US2007040815A1PendingUtilityA1

Haptic feedback for touchpads and other touch controls

62
Assignee: IMMERSION CORPPriority: Jun 23, 1998Filed: Oct 27, 2006Published: Feb 22, 2007
Est. expiryJun 23, 2018(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Louis B. RosenbergJames R. Riegel
A63F 2300/1006A63F 2300/10A63F 13/426A63F 13/2145A63F 13/20A63F 2300/8017A63F 2300/6045A63F 2300/204A63F 2300/1075A63F 2300/1062A63F 2300/1056A63F 2300/1037A63F 13/92A63F 13/803A63F 13/42A63F 13/285A63F 13/245A63F 13/218G06F 3/04142G06F 3/04855G06F 3/016G06F 3/03547G06F 3/0416G06F 1/169G06F 1/1616G06F 1/1626G06F 3/011G06F 3/04847G06F 3/03545G06F 3/0488G06F 2203/014G06F 3/0362G06F 2203/013H01H 2003/008G06F 1/1692H01H 2215/052G06F 2203/015G06F 3/0338G06F 3/041G06F 3/03543H04L 69/329
62
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Claims

Abstract

A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a touch input device configured to generate a first signal in response to user input;    an actuator configured to generate haptic force in response to a haptic force signal that is based on the first signal; and    two processors comprising a local processor and a host processor,    wherein at least one of the two processors receives the first signal and at least one of the two processors generates the haptic force signal.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first signal is received by the local processor.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first signal is received by the host processor.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic force signal is generated by the local processor.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic force signal is generated by the host processor.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the haptic force signal is based on force parameters issued by the host processor.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the haptic force signal is streamed through the local processor.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the local processor and host processor are disposed in separate housings.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the local processor shares a housing with the input device.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a keypad.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touchpad.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touch screen.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the housing of the local processor is a personal digital assistant housing.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the housing of the local processor is a cellular telephone housing.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the housing of the local processor is a laptop computer housing.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a touch input device configured to generate a first signal in response to user input;    an actuator configured to generate haptic force in response to a haptic force signal that is based on the first signal; and    a local processor configured to receive the first signal and generate the haptic force signal.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the touch input device, actuator and local processor share a common housing.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a touch input device configured to generate a first signal in response to user input;    an actuator configured to generate haptic force in response to a haptic force signal that is based on the first signal; and    a host processor configured to receive the first signal and generate the haptic force signal.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the touch input device and actuator share a common housing separate from a housing of the host processor.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein touch the input device is a touch pad.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the touch input device is a touch pad.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the touch input device is a key pad.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein touch the input device is a touch pad.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the touch input device is a touch pad.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the touch input device is a key pad.

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