Haptic feedback wire mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10162418-B2
Application number	US-201715399599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2017
Priority date	Jan 5, 2017
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An input device may include a wire element and a moveable substrate coupled to the wire element. The moveable substrate may include various wire alignment features. The input device may further include an input surface disposed above the moveable substrate. The input device may further include various sensor electrodes coupled to the input surface. The input device may further include a haptic actuator coupled to the moveable substrate. The haptic actuator may displace the moveable substrate in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the input surface. The wire element may return the moveable substrate to an original position. The wire alignment features may allow, in response to an applied force by the haptic actuator and to the moveable substrate, a displacement of the moveable substrate in the direction that is substantially parallel to the plane of the input surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input device comprising:
a wire element;
a moveable substrate coupled to the wire element, the moveable substrate comprising a plurality of wire alignment features and a plurality of wire capturing features;
an input surface disposed above the moveable substrate;
a plurality of sensor electrodes coupled to the input surface; and
a haptic actuator coupled to the moveable substrate, the haptic actuator configured to displace the moveable substrate in a first direction substantially parallel to a plane of the input surface,
wherein the wire element is configured to return the moveable substrate to an original position, and
wherein the plurality of wire alignment features is configured to:
allow, in response to an applied force by the haptic actuator and to the moveable substrate, a first displacement of the moveable substrate in the first direction, and
prevent a third displacement of the moveable substrate, the third displacement in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the plane of the input surface, and

wherein the plurality of wire capturing features is configured to prevent a second displacement of the moveable substrate, the second displacement in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the input surface.

2. The input device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first direction corresponds to a y-axis of the input device,
wherein the second direction corresponds to a z-axis of the input device, and
wherein the third direction corresponds to an x-axis of the input device.

3. The input device of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of wire capturing features comprise a hook-shaped structure extending away from the input surface,
wherein the hook-shaped structure is configured to provide, while the applied force is produced by the haptic actuator, a mechanical connection between the wire element and the moveable substrate, and
wherein the hook-shaped structure is configured to avoid contact substantially with the wire element while the haptic actuator displaces the moveable substrate.

4. The input device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing; and
a rigid substrate coupled to the housing,
wherein the haptic actuator is coupled to the rigid substrate, and
wherein the haptic actuator is disposed on a side of the moveable substrate that is facing away from the input surface.

5. The input device of claim 1 ,
wherein the moveable substrate comprises a plastic material, and
wherein the wire element is a mounting wire that is insert molded into the moveable substrate.

6. The input device of claim 1 , wherein the haptic actuator is a shape memory alloy haptic actuator.

7. The input device of claim 1 , wherein the haptic actuator is configured to displace the moveable substrate in response to the plurality of sensor electrodes detecting an input force applied to the input surface.

8. The input device of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a first physical tab coupled with the wire element and disposed proximate a first edge of the moveable substrate.

9. The input device of claim 8 ,
wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a second physical tab coupled with the wire element,
wherein the first physical tab is disposed proximate a first edge of the moveable substrate,
wherein the second physical tab is disposed proximate a second edge of the moveable substrate, and
wherein the first edge of the moveable substrate is remote from the second edge of the moveable substrate.

10. An electronic system comprising:
a housing; and
an input device comprising:
a wire element coupled to the housing;
a moveable substrate coupled to the wire element, the moveable substrate comprising a plurality of wire alignment features and a plurality of wire capturing features;
an input surface disposed above the moveable substrate;
a plurality of sensor electrodes coupled to the input surface; and
a haptic actuator coupled to the moveable substrate, the haptic actuator configured to displace the moveable substrate in a first direction substantially parallel to a plane of the input surface,
wherein the wire element is configured to return the moveable substrate to an original position, and
wherein the plurality of wire alignment features is configured to:
allow, in response to an applied force by the haptic actuator and to the moveable substrate, a first displacement of the moveable substrate in the first direction, and
prevent a third displacement of the moveable substrate, the third displacement in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the plane of the input surface, and

wherein the plurality of wire capturing features is configured to prevent a second displacement of the moveable substrate, the second displacement in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the input surface; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the input device and configured to:
determine, using the plurality of sensor electrodes, positional information of an input object in a sensing region or force information of an input force applied to the input surface, and
cause the haptic actuator to produce the first displacement of the moveable substrate in the first direction in response to the positional information or the force information.

11. The electronic system of claim 10 ,
wherein the first direction corresponds to a y-axis of the input device,
wherein the second direction corresponds a z-axis of the input device, and
wherein the third direction corresponds to an x-axis of the input device.

12. The electronic system of claim 10 ,
wherein the plurality of wire capturing features comprise a hook-shaped structure extending above the moveable substrate and toward the input surface,
wherein the hook-shaped structure is configured to provides, while the applied force is produced by the haptic actuator, a mechanical connection between the wire element and the moveable substrate, and
wherein the hook-shaped structure is configured to avoid contact substantially with the wire element while the haptic actuator displaces the moveable substrate.

13. The electronic system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a housing; and
a chassis coupled to the housing,
wherein the haptic actuator is coupled to the chassis, and
wherein the haptic actuator is disposed on a side of the moveable substrate that is facing away from the input surface.

14. The electronic system of claim 10 ,
wherein the moveable substrate comprises a plastic material, and
wherein the wire element is a mounting wire that is insert molded into the moveable substrate.

15. The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein the haptic actuator is a shape memory alloy haptic actuator.

16. The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein the first displacement of the moveable substrate produces a physical feedback with the input device that is substantially similar to a tactile switch.

17. The electronic system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a first physical tab coupled with the wire element and disposed proximate a first edge of the moveable substrate.

18. The electronic system of claim 17 ,
wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a second physical tab coupled with the wire element,
wherein the first physical tab is disposed proximate a first edge of the moveable substrate,
wherein the second physical tab is disposed proximate a second edge of t

Assignees

• Synaptics Inc
• Synaptics Incorporaed

Inventors

• Krumpelman Douglas

Classifications

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · CPC title

• H01R12/7029

  not integral with the coupling device · CPC title

• H01R13/518

  for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames · CPC title

• H05K7/02

  Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure · CPC title

• H01R13/62994

  Lever acting on a connector mounted onto the flexible or rigid printed circuit boards, flat or ribbon cables · CPC title