| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090189873 | Projected Field Haptic Actuation - An electronic device includes a touch surface that can be physically engaged by a user. The touch surface is operably connected to an actuator arm which, in turn, is connected to an actuator array. Drive electronics sense a user's movement relative to the touch surface and, responsively, drive the actuator array effective to move the actuator arm and, in turn, provide haptic feedback to the user through the touch surface. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100171715 | Tactile Surface - In one or more embodiments, a device includes a surface and an actuator mechanism operably associated with the surface. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user responsive to an electrical signal. In at least some embodiments, the actuator mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart substrates each of which supports a conductive layer of material. A dielectric material and an adjacent air gap may be interposed between the substrates. Drive circuitry is operably connected to the spaced-apart substrates and is configured to drive the conductive layers of material with an electrical signal. This signal may be responsive to sensing a touch input on the surface or other appropriate event. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20110096013 | TECHNIQUES FOR TACTILE FEEDBACK TECHNOLOGY - Described herein are one or more techniques related to active tactile feedback (“haptic”) technologies. The technologies include a movement-effecting mechanism designed to move a user-engagement surface, typically, in response to a user touching the surface. The described techniques include those designed to return the surface back to its original position (before the surface's movement), to seal the movement-effecting mechanism to protect it from ingress of contaminates, and/or to retain the surface in a manner that allows movement of the surface in directions away from the surface (which includes, for example, substantially normal to the surface) while restricting movement of the surface in at least one other direction (e.g., a direction parallel to the surface). This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 04-28-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080218380 | Distributed Intelligence For Traffic Signal Control - Intelligent traffic control devices that are spatially distributed at strategic locations on streets, highways, and intersections communicate bi-directional complex information to control the movement of various users in a safe and efficient manner. The intelligence of the traffic control devices is based on the capability of each device to operate in manners normally associated with computer-based controls. Such actions include the ability to react to complex instructions, perform logical and arithmetical computations, make records of sequences of events, perform self-diagnostic assessments, take reliable and predictable autonomous actions, and communicate information collected from environmental sensors or internal state of operation. Such devices may contain varying degrees of binary coded descriptions that describe device capability and performance characteristics to other traffic control devices that may require access to sensory information and/or control functions. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20090189790 | Haptic Keyboard Systems and Methods - Various embodiments provide keyboards that utilize electrically-deformable material as an actuating mechanism to provide haptic feedback to a user of the keyboard. In at least some embodiments, the electrically-deformable material is utilized to impart, to a depressed key or keyboard element, a multi-vectored movement that produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element thus providing a user with haptic feedback which simulates a snapover movement. In at least some embodiments, a light source can be mounted or otherwise positioned relatively close to and beneath the top surface of one or more keys or keyboard elements to backlight a portion or portions of a keyboard. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090210568 | Keyboard Adaptive Haptic Response - Various embodiments provide a keyboard that adaptively provides haptic feedback to a user. In at least some embodiments, an actuation of a key or keyboard element of the keyboard is detected. This can be accomplished by detecting the closure of an associated switch caused by a user depressing the key or keyboard element. In response to detecting the actuation, an electrically-deformable material is utilized as an actuating mechanism to impart single or multi-vectored movement to the key or keyboard element according to drive parameters. This movement produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element, thus providing haptic feedback which simulates a “snapover” effect. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090231277 | Vector-Specific Haptic Feedback - In one or more embodiments, vector-specific movement can be imparted to a user interface device (UID) to provide vector-specific haptic feedback. In at least some embodiments, this vectored movement can be based on input received by the UID. The input can include information associated with the user's interaction with an associated device integrated with or communicatively linked with the UID, and or with an application implemented on the associated device. In at least some embodiments, the UID can be configured with a controller, a microprocessor(s), and a vector-specific actuator that includes an electrically-deformable material. | 09-17-2009 |
