US 11,687,160 B2 · Active control and calibration of haptic trackpad

Abstract

Variations in the manufacturing, tolerances, and environmental conditions, for example, of haptic trackpads can cause mechanical properties to vary click-by-click and unit-by-unit. Also, as time goes, mechanical wear or material degradation within each trackpad may change its mechanical properties. All of which may cause the haptic response received by the user to vary across similarly designed trackpads, and also change over time on the same trackpad. This may be interpreted by the user as an indication of low product quality. The following describes in detail haptic trackpads including accelerometers that enable active control and/or calibration. This allows for a more uniform user experience across a manufacturing run of trackpads and/or throughout the projected life of individual trackpads.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A trackpad comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) including a touch interface;
a haptic element fixedly attached to the PCB to selectively oscillate the PCB;
an accelerometer fixedly attached to the PCB to measure peak-to-peak acceleration of the oscillation of the PCB;
a current sensor to measure current running through the haptic element;
and
a microcontroller to actively calibrate the trackpad by:
triggering the haptic element across a range of frequencies;
measuring peak-to-peak acceleration of haptic event oscillations, each associated with a frequency;
determining a resonant frequency of the trackpad corresponding to a maximum peak-to-peak acceleration of the trackpad;
and
comparing the determined resonant frequency with a range of normal resonant frequencies for the trackpad.

8 more elements

A haptic button comprising:

a frame;
a printed circuit board (PCB);
a resiliently deflectable spacer oriented between the frame and the PCB, the resiliently deflectable spacer to permit shear displacement of the PCB with reference to the frame;
a haptic element fixedly attached to the PCB to selectively oscillate the PCB;
an accelerometer fixedly attached to the PCB to measure peak-to-peak acceleration of the oscillation of the PCB;
a current sensor to measure current running through the haptic element;
and
a microcontroller to actively calibrate the haptic button by:
triggering the haptic element across a range of frequencies;
measuring peak-to-peak acceleration of haptic event oscillations, each associated with a frequency;
determining a resonant frequency of the trackpad corresponding to a maximum peak-to-peak acceleration of the haptic button;
and
comparing the determined resonant frequency with a range of normal resonant frequencies for the haptic button.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Active control and calibration of haptic trackpad

Life of this patent

Active control and calibration of haptic trackpad

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20