Back to results
US 7,339,572 B2Granted
Haptic devices using electroactive polymers
AssigneeImmersion Corporation
InventorBruce M. Schena
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Haptic feedback device and method for using an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator to provide haptic feedback force sensation to a user. The device includes a sensor that detects the a user's touch on a touch surface and an electroactive polymer actuator responsive to input signals from the sensor outputs a haptic feedback force to the user caused by motion of the actuator.
Claims20
A device comprising;
- a housing having a touch surface adapted to be touched by a user;
- a sensor coupled to the touch surface and configured to detect at least one of a position or movement of the user's touch on at least a portion of the touch surface, the sensor configured to output sensor signals associated with the position or movement;
- and
- an electroactive polymer actuator coupled to the housing and configured to output a haptic feedback force upon receiving an control signal from a processor, the control signal being associated with the output sensor signals.
1 more element
A method comprising;
- selecting a housing having a touch surface adapted to be touched by a user;
- sensing at least one of a position or movement of the user's touch on at least a portion of the touch surface using a sensor, the sensor configured to an output sensor signal associated with the position or movement to a processor;
- and
- outputting a haptic feedback force using an electroactive polymer actuator upon receiving an control signal from a processor, wherein the control signal is associated with the output sensor signal.
1 more element
Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to perform a method, the method comprising:
- receiving a sensor signal associated with a sensed position or movement of a user's touch on a touch surface having a sensor coupled thereto, wherein the sensor outputs the sensor signal;
- and
- outputting a control signal to an electroactive polymer actuator upon the sensor signal indicating the sensed position or movement of the user's touch is at a designated haptic feedback force location, wherein the electroactive polymer actuator output a haptic feedback force to the touch surface upon receiving the control signal from a processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.