Touch interface device and method for applying controllable shear forces to a human appendage
First Claim
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1. A touch interface device comprising:
- a touch surface;
an actuator coupled with the touch surface and that subjects the touch surface to vibrations along one or more axes of the touch surface; and
an electrode coupled with the touch surface and that imparts electrostatic forces in a direction normal to the touch surface on one or more appendages of a human operator that engage the touch surface when an alternating electric current is conveyed to the electrode, wherein the electrostatic forces vary in time and frequency, wherein the vibrations of the touch surface by the actuator and the electrostatic forces provided by the electrode each have a frequency and the respective frequencies are synchronized with one another to generate and control a magnitude and a direction of a persistent shear force applied to the one or more appendages that engage the touch surface and that is felt by the one or more appendages as a pushing force that is oriented laterally relative to the touch surface, and wherein the frequencies of said vibrations and said electrostatic forces are greater than the response bandwidth of vibration sensitivity of the one or more appendages in touch.
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Abstract
A touch interface device includes a touch surface, an actuator, and an electrode. The actuator is coupled with the touch surface and is configured to move the touch surface in one or more directions. The electrode is coupled with the touch surface and is configured to impart a normal electrostatic force on one or more appendages of a human operator that engage the touch surface when an electric current is conveyed to the electrode. Movement of the touch surface by the actuator and the electrostatic force provided by the electrode are synchronized to control one or more of a magnitude or a direction of a shear force applied to the one or more appendages that engage the touch surface.
132 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A touch interface device comprising:
- a touch surface;
an actuator coupled with the touch surface and that subjects the touch surface to vibrations along one or more axes of the touch surface; and
an electrode coupled with the touch surface and that imparts electrostatic forces in a direction normal to the touch surface on one or more appendages of a human operator that engage the touch surface when an alternating electric current is conveyed to the electrode, wherein the electrostatic forces vary in time and frequency, wherein the vibrations of the touch surface by the actuator and the electrostatic forces provided by the electrode each have a frequency and the respective frequencies are synchronized with one another to generate and control a magnitude and a direction of a persistent shear force applied to the one or more appendages that engage the touch surface and that is felt by the one or more appendages as a pushing force that is oriented laterally relative to the touch surface, and wherein the frequencies of said vibrations and said electrostatic forces are greater than the response bandwidth of vibration sensitivity of the one or more appendages in touch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a touch surface;
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16. A method comprising:
- receiving a touch on a touch surface of a touch interface device by one or more appendages of a human operator;
moving the touch surface via vibrations along one or more axes of the touch surface; and
applying an alternating electric current to an electrode that is coupled to the touch surface to impart electrostatic forces in a direction normal to the touch surface on the one or more appendages of the human operator, wherein the electrostatic forces vary in time and frequency, wherein the vibrations moving the touch surface along one or more axes of the touch surface and the applying the alternating electric current to an electrode each have a frequency and the respective frequencies are synchronized to generate and control a magnitude and a direction of a persistent shear force applied to the one or more appendages that engage the touch surface and that is felt by the one or more appendages as a pushing force that is oriented laterally relative to the touch surface, and wherein the respective frequencies of said vibrations and said electrostatic forces are greater than the response bandwidth of vibration sensitivity of the one or more appendages in touch. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- receiving a touch on a touch surface of a touch interface device by one or more appendages of a human operator;
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20. A touch interface device comprising:
- a touch surface;
an electrode coupled with the touch surface; and
an actuator coupled with the touch surface and configured to move the touch surface in order to generate a persistent shear force on one or more appendages of an operator that touch the touch surface and that is felt by the one or more appendages as a pushing force that is oriented laterally relative to the touch surface, wherein the electrode is configured to receive an alternating electric current to impart electrostatic forces in a direction normal to the touch surface on the one or more appendages, wherein the electrostatic forces vary in time and frequency, and a direction and magnitude of the persistent shear force are controlled by a phase relationship between respective frequencies of the vibratory movement of the touch surface by the actuator and application of the electrostatic forces, and wherein the frequencies of said vibrations and said time-varying electrostatic forces are greater than the response bandwidth of vibration sensitivity of the one or more appendages in touch. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
- a touch surface;
Specification