Linear vibrator providing localized haptic feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9600071-B2
Application number	US-201213411110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2012
Priority date	Mar 4, 2011
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for providing haptic feedback, including: a shell defining an aperture; a driver disposed within the shell; a mass disposed within the coil; and a projection connected to the mass and extending through the aperture. Also described herein is a method for providing generalized and localized haptic feedback, including the operations of: receiving an input signal; determining if the input signal corresponds to a generalized haptic feedback; if so, providing a first input to a linear vibrator; otherwise, providing a second input to a linear vibrator; wherein the linear vibrator outputs a generalized haptic feedback in response to the first input; and the linear vibrator outputs a localized haptic feedback in response to the second input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A haptic feedback device for providing haptic feedback, comprising:
a housing;
a touch-sensitive display disposed at least partially within the housing;
a driver disposed within the housing; and
a movable mass within the driver;
wherein the driver is configured to:
cause the movable mass to oscillate to a maximum distance not greater than a first distance in order to produce a generalized haptic feedback to the housing; and
cause at least a portion of the mass to displace a second distance greater than the first distance to produce a localized haptic feedback to the touch-sensitive display.

2. The haptic feedback device of claim 1 , wherein:
the driver comprises at least one coil; and
the movable mass is a magnetic material.

3. The haptic feedback device of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one coil is configured to receive a first and second level of current;
the movable mass is displaced a first distance when the at least one coil receives the first level of current; and
the movable mass is displaced a second distance when the at least one coil receives the second level of current.

4. The haptic feedback device of claim 3 , wherein movable mass comprises a projection that extends beyond the driver and toward the touch-sensitive display.

5. The haptic feedback device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one coil is configured to receive the second level of current when the touch-sensitive display is touched.

6. A method for providing haptic feedback with a linear vibrator within an electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving an input signal;
determining if the input signal corresponds to a generalized haptic feedback; if so, providing a first input to the linear vibrator corresponding an oscillation of the linear vibrator that does not exceed a first distance to produce a first haptic output to a housing of the electronic device; and
determining if the input signal corresponds to a localized haptic feedback; if so, providing a second input to a linear vibrator corresponding to a displacement of at least a portion of the linear vibrator beyond a second distance to produce a second haptic output to a portion of the housing of the electronic device; wherein
the second distance is greater than the first distance.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the first input is a first current; and
the second input is a second current.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the operation of determining if the input signal corresponds to a generalized haptic feedback comprises:
sensing a user input; and
in response to sensing the user input, determining that the input signal does not correspond to a localized haptic feedback.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operation of determining that the input signal does not correspond to a localized haptic feedback occurs after the user input has ceased.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the operation of sensing a user input comprises sensing a user touching a button shown on a display screen of the electronic device; and
the localized haptic feedback is output to the button.

Assignees

• Rothkopf Fletcher
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Rothkopf Fletcher

Classifications

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• B06B1/04

  operating with electromagnetism (dynamo-electric motors with vibrating magnet, armature or coil system H02K33/00) · CPC title

• H02N2/00

  Electric machines in general using piezoelectric effect, electrostriction or magnetostriction (generating mechanical vibrations in general B06B; piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive devices in general H10N30/00) · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title