Piezoelectric haptic actuator integration

• US 9,030,308 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buuck, David C., Hebenstreit, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US12/829,916
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 345/173, 345/168, 345/22, 341/27
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

User interface experiences with electronic devices are enhanced with feedback cues such as haptic or vibrotactile output feedback. One or more piezoelectric actuators generate haptic output. The one or more piezoelectric actuators may be integrated onto a display substrate, a battery case, a device enclosure, or other component. Such integration may improve propagation of the haptic output to the user, reduce bulk of the electronic device, minimize parts count, and reduce production costs.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor to render content on the electronic device, the display comprising a display substrate and a presentation layer disposed adjacent to a first side of the display substrate;

a haptic assembly disposed on a second side of the display substrate substantially opposite the first side of the display substrate, the haptic assembly comprising;

a haptic substrate; and

one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators disposed between the haptic substrate and the display substrate on a first side of the haptic substrate; and

a haptic controller coupled to the processor and configured to drive the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators, when driven by the haptic controller, impart a physical force on at least a portion of a structure of the electronic device and generate a resulting transfer of momentum between the structure and a user.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators, when driven by the haptic controller, impart a physical force on at least a portion of a structure of the electronic device and generate a resulting dislocation or deformation of the structure.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators, when driven by the haptic controller, simulate a tactile experience.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch sensor coupled to the processor and configured to accept user input to manipulate the content rendered by the display.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the haptic controller is configured to drive the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators in response to the touch sensor accepting the user input to manipulate the content rendered by the display.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein:

the user input is received at a particular location of the touch sensor corresponding to a particular location of the display; and

the haptic controller is configured to drive the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators at the particular location of the display in response to the touch input.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the haptic controller is further configured to generate a haptic output via the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the presentation layer comprises an electrophoretic slurry.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators comprises a ceramic material.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators comprises a polymer material.

20. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the haptic substrate is disposed to correspond to a perimeter of the display.

21. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the haptic assembly further comprises one or more additional piezoelectric haptic actuators that are disposed on a second side of the haptic substrate that is substantially opposite the first side of the haptic substrate; and

the one or more additional piezoelectric haptic actuators increase a stroke length and a force output of the haptic assembly when the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators disposed between the haptic substrate and the display substrate on the first side of the haptic substrate are active.

22. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more piezoelectric haptic actuators include a plurality of piezoelectric haptic actuators, and at least one of:

the plurality of piezoelectric haptic actuators include two or more sizes different from one another and able to provide different haptic output characteristics;

or

the plurality of piezoelectric haptic actuators include two or more geometries different from one another and able to provide different haptic output characteristics.

12. A haptic output device comprising:

a plurality of piezoelectric actuators disposed on a first side of a substrate and configured to, when activated, impart a physical force on at least a portion of a structure to generate a haptic output, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprises two or more sizes different from one another;

one or more additional piezoelectric actuators disposed on a second side of the substrate that is substantially opposite the first side, wherein the one or more additional piezoelectric actuators increase at least one of a stroke length and a force output associated with the haptic output when the plurality of piezoelectric actuators disposed on the first side of the substrate are active; and

a plurality of electrical conductors configured to couple the plurality of piezoelectric actuators and the one or more additional piezoelectric actuators to a haptic controller configured to activate individual piezoelectric actuators.

13. The haptic output device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric actuators disposed on the first side of the substrate comprises two or more geometries different from one another, each geometry associated with a different haptic output characteristic.

14. The haptic output device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric actuators comprises two or more compositions different from one another.

23. The haptic output device of claim 12, wherein the one or more additional piezoelectric actuators disposed on the second side of the substrate comprises two or more sizes different from one another, each size associated with a different haptic output characteristic.

24. The haptic output device of claim 12, wherein the one or more additional piezoelectric actuators disposed on the second side of the substrate comprises two or more geometries different from one another, each geometry associated with a different haptic output characteristic.

15. A method of assembling an integrated haptic stack for insertion into an electronic device having a structure, the method comprising:

affixing a haptic assembly to a first side of a display substrate having the first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein;

the haptic assembly comprises a haptic substrate and a piezoelectric haptic actuator disposed between the haptic substrate and the display substrate; and

the piezoelectric haptic actuator is configured to, when active, impart a physical force on at least a portion of the structure of the electronic device to generate a haptic output; and

joining a component of the electronic device to the second side of the display substrate to form the integrated haptic stack.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second side of the display substrate comprises an active display drive matrix and the component of the electronic device comprises an electrophoretic display layer coupled to the active display drive matrix.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first side of the display substrate and the second side of the display substrate are substantially planar and parallel to one another.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the affixing comprises firing the haptic assembly to the first side of the display substrate.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the joining comprises laminating the component of the electronic device to the second side of the display substrate.