Electronic device having a haptic device with an actuation member and a restoration mechanism
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBenjamin G. Jackson, Brenton A. Baugh, Megan A. McClain, Steven J. Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A haptic device for an electronic device includes an actuation member formed from a shape-memory alloy (SMA) material that changes shape (e.g., expands or contracts) in response to an applied electrical current. In some cases, the haptic devices described herein also include a restoration mechanism that restores the actuation member to its original shape or to a similar shape. The change in the shape of the actuation member and the restoration of the shape of the actuation member may produce a haptic output at the electronic device.
Claims20
An electronic watch comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the enclosure;
- a processing unit operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display;
- and
- a haptic device positioned at least partially within the enclosure and configured to provide a haptic output along an external surface of the enclosure, the haptic device comprising:
- a contact member positioned to rotate around an axle;
- an actuation member that is attached to a connection point of the contact member, wherein the actuation member is formed from a shape-memory alloy material and configured to contract in response to a signal generated by the processing unit, wherein a contraction of the actuation member rotates the contact member in a direction to produce at least a portion of the haptic output;
- and
- a restoration mechanism configured to elongate the actuation member after the contraction of the actuation member.
An electronic device comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a display positioned at least partially within the enclosure;
- a contact member;
- an actuation member comprising a shape-memory alloy and positioned within the enclosure, wherein the actuation member is attached to a connection portion of the contact member and is configured to change from a first shape to a second shape in response to an electrical signal;
- a restoration mechanism configured to restore the actuation member from the second shape to the first shape;
- and
- a processing unit operably coupled to the actuation member and configured to cause the electrical signal to be applied to the actuation member, wherein:
- changing the actuation member from the first shape to the second shape rotates the contact member in a first direction to produce a first portion of a haptic output;
- and
- restoring the actuation member from the second shape to the first shape rotates the contact member in a second direction opposite the first direction to produce a second portion of the haptic output.
A method for producing a haptic output using an actuation member that is attached to a connection portion of a contact member and comprises a shape-memory alloy, the method comprising:
- detecting an input at an electronic device using a processing unit of the electronic device;
- in response to the input, producing an output signal;
- in response to the output signal, applying an electrical current to the actuation member thereby causing the actuation member to contract, such that contraction of the actuation member rotates the contact member in a first direction to produce a first portion of the haptic output;
- and
- elongating the actuation member using a restoration mechanism, thereby rotating the contact member in a second direction opposite the first direction and producing a second portion of the haptic output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.