Electronic device having a haptic device with an actuation member and a restoration mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11803243-B2
Application number	US-202217857922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2022
Priority date	Apr 11, 2019
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A haptic device for an electronic device includes an actuation member formed from a shape-memory alloy (SMA) material that changes shape (e.g., expands or contracts) in response to an applied electrical current. In some cases, the haptic devices described herein also include a restoration mechanism that restores the actuation member to its original shape or to a similar shape. The change in the shape of the actuation member and the restoration of the shape of the actuation member may produce a haptic output at the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic watch comprising:
an enclosure;
a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the enclosure;
a processing unit operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display; and
a haptic device positioned at least partially within the enclosure and configured to provide a haptic output along an external surface of the enclosure, the haptic device comprising:
a contact member positioned to rotate around an axle;
an actuation member that is attached to a connection point of the contact member, wherein the actuation member is formed from a shape-memory alloy material and configured to contract in response to a signal generated by the processing unit, wherein a contraction of the actuation member rotates the contact member in a direction to produce at least a portion of the haptic output; and
a restoration mechanism configured to elongate the actuation member after the contraction of the actuation member.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the actuation member is a first actuation member formed from a first shape-memory alloy material;
the signal is a first signal;
the restoration mechanism comprises a second actuation member formed from a second shape-memory alloy material; and
the second actuation member is configured to contract in response to a second signal generated by the processing unit.

3. The electronic watch of claim 2 , wherein:
the direction is a first direction; and
contraction of the second actuation member in response to the second signal rotates the contact member in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The electronic watch of claim 3 , wherein:
the first actuation member is coupled to a first spring via a first block member; and
the second actuation member is coupled to a second spring via a second block member.

5. The electronic watch of claim 4 , wherein:
rotation of the contact member in the first direction compresses the second spring.

6. The electronic watch of claim 2 , wherein:
the restoration mechanism comprises a spring; and
the spring and the second actuation member are coupled in series.

7. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
a graphical output of the touch-sensitive display is visible along a front external surface; and
the haptic output is coordinated with a change in the graphical output.

8. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the axle is fixed with respect to the enclosure.

9. An electronic device comprising:
an enclosure;
a display positioned at least partially within the enclosure;
a contact member;
an actuation member comprising a shape-memory alloy and positioned within the enclosure, wherein the actuation member is attached to a connection portion of the contact member and is configured to change from a first shape to a second shape in response to an electrical signal;
a restoration mechanism configured to restore the actuation member from the second shape to the first shape; and
a processing unit operably coupled to the actuation member and configured to cause the electrical signal to be applied to the actuation member, wherein:
changing the actuation member from the first shape to the second shape rotates the contact member in a first direction to produce a first portion of a haptic output; and
restoring the actuation member from the second shape to the first shape rotates the contact member in a second direction opposite the first direction to produce a second portion of the haptic output.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the restoration mechanism comprises a torsion spring; wherein restoring the actuation member comprises exerting a torque on the contact member using the torsion spring.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the restoration mechanism comprises a first spring and a second spring.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein:
the first spring is coupled to a first block member;
the second spring is coupled to a second block member; and
the actuation member contacts the first and second block members.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein:
changing the actuation member from the first shape to the second shape compresses the first spring until a support member stops movement of the first block member.

14. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the actuation member is a first actuation member;
the shape-memory alloy is a first shape-memory alloy; and
the restoration mechanism comprises a second actuation member formed from a second shape-memory alloy.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the restoration mechanism comprises a spring.

16. A method for producing a haptic output using an actuation member that is attached to a connection portion of a contact member and comprises a shape-memory alloy, the method comprising:
detecting an input at an electronic device using a processing unit of the electronic device;
in response to the input, producing an output signal;
in response to the output signal, applying an electrical current to the actuation member thereby causing the actuation member to contract, such that contraction of the actuation member rotates the contact member in a first direction to produce a first portion of the haptic output; and
elongating the actuation member using a restoration mechanism, thereby rotating the contact member in a second direction opposite the first direction and producing a second portion of the haptic output.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said elongating the actuation member of the electronic device comprises applying a torsional force to the actuation member using the restoration mechanism.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the actuation member is a first actuation member;
the restoration mechanism comprises a second actuation member; and
said elongating the actuation member using the restoration mechanism comprises contracting the second actuation member.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
said rotating the contact member in the first direction comprises rotating the contact member around an axle that is fixed with respect to a housing of the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the method further comprises displaying a graphical output using a touch-sensitive display; and
said detecting the input comprises detecting a touch input along the touch-sensitive display.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Jackson Benjamin G
• Baugh Brenton A
• Mcclain Megan A
• Taylor Steven J

Classifications

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F3/015

  Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection · CPC title

• G06F3/0447

  Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F2203/04106

  Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection · CPC title