# US 10,120,446 B2 · Haptic input device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,446 B2 - Document ID: US10120446B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/950,940 - Filed: 2010-11-19 - Published: 2012-05-24 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-19 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Aleksandar Pance; Omar Sze Leung - Inventors: Aleksandar Pance; Omar Sze Leung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120446B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/04812: Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract One embodiment of a haptic input device may include a receiver configured to receive a signal from a touch-based user interface device. The signal may include a control signal or a look-up value. The haptic input device may also include a decoder coupled to the receiver and configured to decode the signal from the touch-based user interface device, at least one sensor configured to determine at least one characteristic of the haptic input device, a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to transmit a control signal, a haptic actuator coupled to the controller, and a transmitter coupled to the at least one sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A haptic input device held by a user, comprising: a housing defining a tapered input end to interact with a screen of a touch-based user interface device, the housing enclosing: a receiver within the tapered input end and configured to wirelessly receive a signal from the touch-based user interface device, the received signal corresponding to a touch input gesture provided to the screen by the user and detected by the touch-based user interface device; a decoder to extract an input signal from the received signal; a controller to generate a control signal based on the input signal; a haptic actuator to provide a first haptic feedback response corresponding to the control signal; a sensor to determine an orientation of the haptic input device relative to the touch-based user interface device; and a transmitter to transmit the orientation to the touch-based user interface device; wherein the haptic actuator is configured to provide a second haptic feedback based on the orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The haptic input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The haptic input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The haptic input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscope. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The haptic input device of claim 1, wherein the received signal comprises an analog signal to drive the haptic actuator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The haptic input device of claim 1, wherein the received signal comprises a look-up value corresponding to a control signal configured to drive the haptic actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The haptic input device of claim 6, wherein the look-up value comprises at least one binary value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The haptic input device of claim 6, wherein the controller comprises a waveform memory storing one or more look-up values and one or more control signals, each corresponding to one of the one or more look-up values. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The haptic input device of claim 1, further comprising an engagement portion configured to engage an exterior surface of the screen. ### Claim 10 A method for providing haptic feedback, comprising: detecting an input gesture by at least one input sensor of a touch-sensitive input device, the input gesture performed by a stylus in contact with a touch screen surface of the touch-sensitive input device; deriving, by a processor within the touch-sensitive input device, an orientation characteristic of the stylus; receiving, by the processor, a signal from the stylus comprising a acceleration characteristic of the stylus; determining, by the processor, a haptic response based on the orientation characteristic, the acceleration characteristic, and the input gesture; and transmitting a haptic output signal to the stylus, the haptic output signal comprising a look-up value corresponding to the haptic response, the output signal instructing the stylus to provide the haptic response. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the look-up value comprises a series of binary values. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving an external signal from an external user input device; and determining the haptic response based at least partially on the external signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the haptic response provides an output to a user signifying an interaction between a second haptic input device and the external user device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the input gesture is a first input gesture; and the method further comprises: detecting a second input gesture provided by an object in contact with the touch screen surface; and determining the haptic response based at least partially on the second input gesture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: determining a pressure exerted on the stylus by a user; and using the pressure to modify the haptic response. ### Claim 16 A haptic input device, comprising: a housing comprising an input end and a sensor end, the input end configured to contact a touch-sensitive surface of a user interface device; a receiver within the input end and configured to receive a modulated signal from the user interface device, the modulated signal corresponding to a gesture input provided by the input end to the touch-sensitive surface; a demodulator in communication with the receiver and configured to extract an input signal from the modulated signal; a sensor within the sensor end and configured to provide sensor data based on an orientation characteristic of the haptic input device relative to the user interface surface; and a controller in communication with the demodulator and the sensor and configured to generate a control signal based in part on the input signal and in part on the sensor data; a haptic actuator coupled to the controller and configured to provide a haptic feedback response based on the control signal; and a transmitter configured to transmit the sensor data to the user interface device such that an output of the user interface device is modified based on the sensor data; wherein the sensor end is opposite the input end.