Haptic interface for user input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11068059-B2
Application number	US-201916383411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2019
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a dynamically shapeable haptic interface, which can include a drive mechanism, a tactile mechanism, and a display. The display can emit light towards the drive mechanism in the form of image(s). The emitted light can activate a plurality of switches located between coil(s) included in the drive mechanism and the display. The plurality of switches, when activated, can allow current(s), supplied by a source, to pass through the coil(s). The current passing through the coils can create magnetic fields. The magnetic fields can collectively form a magnetic profile. The magnetic profile can cause the tactile mechanism to render shape(s) on the surface of the haptic interface. The tactile mechanism can include magnetic component(s), such as ferrous particles, magnets, and/or magnetic pins. The magnetic component(s) can move based on the magnetic profile and, along with one or more layers of material, can render the shape(s).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive mechanism for a haptic interface, the drive mechanism comprising:
a substrate including a plurality of layers, at least some of the plurality of layers including a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of vias, the plurality of vias configured to electrically connect two or more of the plurality of electrodes located on different layers to form one or more coils, wherein the one or more coils are configured to generate one or more magnetic fields when a current passes through a respective coil;
a source configured to generate the current; and
a plurality of switches configured to allow the current from the source to pass through the one or more coils,
wherein the drive mechanism is couplable to an electronic device having a display configured to emit visible light towards the plurality of switches to activate at least some of the plurality of switches to allow the current from the source to pass through the one or more coils.

2. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality of center regions electrically isolated from the plurality of electrodes, each center region located between conductive portions of a respective electrode.

3. The drive mechanism of claim 2 , further comprising ferrous material located in the plurality of center regions.

4. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes is ring-shaped.

5. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is capable of generating a magnetic profile, the magnetic profile based on the plurality of switches.

6. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is included in an accessory, the accessory configured to be attached to, resting on, or touching the electronic device, and the electronic device is separate and distinct from the accessory.

7. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is integrated in the electronic device.

8. The drive mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the electronic device is included in a virtual reality system.

9. A tactile mechanism including:
one or more layers of material; and
one or more magnetic components, the one or more magnetic components configured to move based on one or more magnetic fields generated by a drive mechanism external from the tactile mechanism,
wherein the one or more magnetic components are located proximate to at least one of the one or more layers of material such that the magnetic fields generated by the drive mechanism cause at least one of the one or more magnetic components to make contact with the at least one of the one or more layers, and in the absence of the magnetic fields, the at least one of the one or more magnetic components breaks contact with the at least one of the one or more layers,
wherein the tactile mechanism is included in an accessory or a device, the accessory or the device including the drive mechanism,
wherein the tactile mechanism is configured to render a haptic interface that mimics a magnetic profile from the one or more magnetic fields.

10. The tactile mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the one or more magnetic components includes a plurality of magnetic particles located between two of the one or more layers of material, the tactile mechanism further comprising:
one or more shakers configured to shake the tactile mechanism to cause the plurality of magnetic particles to move,
wherein the plurality of magnetic particles is configured to interlock when not moving.

11. The tactile mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the one or more shakers are located along at least one side of the drive mechanism and along another side of the drive mechanism.

12. The tactile mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the one or more magnetic components include a plurality of pins configured to move up or down in response to the one or more magnetic fields.

13. A method for rendering one or more shapes on a tactile display, the method comprising:
creating a magnetic profile based on a plurality of magnetic fields by:
applying a bias across a plurality of coils included in the tactile display, and
allowing current to pass through the plurality of coils using a plurality of switches;

emitting visible light towards the plurality of switches using a visible display;
activating the plurality of switches using the emitted visible light;
moving one or more magnetic components using the plurality of magnetic fields; and
rendering the one or more shapes based on a state of the one or more magnetic components.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
shaking the tactile display using one or more shakers, wherein the shaking causes the one or more magnetic components to separate from an interlocked state.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
terminating the shaking of the tactile display; and
locking the one or more magnetic components in place using at least one of a plurality of membranes.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein moving the one or more magnetic components includes causing one or more layers of material to buckle due to movement of a plurality of magnets included in the one or more layers of material.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein moving the one or more magnetic components includes moving a plurality of pins in and out of center regions, the center regions located between conductive electrodes of the plurality of coils, wherein the one or more shapes are based on locations of top ends of the plurality of pins.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising creating a feeling or movement at a surface of the tactile display by adjusting a control of one or more of shape, stiffness, viscosity, and inertial forces in a lateral direction and a normal direction relative to the surface of the tactile display.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the created feeling or movement is in response to a force by a user.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Salada Mark A
• Beyhs Michael

Classifications

• H01F27/36

  Electric or magnetic shields or screens (movable for varying inductance H01F21/10) · CPC title

• H01F7/20 Primary

  without armatures (cores H01F3/00; coils H01F5/00 {; shaping metal by applying magnetic forces B21D26/14; electromagnets specially adapted for NMR applications G01R33/381}) · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/0393

  Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads · CPC title

• H01F27/2804

  Printed windings · CPC title