Grommet suspension component and system

• US 8,629,954 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Olien, Neil, Parker, Daniel, Visitacion, Allan, Pieron, Remy, Jones, Trevor, Ye, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US13/049,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 349/60
• US Class Current: 349/60
• 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

Abstract

A compliant grommet-based suspension system is disclosed for use in mounting an electronic touch screen or touch surface. The grommets may be designed to provide more or less movement in any direction, i.e., along the x-axis, the y-axis, and/or the z-axis, depending on the suspension application in which they are implemented.

Claims

1. A compliant suspension system for a haptic device comprising:

a first body;

a second body mounted to the first body to be movable relative thereto; and

at least one compliant suspension element attached to one of the first body and the second body, the compliant suspension element defining a central lumen between an upper surface and a lower surface thereof, the central lumen being configured for receiving a coupling means therethrough that couples the first body and the second body together, the compliant suspension element being configured to allow movement between the first body and the second body in a first direction and to limit movement between the first body and the second body in at least a second direction, wherein an inner surface of the central lumen defines opposing longitudinally-extending channel segments that are compressible when acted against by the coupling means to allow movement between the first body and the second body in the first direction.

2. The compliant suspension system of claim 1, wherein the second body includes a touch screen or touch surface component.

3. The compliant suspension system of claim 1, wherein the at least one compliant suspension element is formed from an elastomeric material.

4. The compliant suspension system of claim 3, wherein the compliant suspension element includes a slot in an outer surface thereof for fitting within a corresponding aperture of the one of the first body and the second body such that at least a portion of the slot is in the second direction.

5. The compliant suspension system of claim 4, wherein when the coupling means acts against the compliant suspension element in the direction of the slot, movement of the second body relative to the first body is limited due at least in part to a stiffness of a material of the one of the first body and the second body disposed within the slot.

6. A compliant suspension system for a haptic device comprising:

a first body;

a second body mounted to the first body to be movable relative thereto; and

at least one compliant suspension element attached to one of the first body and the second body, the compliant suspension element defining a central lumen between an upper surface and a lower surface thereof, the central lumen being configured for receiving a coupling means therethrough that couples the first body and the second body together, the compliant suspension element being formed from an elastomeric material and being configured to allow movement between the first body and the second body in a first direction and to limit movement between the first body and the second body in at least a second direction, wherein the coupling means is movable within a gap between the coupling means and the central lumen of the compliant suspension element to permit movement of the second body relative to the first body in the first direction.

7. The compliant suspension system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the central lumen of the compliant suspension element and the coupling means has an oval cross-section.

8. A haptic device having a compliant suspension system comprising:

a housing component;

a touch screen component mounted to the housing component to be movable relative thereto;

a haptic actuator for moving the touch screen component relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch screen component; and

a grommet suspension component defining a central lumen for receiving a coupling means that couples the touch screen and housing components together, wherein in reaction to a force of the haptic actuator in one of a first and second directions the grommet suspension component is configured to allow movement of the touch screen component relative to the housing component in the first direction and to limit movement of the touch screen component relative to the housing component in at least the second direction.

9. The compliant suspension system of claim 8, wherein the touch screen component includes a touch screen or touch surface.

10. The compliant suspension system of claim 8, wherein the grommet suspension component is formed from an elastomeric material.

11. The haptic device of claim 10, wherein the grommet suspension component is seated within a corresponding aperture of the housing component and the coupling means extends through the central lumen of the grommet suspension component to secure the touch screen component to the housing component.

12. The haptic device of claim 11, wherein the force of the haptic actuator in the first direction forces the coupling means to compress at least one of a compressible segment and a collapsible pocket of the grommet suspension component thereby allowing movement of the touch screen component in the first direction.

13. The haptic device of claim 11, wherein the force of the haptic actuator in the first direction forces the coupling means into a gap in the central lumen between the coupling means and the grommet suspension component thereby allowing movement of the touch screen component in the first direction.

14. The haptic device of claim 10, wherein the grommet suspension component is seated within a corresponding aperture of the touch screen component and the coupling means extends through the central lumen of the grommet suspension component to secure the housing component to the touch screen component.

15. The haptic device of claim 14, wherein the force of the haptic actuator in the first direction forces the grommet suspension component against the coupling means to compress at least one of a compressible segment and a collapsible pocket of the grommet suspension component thereby allowing movement of the touch screen component in the first direction.

16. The haptic device of claim 14, wherein the force of the haptic actuator in the first direction forces the grommet suspension component toward the coupling means thereby eliminating or reducing a gap in the central lumen between the coupling means and the grommet suspension component to permit movement of the touch screen component in the first direction.

17. The haptic device of claim 10, wherein the grommet suspension component includes a slot in an outer surface thereof for fitting within a corresponding aperture of one of the housing component and the touch screen component such that at least a portion of the slot is in the second direction.

18. The haptic device of claim 17, wherein when the coupling means acts against the grommet suspension component in the direction of the slot, movement of the touch screen component relative to the housing component is limited due at least in part to a stiffness of a material of the one of the housing component and the touch screen component disposed within the slot.