Tactile feedback in an electronic device

• US 9,520,037 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2015
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony, Hodge, Andrew Bart, Zadesky, Stephen P., Lindahl, Aram, Guetta, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/752,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20150302709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 534 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.2, 340/686.1, 340/815.48, 340/815.47, 340/815.6, 340/407.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• 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 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication

Abstract

An electronic device for providing tactile feedback is provided. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback using any suitable approach, including for example vibration, heat, electrical, visual, or any other type of feedback. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to detecting any particular status of the electronic device, receiving any particular input, or detecting any suitable communication received by the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to identifying the current network of the device, the status of a particular electronic device component, or any other electronic device status. As another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular type of communication, or in response to receiving a communication from a particular contact. As still another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular user input, or to detecting a user'"'"'s finger on a particular portion of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a location sensor;

a tactile output device; and

a processing unit configured to;

determine a path between a location and a destination;

compare the path to a current location obtained using the location sensor; and

provide haptic output via the tactile output device as the electronic device moves along the path.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the path includes at least one direction change.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to vary the haptic output based on a distance along the path between the electronic device and the destination.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to increase an intensity as the distance along the path increases and decrease the intensity as the distance along the path increases.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to decrease an intensity as the distance along the path increases and increase the intensity as the distance along the path increases.

6. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to change a type of the haptic output based on the distance along the path.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide a different haptic output when the electronic device leaves the path.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a location sensor;

a tactile output device; and

a processing unit configured to;

compare a path between a location and a destination to a current location obtained using the location sensor; and

provide haptic output via the tactile output device when the electronic device leaves the path.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide a first type of haptic output if the electronic device leaves the path in a first direction and a second type of haptic output if the electronic device leaves the path in a second direction.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second direction leads further away from the destination than the first direction.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second type of haptic output is stronger than the first type of haptic output.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is configured to increase an intensity of the haptic output as the electronic device moves further from the path.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is configured to decrease the intensity of the haptic output as the electronic device moves toward the path.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the path is not a shortest path between the location and the destination.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a location module;

a haptic device;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processing unit that executes the instructions stored in the memory to;

determine a current location using the location module;

compare the current location to a path; and

provide haptic output via the haptic device to guide a user along the path.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit provides the haptic output to guide the user along the path by at least one of:

providing the haptic output when the electronic device moves away from the path;

or

providing the haptic output while the electronic device moves along the path.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the haptic output comprises a vibration.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the haptic output comprises a temperature.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the path avoids geographic obstacles.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the path follows roads.