Touch interface device and method for applying lateral forces on a human appendage

Abstract

A touch interface device includes a touch surface configured to be engaged by an object, first and second actuator assemblies operably connected to the touch surface, and a controller operably connected with the first and second actuator assemblies. The first actuator assembly displaces the touch surface in one or more lateral directions along the touch surface at a first frequency. The second actuator assembly displaces the touch surface in an angled direction that is one of at least obliquely or perpendicularly angled to the touch surface at a second frequency. The controller operates the first and second actuator assemblies so that the touch surface varies in engagement with the object to impart a force on the object that is along the touch surface.

1 . A method for applying a perceived continuous pushing force from a touch surface to a body part, the method comprising:
 operating a controller for a first and second plurality of actuators configured to move the touch surface to impart the perceived continuous pushing force on the body part,   wherein the first plurality of actuators moves the touch surface in one or more lateral directions;   wherein the second plurality of actuators moves the touch surface at an angled direction that is obliquely or perpendicularly angled to the touch surface;   periodically moving the touch surface in the one or more lateral directions;   periodically moving the touch surface in the angled direction such that a degree of engagement of the touch surface with the body part varies periodically;   controlling and synchronizing movement of the touch surface in the one or more lateral directions and movement of the touch surface in the angled direction by modulating at least one of amplitude, phase and frequency of the lateral and anguled direction movements,   wherein the modulating is-perceptible to detection from the body part and produces the perceived continuous pushing force on the body part, and wherein the perceived continuous pushing force is oriented in one of the lateral directions along the touch surface.   
     
     
         2 . A touch interface device comprising:
 a touch surface configured to be engaged by a body part by applying a perceived continuous pushing force;   a first actuator assembly operably connected to the touch surface,   wherein the first actuator assembly oscillates the touch surface in one or more lateral directions along the touch surface at a first frequency;   a second actuator assembly operably connected to the touch surface,   wherein the second actuator assembly oscillates the touch surface in the angled direction at a second frequency such that a degree of engagement of the touch surface with the body part varies periodically; and   a controller operably connected with the first and second actuator assemblies,   wherein the controller synchronizes oscillatory movement of the first and second actuator assemblies so that the touch surface moves in the one or more lateral directions and in the one or more angled directions that are obliquely or perpendicularly to the touch surface and modulates at least one of amplitude, phase and frequency of the lateral and angular direction movements; and   wherein the modulating is perceptible to detection by the body part and wherein said modulating varies in engagement with the body party and imparts a perceived continuous pushing force on the body part in one of the lateral directions along the touch surface.   
     
     
         3 . A tangible and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for a system that includes a processor, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including one or more sets of instructions configured to direct the processor to:
 control a first actuator assembly to move a touch surface in one or more lateral directions along the touch surface so as to engage engagement body part,   wherein the first actuator assembly moves the generally planar touch surface in the one or more lateral directions periodically;   control a second actuator assembly to move at least a portion of the touch surface in one or more angled directions that are obliquely or perpendicularly angled to the touch surface to also engage the body part,   wherein the second actuator assembly moves the generally planar touch surface in one or more angled directions periodically;   control and synchronize motion of the touch surface in the one or more lateral directions and in the one or more angled directions that are obliquely or perpendicularly to the touch surface including modulating at least one of amplitude, phase, and frequency of the angular and lateral movements; and   wherein the modulating is perceptible to detection by the body party and wherein said modulating produces perceived continuous pushing force on the body part in one of the lateral directions along the touch surface, wherein the force provides haptic output to an operator of a device that includes the touch surface.