ELECTROVIBRATION FOR TOUCH SURFACES

• US 20110285667A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: HARRISON, Chris, POUPYREV, Ivan, ISRAR, Ali, BAU, Olivier
• Granted Patent: US 9,501,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a conductive surface and an insulation surface disposed on the conductive surface. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to cause a signal to be coupled to the conductive surface such that a tactile sensation is perceived in a digit that slides on the insulation surface.

Claims

1. A method for generating a signal, the method comprising:

detecting an impedance value of a user in contact with a device relative to a ground;

generating a signal based on the impedance value; and

causing the signal to be coupled to the user such that a tactile sensation is perceived in at least one digit that slides on an insulation surface of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a conductive surface coupled to a path to the ground.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the signal to the user comprises providing the signal directly to a back surface of the device or coupling the signal to the back surface via capacitive, resistive, and/or inductive elements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the impedance value is based on at least one of a moisture of the digit and an amount of surface contact between the digit and the insulation surface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in the impedance value; and

in response to detecting the change, modifying the signal that is coupled to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the tactile sensation that is perceived remains constant after modifying the signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the signal comprises modifying an amplitude and/or DC (direct current) offset of the signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one digit comprises a finger or a conductive object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is time-varied and/or periodic.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal is modulated.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is modulated using Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) or a derivative of PAM.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal comprises a sinusoidal waveform, a square waveform, or a triangular waveform.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal comprises an alternating current (AC) signal.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal includes a direct current (DC) offset.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal is generated by combining a low frequency signal and a high frequency signal.

3. The method of claim 3, wherein the insulation surface is disposed on the conductive surface.

17. An apparatus for generating a signal, the apparatus comprising:

an insulation surface;

a sensor configured to detect an impedance value of a user in contact with the apparatus relative to a ground; and

a controller configured to;

generate a signal based on the impedance value, and

cause the signal to be coupled to the user such that a tactile sensation is perceived in at least one digit that slides on the insulation surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises an interactive table or a hand-held mobile device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a display screen that displays a graphical user interface, wherein the tactile sensation that is perceived in the at least one digit is associated with an object displayed in the graphical user interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the object comprises a key on a keypad or a text entry interface.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a display screen that displays an image associated with a painted surface, so that as the at least one digit slides on the insulation surface, the painted surface changes and the tactile sensation is modified.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the signal is based on the controller detecting that a first digit is placed in contact with the insulation surface and that a second digit is placed in contact with the insulation surface, wherein the first digit is stationary and the second digit is sliding along the insulation surface.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a change in the impedance value.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein, in response to the change, the controller modifies the signal that is coupled to the user.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein modifying the signal comprises modifying an amplitude and/or DC (direct current) offset of the signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a transistor-based amplifier configured to amplify the signal before the signal is coupled to the user, wherein modifying the signal comprises modifying a gain of the amplifier.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the amplifier is configured to maintain a DC (direct current) offset of the signal.

28. An apparatus for generating a signal, the apparatus comprising:

an insulation surface;

a sensor configured to detect an impedance value of a user in contact with the apparatus relative to a ground; and

a controller configured to;

generate a signal based on the impedance value, wherein the signal includes a DC (direct current) offset, and

cause the signal to be coupled to the user such that a tactile sensation is perceived in at least one digit that slides on the insulation surface, wherein the signal passes through an amplifier that maintains the DC offset of the signal.