Haptic output device and method of generating a haptic effect in a haptic output device

Abstract

A haptic output device includes a touch surface, a sensor configured to sense an input at the touch surface, and a controller configured to read the sensor, identify a location of the input, switch from a read mode to a write mode, and write a voltage based on the location of the input to generate an electrostatic output.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A haptic output device comprising:
 an insulating layer forming a surface of the haptic output device;   one or more electrodes;   a sensor configured to sense a touch input at the surface of the haptic output device; and   a control circuit configured
 to sense, via the sensor, the touch input on the surface of the haptic output device, 
 to determine a size of a contact area between an object applying the touch input and the surface of the haptic output device, and 
 to apply an electric signal to at least one electrode of the one or more electrodes to generate an electrostatic output with the at least one electrode, wherein a level of the electric signal is based on the size of the contact area between the object applying the touch input and the surface of the haptic output device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The haptic output device of  claim 21 , wherein the electrostatic output simulates a friction force or texture as the touch input moves on the surface. 
     
     
         23 . The haptic output device of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprises a plurality of electrodes, and wherein the control circuit is configured to select from among the plurality of electrodes a closest electrode to a location of the touch input to generate the electrostatic output. 
     
     
         24 . The haptic output device of  claim 21 , wherein the level of the electrostatic output is further based on a location of the touch input relative to the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         25 . The haptic output device of  claim 21 , wherein the level of the electrostatic output is further based on an impedance of the surface at a location of the touch input. 
     
     
         26 . The haptic output device of  claim 21 , wherein the control circuit is configured to apply the electric signal at a first level if the touch input is disposed over the at least one electrode, and to apply the electric signal at a fraction of the first level if the touch input is between the at least one electrode and another electrode. 
     
     
         27 . The haptic output device of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic output device is part of a phone, a tablet computer, an automotive dashboard, or a steering wheel. 
     
     
         28 . A haptic output device comprising:
 an insulating layer forming a surface of the haptic output device;   one or more electrodes;   a sensor configured to sense a plurality of touch inputs at the surface of the haptic output device; and   a control circuit configured
 to sense, via the sensor, a location of a first touch input of the plurality of touch inputs and a location of a second touch input of the plurality of touch inputs, and 
 to apply an electric signal to at least one electrode of the one or more electrodes to generate an electrostatic output with the at least one electrode, wherein a level of the electric signal is based on the location of the first touch input relative to the location of the second touch input, wherein the electric signal causes the at least one electrode to generate an electrostatic output. 
   
     
     
         29 . The haptic output device of  claim 28 , wherein the first touch input and the second touch input are from two different fingers simultaneously touching the surface of the haptic output device. 
     
     
         30 . The haptic output device of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more electrodes include a plurality of electrodes, and the control circuit is configured to drive different electrodes of the plurality of electrodes at different locations to generate multi-touch localized electrostatic outputs for the plurality of respective touch inputs. 
     
     
         31 . The haptic output device of  claim 28 , wherein the haptic output device is part of a phone, a tablet computer, an automotive dashboard, or a steering wheel. 
     
     
         32 . A haptic output device comprising:
 an insulating layer forming a surface of the haptic output device;   a plurality of electrodes comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode;   a sensor configured to sense a touch input at the surface of the haptic output device; and   a control circuit configured
 to sense, via the sensor, a location of the touch input on the surface of the haptic output device, 
 to determine whether the location of the touch input is over the first electrode or is between the first electrode and the second electrode, 
 to write an electric signal to the first electrode to generate an electrostatic output with the first electrode, wherein the electric signal is applied at a first level if the location of the touch input is over the first electrode, and wherein the electric signal is applied at a second level different than the first level if the location of the touch input is between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
   
     
     
         33 . The haptic output device of  claim 32 , wherein the second level is half of the first level. 
     
     
         34 . The haptic output device of  claim 32 , wherein the control circuit is configured, if the touch input moves from a first location of the first electrode to a second location of the second electrode, to write a second electric signal to the second electrode to transition the electrostatic output from the first location to the second location as the touch input is moved from the first location to the second location. 
     
     
         35 . The haptic output device of  claim 34 , wherein a level of the second electric signal depends on whether the location of the touch input is over the second electrode or is between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         36 . The haptic output device of  claim 32 , wherein the haptic output device is part of a phone, a tablet computer, an automotive dashboard, or a steering wheel.