Multiple actuation handheld device with first and second haptic actuator

• US 8,982,068 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Grant, Danny A., Heubel, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAWLEY, KEITH L
• Application Number:
  US13/475,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345173-179, 715700-702, 715766-767, 715/773, 715/803, 715/856, 715859-860, 178 1803- 1811, 341/20, 341/33, 310/311, 310/320
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

A device includes a housing, a processor that is coupled to the housing, the processor is configured to process a software program stored in a memory. A touch screen is coupled to the housing and configured to display graphical objects, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user'"'"'s interaction with the touch screen is provided to the processor. A first actuator is coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing. The first actuator is configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen upon receiving a first activating signal from the processor. A second actuator is coupled to the housing and configured to output a second haptic effect to the housing upon receiving a second activating signal from the processor. The first activating signal is associated with a foreground event and the second activating signal is associated with a background event occurring in the software program.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing;

a processor coupled to the housing, the processor configured to process a software program stored in a memory;

a touch screen coupled to the housing, the touch screen configured to display graphical objects, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user'"'"'s interaction with the touch screen is provided to the processor;

a first actuator coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing, the first actuator configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen in response to receiving an actuator signal from the processor; and

a second actuator coupled to the housing, the second actuator configured to output a second haptic effect to the housing in response to receiving the actuator signal from the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine the occurrence of an event in a software application,

determine whether the user is contacting the touch screen,

determine whether the event is a foreground event or a background event, and

responsive to determining that the event is a foreground event and that the user is contacting the touch screen, transmit an actuator signal to the first actuator,

responsive to determining that the event is a foreground event and that the user is not contacting the touch screen, transmit the actuator signal to the second actuator;

or

responsive to determining that the event is a background event, transmit the actuator signal to the second actuator.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the foreground event occurs as a result of the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch screen.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the user touches the touch screen with a stylus.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator outputs the first haptic effect and the second actuator outputs the second haptic effect at substantially the same time.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator outputs the first haptic effect and the second actuator outputs the second haptic effect at different times.

6. A method for operating a mobile device comprising:

identifying a haptic event occurring in association with an interaction within a graphical environment displayed on a touch screen;

determining whether a user is contacting the touch screen,

determining whether the haptic event is a foreground event or a background event; and

if the event is a foreground event and the user is contacting the touch screen, transmitting an actuator signal to a first actuator coupled to the touch screen,

if the event is a foreground event and the user is not contacting the touch screen, transmitting the actuator signal to a second actuator coupled to the housing, or

if the event is a background event, transmitting the actuator signal to the second actuator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the foreground event occurs as a result of the contact with the touch screen.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first actuator only outputs the haptic effect when user contacts the touch screen with a stylus.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator output respective haptic effects at substantially the same time.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator output respective haptic effects at different times.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, the program code configured to be executed by a processor, the program code comprising:

program code for identifying a haptic event occurring in a software application executed on a device, the software application configured to display a graphical environment through a touch screen of a housing of the mobile device;

program code for determining whether a user is contacting the touch screen;

program code for determining whether the haptic event is a foreground event or a background event; and

program code for, responsive to determining that the event is a foreground event and that the user is contacting the touch screen, transmitting an actuator signal to a first actuator coupled to the touch screen,

program code for, responsive to determining that the event is a foreground event and that the user is not contacting the touch screen, transmitting the actuator signal to a second actuator coupled to the housing, or

program code for, responsive to determining that the event is a background event, transmitting the actuator signal to the second actuator.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the foreground event occurs as a result of the contact with the touch screen.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first actuator only outputs the haptic effect when the user contacts the touch screen with a stylus.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator output respective haptic effects at substantially the same time.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator output respective haptic effects at different times.