Haptic feedback system and method
AssigneeTouchsensor Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn NORTH, Deron Stambaugh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A haptic feedback system includes movable and static portions coupled by one or more magnetic fields that serve to retard movement of the movable portion with respect to the static portion so as to provide haptic feedback when the movable portion is moved relative to the static portion. A magnet associated with one of the movable and static portions reacts with structure associated with the other of the movable and static portions so as to provide haptic feedback when the movable portion is moved with respect to the static portion.
Claims13
A system for providing haptic feedback regarding movement of a first member relative to a corresponding second member, comprising:
- a first magnetic field generator associated with one of said first member and said second member;
- a first magnetic field coupler associated with the other of said first member and said second member;
- wherein said first magnetic field generator establishes a first magnetic field proximate said first magnetic field generator;
- wherein said first magnetic field variably couples to said first magnetic field coupler as a function of the position of said first magnetic field generator relative to the position of said first magnetic field coupler;
- wherein said first magnetic field tends to maintain said first magnetic field generator in at least a first predetermined relationship with respect to said first magnetic field coupler.
A system for providing variable haptic feedback regarding movement of a first member with respect to a second member, comprising:
- a first variably magnetizable structure associated with a first portion of one of said first member and said second member;
- a second variably magnetizable structure associated with a second portion of one of said first member and said second member;
A method for providing haptic feedback between a movable member and a stationary member associated with said movable member, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first magnetic field generator in association with one of said movable member and said stationary member;
- providing a first magnetic field coupler in association with the other of said movable member and said stationary member;
- establishing a first magnetic field proximate said first magnetic field generator;
- variably coupling said first magnetic field to said first magnetic field coupler as a function of the position of said first magnetic field generator relative to the position of said first magnetic field coupler;
- and
- using said first magnetic field to maintain said first magnetic field generator member in at least a first predetermined relationship with respect to said first magnetic field coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.