Touch interface device having an electrostatic multitouch surface and method for controlling the device
First Claim
1. A touch interface device comprising:
- a touch surface;
a first electrode coupled with the touch surface, the first electrode also configured to receive a first actuation electric potential; and
a second electrode coupled with the touch surface and configured to receive a second actuation electric potential different from the first actuation electric potentialwherein when an appendage of an operator touches the touch surface above both the first electrode and the second electrode the first and second actuation electric potentials establish electric fields that pass from one of the first and second electrodes directly through the outermost layer of the appendage and return to the other of the first and second electrodes via the outermost layer of the appendage,wherein electric fields that penetrate the outermost layer of the appendage are small enough that they do not create direct electric sensory stimulation, andwherein the electric fields acting on the outermost layer of the appendage generate electrostatic attractive forces that are imparted directly on the appendage and increase friction between the touch surface and the appendage through which the electric fields pass.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch interface device includes a touch surface, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode is coupled with the touch surface. The first electrode also configured to receive a first haptic actuation electric potential. The second electrode is coupled with the touch surface. The second electrode also is configured to receive a different, second haptic actuation electric potential having an opposite polarity than the first haptic actuation potential. The first and second electrodes generate an electrostatic force that is imparted on one or more appendages of an operator that touches the touch surface above both the first electrode and the second electrode in order to generate a haptic effect.
66 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A touch interface device comprising:
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a touch surface; a first electrode coupled with the touch surface, the first electrode also configured to receive a first actuation electric potential; and a second electrode coupled with the touch surface and configured to receive a second actuation electric potential different from the first actuation electric potential wherein when an appendage of an operator touches the touch surface above both the first electrode and the second electrode the first and second actuation electric potentials establish electric fields that pass from one of the first and second electrodes directly through the outermost layer of the appendage and return to the other of the first and second electrodes via the outermost layer of the appendage, wherein electric fields that penetrate the outermost layer of the appendage are small enough that they do not create direct electric sensory stimulation, and wherein the electric fields acting on the outermost layer of the appendage generate electrostatic attractive forces that are imparted directly on the appendage and increase friction between the touch surface and the appendage through which the electric fields pass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A touch interface device comprising:
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a touch surface; and
elongated electrodes coupled with the touch surf ace and configured to be disposed beneath an insulating layer, the electrodes including a first electrode oriented along a first direction and a second electrode oriented along a different, second direction, the first electrode extending over the second electrode at a first intersection,wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to receive actuation electric potentials that are different from one another, and wherein when an appendage of an operator touches the touch surface above the first intersection the actuation electric potentials establish electric fields that pass from one of the first and second electrodes directly through the outermost layer of the appendage and return to the other of the first and second electrodes via the outermost layer of the appendage, wherein electric fields that penetrate the outermost layer of the appendage are small enough that they do not create direct electric sensory stimulation, and wherein the electric fields acting on the outermost layer of the appendage generate electrostatic attractive forces that are imparted directly on the appendage and increase friction between the touch surface and the appendage through which the electric fields pass. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method comprising:
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applying a first actuation electric potential having a first polarity to a first electrode coupled with a touch surface of a touch interface device; and applying a second actuation electric potential having a second polarity to a second electrode that is coupled with the touch surface, the second polarity of the second actuation potential being opposite of the first polarity of the first actuation potential with respect to a ground potential, wherein when an appendage of an operator touches the touch surface above the first intersection the actuation electric potentials establish electric fields that pass from one of the first and second electrodes directly through the outermost layer of the appendage and return to the other of the first and second electrodes via the outermost layer of the appendage, wherein electric fields that penetrate the outermost layer of the appendage are small enough that they do not create direct electric sensory stimulation, and wherein the electric fields acting on the outermost layer of the appendage generate electrostatic attractive forces that are imparted directly on the appendage and increase friction between the touch surface and the appendage through which the electric fields pass. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification