Touch panel assembly with haptic effects and method of manufacturuing thereof

• US 8,976,012 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Schmidt, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US12/730,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 345173-179, 345156-158, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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

Abstract

An assembly for providing haptic effects includes a panel adapted to be mated to another structure, a frame placed around and spaced apart from the panel, at least one flexible coupling to connect the panel to the frame, a display connected to the panel so as to be stationary with respect to the panel, and a touch screen assembly connected to the frame. The touch screen assembly is placed over the display.

Claims

1. An assembly for providing haptic effects, the assembly comprising:

a panel adapted to be coupled to another structure;

a frame disposed around and spaced apart from the panel;

at least one flexible coupling to couple the panel to the frame, wherein the at least one flexible coupling is a flexible member that is molded as an integral part of the frame and the panel;

a display coupled to the panel so as to be stationary with respect to the panel;

a touch screen assembly coupled to the frame and disposed over the display; and

a haptic actuator coupled to the frame such that movement generated by the haptic actuator is imparted through the frame to create the haptic effects on the touch screen assembly.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes one or more extensions.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the panel includes one or more cutouts to receive a respective one of the one or more extensions of the frame.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one flexible coupling is disposed near one of the one or more extensions and its respective one of the one or more cutouts.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the haptic actuator is coupled to the panel and the frame.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the haptic actuator is a linear actuator.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the haptic actuator includes an eccentric rotary mass.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the display is coupled to a first surface of the panel,

the touch screen assembly is coupled to a second surface of the frame, and

the first surface and the second surface are substantially co-planar.

9. An assembly for providing haptic effects, the assembly comprising:

a panel adapted to be coupled to another structure;

a frame disposed around and spaced apart from the panel;

at least one flexible coupling to couple the panel to the frame, wherein the at least one flexible coupling is a flexible member that is molded as an integral part of the frame and the panel;

an input device coupled to the frame;

a display coupled to the panel so as to be stationary with respect to the panel and disposed under the input device; and

a haptic actuator coupled to the frame such that movement generated by the haptic actuator is imparted through the frame to create the haptic effects on the input device.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the frame includes one or more extensions.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the panel includes one or more cutouts to receive a respective one of the one or more extensions of the frame.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least one flexible coupling is disposed near one of the one or more extensions and its respective one of the one or more cutouts.

13. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the haptic actuator is a linear actuator.

14. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the haptic actuator includes an eccentric rotary mass.

15. A method of providing haptic effects on a touch screen assembly, the method comprising:

molding a panel adapted to be coupled to another structure, a frame disposed around and spaced apart from the panel, and at least one flexible coupling to couple the panel to the frame, wherein the at least one flexible coupling is molded as an integral part of the frame and the panel;

coupling a display to the panel so as to be stationary with respect to the panel;

coupling a touch screen assembly to the frame such that the touch screen assembly is disposed over the display; and

coupling a haptic actuator to the frame such that movement generated by the haptic actuator is imparted through the frame to create the haptic effects on the touch screen assembly.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the haptic actuator is a linear actuator.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the haptic actuator includes an eccentric rotary mass.

18. A method of providing haptic effects on an input device, the method comprising:

molding a panel adapted to be coupled to another structure, a frame disposed around and spaced apart from the panel, and at least one flexible coupling to couple the panel to the frame, wherein the at least one flexible coupling is molded as an integral part of the frame and the panel;

coupling a display to the panel so as to be stationary with respect to the panel;

coupling an input device to the frame such that the input device is disposed over the display; and

coupling a haptic actuator to the frame such that movement generated by the haptic actuator is imparted through the frame to create the haptic effects on the input device.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the haptic actuator is a linear actuator.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the haptic actuator includes an eccentric rotary mass.