically actuatable member is connected to the movable portion of the inertial member. A magnetic driver is configured to generate a magnetic field to move the magnetically actuatable member and the movable portion of the inertial member with respect to the input device to generate tactile force feedback in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the input device. The movable portion of the inertial member may include a contact member movable to strike the input device. The contact member may comprise an elastomeric material, and may be movable to make contact with the input device at a plurality of different contact locations during movement of the contact member.

Claims

1. A tactile force feedback apparatus for an input device, the apparatus comprising:

an inertial member having a movable portion being movable relative to the input device;

a magnetically actuatable member connected to the movable portion of the inertial member; and

a magnetic driver configured to generate a magnetic field to move the magnetically actuatable member and the movable portion of the inertial member with respect to the input device to produce a vibration from movement of the movable portion of the inertial member to generate tactile force feedback in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the input device;

wherein the inertial member comprises an attachment portion attached to the input device; and

wherein the inertial member comprises a longitudinal body having an end attached to the input device as the attachment portion and having a free end as the movable portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetically actuatable member is selected from the group consisting of a permanent magnet and a metallic member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetic drive comprises an electromagnet fixed to the input device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetically actuatable member is connected to the movable portion of the inertial member to be movable by the magnetic driver in a generally linear manner.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable portion of the inertial member comprises a contact member movable to strike the input device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the contact member of the inertial member is movable between two surfaces of the input device to strike at least one of the two surfaces.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the contact member comprises an elastomeric material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magnetic driver is configured to generate a magnetic field in synchronization with a graphical user interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment portion of the inertial member is connected to a key button plate of the input device.

10. A tactile force feedback apparatus for an input device, the apparatus comprising:

an inertial member having a movable portion being movable relative to the input device;

a contact member connected to the movable portion of the inertial member; and

a magnetically actuatable member connected to the movable portion of the inertial member and being movable with respect to the input device by a magnetic field generated in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the input device to move the contact member and the movable portion of the inertial member to produce a vibration from movement of the movable portion of the inertial member to generate tactile force feedback in a contact mode and in a noncontact mode, the contact member making contact with the input device during movement in the contact mode, the contact member moving in vibration without contacting the input device during movement in the noncontact mode;

wherein the contact member comprises an elastomeric material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the contact member is movable to make contact with the input device at a plurality of different contact locations during movement of the contact member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the input device comprises an elastomeric material in at least one of the contact locations.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the contact member comprises different contact portions for making contact with different contact locations of the input device, and wherein the different contact portions comprise different elastomeric materials.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the different elastomeric materials have different durometer levers.

15. A tactile force feedback apparatus for an input device, the apparatus comprising:

an inertial member having a movable portion being movable relative to the input device;

a magnetically actuatable member connected to the movable portion of the inertial member; and

a magnetic driver configured to generate a magnetic field to move the magnetically actuatable member and the movable portion of the inertial member with respect to the input device to produce a vibration from movement of the movable portion of the inertial member to generate tactile force feedback in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the input device;

wherein the movable portion of the inertial member comprises a contact member movable to strike the input device; and

wherein the contact member of the inertial member is movable between two surfaces of the input device to strike at least one of the two surfaces.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the inertial member comprises an attachment portion attached to the input device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the attachment portion of the inertial member is connected to a key button plate of the input device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the magnetic driver is configured to generate a magnetic field in synchronization with a graphical user interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the contact member comprise s an elastomeric material.

20. A tactile force feedback apparatus for an input device, the apparatus comprising:

an inertial member having a movable portion being movable relative to the input device;

a contact member connected to the movable portion of the inertial member; and

a magnetically actuatable member connected to the movable portion of the inertial member and being movable with respect to the input device by a magnetic field generated in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the input device to move the contact member and the movable portion of the inertial member to produce a vibration from movement of the movable portion of the inertial member to generate tactile force feedback in a contact mode and in a noncontact mode, the contact member making contact with the input device during movement in the contact mode, the contact member moving in vibration without contacting the input device during movement in the noncontact mode;

wherein the contact member is movable to make contact with the input device at a plurality of different contact locations during movement of the contact member.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the input device comprises an elastomeric in at least one of the contact locations.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the contact member comprises different contact portions for making contact with different contact locations of the input device, and wherein the different contact portions comprise different elastomeric materials.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the different elastomeric materials have different durometer levels.

24. A tactile force feedback apparatus for an input device, the apparatus comprising:

an inertial member having a movable portion being movable relative to the input device;

a magnetically actuatable member connected to the movable portion of the inertial member; and

a magnetic driver configured to generate a magnetic field to move the magnetically actuatable member and the movable portion of the inertial member with respect to the input device to produce a vibration from movement of the movable portion of the inertial member to generate tactile force feedback in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the input device;

wherein the movable portion of the inertial member comprises a contact member movable to strike the input device; and

wherein the contact member comprises an elastomeric material.