Input with haptic feedback

• US 9,921,652 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Moussette, Camille, Morrell, John, Kerr, Duncan Robert, Jackson, Benjamin G., Taylor, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US14/754,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20160378187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• 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 3/0362 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: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a mechanical input configured to move in a first direction in response to an input at the mechanical input. A mechanical input sensor is coupled to the mechanical input and configured to sense the input at the mechanical input based on the movement of the mechanical input in the first direction. A mechanical input actuator is coupled to the mechanical input and configured to displace the mechanical input in a second direction, different from the first direction. In some examples, the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. In some examples, the mechanical input comprises a rotary input configured to rotate in the first direction in response to the input. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator is configured to displace the mechanical input in the second direction while the mechanical input is moving in the first direction.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a mechanical input configured to move in a first direction in response to an input at the mechanical input;

a mechanical input sensor coupled to the mechanical input and configured to sense the input at the mechanical input based on the movement of the mechanical input in the first direction;

a mechanical input actuator coupled to the mechanical input and configured to displace the mechanical input in a second direction, different from the first direction; and

a processor coupled to the mechanical input sensor, the mechanical input actuator, and a display, wherein the processor is capable of;

in accordance with a determination that the mechanical input is providing a first input functionality for the electronic device, controlling the mechanical input actuator to displace the mechanical input in the second direction with a first motion characteristic; and

in accordance with a determination that the mechanical input is providing a second input functionality for the electronic device, different from the first input functionality, controlling the mechanical input actuator to displace the mechanical input in the second direction with a second motion characteristic, different from the first motion characteristic.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input comprises a rotary input configured to rotate in the first direction in response to the input.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input actuator is configured to displace the mechanical input in the second direction while the mechanical input is moving in the first direction.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input sensor and the mechanical input actuator are separate components, and the mechanical input actuator is configured to displace the mechanical input in the second direction by displacing the mechanical input sensor in the second direction.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input actuator comprises:

a shaft coupled to the mechanical input; and

a piezoelectric element coupled to the shaft, wherein a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element causes displacement of the shaft and the mechanical input in the second direction.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input actuator comprises:

a shaft coupled to the mechanical input, the shaft including a plurality of magnetic elements configured to create one or more magnetic fields between the magnetic elements; and

one or more coils configured to modulate the one or more magnetic fields, wherein a current applied to the one or more coils causes modulation of the one or more magnetic fields and displacement of the shaft and the mechanical input in the second direction.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of adjusting the first and second characteristics of the displacement of the mechanical input in the second direction based on a context of the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second motion characteristics of the displacement comprise one or more of an amplitude of the displacement, a duration of the displacement, a frequency of the displacement, and a velocity of the displacement.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first input functionality corresponds to a first content displayed on the display of the electronic device, and the second input functionality corresponds to a second content displayed on the display of the electronic device, different from the first content.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a mechanical input means for receiving an input and configured to move in a first direction in response to the input;

a mechanical input sensor means for sensing the input at the mechanical input means based on the movement of the mechanical input means in the first direction; and

a mechanical input actuator means for displacing the mechanical input means in a second direction, different from the first direction; and

a processor coupled to the mechanical input sensor means, the mechanical input actuator means, and a display, wherein the processor is capable of;

in accordance with a determination that the mechanical input means is providing a first input functionality for the electronic device, controlling the mechanical input actuator means to displace the mechanical input means in the second direction with a first motion characteristic; and

in accordance with a determination that the mechanical input means is providing a second input functionality for the electronic device, different from the first input functionality, controlling the mechanical input actuator means to displace the mechanical input means in the second direction with a second motion characteristic, different from the first motion characteristic.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the mechanical input means is configured to rotate in the first direction in response to the input.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the mechanical input actuator means is for displacing the mechanical input means in the second direction while the mechanical input means is moving in the first direction.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the mechanical input sensor means and the mechanical input actuator means are separate components, and the mechanical input actuator means is for displacing the mechanical input means in the second direction by displacing the mechanical input sensor means in the second direction.

16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further capable of adjusting one or more characteristics of the displacement of the mechanical input means in the second direction based on a context of the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first and second motion characteristics of the displacement comprise one or more of an amplitude of the displacement, a duration of the displacement, a frequency of the displacement, and a velocity of the displacement.

18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first input functionality corresponds to a first content displayed on the display of the electronic device, and the second input functionality corresponds to a second content displayed on the display of the electronic device, different from the first content.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

sense an input at a mechanical input by a mechanical input sensor based on the movement of the mechanical input in the first direction; and

displace the mechanical input in a second direction, different from the first direction;

in accordance with a determination that the mechanical input is providing a first input functionality for the electronic device, control the mechanical input actuator to displace the mechanical input in the second direction with a first motion characteristic; and

in accordance with a determination that the mechanical input is providing a second input functionality for the electronic device, different from the first input functionality, control the mechanical input actuator to displace the mechanical input in the second direction with a second motion characteristic, different from the first motion characteristic.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the first input functionality corresponds to a first content displayed on a display of an electronic device, and the second input functionality corresponds to a second content displayed on the display of the electronic device, different from the first content.