Haptic feedback devices

• US 9,436,341 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Electric International AG (Johnson Electric Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Electric SA 125 Rue de Progres La Chaux de Fonds Switzerland (Johnson Electric Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Ponziani, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosario, Nelson
• Application Number:
  US14/071,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 178 1807- 1808
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A haptic feedback device (20, 20′, 20″) comprises a stationary frame (40); a carrier (42) configured for at least one degree of motion relative to the stationary frame; a user interface (44) mounted on the carrier and configured to receive a human impulse; a set (46) of pole pieces; and, a suspension system (48). The haptic actuator (46) comprises a first pole piece (80) mounted to the stationary frame (40); a second pole piece (82) mounted to the carrier (42); and, an electromagnetic coil (84) carried by one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece. The first pole piece and the second pole piece are separately mounted to define an air gap (90) therebetween in a first direction when the electromagnetic coil is not energized, the first direction corresponding to the at least one degree of motion. The suspension system (48) is mechanically separated from both the first pole piece (80) and the second pole piece (92).

Claims

1. An actuatorless haptic feedback device comprising:

a stationary frame comprising a first pole piece directly mounted thereto;

a carrier configured for at least one degree of motion relative to the stationary frame, the carrier comprising a second pole piece directly mounted thereto;

a user interface mounted on or comprising the carrier and configured to receive an impulse;

an electromagnetic coil carried by one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece, the electromagnetic coil being selectively energized as a result of receipt of the impulse;

the first pole piece and the second pole piece being separately located relative to the stationary frame and the carrier, respectively, to define an air gap therebetween in a first direction when the electromagnetic coil is not energized, the first direction corresponding to the at least one degree of motion;

a suspension system being configured to connect the carrier to the stationary frame and to allow relative movement between the carrier and the stationary frame in the first direction when the electromagnetic coil is energized to drive the second pole piece toward the first pole piece at the gap;

wherein the carrier and the stationary frame are connected to one another by the suspension system but not by an intermediate actuator component which comprises the first pole piece and the second pole piece;

wherein the first pole piece and the second pole piece are not carried by a distinct actuator unit but are respectively directly mounted to the stationary frame and the carrier;

wherein the suspension system is mechanically separated from both the first pole piece and the second pole piece.

2. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the suspension system being mechanically separated from both the first pole piece and the second pole piece comprises the first pole piece being mechanically connected to the stationary frame, the stationary frame being mechanically connected through the suspension system to the carrier, and the carrier being mechanically connected to the second pole piece.

3. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the first pole piece is not mounted to the stationary frame through a common intermediate component that also serves to locate the second pole piece relative to the carrier.

4. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the first pole piece is rigidly mounted to the stationary frame and the second pole piece is rigidly mounted to the carrier.

5. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the suspension system comprises at least two suspension members spaced apart along the first direction.

6. The haptic feedback device of claim 5, wherein the at least two suspension members comprise suspension springs which, when at rest, extend essentially in a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The haptic feedback device of claim 5, wherein the at least two suspension members comprise a first pair of suspension members and a second pair of suspension members, the first pair of suspension members extending essentially in a first plane and being spaced apart from one another in the first plane;

the second pair of suspension members extending essentially in a second plane and being spaced apart from one another in the second plane;

the first plane and the second plane being spaced apart from one another and perpendicular to the first direction.

8. The haptic feedback device of claim 7, wherein each of the suspension members comprises an essentially circular cross-section resilient pin configured for multi-directional movement.

9. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the suspension system is configured to facilitate multi-dimensional haptic movement.

10. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third pole piece mounted to the stationary frame;

a fourth pole piece mounted to the carrier;

a second electromagnetic coil carried by one of the third pole piece and the fourth pole piece, the second electromagnetic coil being selectively energized as a result of receipt of the impulse;

the third pole piece and the fourth pole piece being mounted to define a second air gap therebetween in a second direction when the electromagnetic coil is not energized, the second direction corresponding to the a second degree of motion, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the stationary frame comprises or is configured to mount to a dashboard of a vehicle.

12. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the stationary frame comprises or is configured to mount to a control panel of a document processing machine.

13. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the stationary frame comprises or is configured to mount to a control panel of an automated banking machine.

14. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface extends in an X-Y plane;

the carrier extends in an X-Y plane and is configured to support the user interface;

the stationary frame extends in an X-Y plane beneath the X-Y plane of the carrier.

15. The haptic feedback device of claim 14, wherein in a Z direction the first pole piece and the second pole piece are mounted within a perimeter of the carrier.

16. The haptic feedback device of claim 14, wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the perimeter of the stationary frame, the first pole piece and the second pole piece are mounted within a perimeter of the carrier.

17. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the stationary frame has essentially rectangular perimeter in a plane and wherein the perimeter which comprises a perimeter notch, and wherein the perimeter notch is configured to accommodate a pole mount, the pole mount depending from the carrier and having the second pole piece mounted thereon.

18. A method of making an actuatorless haptic feedback device comprising:

mounting on or including a user interface in a carrier, the user interface being configured to receive an impulse;

connecting the carrier through a suspension system to a stationary frame so that the carrier has at least one degree of motion relative to the stationary frame;

mounting a first pole piece directly to the stationary frame and separately mounting a second pole piece directly to the carrier, one of the first pole piece and the second pole piece carrying an electromagnetic coil, the suspension system being mechanically separated from both the first pole piece and the second pole piece whereby the carrier and the stationary frame are connected to one another by the suspension system but not by an intermediate actuator component which comprises the first pole piece and the second pole piece, and whereby the first pole piece and the second pole piece are not carried by a distinct actuator unit but are respectively directly mounted to the stationary frame and the carrier; and

thereafter

setting a size of an air gap between the first pole piece and the second pole piece.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising mechanically separating the suspension system from both the first pole piece and the second pole piece by mechanically connected the first pole piece to the stationary frame, mechanically connecting the stationary frame through the suspension system to the carrier, and mechnically connecting the carrier to the second pole piece.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising mounting or including the stationary frame to/on a control panel of an automated banking machine.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising mounting the first pole piece to the stationary frame but not through a common intermediate component that also serves to locate the second pole piece relative to the carrier.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming the suspension system to comprise at least two suspension members spaced apart along the first direction.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming the at least two suspension members to comprise suspension springs which, when at rest, extend essentially in a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming the at least two suspension members to comprise a first pair of suspension members and a second pair of suspension members, the first pair of suspension members extending essentially in a first plane and being spaced apart from one another in the first plane;

the second pair of suspension members extending essentially in a second plane and being spaced apart from one another in the second plane;

the first plane and the second plane being spaced apart from one another and perpendicular to the first direction.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming each of the suspension members to comprise a resilient pin configured for multi-directional movement.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

mounting a third pole piece to the stationary frame;

mounting a fourth pole piece to the carrier;

providing a second electromagnetic coil for one of the third pole piece and the fourth pole piece, the second electromagnetic coil being selectively energized as a result of receipt of the impulse;

separately mounting the third pole piece and the fourth pole piece to define a second air gap therebetween in a second direction when the electromagnetic coil is not energized, the second direction corresponding to the a second degree of motion, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising mounting or including the stationary frame to/on a dashboard of a vehicle.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising mounting or including the stationary frame to/on a control panel of a document processing machine.