Method and apparatus for providing tactile sensations

• US 8,159,461 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Kenneth M., Vassallo, Steven P., Goldenberg, Alex S., Jasso, Alexander, Tierling, Kollin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo L
• Application Number:
  US12/894,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20110102340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345/163, 345167-169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22

Abstract

Products and processes for providing tactile sensations to input devices or electronic devices are provided. Input devices include mechanical input devices (such as, for example, mechanical switches) and non-mechanical input devices (such as, for example, touchpads). Tactile feedback is provided by using an actuator or other means in communication with the input device or electronic device. A controller may be employed to receive signals from the input devices and control the actuator. Tactile feedback to an input device or electronic device may be provided in response to one or more events or situations. Such an event or situation may be any one designated. Examples of such events and situations include the level of pressure placed on an input device; the availability or lack of availability of a function associated with an input device; and the function, menu, or mode of operation associated with an input device'"'"'s activation. A variety of feedback types and combinations may be selected.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

outputting a display signal configured to display a graphical object on a touch-sensitive input device;

receiving a sensor signal from the touch-sensitive input device, the sensor signal indicating an object contacting the touch-sensitive input device;

determining a size of a contact area on the touch-sensitive input device made by the object;

determining an interaction between the object contacting the touch-sensitive input device and the graphical object based at least in part on the size of the contact area; and

generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the interaction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the actuator signal is configured to cause a haptic effect to be output.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator signal is generated when the object contacts the touch-sensitive device at a location corresponding to the graphical object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator signal is generated when the object contacts the touch-sensitive device at a location not corresponding to the graphical object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display signal is configured to display a keypad comprising a plurality of softkeys.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the haptic effect is caused to be output when a user contacts the touch-sensitive device at a location corresponding to a softkey in a home position.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of softkeys comprises one softkey for each digit from 0 to 9.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of softkeys comprises the key configuration of a standard 101-key keyboard.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical object comprises a first graphical object and a second graphical object, the haptic effect comprises a first haptic effect and a second haptic effect, and wherein the first haptic effect is configured to be output when the object contacts the first graphical object, and the second haptic effect is configured to be output when the object contacts the second graphical object.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a rate of change of the size of the contact area and determining the interaction is further based at least in part on the rate of change of the size of the contact area.

11. A system, comprising:

a touch sensitive input device configured to output a sensor signal indicating an object contacting the touch-sensitive input device;

an actuator coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, the actuator configured to receive an actuator signal and output a haptic effect to the touch-sensitive surface basted at least in part on the actuator signal; and

a processor in communication with the sensor and the actuator, the processor configured to;

output a display signal configured to display a graphical object on the touch-sensitive input device;

receive the sensor signal from the touch-sensitive input device;

determine a size of a contact area on the touch-sensitive input device made by the object;

determine an interaction between the object contacting the touch-sensitive surface and the graphical object based at least in part on the size of the contact area,

generate the actuator signal based at least in part on the interaction; and

transmit the actuator signal to the actuator.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to generate the actuator signal when the object contacts the touch-sensitive input device at a location corresponding to the graphical object.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to output the actuator signal when the object contacts the touch-sensitive device at a location not corresponding to the graphical object.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the display signal is configured to display a keypad comprising a plurality of softkeys.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the haptic effect is caused to be output when a user contacts the touch-sensitive device at a location corresponding to a softkey in a home position.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of softkeys comprises one softkey for each digit from 0 to 9.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of softkeys comprises the key configuration of a standard 101-key keyboard.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical object comprises a first graphical object and a second graphical object, the haptic effect comprises a first haptic effect and a second haptic effect, and wherein the first haptic effect is configured to be output when the object contacts the first graphical object, and the second haptic effect is configured to be output when the object contacts the second graphical object.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a rate of change of the size of the contact area and determine the interaction based at least in part on the rate of change of the size of the contact area.

20. A computer-readable medium comprising program code, comprising:

program code for outputting a display signal configured to display a graphical object on a touch-sensitive input device;

program code for receiving a sensor signal from the touch-sensitive input device, the sensor signal indicating an object contacting the touch-sensitive input device;

program code for determining a size of a contact area on the touch-sensitive input device made by the object;

program code for determining an interaction between the object contacting the touch-sensitive input device and the graphical object based at least in part on the size of the contact area; and

program code for generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the interaction, the actuator signal configured to cause a haptic effect to be output.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the actuator signal is generated when the object contacts the touch-sensitive device at a location corresponding to the graphical object.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the actuator signal is generated when the object contacts the touch-sensitive device at a location not corresponding to the graphical object.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising program code for determining a rate of change of the size of the contact area and wherein the program code for determining the interaction further comprises program code for determining the interaction based at least in part on the rate of change of the size of the contact area.