Method and apparatus for localization of haptic feedback

• US 8,890,668 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar, Alioshin, Paul, Bilbrey, Brett, Amm, David Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/770,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 345/156, 345/173, 715/701, 715/702, 463/30
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• 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 3/04886 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

In an embodiment, a haptic feedback system includes a plurality of actuators to provide tactile feedback associated with an input surface. Each actuator is adapted to be activated independently of the other actuators. The system further includes a controller to activate a first actuator of the plurality of actuators to induce a first vibration at a selected input location of the input surface and to activate one or more additional actuators to induce at least a second vibration to localize the first vibration at the selected input location.

Claims

1. A tactile feedback system comprising:

an input surface;

a sensor connected to the input surface and configured to detect a user input;

an actuator operably associated with the input surface and adapted to move the input surface in at least one dimension; and

a controller in communication with the actuator and the sensor and configured to selectively activate the actuator;

wherein;

in response to the user input to the input surface, the controller applies a first waveform to the actuator activating a first tactile feedback response; and

the controller applies a second waveform to the actuator to dampen vibrations propagating along or through the input surface.

2. The tactile feedback system of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects at least one location of the user input to the input surface.

3. The tactile feedback system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first waveform or the second waveform is selected based in part on an acoustic characteristic.

4. The tactile feedback system of claim 3, further comprising a non-transitory storage medium containing a plurality of stored waveforms, wherein the controller is adapted to access the storage medium to select the second waveform from the plurality of stored waveforms.

5. The tactile feedback system of claim 3, wherein the controller dynamically generates the second waveform based on the user input sensed by the sensor.

6. The tactile feedback system of claim 1, wherein the first waveform is a positive waveform and the second waveform is a negative waveform.

7. The tactile feedback system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a first actuator and a second actuator.

8. The tactile feedback system of claim 7, wherein in response to the user input, the controller applies the first waveform to the first actuator activating the first tactile response and applies a second waveform to the second actuator to dampen vibrations in a predetermined location of the input surface caused by the first tactile response.

9. The tactile feedback system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to apply at least one suppression waveform in response to the user input.

10. A computing system, comprising:

a touch-sensitive input surface configured to detect an input to at least at one select contact location; and

at least one electromechanical component connected to the contact location of the input surface;

wherein

in response to a first waveform, the at least one electromechanical component moves the input surface to provide tactile feedback; and

in response to a second waveform, the electromechanical component dampens vibrations of the input surface.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface is configured to detect a first contact with the surface and communicate to the controller to activate the electromechanical component in response to the detected first contact.

12. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface is configured to detect a second contact with the surface and communicate to the controller to activate the electromechanical component in response to the detected second contact.

13. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface comprises a keyboard, a mouse, or a track pad.

14. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the touch-sensitive input surface comprises a touch screen display.

15. A method of locally dampening unwanted vibrations in an electronic device, comprising:

detecting by a sensor a user touch input at a contact location;

activating at least one vibration at the contact location; and

inducing a feedback suppression signal at the contact location to dampen at least one characteristic of the at least one vibration.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising terminating the feedback suppression signal in response to user input termination at the contact location.

17. An input/output device for an electronic device comprising:

a movable surface;

at least one sensor to detect a user input to the movable surface;

at least one actuator operably associated with the movable surface and configured to selectively move the movable surface; and

a controller in communication with the at least one sensor and the at least one actuator;

wherein

to provide a first output response the controller provides a first waveform to the at least one actuator; and

to dampen unwanted vibrations the controller provides a second waveform to the at least one actuator.

18. The input/output device of claim 17, wherein the first waveform and the second waveform are out of phase from one another.

19. The input/output device of claim 17, wherein the actuator moves the movable surface by inducing vibrations into the input surface.

20. A tactile feedback system comprising:

an input surface;

a sensor connected to the input surface and configured to detect a user input;

an actuator operably associated with the input surface and adapted to move the input surface in at least one dimension; and

a controller in communication with the actuator and the sensor and configured to selectively activate the actuator;

wherein;

in response to the user input to the input surface, the controller applies a first waveform to the actuator activating a first tactile feedback response; and

at least one of the first waveform or the second waveform is selected based in part on an acoustic characteristic.

21. The tactile feedback system of claim 20, wherein the sensor detects at least one location of the user input to the input surface.

22. The tactile feedback system of claim 20, wherein the first waveform is a positive waveform and the second waveform is a negative waveform.

23. The tactile feedback system of claim 20, further comprising a non-transitory storage medium containing a plurality of stored waveforms, wherein the controller is adapted to access the storage medium to select the second waveform from the plurality of stored waveforms.

24. The tactile feedback system of claim 20, wherein the controller dynamically generates the second waveform based on the user input sensed by the sensor.

25. The tactile feedback system of claim 20, wherein the actuator comprises a first actuator and a second actuator.

26. The tactile feedback system of claim 25, wherein in response to the user input, the controller applies the first waveform to the first actuator activating the first tactile response and applies a second waveform to the second actuator to dampen vibrations in a predetermined location of the input surface caused by the first tactile response.

27. The tactile feedback system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to apply at least one suppression waveform in response to the user input.