Haptic feedback for touchpads and other touch controls
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
- a touch screen operative to display a graphical image and to output a position signal indicative of a selected location on the touch screen in two dimensions; and
at least a first actuator configured to impart a first force directly to the touch screen to thereby provide a haptic effect in response to the selection, the first force based on information output by a computer device wherein at least the first force is output substantially parallel to a plane of the touch screen.
1 Assignment
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer'"'"'s display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.
599 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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a touch screen operative to display a graphical image and to output a position signal indicative of a selected location on the touch screen in two dimensions; and at least a first actuator configured to impart a first force directly to the touch screen to thereby provide a haptic effect in response to the selection, the first force based on information output by a computer device wherein at least the first force is output substantially parallel to a plane of the touch screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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a touch screen operative to display a graphical image and to output a position signal indicative of a selected location on the touch screen in two dimensions; and at least a first actuator configured to impart a first force directly to the touch screen to thereby provide a haptic effect in response to the selection, the first force based on information output by a computer device, wherein the touch screen is operative to allow the user to draw or write on the touch screen resulting in a graphical display at locations where the user has pressed a tip of an object. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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a touch screen operative to display a graphical image and to output a position signal indicative of a selected location on the touch screen in two dimensions; and at least a first actuator configured to impart a first force directly to the touch screen to thereby provide a haptic effect in response to the selection, the first force based on information output by a computer device, wherein the first actuator is capable of outputting a continuous vibration or a pulse tactile sensation on the touch screen.
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15. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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a touch screen operative to display a graphical image and to output a position signal indicative of a selected location on the touch screen in two dimensions; and at least a first actuator configured to impart a first force directly to the touch screen to thereby provide a haptic effect in response to the selection, the first force based on information output by a computer device wherein the touch screen includes a first region and a second region.
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16. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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a touch screen including a first region and a second region, the touch screen being operative to display a graphical image and to output a position signal indicative of a selected location on the touch screen in two dimensions; and at least a first actuator configured to impart a first force directly to the touch screen to thereby provide a haptic effect in response to the selection, the first force based on information output by a computer device configured to send a control signal to at least one actuator when the select position changes from one of the first and second regions to the other of the first and second regions.
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17. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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a touch input device configured to receive user input and generate an input signal in response to the user input; one or more processors configured to receive the input signal, generate a force signal based on the input signal, and generate a graphical environment; a display configured to display the graphical environment, wherein the input signal is associated with an interaction by the user with the graphical environment; and one or more actuators configured to receive the force signal and impart a haptic effect based on the force signal, wherein the graphical environment comprises a menu presented at the display, wherein the menu comprises one or more menu items, and wherein the user input comprises navigation between the one or more menu items, wherein the one or more menu items comprise a first menu item and a second menu item, wherein the first menu item is associated with a first haptic effect and the second menu item is associated with a second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect.
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18. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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a touch input device configured to receive user input and generate an input signal in response to the user input; one or more processors configured to receive the input signal, generate a force signal based on the input signal, and generate a graphical environment; a display configured to display the graphical environment, wherein the input signal is associated with an interaction by the user with the graphical environment; and one or more actuators configured to receive the force signal and impart a haptic effect based on the force signal, wherein the graphical environment comprises a menu presented at the display, wherein the menu comprises one or more menu items, and wherein the user input comprises navigation between the one or more menu items, wherein at least one of the one or more menu items is associated with a sub-menu, wherein the actuator is configured to impart the haptic effect when the sub-menu is displayed.
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19. A haptic feedback device, comprising:
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one or more processors configured to receive an input signal and generate a force signal based on the input signal, wherein the input signal is associated with a user-independent event, the user-independent event comprising one or more of a reminder event, an initiation of a task, a processing of the task, a conclusion of the task, a receipt of an email, or an event occurring in a game; and one or more actuators configured to receive the force signal and impart a haptic effect based on the force signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification