Haptic feedback using a keyboard device

• US 20040130526A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a keyboard device disposed in the housing; and

an actuator coupled to the housing;

the actuator configured to receive a control signal responsive to a key entry on the keyboard device and output a force to the housing that effects haptic feedback.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback includes an inertial force that is substantially perpendicular to a surface on which the housing rests.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the inertial force is output by moving an inertial mass.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the actuator is coupled to the housing by a flexure and moves as the mass.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one compliant element coupled to the housing and adapted to support the housing on the surface.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first portion coupled to a second portion, the haptic feedback causing the first portion to move with respect to the second portion.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises one of a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a processor in communication with the keyboard device and the actuator, the processor operable to receive an input responsive to the key entry on the keyboard device and output the control signal to the actuator.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a processor in communication with the keyboard device and the actuator, the processor operable to generate the control signal based on a command related to the key entry on the keyboard device and to output the control signal to the actuator.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the host computer further operates to output an auxiliary control signal to the actuator that is related with an input from an auxiliary input device, the actuator outputting an auxiliary haptic feedback to the housing.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the auxiliary input device comprises one of a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, and a touchpad.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a keyboard device, in communication with the processor; and

an actuator, coupled to the keyboard device;

the actuator configured to receive a control signal from the processor responsive to a key entry on the keyboard device and output a force to the actuator that effects haptic feedback.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the processor is included in a host computer.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the processor is coupled to the keyboard device is operable to receive a command related to the key entry on the keyboard device and convert the command to the control signal.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises one of an inertial actuator, a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one compliant element coupled to the keyboard device and adapted to support the keyboard device on a surface.