Tactile feedback input device

• US 8,217,892 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Meadors, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elahi, Towfiq
• Application Number:
  US12/115,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20090278671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 463 30- 38, 74/84, 251/297
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

An input device includes an input device chassis. At least one tactile feedback module is coupled to the input device chassis. The tactile feedback module includes a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet located in a spaced apart relationship from the first electromagnet. A mass includes a pair of opposing ends and is located between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet. A permanent magnet is located on each of the opposing ends of the mass. The mass is operable to move along an axis between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet and may be moved to produce a variety of forces on the input device in order to provide tactile feedback.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

an input device chassis;

a plurality of tactile feedback modules coupled to the input device chassis, each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprising;

a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet located in a spaced apart relationship from the first electromagnet; and

a mass comprising a pair of opposing ends and located between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, wherein a permanent magnet is located on each of the opposing ends of the mass, and wherein the mass is operable to move along an axis between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet; and

at least one controller that is coupled to the plurality of tactile feedback modules and that is operable to receive a tactile feedback signal and, in response, actuate each mass in the plurality of tactile feedback modules to move each mass along the axis in a single direction and then stop movement of each mass for a period of time, wherein the movement of each mass is synchronized and the period of time that the masses are stopped is selected to produce one of a single linear force and a single rotational force on the input device chassis.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules further comprise:

a power storage device coupled to the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprise a first tactile feedback module and a second tactile feedback module each coupled to the input device chassis such that the first tactile feedback module is located in a spaced apart relationship from the second tactile feedback module.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the mass of the first tactile feedback module is operable to move along a first axis and the mass of the second tactile feedback module is operable to move along a second axis, and wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis.

5. The input device of claim 3, wherein the mass of the first tactile feedback module is operable to move along a first axis and the mass of the second tactile feedback module is operable to move along a second axis, and wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

6. The input device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprise a third tactile feedback module and a fourth tactile feedback module each coupled to the input device chassis, and wherein the mass of the third tactile feedback module is operable to move along a third axis and the mass of the fourth tactile feedback module is operable to move along a fourth axis, and wherein the third axis is parallel to the fourth axis and the first and second axes are perpendicular to the third and fourth axes.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprise a feedback module chassis that houses the first and second electromagnets and the mass.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules further comprise:

a first resilient member extending between the first electromagnet and the mass and a second resilient member extending between the second electromagnet and the mass.

21. The input device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules further comprises:

a capacitive charge pump that feeds into a current amplifier coupled to each of the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet.

9. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

an IHS chassis;

a processor located in the IHS chassis; and

an input device operable to be coupled to the processor in the IHS, the input device comprising;

an input device chassis; and

a plurality of tactile feedback modules that are located on the input device chassis and operable to be coupled to the processor, the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprising;

a first actuator and a second actuator located in a spaced apart relationship from the first actuator; and

a mass located between the first actuator and the second actuator, wherein the first and second actuators are operable to move the mass along an axis between the first actuator and the second actuator; and

at least one controller that is coupled to the plurality of tactile feedback modules and that is operable to receive a tactile feedback signal from the processor and, in response, actuate each mass in the plurality of tactile feedback modules in a single direction along the axis from a first stopped position to a second stopped position, wherein the movement of each mass is synchronized and provided such that a user will interpret one of a single linear force and a single-rotational force on the input device chassis in response to the synchronized movement of the masses.

10. The IHS of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules further comprise:

a power storage device operable to be coupled between the processor and the first and second actuators.

11. The IHS of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprise a first tactile feedback module and a second tactile feedback module each coupled to the input device chassis such that the first tactile feedback module is located in a spaced apart relationship from the second tactile feedback module.

12. The IHS of claim 11, wherein the mass of the first tactile feedback module is operable to move along a first axis and the mass of the second tactile feedback module is operable to move along a second axis, and wherein the first axis is parallel to the second axis.

13. The IHS of claim 11, wherein the mass of the first tactile feedback module is operable to move along a first axis and the mass of the second tactile feedback module is operable to move along a second axis, and wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

14. The IHS of claim 11, wherein the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprise a third tactile feedback module and a fourth tactile feedback module each coupled to the input device chassis, and wherein the mass of the third tactile feedback module is operable to move along a third axis and the mass of the fourth tactile feedback module is operable to move along a fourth axis, and wherein the third axis is parallel to the fourth axis and the first and second axes are perpendicular to the third and fourth axes.

15. The IHS of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprise a feedback module chassis that houses the first and second actuators and the mass.

16. The IHS of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules further comprise:

a first resilient member extending between the first actuator and the mass and a second resilient member extending between the second actuator and the mass.

22. The IHS of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules further comprises:

a capacitive charge pump that feeds into a current amplifier coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator.

17. A method for providing tactile feedback for an input device, comprising:

providing an input device coupled to an information handling system, wherein the input device comprises a plurality of tactile feedback modules located in a spaced apart orientation on the input device, and wherein each tactile feedback module comprises a mass linearly moveable along an axis;

generating a tactile feedback signal from the information handling system and transmitting the tactile feedback signal to the plurality of tactile feedback modules; and

moving each mass in the plurality of tactile feedback modules along the axis in a single direction and then stopping each mass for a period of time in response to the tactile feedback signal, wherein the movement of the masses is synchronized and the period of time that the masses are stopped is selected such that a user will interpret the movement of the masses as one of a single linear force and a single rotational force on the input device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the providing an input device comprising a plurality of tactile feedback modules includes providing a first tactile feedback module having a first mass linearly moveable along a first axis and a second tactile feedback module having a second mass linearly moveable along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, and wherein the moving the mass in at least one tactile feedback module comprises moving the first mass in a first direction along the first axis and moving the second mass in the first direction along the second axis.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the providing an input device comprising a plurality of tactile feedback modules includes providing a first tactile feedback module having a first mass linearly moveable along a first axis and a second tactile feedback module having a second mass linearly moveable along a second axis that is parallel to the first axis, and wherein the moving the mass in at least one tactile feedback module comprises moving the first mass in a first direction along the first axis and moving the second mass in a second direction along the second axis that is opposite the first direction.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

storing power for use in moving each mass in the plurality of tactile feedback modules.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules further comprises:

a first actuator and a second actuator; and

a capacitive charge pump that feeds into a current amplifier coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator.