Method and electronic device for tactile feedback

• US 8,723,881 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Shih, Yu-Liang, Chang, Jung-Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US13/368,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20120327100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 345/581, 345/589, 345/596, 345600-601, 345605-606, 345/619, 345/156, 345173-175, 345/177, 345/690, 348/254, 348/576, 348/601, 348/671, 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/3.01, 358/3.03, 382/169, 382/237, 382/252, 382/254, 382/274, 382/276, 382/300, 382312-315
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method and an electronic device for tactile feedback are provided. An original image is input and converted to a binary image which includes a first grayscale value and a second grayscale value. The original image is converted to a grayscale image at least including a third grayscale value between the first grayscale value and the second grayscale value. An index map is generated according to the binary image and the grayscale image. The index map includes a plurality of index values indicative of different strengths for tactile feedback. A touch input on a touch panel is detected when the original image is displayed on a display panel. In response to the detected touch input, a tactile activation unit is driven to generate tactile feedback according to the index map.

Claims

1. A tactile feedback method for an electronic device, comprising:

inputting an original image;

converting the original image to a binary image, the binary image comprising a first grayscale value and a second grayscale value;

converting the original image to a grayscale image, the grayscale image at least comprising a third grayscale value between the first grayscale value and the second grayscale value;

generating an index map according to the binary image and the grayscale image, the index map comprising a plurality of index values indicative of different strengths for tactile feedback;

detecting a touch input on a touch panel of the electronic device when the original image is displayed on a display panel; and

driving a tactile activation unit of the electronic device to generate tactile feedback according to the index map in response to the detected touch input.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the binary image is generated according to a threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein before the step of generating the index map, the method further comprising:

selectively inverting the grayscale values of the binary image.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of selectively inverting the grayscale values of the binary image comprises:

calculating a number of the first grayscale value and a number of the second grayscale value in the binary image;

judging whether the number of the first grayscale value is greater than the number of the second grayscale value; and

determining whether to invert the grayscale values of the binary image according to a judgment result.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an index value in the index map is generated by combining a grayscale value in the binary image and a corresponding grayscale value in the grayscale image.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of driving the tactile activation unit comprises:

obtaining an index value in the index map according to a coordinate of the touch input, and driving the tactile activation unit according to the index value.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tactile activation unit generates piezoelectricity or vibration tactile feedback.

8. An electronic device for tactile feedback, comprising:

a processing unit;

a display panel, coupled to the processing module;

a touch panel, coupled to the processing module and covered on the display panel; and

a tactile activation unit, coupled to the processing module;

wherein, the processing module receives an original image, and converts the original image to a binary image, the binary image comprising a first grayscale value and a second grayscale value;

the processing module further converts the original image to a grayscale image, the grayscale image at least comprising a third grayscale value between the first grayscale value and the second grayscale value;

the processing module further generates an index map according to the binary image and the grayscale image, the index map comprising a plurality of index values indicative of different strengths for tactile feedback;

the processing module further detects a touch input on the touch control panel when the original image is displayed on the display panel; and

the processing module further drives the tactile activation unit according to the index map to generate tactile feedback in response to the detected touch input.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the binary image is generated according to a threshold.

10. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the processing module further selectively inverts the grayscale values of the binary image before the processing module generates the index map.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein when the processing module selectively inverts the grayscale values of the binary image, the processing module calculates a number of the first grayscale value and a number of the second grayscale value in the binary image, judges whether the number of the first grayscale value is greater than the number of the second grayscale value, and determines whether to invert the grayscale values of the binary image according to a judgment result.

12. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein an index value in the index map is generated by combining a grayscale value in the binary image and a corresponding grayscale value in the grayscale image.

13. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the processing module obtains a corresponding index value in the index map according to a coordinate of the touch input, and drives the tactile activation unit according to the index value.

14. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the tactile activation unit generates piezoelectricity or vibration tactile feedback.