Piezo-actuated virtual buttons for touch surfaces

• US 10,578,499 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Picciotto, Carl, Mail, Scott, Johnson, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunlap, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US13/769,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,571 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-174, 345156
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/00 Measuring force or stress, in general measuring force due to impact G01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Systems and methods of creating a touch sensitive surface structure comprising a piezo structure in communication with a deformable surface such that the piezo structure, or any suitable pressure sensing device, is capable of sensing pressure from a touch upon the deformable surface and communicating that pressure signal to an actuating circuit. The actuating circuit, upon receiving a suitable pressure signal, sends a piezo actuating signal to the piezo structure. The piezo structure, upon receiving the piezo actuating signal, is capable of communicating a mechanical signal to the deformable surface, sufficient for a person'"'"'s finger to feel a “click” and/or haptic sensation. In one embodiment, the piezo actuating signal comprises a first slow charging portion and a second fast discharging portion, sufficient for the piezo structure to communicate the click and/or haptic sensation.

Claims

1. A piezo-actuated structure, the piezo-actuated structure comprising:

a deformable layer formed from a glass material;

a piezo layer, the piezo layer mechanically mated to the deformable layer and capable of transmitting a haptic response to the deformable layer causing the glass material of the deformable layer to bend and simulate an actuated dome switch;

an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer mechanically mated to the deformable layer and further the intermediate layer capable of providing mechanical communication between the deformable layer and said piezo layer; and

a capacitive sensing layer, the capacitive sensing layer capable of triggering varying levels of haptic response transmitted by the piezo layer.

2. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the piezo layer comprises one of a group, the group being:

piezoceramic material, PZT, electroactive polymers and electromechanical polymers.

3. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the glass material of the deformable layer comprises gorilla glass.

4. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the piezo layer is mechanically mated to the deformable layer by one of a group, the group being:

adhesive, pusher structure, support structures and mounting structures.

5. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the piezo-actuated structure further comprises:

support structures, the support structures mechanically mated to the piezo-actuated structure and further capable of supporting the piezo layer.

6. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the piezo-actuated structure further comprises:

a pressure sensing device, the pressure sensing device being one of a group, the group being;

the piezo layer, piezo-actuated button, piezo-actuated bender, piezo-actuated bar, capacitive sensing device, force sensitive resistors and piezo-resistive device.

7. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the piezo-actuated structure comprises a bimorph configuration and further at least a first piezo layer and a second piezo layer mechanically mated to each other, the first piezo layer on top of the second piezo layer.

8. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the piezo-actuated structure comprises a unimorph configuration and further a clamping structure, such that a first end of the piezo-actuated structure is clamped by the clamping structure and a second end of the piezo-actuated structure is capable of free movement.

9. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 1 wherein the deformable layer is capable of a first deflection range upon activation of piezo layer.

10. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 9 wherein the piezo layer is capable of being activated by a first electric waveform;

and further the piezo layer is capable of deflecting a first deflection range upon activation of the first electric waveform.

11. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 10 wherein the first waveform comprises a first fast charging portion and a second slow discharging portion.

12. The piezo-actuated structure of claim 10 wherein the first waveform comprises a first slow charging portion and a second fast discharging portion.

13. A method for actuating a piezo-actuated structure, the piezo-actuated structure comprising:

a piezo layer;

a deformable layer formed from a glass material;

an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer mechanically mated to the deformable layer and further the intermediate layer being capable of providing mechanical communication between the deformable layer and the piezo layer;

a capacitive sensing layer, the capacitive sensing layer capable of triggering varying levels of haptic response transmitted by the piezo layer; and

the piezo layer mechanically mated to the deformable layer, the method being;

receiving a first pressure applied to the deformable layer and transmitted through the intermediate layer to the piezo layer;

in response to the receiving of the first pressure applied to the deformable layer, sending a piezo actuating signal from an actuation circuit to the piezo layer; and

communicating a mechanical signal to the deformable layer by movement of the piezo layer in response to the piezo actuating signal causing the glass material of the deformable layer to bend and simulate an actuated dome switch.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving the first pressure further comprises receiving pressure from a finger pressing against the touch sensitive surface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the intermediate layer providing mechanical communication between the deformable layer and the piezo layer further comprises transmitting a mechanical deformation from the touch sensitive surface to a pressure sensing device, the pressure sensing device being one of a group, the group being:

the piezo layer, piezo-actuated button, piezo-actuated bender, piezo-actuated bar, capacitive sensing device, force sensitive resistors and piezo-resistive device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein sending a piezo actuating signal further comprises sending an actuating waveform to the piezo layer.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein sending an actuating waveform to the piezo layer further comprises sending a waveform having a first fast charging portion and a second slow discharging portion.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein sending an actuating waveform to the piezo layer further comprises sending a first slow charging portion and a second fast discharging portion.

19. A touch sensitive surface structure comprising:

a touch sensitive surface, the touch sensitive surface further being a deformable layer formed from a glass material;

a piezo layer, the piezo layer in mechanical communication with the deformable layer and capable of sensing pressure and transmitting a haptic response to the deformable layer causing the glass material of the deformable layer to bend and simulate an actuated dome switch;

an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer mechanically mated to the deformable layer and further the intermediate layer capable of providing mechanical communication between the deformable layer and the piezo layer;

a capacitive sensing layer, the capacitive sensing layer capable of triggering varying levels of haptic response transmitted by the piezo layer; and

a piezo actuating circuit, the piezo actuating circuit in electrical communication with the piezo layer and further wherein the piezo actuating circuit is capable of sending a piezo actuating signal to the piezo layer in response to sensing a pressure applied by a finger.

20. The touch sensitive surface structure of claim 19 wherein the piezo actuating signal comprises a waveform having a first slow charging portion and a second fast discharging portion.