Method and apparatus for multi-touch tactile touch panel actuator mechanisms
First Claim
1. A tactile touch panel comprising:
- a piezoelectric layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the piezoelectric layer is configured to receive inputs, and the second surface of the piezoelectric layer is opposite to the first surface; and
a control circuit,wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises an array of cells that are individually addressable via electrical wires that directly address each cell of the array of cells, wherein each cell of the array of cells is able to be activated independent of other cells of the array of cells, wherein at least one cell of the array of cells has piezoelectric material that is unique relative to piezoelectric material of other cells of the array of cells, the at least one cell being configured, when activated, to generate a haptic effect that is unique relative to haptic effects that the other cells are configured to generate when the other cells are activated, andwherein the control circuit is configured to individually activate one or more cells of the array of cells, and wherein the tactile touch panel is part of a vehicle dashboard.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus of actuator mechanisms for a multi-touch tactile touch panel are disclosed. The tactile touch panel includes an electrical insulated layer and a tactile layer. The top surface of the electrical insulated layer is capable of receiving an input from a user. The tactile layer includes a grid or an array of haptic cells. The top surface of the haptic layer is situated adjacent to the bottom surface of the electrical insulated layer, while the bottom surface of the haptic layer is situated adjacent to a display. Each haptic cell further includes at least one piezoelectric material, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”) element, thermal fluid pocket, MEMS pump, resonant device, variable porosity membrane, laminar flow modulation, or the like. Each haptic cell is configured to provide a haptic effect independent of other haptic cells in the tactile layer.
52 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tactile touch panel comprising:
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a piezoelectric layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the piezoelectric layer is configured to receive inputs, and the second surface of the piezoelectric layer is opposite to the first surface; and a control circuit, wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises an array of cells that are individually addressable via electrical wires that directly address each cell of the array of cells, wherein each cell of the array of cells is able to be activated independent of other cells of the array of cells, wherein at least one cell of the array of cells has piezoelectric material that is unique relative to piezoelectric material of other cells of the array of cells, the at least one cell being configured, when activated, to generate a haptic effect that is unique relative to haptic effects that the other cells are configured to generate when the other cells are activated, and wherein the control circuit is configured to individually activate one or more cells of the array of cells, and wherein the tactile touch panel is part of a vehicle dashboard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A tactile touch panel comprising:
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a display; a substantially transparent piezoelectric layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface of the piezoelectric layer is configured to receive inputs, and the second surface of the piezoelectric layer is disposed adjacent to the display; and a control circuit, wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises an array of cells that are individually addressable via electrical wires that directly address each cell of the array of cells, wherein each cell of the array of cells is able to be activated independent of other cells of the array of cells, wherein at least one cell of the array of cells has piezoelectric material that is unique relative to piezoelectric material of other cells of the array of cells, the at least one cell being configured, when activated, to generate a haptic effect that is unique relative to haptic effects that the other cells are configured to generate when the other cells are activated, and wherein the control circuit is configured to create multiple asynchronous haptic effects across a surface of the display by individually activating multiple cells of the array of cells. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification