Haptic feedback for rotary inputs

• US 9,971,407 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Holenarsipur, Prashanth, Wang, Albert, Kuboyama, Yuta
• Primary Examiner(s): DICKE, CHAD M
• Application Number:
  US14/870,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20170090572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a mechanical input configured to rotate in a first direction about a rotation axis in response to a first input at the mechanical input. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a mechanical input sensor coupled to the mechanical input and configured to sense a rotation of the mechanical input about the rotation axis. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a mechanical input actuator coupled to the mechanical input and configured to rotate the mechanical input in a second direction about the rotation axis. In some examples, the mechanical input comprises a shared driving and sensing segment. In some examples, the mechanical input sensor is configured to sense the rotation of the mechanical input at the shared driving and sensing segment. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator is configured to generate magnetic fields for rotating the mechanical input at the shared driving and sensing segment. In some examples, the mechanical input is further configured to translate along the rotation axis in response to a second input. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator comprises at least one piezoelectric element configured to allow the mechanical input to translate along the rotation axis. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator comprises at least one piezoelectric element configured to rotate the mechanical input in the second direction about the rotation axis.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a mechanical input configured to rotate in a first direction about a rotation axis in response to a first input at the mechanical input;

an actuator coupled to the mechanical input and configured to generate magnetic fields for rotating the mechanical input in a second direction about the rotation axis,

a mechanical input sensor coupled to the mechanical input and configured to sense a rotation of the mechanical input about the rotation axis, wherein sensing the rotation of the mechanical input at the mechanical input sensor occurs through a gap in a drive coil arrangement disposed around the mechanical input; and

wherein a drive pattern for generating magnetic fields in the drive coil arrangement is configured to provide a first drive sequence when a first portion of the mechanical input is located near the drive coil arrangement, and to provide a second drive sequence when the first portion of the mechanical input is located near the gap.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input comprises a shared driving and sensing element and the shared driving and sensing segment includes at least one magnet.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the mechanical input corresponds to a location of a magnet included in the mechanical input.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the mechanical input sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to sense the rotation of the mechanical input by sensing movement of a pattern disposed on the shared driving and sensing element through the gap, and at least a portion of the pattern disposed on the shared driving and sensing element corresponds to a location of a magnet included in the shared driving and sensing element.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input is configured to translate along the rotation axis in response to a second input.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

sense a rotation of a mechanical input in a first direction about a rotation axis resulting from an input at the mechanical input, wherein sensing the rotation occurs through a gap in a drive coil arrangement disposed around the mechanical input; and

rotate the mechanical input in a second direction about the rotation axis by providing a first drive sequence for generating magnetic fields in the drive coil arrangement when a first portion of the mechanical input is located near the drive coil arrangement and providing a second drive sequence when the first portion of the mechanical input is located near the gap.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein:

the mechanical input comprises a shared driving and sensing element and the shared driving and sensing element includes at least one magnet.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the mechanical input is configured to translate along the rotation axis in response to a second input.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the mechanical input corresponds to a location of a magnet included in the mechanical input.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein:

the mechanical input sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to sense the rotation of the mechanical input by sensing movement of a pattern disposed on the shared driving and sensing element through the gap, and at least a portion of the pattern disposed on the shared driving and sensing element corresponds to a location of a magnet included in the shared driving and sensing element.

11. A method comprising the steps of:

sensing a rotation of a mechanical input in a first direction about a rotation axis resulting from an input at the mechanical input, wherein sensing the rotation occurs through a gap in a drive coil arrangement disposed around the mechanical input; and

rotating the mechanical input in a second direction about the rotation axis by providing a first drive sequence for generating magnetic fields in the drive coil arrangement when a first portion of the mechanical input is located near the drive coil arrangement and providing a second drive sequence when the first portion of the mechanical input is located near the gap.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the mechanical input comprises a shared driving and sensing element and the shared driving and sensing element includes at least one magnet.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the mechanical input is configured to translate along the rotation axis in response to a second input.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the mechanical input corresponds to a location of a magnet included in the mechanical input.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the mechanical input sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to sense the rotation of the mechanical input by sensing movement of a pattern disposed on the shared driving and sensing element through the gap, and at least a portion of the pattern disposed on the shared driving and sensing element corresponds to a location of a magnet included in the shared driving and sensing element.