# US 2014/0191997 A1 · Method and localized haptic response system provided on an interior-facing surface of a housing of an electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191997 A1 - Document ID: US20140191997A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/148,537 - Filed: 2014-01-06 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Novasentis, Inc. - Applicants: Novasentis, Inc. - Inventors: Li JIANG; Brian ZELLERS; Christophe RAMSTEIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191997A1 ## CPC - H10N 30/2047: {Membrane type} - B06B 1/06: operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction (piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00) - B06B 3/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G10K 9/22: Mountings; Casings - H04M 1/0202: {Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03)} - H10N 30/857: Macromolecular compositions - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A housing for an electronic device allows a haptic feedback response that is localized to a specific area on a back panel of the housing of the electronic device. For example, a user holding the mobile electronic device may directly receive haptic feedback in his/her fingers that are supporting the back side of the mobile electronic device. Those specific areas on the back panel may be locations where the panel material is thinned, or locations where the panel material has been removed and replaced by a suitably selected membrane material having favorable mechanical properties. The membrane material may be introduced as an embossment of a membrane layer. In addition, a force-sensing resistor type material may be used as a replacement material, so as to sense the pressure of a user's finger pressing on the embossed structure at the specific locations to which EMP actuators are bonded. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a housing of an electronic device, a structure comprising: a portion of the structure that includes a dividing wall separating an interior space within the housing and an exterior space outside of the housing, and a cavity in connection with the interior space, the cavity being separated from the exterior space by the dividing wall; and an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator that is positioned within the cavity and in contact with the dividing wall such that when the EMP actuator is activated, a mechanical vibration is initiated in the dividing wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the dividing wall comprises a thinned portion of the structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, further comprising a membrane lining the cavity, wherein the dividing wall is formed by a portion of the membrane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The structure of claim 3, wherein the dividing wall comprises an embossed portion of the membrane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the dividing wall determines the magnitude of the mechanical vibration experienced at the dividing wall facing the exterior space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a panel provided on a backside of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, further comprising a sensor positioned on a surface of the housing that faces the exterior space and wherein the EMP actuator is activated in response to a sensing signal received at the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The structure of claim 7, wherein the sensor and the EMP actuator are parts of an EMP transducer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The structure of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a force-sensing resistor type material provided at the dividing wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The structure of claim 7, wherein the sensor is provided on a touch screen on a front side of the electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the mechanical vibration is audible. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: providing a structure in a housing of an electronic device in which a portion of the structure includes a dividing wall separating an interior space within the housing and an exterior space outside of the housing, and a cavity in connection with the interior space, the cavity being separated from the exterior space by the dividing wall; and positioning an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator within the cavity and in contact with the dividing wall such that, when the EMP actuator is activated, a mechanical vibration is initiated in the dividing wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the dividing wall is formed by a thinned portion of the structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising lining the cavity with a membrane, wherein the dividing wall is formed by a portion of the membrane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the dividing wall comprises an embossed portion of the membrane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a thickness of the dividing wall determines the magnitude of the mechanical vibration experienced at the dividing wall facing the exterior space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the structure comprises a panel provided on a backside of the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising positioning a sensor on a surface of the housing that faces the exterior space and wherein the EMP actuator is activated in response to a sensing signal received at the sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor and the EMP actuator are parts of an EMP transducer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a force-sensing resistor type material provided at the dividing wall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor is provided on a touch screen on a front side of the electronic device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the mechanical vibration is audible.