Method of using tactile feedback to deliver silent status information to a user of an electronic device

• US 7,567,232 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Henry N
• Application Number:
  US10/279,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,470 Days
• Field of Search: 200/522, 200/512, 200/518, 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/163, 345/166, 345/168, 345/173, 345/175, 345/179, 715/701, 715/702, 463 30- 40
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention use haptic feedback to deliver status information to users in environments and situations where sight and/or sound is too overt from a privacy perspective. In one embodiment, localized haptic sensations can be delivered to a user through a tactile element that is positioned on a region of a housing of the electronic device that is engaged by a user.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising a user contactable region;

a tactile element coupled to the user contactable region;

at least one preloaded spring element coupled to the housing and coupled to the tactile element, the at least one preloaded spring element configured to provide a spring return force on the tactile element;

an actuator coupled to the tactile element and configured to output a silent haptic sensation localized to the tactile element, the silent haptic sensation configured to provide status information associated with the electronic device; and

a detector coupled to the tactile element, the detector configured to detect contact with the tactile element.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a solid state element.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric ceramic actuator.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a driving mechanism that is coupled to the actuator and configured to control a delivery of the silent haptic sensation localized to the tactile element.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a hand-held metal detector, a keyless remote, or a bar code scanner.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user contactable region of the housing comprises a handle or a grip.