Electronic device including actuator and method of controlling same for providing tactile output

• US 8,914,075 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pasquero, Jerome, Stobbe, Scott James, Fyke, Steven Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US12/884,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/412.1, 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/567, 455/90.1, 455/412.2, 340/7.58, 340/7.59, 340/7.6, 340/407.1, 340/407.2
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A method of controlling an electronic device includes detecting receipt of an input, determining a response number in response to receipt of the input, and actuating an actuator of the electronic device a discrete integer number of times based on the response number.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic device, comprising:

detecting receipt of an input;

determining a response number in response to receipt of the input by communicating with a second electronic device and receiving the response number from the second electronic device; and

actuating an actuator at the electronic device a discrete integer number of times based on the response number.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining an associated query based on the input received.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein determining the response number comprises sending the query to the second electronic device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating comprises communicating wirelessly with the second electronic device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein actuating comprises repeatedly actuating the actuator until the discrete integer number equals the response number or until the input is discontinued.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the discrete integer number equals the response number.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining that the input is maintained and, in response, actuating the actuator the discrete number of times.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the response number comprises a number of electronic messages received.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the response number comprises a number of new electronic messages.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein actuating the actuator comprises controlling the actuator to strike a surface the discrete number of times to provide the tactile output.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein actuating the actuator comprises charging and discharging a piezoelectric actuator to strike a surface to provide the tactile output.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein actuating the actuator comprises controlling a vibrator motor to provide tactile output the discrete number of times.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of a portable electronic device to perform the method according to claim 1.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

an actuator disposed in the housing; and

a processor coupled to the actuator to cause the electronic device to carry out the method according to claim 1.