| US 7,548,232 B2 | ||
| Haptic interface for laptop computers and other portable devices | ||
| Erik J. Shahoian, San Ramon, Calif. (US); Bruce M. Schena, Menlo Park, Calif. (US); and Louis B. Rosenberg, San Jose, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Immersion Corporation, San Jose, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 17, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/919,798. | ||
| Application 10/919798 is a continuation of application No. 09/917263, filed on Jul. 26, 2001, granted, now 6,822,635. | ||
| Application 09/917263 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/487737, filed on Jan. 19, 2000, granted, now 6,429,846. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/274444, filed on Mar. 09, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0052430 A1, Mar. 10, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G09G 5/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 345—173 [345/156] | 47 Claims |
| 1. A haptic feedback touch control for inputting signals to a computer and for outputting forces to a user of the touch control,
the touch control comprising:
a touch input device including an approximately planar touch surface operative to provide: 1) a position signal based on a
location on said touch surface which said user contacts, said position signal representing said location in two dimensions,
and 2) a selection signal indicating a user selection, wherein said computer receives position information derived from said
position signal and receives said selection signal; and
at least one actuator coupled to said touch input device, said actuator outputting a force on said touch input device to laterally
move said touch input device approximately parallel to a surface of said touch input device to provide a haptic sensation
to said user contacting said touch surface, wherein said actuator outputs said force in the absence of said selection signal,
based on force information output by said computer.
|