Haptic device with indirect haptic feedback

• US 9,104,285 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Colgate, James Edward, Peshkin, Michael A., Glassmire, John, Alexander, Laura Winfield
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ketema, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US14/456,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A haptic device provides an indirect haptic device, having a substrate having a touch surface, a position sensor and a friction modulator associated with the substrate, a control device connected to the position sensor and the friction modulator, wherein a coefficient of friction on the touch surface is modulated in response to a sensed position of relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof.

Claims

1. A haptic device comprising:

an indirect haptic device, comprising a substrate having a touch surface, a position sensor that senses a position of a user'"'"'s appendage relative to the touch surface, a friction modulator associated with the substrate, a control device connected to the position sensor and the friction modulator, wherein a coefficient of friction on the touch surface is modulated in response to a sensed position of a user'"'"'s appendage relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof, and wherein the friction modulator does not alter the contour of the touch surface in a manner that is perceptible to a user'"'"'s sight or touch; and

an actuator that moves the indirect haptic device relative to the user'"'"'s appendage.

2. The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the coefficient of friction is modulated in response to a change in an excitation voltage.

3. The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s appendage comprises a finger, thumb or a hand-held stylus.

4. The haptic device of claim 3, wherein the user'"'"'s finger or thumb is clothed.

5. The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the coefficient of friction of the touch surface is modulated in response to a sensed motion of the user'"'"'s appendage.

6. The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the coefficient of friction of the touch surface is modulated to generate a virtual texture sensation felt by the user'"'"'s appendage.

7. The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate of the indirect haptic device further comprises a disk.

8. The haptic device of claim 7, wherein the actuator spins the disk.

9. The haptic device of claim 8, wherein the disk provides scrolling action when the disk is spinning.

10. The haptic device of claim 8, wherein the disk provides a moving touch surface relative to a user'"'"'s stationary appendage when the disk is spinning.

11. The haptic device of claim 10, wherein the relative motion between and the user'"'"'s appendage and the spinning disk enables the user'"'"'s appendage to feel texture sensations provided by the indirect haptic device.

12. The haptic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate of the indirect haptic device further comprises a drum.

13. The haptic device of claim 12, wherein the actuator rotates the drum.

14. The haptic device of claim 13, wherein the drum provides scrolling action when the drum is rotating.

15. The haptic device of claim 13, wherein the drum provides a moving touch surface relative to a user'"'"'s stationary appendage when the drum is rotating.

16. The haptic device of claim 15, wherein the relative motion between and the user'"'"'s appendage and the rotating drum enables the user'"'"'s appendage to feel texture sensations provided by the indirect haptic device.

17. The haptic device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor and wherein the touch surface has a coefficient of friction that is modulated in response to a sensed force of a user'"'"'s appendage on the touch surface.

18. The combination of a visual display and a haptic device of claim 1, wherein the haptic device provides an interface with the visual display.

19. The combination of a consumer electronic device and a haptic device of claim 1, wherein the haptic device is disposed on a surface of the consumer electronic device.