Haptic device

• US 8,917,167 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2011
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ted Selker
• Original Assignee: Ted Selker
• Inventors: Selker, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/290,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,143 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/18 wherein the vibrator is actuated by pressure fluid B06B1/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

System, method and device to generate user tactile feedback using working fluid inside a sealed vessel, which is vaporized causing a rapid pressure/volume change, then the fluid condenses, restoring original pressure/volume. In one embodiment this sequence is repeated to create a vibration. The sealed vessel is mechanically coupled to a touch surface so the user feels the vibration, typically with a fingertip. In some embodiments a portion of the sealed vessel is also the touch surface. In some embodiments multiple vessels are arranged in an array behind or integral to the touch surfaces.

Claims

1. A device for generating tactile feedback comprising:

a sealed vessel containing a working fluid;

a vaporization means;

a portion of the sealed vessel consists of a rear portion of a visible screen and touch surface;

wherein the vaporization means vaporizes a portion of the working fluid causing an expansion of the sealed vessel and a compression wave to pass into the visible screen and touch surface;

then the vaporized portion of the working fluid condenses causing the sealed vessel to return to substantially its original volume.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the said vaporization is repeated to create a vibration of the touch surface in the frequency range of 5 Hz to 20 KHz.

3. A device for generating tactile feedback in response to a touch action by a user of a touch surface comprising:

a visible screen and touch surface;

an array of sealed vessels, each containing a working fluid;

an array of vaporization elements wherein each heating element is proximal to each sealed vessel;

a coupling means to transmit a compression wave from the sealed vessels to an array of corresponding positions on the rear of the visible screen and touch surface;

wherein the vaporization of one element vaporizes a portion of the working fluid in a corresponding sealed vessel;

then the vaporized portion of the working fluid condenses causing the sealed vessel to return to substantially its original volume; and

wherein a portion of each sealed vessel is also of a portion of the rear of a touch surface, wherein the front surface of the touch surface is the surface used for touching and at least one force-transmitting part of said portion is non-parallel to the touch surface such that the force of the expanding sealed vessel is transmitted preferentially towards the normal vector of the force-transmitting part.

4. A device for generating tactile feedback comprising:

a touch surface;

an array of sealed vessels, each containing a working fluid;

an array of vaporization elements wherein each heating element is proximal to each sealed vessel;

a coupling means to transmit motion of the sealed vessels to an array of corresponding positions on the touch surface;

wherein the vaporization of one element vaporizes a portion of the working fluid in a corresponding sealed vessel;

then the vaporized portion of the working fluid condenses causing the sealed vessel to return to substantially its original volume;

wherein a portion of each sealed vessel is also of a portion of the rear of a touch surface, wherein the front surface of the touch surface is the surface used for touching, and the shape of the said portion is selected to minimize the proportion of the said portion that is approximately parallel to the touch surface.

5. A device for generating tactile feedback comprising:

a touch surface;

an array of sealed vessels, each containing a working fluid;

an array of vaporization elements wherein each heating element is proximal to each sealed vessel;

a coupling means to transmit motion of the sealed vessels to an array of corresponding positions on the touch surface;

wherein the vaporization of one element vaporizes a portion of the working fluid in a corresponding sealed vessel;

then the vaporized portion of the working fluid condenses causing the sealed vessel to return to substantially its original volume;

wherein a portion of each sealed vessel is also of a portion of the rear of a touch surface, wherein the front surface of the touch surface is the surface used for touching, and the shape of the said portion is selected to maximize the numerical product of the angle of each epsilon of the surface area of said portion from parallel to the touch screen and the area of each said epsilon of surface area.

6. A device for generating tactile feedback comprising:

a touch surface;

an array of sealed vessels, each containing a working fluid;

an array of vaporization elements wherein each heating element is proximal to each sealed vessel;

a coupling means to transmit motion of the sealed vessels to an array of corresponding positions on the touch surface;

wherein the vaporization of one element vaporizes a portion of the working fluid in a corresponding sealed vessel;

then the vaporized portion of the working fluid condenses causing the sealed vessel to return to substantially its original volume;

wherein a portion of each sealed vessel is also of a portion of the rear of a touch surface, wherein the front surface of the touch surface is the surface used for touching, and the said portion includes sub-portions whose angle is below a critical angle of audio propagation out of the control surface.

7. A device for generating tactile feedback comprising:

a touch surface;

an array of sealed vessels, each containing a working fluid;

an array of vaporization elements wherein each heating element is proximal to each sealed vessel;

a coupling means to transmit motion of the sealed vessels to an array of corresponding positions on the touch surface;

wherein the vaporization of one element vaporizes a portion of the working fluid in a corresponding sealed vessel;

then the vaporized portion of the working fluid condenses causing the sealed vessel to return to substantially its original volume;

wherein the array of sealed vessels comprises an X-Y array of grooves wherein;

the X grooves are approximately parallel to each other;

the Y grooves are approximately parallel to each other;

the X grooves cross the Y grooves;

the grooves comprise a conductor on the inside surface of the groove;

the conductor of each groove is connected to a control logic;

the control logic is adapted to create a voltage between at least one selected X groove and at least one selected Y groove;

the voltage causes the working fluid at the junction(s) of the selected X and Y groove(s) to vaporize such that the vaporization causes a local pressure wave on the sides of the grooves proximal to the vaporization.

8. A device for generating tactile feedback comprising:

a sealed vessel containing a working fluid;

a heating means;

a coupling means adapted to transmit a compression wave from the sealed vessel to the rear of a visible screen and touch surface;

wherein the heating means vaporizes a portion of the working fluid causing an expansion of the sealed vessel;

then the vaporized portion of the working fluid condenses causing the sealed vessel to return to substantially its original volume; and

wherein the device provides a plurality of different vibrations to the touch surface in response to an application driving the visible screen.