System and method for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device

• US 7,924,143 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fyke, Steven, Griffin, Jason, Orr, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US12/135,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 345156-184
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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

Abstract

A system for providing tactile feedback for an input device in an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: an input device having a first input region for receiving a user action from the user; a surface associated with the input device and covering at least a part of the first input region; an input signal generator associated with the input device; and a physical feature associated with the input region. The physical feature is located on the surface, provides a second input region for receiving the user action and provides a tactile feedback sense to the user when the user contacts the second region. The input signal generator generates a first input signal when the user touches the first input region while not touching second input region and generates a second input signal when the user touches simultaneously the first and the second input regions.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive input device;

a tactile element of a surface of the touch-sensitive input device;

a controller coupled to the touch-sensitive input device and configured to generate a first input signal in response to detection of a touch on the tactile element and not on a region of the surface and a second input signal in response to detection of a touch on the tactile element and a region of the surface around the tactile element.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tactile element comprises a raised bump, a ridge, a platform, a cover, a depression, a well, a line, a score mark or a dimple.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tactile element comprises a nodule located on the surface.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of the touch-sensitive input device comprises a well and the tactile element comprises a nodule located in the well.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tactile element is located on a raised section of the surface.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tactile element is located underneath a substrate of the touch-sensitive input device.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a third input signal in response to detection of an end of the touch on the area of the surface where the tactile element is not located.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, comprising further tactile elements of the surface.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tactile element is a physical feature.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive input device;

a tactile element of a surface of the touch-sensitive input device;

a controller coupled to the touch-sensitive input device and configured to generate a first input signal in response to detection of a touch on the tactile element and not on a region of the surface, a second input signal in response to detection of a touch on the tactile element and a region of the surface around the tactile element, and a third input signal in response to detection of an end of the touch on the area of the surface where the tactile element is not located.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tactile element comprises a raised bump, a ridge, a platform, a cover, a depression, a well, a line, a score mark or a dimple.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tactile element comprises a nodule located on the surface.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the surface of the touch-sensitive input device comprises a well and the tactile element comprises a nodule located in the well.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tactile element is located on a raised section of the surface.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tactile element is located underneath a substrate of the touch-sensitive input device.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, comprising further tactile elements of the surface.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tactile element is a physical feature.