Electronic device with localized haptic response

• US 8,339,250 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Je, Richard, Deokar, Itisha, Le, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/249,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/4.12, 340/825.22, 341/22, 341/27, 345/156, 345/168, 345/173, 345/175, 455/566, 116/200, 116/205, 200/502, 200/512
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• 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: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An electronic device (100) configured to provide a localized haptic response to a user is provided. The electronic device (100) includes an interface assembly (102) having a user interface surface (600) with a display (206) disposed beneath the user interface surface (600). A compliance member, such as a haptic feedback bezel (209) is disposed beneath the display (206). The compliance member includes one or more cantilever members (210) having motion generation devices (402) coupled thereto. Each cantilever member (210) includes an ell (303) that passes about the display (206) and couples to the user interface surface (600). When the motion generation device (402) is actuated, a haptic force is delivered to the user interface surface (600) through the ell (303).

Claims

1. A portable electronic device configured to provide a localized haptic feedback to a user, the portable electronic device comprising a device body, a user interface, and a compliance member having a central portion coupled to the device body and having one or more motion generation devices coupled to flexible arms extending from the central portion and engaging the user interface, wherein the flexible arms are configured as cantilever members that deflect relative to the central portion upon actuation of the one or more motion generation devices to provide a haptic impetus to the user interface.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible arms are configured geometrically to couple to a corresponding shape of each of the one or more motion generation devices, wherein each of the flexible arms comprises a force providing extension, coupled to the user interface, and configured to deliver the haptic impetus directly to the user interface upon actuation of a correspondingly coupled motion generation device.

3. An electronic device having a user interface surface and being configured to provide a localized haptic response to a user in response to user contact with the user interface surface, the electronic device comprising:

a control circuit configured to detect the user contact with the user interface surface;

a compliance member disposed within the electronic device having one or more cantilever members, each cantilever member being affixed to the user interface surface; and

one or more motion generation devices coupled to the one or more cantilever members, the one or more motion generation devices being configured to deliver the localized haptic response to the user interface surface through deflection of a corresponding cantilever member in response to actuation of at least one of the one or more motion generation devices upon the control circuit detecting the user contact with the user interface surface.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the user interface surface comprises a touch sensor operable with the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to, upon detecting the user contact, provide a motion actuation signal to the one or more motion generation devices, thereby causing the one or more cantilever members to deflect.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor having at least one electrode pair defining a capacitance, wherein the control circuit is configured to detect a change in the capacitance when an object becomes proximately located with the user interface surface.

6. The electronic device of claim 4, further comprising a force sensor layer operable with the control circuit and disposed between the compliance member and the user interface surface, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the motion actuation signal to the one or more motion generation devices upon determining a force corresponding to the user contact exceeds a predetermined minimum force threshold.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the motion actuation signal comprises an impulse.

8. An electronic device configured to provide a localized haptic response to a user, the electronic device comprising:

a device housing;

an interface assembly having a user interface surface;

a control circuit configured to detect user contact with the user interface surface;

a compliance member disposed within the device housing, the compliance member comprising one or more cantilever members extending therefrom, each of the one or more cantilever members comprising an ell configured to engage the user interface surface; and

one or more motion generation devices coupled to the one or more cantilever members;

wherein the one or more cantilever members is configured to deflect upon actuation of the one or more motion generation devices by the control circuit, thereby delivering a haptic force from the one or more of motion generation devices to the user interface surface through the ell.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising a pliant member disposed about the user interface surface and coupling the user interface surface to the device housing.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the ell is adhesively coupled to the user interface surface.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the interface assembly comprises at least one display, coupled to the interface assembly opposite the user interface surface.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one display is disposed between the user interface surface and the compliance member, wherein ells of the one or more cantilever members pass about an outer edge of the at least one display.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the compliance member comprises a unitary piece of spring metal having a plurality of cantilever members extending distally therefrom.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of cantilever members comprises a major face that is partially circular.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the unitary piece of spring metal defines apertures about the plurality of cantilever members that are each at least semicircular.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the one or more motion generation devices each comprise round piezoelectric transducers.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the round piezoelectric transducers are coupled to the plurality of cantilever members on a one to one basis.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, further comprising a flexible substrate adhesively coupled to the round piezoelectric transducers and configured to deliver actuation signals from the control circuit thereto.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the unitary piece of spring metal comprises one or more isolator arms, wherein each of the one or more isolator arms comprises a preloaded cantilever arm biased against the device housing, wherein the preloading of the one or more isolator arms is achieved by providing isolator arms bent towards a direction opposite the ell and away from a plane defined by the unitary piece of spring metal.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the one or more isolator arms is configured to be deflectable toward the plane of the unitary piece of spring metal upon actuation of the one or more motion generation devices.