Suspension element having integrated piezo material for providing haptic effects to a touch screen

A method of manufacturing a haptic device having a compliant suspension system, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a segment of piezo material to at least one surface of a compliant suspension element, wherein the compliant suspension element is a flat bent spring having a compliant portion that is bent with respect to an end portion and the step of coupling the segment of piezo material to at least one surface of the compliant suspension element includes coupling the segment of piezo material to the compliant portion of the flat bent spring;
• coupling the compliant portion of the flat bent spring to a touch screen component;
• and
• coupling the end portion of the flat bent spring to a housing component, wherein the segment of piezo material is configured to produce a force that moves the touch screen component relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch screen component and wherein in reaction to the force produced by the segment of piezo material the compliant portion of the flat bent spring is configured to allow movement of the touch screen component relative to the housing component in a x-direction and in a y-direction while also being configured to limit movement between the touch screen component and the housing component in a z-direction direction, wherein the compliant portion of the flat bent spring extends at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the touch screen component and the housing component such that the force produced by the segment of piezo material is approximately equal in the x- direction and the y-direction.

A method of manufacturing a haptic device having a compliant suspension system, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a segment of piezo material to at least one surface of a compliant suspension element, wherein the compliant suspension element is a flat bent spring that includes a first end portion, a second end portion, a first compliant portion, a second compliant portion, and an intermediate portion, the first and second compliant portions being bent with respect to and extending between the intermediate portion and the first and second end portions, respectively, and the step of coupling the segment of piezo material to the at least one surface of the compliant suspension element includes coupling the segment of piezo material to the intermediate portion of the flat bent spring;
• coupling the intermediate portion of the flat bent spring to a touch screen component;
• and
• coupling the first and second end portions of the flat bent spring to a housing component, wherein the segment of piezo material is configured to produce a force that moves the touch screen component relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch screen component and wherein in reaction to the force produced by the segment of piezo material the first and second compliant portions of the flat bent spring are configured to allow movement of the touch screen component relative to the housing component in at least one of a y-direction and a z-direction while also being configured to limit movement between the touch screen component and the housing component in at least an x-direction.