Haptic interface for touch screen embodiments

• US 8,188,981 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Shahoian, Erik J., Schena, Bruce M., Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US11/981,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179, 178 1801- 1809, 715/701, 715/702
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric

Abstract

A haptic feedback touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that provides position information to a computer based on a location of user contact. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position information, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user. The actuator can move the touchpad laterally, or a separate surface member can be actuated. A flat E-core actuator, piezoelectric actuator, or other types of actuators can be used to provide forces. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Claims

1. An electronic communication device comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen coupled to the housing, the touch screen configured to display a graphical object therethrough;

a first actuator disposed within the housing at a first location of the housing;

a second actuator disposed within the housing at a second location of the housing, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are of the same type,

the first actuator or the second actuator configured to output a force when activated, wherein the force is based on the first or second location of the housing and wherein a first haptic effect associated with the force is imparted to the touch screen via the housing.

2. The electronic communication device of claim 1, wherein the force comprises a particular frequency that is amplified by the housing at the first or the second location.

3. The electronic communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration isolation system that isolates the force from at least one other location of the housing different from the first or the second location.

4. The electronic communication device of claim 1, wherein the force is based on a level of compliance of the first or the second location of the housing.

5. The electronic communication device of claim 1, wherein the first or the second location acts as a sounding board.

6. The electronic communication device of claim 1, wherein the first or the second actuator comprises an inertial linear actuator or an inertial rotary actuator.

7. The electronic communication device of claim 6, wherein the first or the second actuator is coupled to the housing via a flexure.

8. The electronic communication device of claim 3, wherein the electronic communication device comprises a laptop computer, a handheld computing device, or a wearable computing device.

9. An electronic communication device comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen coupled to the housing at a first location of the housing, the touch screen configured to display a graphical object therethrough;

a first actuator coupled to the touch screen;

a second actuator disposed within the housing at a second location of the housing, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are of the same type,

the first actuator or the second actuator configured to output a force when activated, wherein the force is based on the first or the second location, and wherein a first haptic effect associated with the force is imparted to the housing via the touch screen.

10. The electronic communication device of claim 9, wherein the force comprises a particular frequency that is amplified by the housing at the first or the second location.

11. The electronic communication device of claim 9, further comprising:

a vibration isolation system that isolates the force from at least one other location of the housing different from the first or second location.

12. The electronic communication device of claim 9, wherein the force is based on a level of compliance of the first or second location of the housing.

13. The electronic communication device of claim 9, wherein the first or second location acts as a sounding board.

14. The electronic communication device of claim 9, wherein the first or second actuator comprises an inertial linear actuator or an inertial rotary actuator.

15. The electronic communication device of claim 14, wherein the first or second actuator is coupled to the touch screen via a flexure.

16. The electronic communication device of claim 9, wherein the electronic communication device comprises a laptop computer, a handheld computing device, or a wearable computing device.

17. A method, comprising:

displaying, by a touch screen, a graphical object, wherein the touch screen is coupled to a housing,

wherein the housing is coupled to a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator disposed within the housing at a first location of the housing and the second actuator disposed within the housing at a second location of the housing, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are of the same type; and

outputting, by the first or the second actuator, a force when activated, wherein the force is based on the first or the second location of the housing and wherein a first haptic effect associated with the force is imparted to the touch screen via the housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the force comprises a particular frequency that is amplified by the housing at the first or the second location.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

isolating, by a vibration isolation system, the force from at least one other location of the housing different from the first or the second location.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the force is based on a level of compliance of the first or the second location of the housing.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first or the second location acts as a sounding board.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first or the second actuator comprises an inertial linear actuator or an inertial rotary actuator.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first or the second actuator is coupled to the housing via a flexure.