Keyboard adaptive haptic response

• US 8,542,134 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Cody George, Huska, Andrew Parris, Schlosser, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David S.
• Application Number:
  US13/601,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20120326986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 846/15, 846/53, 341 22- 34, 345/156, 345/157
• US Class Current: 341/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9643 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a keyboard that adaptively provides haptic feedback to a user. In at least some embodiments, an actuation of a key or keyboard element of the keyboard is detected. This can be accomplished by detecting the closure of an associated switch caused by a user depressing the key or keyboard element. In response to detecting the actuation, an electrically-deformable material is utilized as an actuating mechanism to impart single or multi-vectored movement to the key or keyboard element according to drive parameters. This movement produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element, thus providing haptic feedback which simulates a “snapover” effect.

Claims

1. A method for providing adaptive haptic response to keyboard keys, comprising:

sensing actuation of one or more keys of a keyboard;

ascertaining at least one ascertained parameter based on the actuation of the one or more keys;

sensing subsequent actuation of the one or more keys; and

responsive to detecting the subsequent actuating, dynamically imparting vectored movement to the one or more keys subsequently actuated according to the at least one ascertained parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically imparting vectored movement to the one or more keys subsequently actuated comprises applying a first drive voltage to a first contact coupled to an electrically-deformable material thereby causing the one or more keys subsequently actuated to move toward a user of the keyboard.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamically imparting vectored movement to the one or more keys subsequently actuated further comprises removing the first drive voltage to allow the one or more keys subsequently actuated to return to an original position.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamically imparting vectored movement to the one or more keys subsequently actuated further comprises removing the first drive voltage and applying a second drive voltage to a second contact coupled to the electrically-deformable material thereby causing the one or more keys subsequently actuated to move away from the user of the keyboard.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading at least one user-selected parameter from a user profile, wherein the dynamically imparting vectored movement comprises dynamically imparting single vectored movement to the one or more keys subsequently actuated according to the at least one ascertained parameter and the at least one user-selected parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reading of the at least one user selected parameter comprises reading one or more of the following group of user selected parameters:

press debounce, release debounce, forward delay 1, forward delay 2, mid-stroke delay 1 and mid-stroke delay 2.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising selecting the user profile from a plurality of user profiles based upon the at least one ascertained parameter.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of the at least one user-selected parameter and the at least one ascertained parameter designate a duration that is at least one phase of the single vectored movement.

9. A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keyboard elements;

a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is respectively associated with a keyboard element of the plurality of keyboard elements and configured to detect actuations of the respective keyboard element;

an adaptive response component configured to collect data and ascertain at least one ascertained parameter based on an actuation of the plurality of keyboard elements; and

a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators is respectively and operably associated with a keyboard element of the plurality of keyboard elements, and wherein each actuator is configured to impart, in response to detecting a subsequent actuation of the respective keyboard element, vectored movement to the respective keyboard element according to the at least one ascertained parameter.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises an electrically-deformable material.

11. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein the electrically-deformable material imparts single vectored movement to the respective keyboard element in response to a first drive voltage being applied to a first contact coupled to the electrically-deformable material.

12. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein the electrically-deformable material imparts multi-vectored movement to the respective keyboard element in response to a first drive voltage being applied to a first contact coupled to the electrically-deformable material, followed by removal of the first drive voltage and application of a second drive voltage being applied to a second contact coupled to the electrically-deformable material.

13. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the one or more of the actuation of the plurality of keyboard elements comprise depression or release events.

14. The keyboard of claim 13, wherein the adaptive response component is further configured to measure durations of one or more stages associated with the depression or release events.

15. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the multi-vectored movement is first toward a user of the keyboard and then away from the user of the keyboard.

16. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the electrically-deformable material returns to an original position upon removal of the second drive voltage.

17. A keyboard controller, comprising:

a switch interface configured to detect actuations of a keyboard element;

an adaptive response component configured to collect data and ascertain at least one ascertained parameter based on the detected actuations of the keyboard element via the switch interface; and

an actuator interface configured to impart, in response to the switch interface detecting a subsequent actuation of the keyboard element, signals causing vectored movement to the keyboard element according to the at least one ascertained parameter provided by the adaptive response component.

18. The keyboard controller of claim 17, wherein the actuator interface comprises an electrically-deformable material driver configured to drive an actuator associated with the keyboard element.