Touch-screen device including tactile feedback actuator
First Claim
1. A tactile feedback actuator comprising:
- a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap; and
a surface layer above the first and second electrodes;
wherein;
the first electrode receives a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency and the second electrode receives a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency, and the first and second electrodes are arranged such that the first and second stimulus voltages superimpose to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency,the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer,at least one of the first and second frequencies of the first and second stimulus voltages is greater than the perception threshold frequency,the first electrode and the second electrode comprise an electrode array,the first electrode comprises a plurality of column electrodes that each includes a plurality of column electrode segments, and the second electrode comprises a plurality of row electrodes that each includes a plurality of row electrode segments,the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer above one or more of the column and row electrode segments,each column electrode and each row electrode is separately addressable with a respective voltage stimulus,at least one column electrode receives the first stimulus voltage at the first frequency and at least one row electrode receives the second stimulus voltage at the second frequency,a first region of tactile feedback is formed at an intersection of the column electrode that receives the first stimulus voltage and the row electrode that receives the second stimulus voltage such that the first and second stimulus voltages superimpose within the region to generate a first total voltage that has a first beat frequency, andthe beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer above the first region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tactile feedback actuator includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap, and a surface layer above the first and second electrodes. The first electrode receives a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency and the second electrode receives a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency, and the first and second electrodes superimpose the first and second stimulus voltages to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency. An object in contact with a portion of the surface layer is caused to vibrate at the beat frequency. The first electrode and the second electrode may constitute an electrode array including a plurality of column electrode segments, and a plurality of row electrode segments. An object in contact with a portion of the surface layer above one or more electrode segments is caused to vibrate at the beat frequency.
18 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tactile feedback actuator comprising:
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a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap; and a surface layer above the first and second electrodes; wherein; the first electrode receives a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency and the second electrode receives a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency, and the first and second electrodes are arranged such that the first and second stimulus voltages superimpose to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency, the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer, at least one of the first and second frequencies of the first and second stimulus voltages is greater than the perception threshold frequency, the first electrode and the second electrode comprise an electrode array, the first electrode comprises a plurality of column electrodes that each includes a plurality of column electrode segments, and the second electrode comprises a plurality of row electrodes that each includes a plurality of row electrode segments, the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer above one or more of the column and row electrode segments, each column electrode and each row electrode is separately addressable with a respective voltage stimulus, at least one column electrode receives the first stimulus voltage at the first frequency and at least one row electrode receives the second stimulus voltage at the second frequency, a first region of tactile feedback is formed at an intersection of the column electrode that receives the first stimulus voltage and the row electrode that receives the second stimulus voltage such that the first and second stimulus voltages superimpose within the region to generate a first total voltage that has a first beat frequency, and the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer above the first region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing tactile feedback to a touch surface comprising the steps of:
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providing a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a gap; providing a surface layer above the first and second electrodes; stimulating the first electrode with a first stimulus voltage at a first frequency; stimulating the second electrode with a second stimulus voltage at a second frequency; and superimposing the first and second stimulus voltages to generate a total voltage that has a beat frequency less than a perception threshold frequency; wherein; the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer, at least one of the first and second frequencies of the first and second stimulus voltages is greater than the perception threshold frequency, the first electrode and the second electrode comprise an electrode array, the first electrode comprises a plurality of column electrodes that each includes a plurality of column electrode segments, and the second electrode comprises a plurality of row electrodes that each includes a plurality of row electrode segments, the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer above one or more of the column and row electrode segments, each column electrode and each row electrode is separately addressable with a respective voltage stimulus, at least one column electrode receives the first stimulus voltage at the first frequency and at least one row electrode receives the second stimulus voltage at the second frequency, a first region of tactile feedback is formed at an intersection of the column electrode that receives the first stimulus voltage and the row electrode that receives the second stimulus voltage such that the first and second stimulus voltages superimpose within the region to generate a first total voltage that has a first beat frequency, and the beat frequency is within a range to generate a tactile sensation at a portion of the surface layer above the first region.
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Specification