Mobile apparatus having tactile feedback function

• US 7,205,978 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi, Maruyama, Shigeaki, Poupyrev, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US10/351,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 715/701, 715/702
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence

Abstract

A haptic display includes at least one haptic device that can give tactile feedback instead of visible feedback. Each of the haptic devices converts a signal from a signal producing unit into force or tactile pattern. The haptic device does not require a large mass, so that it can be provided on almost any portion or part within the body of a mobile apparatus. For example, the haptic device can be embedded under a touch panel display that constitutes both input and output device. By providing the haptic devices under respective menu/function button areas displayed on the touch panel display, it is possible to stimulate the specific button in response to the user-input-operation, thereby directly providing the tactile feedback to the user'"'"'s finger touching the corresponding button.

Claims

1. A mobile apparatus having tactile feedback function comprising:

a data processing unit for executing data processing operation;

a signal producing unit for producing a signal having information including at least frequency and amplitude defined by resultant data of said data processing operation in said data processing unit; and

one or a plurality of haptic actuator attached only to a movable part of said mobile apparatus for generating tactile pattern, which is to be communicated to a user who touches said mobile apparatus, in accordance with a combination of said frequency and amplitude, wherein

said haptic actuator comprises a bending-type actuator having at least fourteen piezoelectric layers, and a plurality of electrodes for applying voltage on each of said at least fourteen piezoelectric layers.

2. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a user input device for receiving data or command inputted by the user, wherein:

said data processing unit processes said inputted data or command,

said signal producing unit generates said signal in accordance with said inputted data or command in such a way that said haptic actuator gives tactile feedback in response to user'"'"'s input operation.

3. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said bending-type actuator has a beam portion that is fixed at one end, thereby allowing free movement of the other end of said beam portion.

4. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said bending-type actuator has a beam portion that is fixed at both ends, thereby allowing movement in a middle of the beam portion.

5. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said haptic actuator is placed inside said mobile apparatus.

6. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said haptic actuator is configured to actuate said movable part.

7. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said haptic actuators, wherein:

said plurality of said haptic actuators are placed inside said mobile apparatus and attached to respective movable parts of said mobile apparatus.

8. The mobile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display screen for displaying a plurality of graphic objects, wherein:

said display screen includes a plurality of said haptic actuators, said haptic actuators generating tactile pattern independently and being placed under respective areas of said display screen, said graphic objects being displayed at said areas.

9. The mobile apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said signal producing unit sends an electric signal to said display screen.

10. The mobile apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 3–

5 and 6, wherein;

said mobile apparatus is a pen-type apparatus for inputting data to a computer apparatus, and

said pen-type apparatus comprises one or more of said haptic actuators placed therein.

11. The mobile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

said pen-type apparatus with said haptic actuator is used in combination with on-screen visual interface to facilitate input and operation of data in said computer apparatus.

12. A system comprising a main apparatus having a visual interface function and a data input apparatus to be used in combination with said visual interface function, said system comprising:

a data processing unit for executing data processing operation;

a signal producing unit for producing a signal having information including at least a frequency and amplitude defined by resultant data of said data processing operation in said data processing unit;

one or a plurality of haptic actuator for generating tactile pattern, which is to be communicated to a user who touches said data input apparatus, in accordance with a combination of said frequency and amplitude, and

an input/output unit for visual displaying data and detecting data input performed by said data input apparatus, wherein

said haptic actuator is attached only to a movable part of said data input apparatus, and

said haptic actuator comprises a bending-type actuator having at least fourteen piezoelectric layers and a plurality of electrodes for applying voltage on each of said at least fourteen piezoelectric layers.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

said data input apparatus is used for selecting an element of graphical object visually displayed on said input/output unit.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

said data input apparatus provides tactile feedback before operating and/or modifying selected element of graphical object.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

said data input apparatus provides different tactile feedback depending on an attribute of selected element of graphical object.