Electronic device and tactile touch screen

• US 8,217,903 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Ma, ZhongMing, Lowles, Robert, Hui, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US11/934,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/161, 345/167
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

An electronic device includes a base, a touch screen display, a shape memory alloy and operational components. The touch screen display is connected to the base and moveable relative to the base and includes a display device and a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device and connected to a controller for determining a touch event to the touch-sensitive input surface. The shape memory alloy is disposed between the base and the display device and is configured to change shape in response to conduction of an electric current to cause movement of the display device relative to the base. The operational components include a processor between the base and the touch screen display. The processor is operatively connected to the controller, the display device and the shape memory alloy for causing conduction of current through the shape memory alloy in response to the touch event, resulting in movement of the display relative to the base.

Claims

1. A touch screen display unit comprising:

a base;

a display device coupled to the base and moveable relative to the base;

a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device for determining a touch event thereto; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy wires disposed between the base and the display device, a respective one of the plurality of the wires located near each of four corners of the display device, the shape memory alloy wires each configured to change shape in response to conduction of electric current to cause movement of the display device relative to the base,

wherein the touch event causes conduction of electric current through at least one of the shape memory alloy wires determined based on location of the touch event, resulting in movement of the display device and touch-sensitive input surface relative to the base.

2. The touch screen display unit according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy wires are each configured to shrink in response to conduction of electric current therethrough.

3. The touch screen display unit according to claim 1, comprising a controller for determining a location of the touch event.

4. The touch screen display unit according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy wires comprise muscle wires.

5. The touch screen display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display device is arranged such that electric current is conducted through each of the plurality of wires located near each of the four corners of the display device in response to the location of the touch event being near a center of the touch sensitive input surface.

6. The touch screen display unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the wires are coil-spring shaped.

7. The touch screen display unit according to claim 1, comprising a frame spaced from the base by intermediary sidewalls and framing the display device and touch-sensitive input surface.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a base;

a touch screen display coupled to the base and moveable relative to the base, the touch screen display comprising a display device and a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device and coupled to a controller for determining a touch event to the touch-sensitive input surface;

a plurality of shape memory alloy wires disposed between the base and the display device, a respective one of the plurality of the wires located near each of four corners of the display device, the shape memory alloy wires each configured to change shape in response to conduction of an electric current to cause movement of the display device relative to the base;

a processor between the base and the touch screen display and operatively coupled to the controller, the display device and the shape memory alloy wires for causing conduction of current through at least one of the shape memory alloy wires determined based on location of the touch event, resulting in movement of the touch screen display relative to the base.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, comprising a mechanical stop for limiting a range of motion of the touch screen display in the direction of the base.

10. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the shape memory alloy is configured to shrink in response to conduction of electric current therethrough.

11. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the shape memory alloy wires comprise muscle wires.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein display device is arranged such that electric current is conducted through each of the plurality of wires located near each of the four corners of the display device in response to the location of the touch event being near a center of the touch screen display.

13. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein each of the wires is coil-spring shaped.

14. The electronic device according to claim 8, comprising a frame spaced from the base by intermediary sidewalls and framing the display device and touch-sensitive input surface.

15. A method of controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a touch input at a touch screen display;

determining a location of the touch input on the touch screen display;

causing current conduction through at least one of a plurality of shape memory alloy wires disposed between a base and the touch screen display of the electronic device in response to receipt of the touch input, a respective one of the plurality shape memory alloy wires located near each of four corners of the touch screen display, wherein the at least one of the shape memory alloy wires is determined based on location of the touch input, and the current conduction resulting in a change in shape of the shape memory alloy to cause movement of the touch screen display relative to the base.