Haptic output device and method of generating a haptic effect in a haptic output device

• US 9,323,326 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Grant, Danny A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/605,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A haptic output device includes a touch surface, a sensor configured to sense an input at the touch surface, and a controller configured to read the sensor, identify a location of the input, switch from a read mode to a write mode, and write a voltage based on the location of the input to generate an electrostatic output.

Claims

1. A haptic output device comprising:

an insulating layer including one or more electrodes and a surface;

a conductive layer proximate the insulating layer and including a sensor configured to sense an input at the surface from an object that is in contact with the haptic output device; and

a controller configured to read the sensor, identify a location of the input, switch from a read mode to a write mode, and write a voltage to at least one of the one or more electrodes based on the location of the input to generate an electrostatic output that simulates a friction force or texture as the input moves on the surface, wherein the electrostatic output simulates the friction force or texture by sending an electric signal to the object.

2. The haptic output device according to claim 1, wherein the surface comprises a touch screen.

3. The haptic output device according to claim 2, wherein the touch screen is a capacitive touch screen.

4. The haptic output device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to write the voltage to electrodes in an entire area of the capacitive touch screen.

5. The haptic output device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to write the voltage to electrodes in an area proximate the location of the input.

6. The haptic output device according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a plurality of inputs, and wherein the controller is configured to identify locations of the inputs on the surface.

7. The haptic output device according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to write the voltage to electrodes in areas corresponding to the locations of the inputs to generate a plurality of localized electrostatic outputs.

8. The haptic output device according to claim 3, wherein the capacitive touch screen comprises an insulating outer layer comprising the surface, another insulating layer proximate the insulating outer layer, and an electrode proximate the insulating outer layer, wherein the electrode is configured to generate the electrostatic output.

9. The haptic output device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of electrodes proximate the insulating outer layer, wherein the controller is configured to drive at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes closest to the location of the input to generate the electrostatic output.

10. The haptic output device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of electrodes proximate the insulating outer layer, wherein the controller is configured to drive different electrodes of the plurality of electrodes to generate multi-touch localized electrostatic outputs.

11. The haptic output device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of electrodes proximate the insulating outer layer, wherein the controller is configured to write the voltage to one of the plurality of electrodes proximate a first location, then write the voltage to another one of the plurality of electrodes proximate a second location to transition the electrostatic output from the first location to the second location as the input is moved from the first location to the second location.

12. The haptic output device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to modulate an overall power delivered by each electrode of the plurality of electrodes according to a current location of the input.

13. The haptic output device according to claim 12, wherein the overall power delivered by each electrode is a function of the location of the input relative to each electrode.

14. A method for generating a haptic effect at a surface of an insulating layer of a haptic output device, the insulating layer including one or more electrodes, the method comprising:

sensing an input on the surface from an object that is in contact with the haptic output device, wherein the sensing is performed with a sensor included in a conductive layer proximate the insulating layer;

reading a first voltage from the sensor sensing the input on the touch-surface with a controller;

determining a location of the input with the controller;

switching the controller from a read mode to a write mode; and

writing a second voltage to at least one of the one or more electrodes based on the sensed location of the input, with the controller, to generate an electrostatic output that simulates a friction force or texture as the input moves on the surface, wherein the electrostatic output simulates the friction force or texture by sending an electric signal to the object.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the surface comprises a capacitive touch screen.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said writing comprises writing the second voltage to electrodes in an entire area of the capacitive touch screen.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said writing comprises writing the second voltage to electrodes in an area proximate the sensed location.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said sensing comprises sensing a plurality of inputs and locations of the inputs on the surface.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said writing comprises writing the second voltage to electrodes in areas corresponding to the locations of the inputs to generate a plurality of localized electrostatic outputs.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the capacitive touch screen comprises an insulating outer layer comprising the surface, another insulating layer proximate the insulating outer layer, and an electrode proximate the insulating outer layer, wherein the electrode is configured to generate the electrostatic output.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the capacitive touch screen comprises a plurality of electrodes proximate the insulating outer layer, and wherein the method further comprises driving at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes, with the controller, closest to a location to generate the electrostatic output.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the capacitive touch screen comprises a plurality of electrodes proximate the insulating outer layer, and wherein the method further comprises driving different electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, with the controller, to generate multi-touch localized electrostatic outputs.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the capacitive touch screen comprises a plurality of electrodes proximate the insulating outer layer, the method further comprising:

writing the second voltage to one of the plurality of electrodes proximate a first location, with the controller;

sensing a second input at a second location with a sensor;

determining the second location with the controller; and

writing the second voltage to another one of the plurality of electrodes proximate the second location to transition the electrostatic output from the first location to the second location as the input is moved from the first location to the second location.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising modulating, with the controller, an overall power delivered by each electrode according to a current location of the input.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the overall power delivered by each electrode is a function of the location of the input relative to each electrode.

26. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

measuring impedance at the surface at the location of the input; and

adjusting the writing the second voltage to adjust the electrostatic output.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the impedance is measured by the sensor.

28. A method for generating a haptic effect at a surface of an insulating layer of a haptic output device, the insulating layer including one or more electrodes, the method comprising:

sensing an input on the surface from an object that is in contact with the haptic output device, wherein the sensing is performed with a sensor included in a conductive layer proximate the insulating layer;

reading a first voltage from the sensor sensing the input on the surface with a controller;

determining a location of the input with a controller; and

writing a second voltage to at least one of the one or more electrodes based on the sensed location of the input to generate an electrostatic output that simulates a friction force or texture as the input moves on the touch surface with the controller, wherein the electrostatic output simulates the friction force or texture by sending an electric signal to the object.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the second voltage is about the same as the first voltage.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the second voltage comprises a dynamic voltage value.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the surface is provided by a capacitive touch screen comprising a plurality of electrodes, and wherein said writing the second voltage comprises writing the second voltage to at least one electrode proximate the location of the input.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

measuring impedance at the surface at the location of the input; and

adjusting the writing the second voltage to adjust the electrostatic output.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the impedance is measured by the sensor.