Haptic feedback using a keyboard device

• US 6,693,626 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US09/570,361
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/184, 345/167, 345/169, 345/161, 345/701, 345/702
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a wrist rest configured to be in communication with a keyboard;

a compliant member coupled to said wrist rest and configured to be in contact with a surface; and

an actuator, coupled to said wrist rest;

said actuator configured to receive a control signal responsive to a key entry on said keyboard and to output a haptic feedback that includes an inertial force substantially perpendicular to the surface.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the key entry is input by a user.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the inertial force is output by moving an mass.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said actuator is coupled to said wrist rest by a flexure and moves as said mass.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said wrist rest includes a first portion coupled to a second portion, the haptic feedback causing said first portion to move with respect to said second portion.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises one of a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a host computer in communication with said keyboard and said actuator, said host computer operable to receive an input responsive to the key entry on said keyboard and to output the control signal to said actuator.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said host computer further operates to output an auxiliary control signal to said actuator that is related with an input from an auxiliary input device, said actuator outputting an auxiliary haptic feedback to said wrist rest.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said auxiliary input device comprises one of a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, and a touchpad.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a processor, coupled to said wrist rest, said processor operable to generate the control signal based on a command related to the key entry on said keyboard, and output the control signal to said actuator.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said compliant member comprises one of rubber and foam.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a keyboard, in communication with said processor;

a compliant member coupled to said keyboard and configured to be in contact with a surface; and

an actuator, coupled to said keyboard;

said actuator configured to receive a control signal from said processor responsive to a key entry on said keyboard and to output a force to said keyboard that effects haptic feedback.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said processor is included in a host computer.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said processor is coupled to said keyboard, operable to receive a command responsive to the key entry on said keyboard and convert the command to the control signal.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said actuator comprises one of an inertial actuator, a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said compliant member comprises one of rubber and foam.