US 12,596,435 B2Granted

Contact or contactless interface with temperature haptic feedback

AssigneeAdeia Guides Inc.

InventorsCharles Dasher, Evgeny Kaminsky, Jean-Yves Couleaud

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Abstract

Described are devices that provide thermal haptic feedback. A touchpad, touchscreen or other such device may receive an indication of an adjustment at a first portion of a touch user interface, and in response, determine a temperature setting based on the adjustment. Voltage supplied to a matrix of temperature actuating elements at the touch user interface may then automatically control the haptic temperature feedback. Color and brightness correction may be provided to account for the heat of the temperature actuating elements. Also, the thermal haptic feedback may be provided by a trackball. In response to an adjustment of a value of a parameter effected by the trackball, the medium may automatically control one or more temperature actuating elements in the trackball to provide a haptic temperature feedback.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving an indication of an adjustment at a first portion of a touch user interface from a first user touch position to a second user touch position;
determining a thermal haptic feedback temperature based on the adjustment at the first portion of the touch user interface and based on a relative difference between the first user touch position and the second user touch position;
and
controlling a matrix of temperature actuating elements at the touch user interface to provide the thermal haptic feedback temperature by causing a first temperature actuating element of the matrix of temperature actuating elements to provide a temperature output based on the thermal haptic feedback temperature,
wherein the first temperature actuating element is positioned at the first portion of the touch user interface, and temperature actuating elements of the matrix of temperature actuating elements positioned outside the first portion of the touch user interface are controlled not to provide the temperature output provided by the first temperature actuating element.

2 more elements

A system comprising:

communication circuitry configured to receive an indication of an adjustment at a first portion of a touch user interface from a first user touch position to a second user touch position;
and
processing circuitry configured:
to determine a thermal haptic feedback temperature based on the adjustment at the first portion of the touch user interface and based on a relative difference between the first user touch position and the second user touch position;
and
to control a matrix of temperature actuating elements at the touch user interface to provide the thermal haptic feedback temperature by causing a first temperature actuating element of the matrix of temperature actuating elements to provide a temperature output based on the thermal haptic feedback temperature,
wherein the first temperature actuating element is positioned at the first portion of the touch user interface, and temperature actuating elements of the matrix of temperature actuating elements positioned outside the first portion of the touch user interface are controlled not to provide the temperature output provided by the first temperature actuating element.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/540,560Filed 14 Dec 2023
Published: US 2025/0271934 A128 Aug 2025
Granted: 7 Apr 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 3/01
Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for…: input…
G06F 3/016
Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer: input arrangements with force or tactile…
G06F 3/03547
With detection of two-dimensional [2D] relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D…
G06F 3/0362
Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor: with detection of…