Tactile Feedback in an Electronic Device

• US 20170094636A1
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony, Hodge, Andrew Bart, Zadesky, Stephen P., Lindahl, Aram, Guetta, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,123,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication

Abstract

An electronic device for providing tactile feedback is provided. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback using any suitable approach, including for example vibration, heat, electrical, visual, or any other type of feedback. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to detecting any particular status of the electronic device, receiving any particular input, or detecting any suitable communication received by the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to identifying the current network of the device, the status of a particular electronic device component, or any other electronic device status. As another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular type of communication, or in response to receiving a communication from a particular contact. As still another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular user input, or to detecting a user'"'"'s finger on a particular portion of the electronic device.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An electronic notification device, comprising:

a communication unit;

a notification component; and

a processing unit coupled to the communication unit and the notification component, wherein

the electronic notification device is in communication with a first electronic device; and

the processing unit is configured to;

receive, from the communication unit, a status of a communications operation between the first electronic device and a second electronic device; and

cause a notification regarding the status of the communications operation to be produced using the notification component.

22. The electronic notification device of claim 21, wherein the notification comprises a tactile output.

23. The electronic notification device of claim 21, wherein the notification comprises an audio output.

24. The electronic notification device of claim 21, wherein the notification is user defined.

25. The electronic notification device of claim 21, wherein the processing unit receives instructions regarding a type of the notification to provide regarding the status.

26. The electronic notification device of claim 21, wherein the status of the communications operation is associated with an amount remaining in an associated communication account.

27. The electronic notification device of claim 21, wherein the notification component comprises a vibrating component.

28. The electronic notification device of claim 21, wherein the status of the communications operation comprises an indication regarding a type of data involved in the communications operation.

29. An electronic notification accessory, comprising:

a communication unit;

a haptic touch screen; and

a processing unit coupled to the communication unit and the haptic touch screen, wherein

the electronic notification accessory is in communication with a first electronic device; and

the processing unit;

receives, from the communication unit, a status of a communications operation involving the first electronic device; and

causes the haptic touch screen to produce haptic output regarding the status of the communications operation.

30. The electronic notification accessory of claim 29, wherein the processing unit further causes the haptic touch screen to produce a visual output regarding the status of the communications operation.

31. The electronic notification accessory of claim 30, wherein the visual output includes a contact name associated with a source of the communications operation.

32. The electronic notification accessory of claim 29, wherein the status of the communications operation indicates that the first electronic device is switching between communications networks.

33. The electronic notification accessory of claim 29, wherein the status of the communications operation indicates a duration of the communications operation.

34. The electronic notification accessory of claim 29, wherein the status of the communications operation indicates a failure related to the communications operation.

35. An electronic device, comprising:

a communication unit; and

a processing unit coupled to the communication unit, wherein

the electronic device is in communication with another electronic device; and

the processing unit is configured to;

determine a status of a communications operation between the electronic device and the other electronic device; and

cause an instruction to be transmitted to an electronic notification device using the communication unit, the instruction instructing the electronic notification device to provide a notification regarding the status of the communications operation.

36. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the electronic device and the other electronic device have enhanced functionality when wirelessly coupled.

37. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the status of the communications operation comprises a received message.

38. The electronic device of claim 37, wherein the instruction is to provide a first notification when the received message is from a first group of senders and to provide a second notification when the received message is from a second group of senders.

39. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the status of the communications operation comprises an electronic mail communications operation.

40. The electronic device of claim 35, wherein the status of the communications operation comprises an incoming telephone call.