SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TACTILE FEEDBACK TO A USER OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090303022A1
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fyke, Steven, Orr, Kevin, GRIFFIN, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,924,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A system for providing tactile feedback for an input device in an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: an input device having a first input region for receiving a user action from the user; a surface associated with the input device and covering at least a part of the first input region; an input signal generator associated with the input device; and a physical feature associated with the input region. The physical feature is located on the surface, provides a second input region for receiving the user action and provides a tactile feedback sense to the user when the user contacts the second region. The input signal generator generates a first input signal when the user touches the first input region while not touching second input region and generates a second input signal when the user touches simultaneously the first and the second input regions.

Claims

1. A system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device, comprising:

an input device in the electronic device having a first input region for receiving a user action from said user;

a surface associated with said input device and covering at least a part of said first input region;

an input signal generator associated with said input device; and

a physical feature associated with said input region, said physical feature being located on said surface, providing a second input region for receiving said user action and providing a tactile feedback to said user when said user contacts said second region,

wherein

said input signal generator generates a first input signal when said user action comprises said user touching said first input region while not touching said second input region; and

said input signal generator generates a second input signal when said user action comprises said user touching simultaneously said first input region and said second input region.

2. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input signal generator generates a third input signal when said user action comprises said user touching said second input region and simultaneously not touching said first input region.

3. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input device is a touchpad generating voltage signals for said input signal generator.

4. The system for providing tactile feedback for an input device in an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user action is a scan of a finger across said touchpad and over said nodule, where said user action generates said first, second and third input signals within a preset time range.

5. The system for providing tactile feedback for an input device in an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first, second and third input signals are evaluated for their location, time and order to determine whether said first, second and third input signals match an input signal pattern.

6. The system for providing tactile feedback for an input device in an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said physical feature is a nodule located on said surface.

7. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second signal is affected by an air gap existing between said first input region and said second input region when said user action comprises said user touching simultaneously said surface and said second input region.

8. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second signal varies on a size of the air gap, an area of said first input region contacted during the user action and an area of said second input region contacted by during the user action.

9. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second signal is reduced in magnitude as said air gap increases in size.

10. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second signal is increased in magnitude as said air gap increases in size.

11. The system for providing tactile feedback for an input device in an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surface has a well around said first input region and said physical feature is a nodule located in said well.

12. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second signal is affected by an air gap existing between said first input region and said second input region when said user action comprises said user touching simultaneously said surface and said second input region.

13. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second signal varies on a size of the air gap, an area of first input region contacted during the user action and an area of the second input region contacted by during the user action.

14. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second signal is reduced in magnitude as said air gap increases in size.

15. The system for providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second signal is increased in magnitude as said air gap increases in size.

16. A method of providing tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device having an input device having a first input region for receiving a user action from said user, a surface associated with said input device and covering at least a part of said first input region, an input signal generator associated with said input device, and a physical feature associated with said input region, said physical feature being located on said surface, providing a second input region for receiving said user action and providing a tactile feedback to said user when said user contacts said second region, the method comprising:

generating by said input signal generator a first input signal when said user action comprises said user touching said first input region while not touching said second input region; and

generating by said input signal generator a second input signal when said user action comprises said user touching simultaneously said first input region and said second input region.