Method and apparatus for haptic enabled flexible touch sensitive surface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic interactive device comprising:
- a flexible touch sensitive surface configured to receive and locate a touch input during gross deformations of the flexible touch sensitive surface relative to a flat configuration of the flexible touch sensitive surface;
a flexible screen coupled to said flexible touch sensitive surface and configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface, the flexible screen configured to display an image during gross deformations of the flexible screen relative to a flat configuration of the flexible screen; and
a transparent flexible actuator layer configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface and said flexible screen, the transparent flexible actuator layer disposed between said flexible screen and said flexible touch sensitive surface, the transparent flexible actuator layer comprising a plurality of fibers of flexible actuators extending substantially parallel to the flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein each of said plurality of fibers of flexible actuators is attached at a different point of said flexible screen such that each of the plurality of fibers of flexible actuators delivers a unique haptic feedback effect to the flexible touch sensitive surface during gross deformations thereof in response to said input.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for an electronic interactive device having a haptic enabled flexible touch sensitive surface are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic interactive device includes a flexible touch sensitive surface, a flexible screen (or display), and an actuator. The flexible touch sensitive surface is deposited over the flexible screen and is capable of receiving an input, such as, for example, from a user. The flexible screen displays an image via a displaying window. The actuator is coupled to the flexible screen and provides haptic feedback in response to the input.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An electronic interactive device comprising:
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a flexible touch sensitive surface configured to receive and locate a touch input during gross deformations of the flexible touch sensitive surface relative to a flat configuration of the flexible touch sensitive surface; a flexible screen coupled to said flexible touch sensitive surface and configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface, the flexible screen configured to display an image during gross deformations of the flexible screen relative to a flat configuration of the flexible screen; and a transparent flexible actuator layer configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface and said flexible screen, the transparent flexible actuator layer disposed between said flexible screen and said flexible touch sensitive surface, the transparent flexible actuator layer comprising a plurality of fibers of flexible actuators extending substantially parallel to the flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein each of said plurality of fibers of flexible actuators is attached at a different point of said flexible screen such that each of the plurality of fibers of flexible actuators delivers a unique haptic feedback effect to the flexible touch sensitive surface during gross deformations thereof in response to said input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 30, 34)
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9. A method of providing haptic feedback for an input and output device, comprising:
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monitoring a plurality of regions on a first surface of a flexible touch sensitive surface configured for operation during gross deformations relative to a flat configuration of the flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein a second surface of said flexible touch sensitive surface is disposed over a flexible display configured for gross deformations, the flexible display being configured to display an image during gross deformations relative to a flat configuration of the flexible display; sensing a contact on one of said plurality of regions of said flexible touch sensitive surface; generating an input signal in response to said contact and sending said input signal to a processing unit; and providing haptic feedback to the flexible touch sensitive surface in response to said input signal during the gross deformations relative to a flat configuration of the flexible touch surface; wherein said haptic feedback is provided by a transparent flexible actuator layer disposed between the second surface of the touch sensitive surface and the flexible display, the transparent flexible actuator layer comprising a plurality of fibers of flexible actuators extending substantially parallel to the flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein each of said plurality of fibers of flexible actuators is attached at a different point of said flexible display such that each of the plurality of fibers of flexible actuators delivers a unique haptic feedback effect to the flexible touch sensitive surface during gross deformations thereof in response to said input. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 31, 35)
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18. A handheld device having a flexible screen, comprising:
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a flexible touch sensitive surface configured to receive and locate a touch input during gross deformations of the flexible touch sensitive surface relative to a flat configuration of the flexible touch sensitive surface; a flexible screen configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface, the flexible screen configured to display an image in response to said input during gross deformations of the flexible screen relative to a flat configuration of the flexible screen; a first handle coupled to first end of said flexible screen and a second handle coupled to second end of said flexible screen, wherein when said first handle and said second handle are in closed position, said flexible screen is in a rolled-up position, and when first handle and second handle are in open position, said flexible screen is in a displaying position; and a transparent flexible actuator layer configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface and said flexible screen, the transparent flexible actuator layer disposed between and coupled to the flexible screen and the flexible touch sensitive surface, the transparent flexible actuator layer comprising a plurality of fibers of flexible actuators extending substantially parallel to the flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein each of said plurality of fibers of flexible actuators is attached at a different point of said flexible screen such that each of the plurality of fibers of flexible actuators delivers a unique haptic feedback effect to the flexible touch sensitive surface during gross deformations thereof in response to said input. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for providing force feedback for an input and output device, comprising:
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means for monitoring a plurality of regions on a first surface of a flexible touch sensitive surface configured for operation during gross deformations of the flexible touch sensitive surface relative to a flat configuration of the flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein said flexible touch sensitive surface is disposed over a flexible display configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface, the flexible display being configured to display an image during gross deformations of the flexible display relative to a flat configuration of the flexible display; means for detecting an input on a touched region of said plurality of regions; means for generating an input signal associated to said touched region and sending said input signal to a processing unit; and transparent flexible means for generating haptic feedback on said device, the transparent flexible means for generating haptic feedback being disposed between the flexible touch sensitive surface and the flexible display and being configured for gross deformation with the flexible touch sensitive surface and the flexible display, and being configured to provide said haptic feedback to the flexible touch sensitive surface in response to said input signal during gross deformations of the transparent flexible means for generating haptic feedback in response to said input signal; wherein said transparent flexible means for generating haptic feedback comprises a flexible actuator layer comprising a plurality of fibers of flexible actuators extending substantially parallel to the flexible touch sensitive surface, wherein each of said plurality of fibers of flexible actuators is attached at a different point of said flexible display such that each of the plurality of fibers of flexible actuators delivers a unique haptic feedback effect to the flexible touch sensitive surface during gross deformations thereof in response to said input signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 32, 36)
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24. A system comprising a flexible touch sensitive display device having a flexible touch sensitive surface portion configured for operation during gross deformations relative to a flat configuration of the touch sensitive surface portion, a flexible screen portion configured to display an image during gross deformations relative to a flat configuration of the flexible screen portion, and a transparent flexible actuator portion configured for operation during gross deformations relative to a flat configuration of the flexible actuator, the flexible touch sensitive portion, the flexible screen portion, and the transparent flexible actuator configured to flex and grossly deform together, wherein:
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said touch sensitive surface portion is capable of receiving an input, said flexible screen portion is configured to display an image, and said transparent flexible actuator portion is disposed between said flexible touch sensitive surface and said flexible screen portion, and is configured to provide haptic feedback to the touch sensitive surface portion in response to said input during gross deformations, and said transparent flexible actuator portion comprises a layer comprising a plurality of fibers of flexible actuators extending substantially parallel to the flexible touch sensitive surface portion, wherein each of said plurality of fibers of flexible actuators is attached at a different point of said flexible screen portion such that each of the plurality of fibers of flexible actuators delivers a unique haptic feedback effect to said touch sensitive surface portion during gross deformations thereof in response to said input. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 37)
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Specification