Haptic feedback for button and scrolling action simulation in touch input devices

• US 8,232,969 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Grant, Danny A., Gregorio, Pedro, Heubel, Robert W., Ramstein, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTHALL, ALLISON N
• Application Number:
  US11/249,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,485 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345156-157, 345/159, 345173-174, 340/407.2, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• 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 3/03547 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 planar touch control is used to provide input to a computer and haptic feedback is provided thereto. A touch control includes a touch input device with a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor associated with the computer based on a location of user implemented contact on the touch surface. The computer can position or modify a cursor or image 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 via the touch surface.

Claims

1. A haptic feedback touch control for inputting signals to a computer and for outputting forces to a user of the touch control, the touch control comprising:

a touch input device including a touch screen operative to input a position signal to a processor of said computer based on a location on said touch screen which said user contacts; and

at least one actuator coupled to said touch screen, said actuator outputting a force to move said touch screen to provide a haptic sensation to said user contacting said touch screen, wherein said actuator outputs said force based on a first single-discontinuity waveform, wherein the first single-discontinuity waveform is associated with a simulation of one of a button press, and a second single-discontinuity waveform, wherein the second single-discontinuity waveform is associated with a simulation of a button release, wherein the actuator comprises;

a first structural element having mounting structure mountable to a first component;

a second structural element having mounting structure mountable to a second component;

a first biasing element coupling the first structural element to the second structural element;

a first magnetic device carried by the first structural element, the first magnetic device including a first pole piece;

a second magnetic device carried by the second structural element, the second magnetic device including a second pole piece; and

a first coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece;

wherein the first biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil and electric current applied to the first coil causes a haptic effect to be generated between the first component on the second component.

2. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first and single-discontinuity waveforms are different from one another.

3. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first and second single-discontinuity waveforms are substantially identical to one another.

4. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first single-discontinuity waveform is symmetrical.

5. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first single-discontinuity waveform is asymmetrical.

6. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein said contact is effected by a body portion of the user.

7. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein said contact is effected by a stylus manipulated by the user.

8. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the second magnetic device includes a second coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece.

9. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, further comprising a second biasing element, wherein the second biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil.

10. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element comprises a spring.

11. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element comprises an elastomeric element.

12. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first biasing element comprises a foam material.

13. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 1, wherein the first and second structural element and the first biasing element are all formed from the same material and the first biasing element is formed thinner than the first and second structural elements so that it is free to flex when perturbed.

14. A haptic feedback touch control for inputting signals to a computer and for outputting forces to a user of the touch control, the touch control comprising:

a touch input device including a touch surface operative to input a position signal to a processor of said computer based on a location on said touch surface which said user contacts, said location being associated with a location of a cursor displayed on a display screen upon which a graphical object is also displayed; and

at least one actuator coupled to said touch input device, said actuator outputting a force on said touch input device to provide a haptic sensation to said user contacting said touch surface, wherein said actuator outputs said force as long as the location of the cursor on the display screen assumes a predetermined relationship with the location of the graphical object on the display screen;

wherein the actuator comprises;

a first structural element having mounting structure mountable to a first component;

a second structural element having mounting structure mountable to a second component;

a first biasing element coupling the first structural element to the second structural element;

a first magnetic device carried by the first structural element, the first magnetic device including a first pole piece;

a second magnetic device carried by the second structural element, the second magnetic device including a second pole piece; and

a first coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece;

wherein the first biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil and electric current applied to the first coil causes a haptic effect to be generated between the first component on the second component.

15. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 14, wherein the predetermined relationship is coincidence of location.

16. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 14, wherein the second magnetic device includes a second coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece.

17. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 14, further comprising a second biasing element, wherein the second biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil.

18. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 14, wherein the first biasing element comprises a spring.

19. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 14, wherein the first biasing element comprises an elastomeric element.

20. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 14, wherein the first biasing element comprises a foam material.

21. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 14, wherein the first and second structural element and the first biasing element are all formed from the same material and the first biasing element is formed thinner than the first and second structural elements so that it is free to flex when perturbed.

22. A device for providing haptic feedback representative of the extent to which a scrolling action triggered by manipulation of a cursor relative to a graphical object displayed on a display screen is occurring comprising:

means for associating the location of the cursor displayed on a touch screen with a contact location on the touch screen; and

means for providing haptic feedback by way of the touch screen, said haptic feedback being continuously applied based on and during a scrolling action;

wherein the means for providing haptic feedback by way of the touch screen comprises;

a first structural element having mounting structure mountable to a first component;

a second structural element having mounting structure mountable to a second component;

a first biasing element coupling the first structural element to the second structural element;

a first magnetic device carried by the first structural element, the first magnetic device including a first pole piece;

a second magnetic device carried by the second structural element, the second magnetic device including a second pole piece; and

a first coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece;

wherein the first biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil and electric current applied to the first coil causes a haptic effect to be generated between the first component on the second component.

23. A device for providing haptic feedback in response to a manipulation of a graphical object, comprising:

means for correlating a characteristic of the manipulation of the graphical object displayed on a touch screen with a characteristic of a contact of the touch screen; and

means for imparting a force to the touch screen at an extent which varies in accordance with the characteristic of the manipulation;

wherein the means for imparting a force to the touch screen comprises;

a first structural element having mounting structure mountable to a first component;

a second structural element having mounting structure mountable to a second component;

a first biasing element coupling the first structural element to the second structural element;

a first magnetic device carried by the first structural element, the first magnetic device including a first pole piece;

a second magnetic device carried by the second structural element, the second magnetic device including a second pole piece; and

a first coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece;

wherein the first biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil and electric current applied to the first coil causes a haptic effect to be generated between the first component on the second component.

24. A haptic feedback touch control for inputting signals to a computer and for outputting forces to a user of the touch control, the input signals manipulating a graphical object, the touch control comprising:

a touch input device including a touch screen operative to input a position signal to a processor of said computer based on a location on said touch screen which said user contacts; and

at least one actuator coupled to said touch screen, said actuator outputting a force on said touch screen to provide a haptic sensation to said user contacting said touch screen, said force being a function of a characteristic of the manipulation of a graphical object, which is a function of a characteristic of the contact by said user;

wherein the characteristic of the manipulation is an acceleration or a deceleration and wherein the force that is output varies in accordance with variations of the one or more of accelerations or deceleration,

wherein the actuator comprises;

a first structural element having mounting structure mountable to a first component;

a second structural element having mounting structure mountable to a second component;

a first biasing element coupling the first structural element to the second structural element;

a first magnetic device carried by the first structural element, the first magnetic device including a first pole piece;

a second magnetic device carried by the second structural element, the second magnetic device including a second pole piece; and

a first coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece;

wherein the first biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil and electric current applied to the first coil causes a haptic effect to be generated between the first component on the second component.

25. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the force is repetitive and increases in frequency and/or magnitude with said acceleration or deceleration.

26. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the force is repetitive and increases in frequency and/or magnitude based on the characteristic of the manipulation.

27. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the graphical object assumes multiple forms, and the characteristic of said manipulation is the rate at which said forms are assumed.

28. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 27, wherein the force is repetitive and increases in frequency and/or magnitude based on said rate.

29. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein said graphical object is a scroll bar.

30. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein said characteristic of a contact is the location of the contact.

31. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein said characteristic of a contact is pressure imparted by the contact.

32. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the second magnetic device includes a second coil disposed about at least one of said first pole piece and said second pole piece.

33. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, further comprising a second biasing element, wherein the second biasing element is arranged to provide a biasing force opposing an attractive magnetic force urging the first and second pole pieces together when current is applied to the first coil.

34. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the first biasing element comprises a spring.

35. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the first biasing element comprises an elastomeric element.

36. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the first biasing element comprises a foam material.

37. The haptic feedback touch control of claim 24, wherein the first and second structural element and the first biasing element are all formed from the same material and the first biasing element is formed thinner than the first and second structural elements so that it is free to flex when perturbed.