Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING ACTUATOR FOR PROVIDING TACTILE
OUTPUT
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device including an
actuator for
providing tactile output.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gained
widespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, for example,
telephonic,
electronic text messaging and other personal information manager (PIM)
application
functions. Portable electronic devices can include several types of devices
including
mobile stations such as simple cellular phones, smart phones, Personal Digital
Assistants
(PDAs) in various forms, and peripheral devices for communicating with PDAs.
[0003] Devices such as PDAs or smart phones are generally intended for
handheld
use and ease of portability. Smaller devices are generally desirable for
portability. PDA
watches or watches that may communicate with PDAs or other electronic devices
are
desirable for their small overall size and convenience.
[0004] Improvements in such electronic devices are desirable.
SUMMARY
[0005] An electronic device includes a base, a membrane coupled to and spaced
from the base, an actuator disposed between the base and the membrane, and
spaced
from the membrane when the actuator is not actuated, and a controller
configured to
control actuation of the actuator to cause the actuator to contact the
membrane.
[0006] A method of controlling an electronic device includes detecting an
event, and
actuating an actuator disposed between a base and a membrane, to cause the
actuator
to strike the membrane to provide tactile output in response to detecting the
event.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
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[0008] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of components including internal
components of a portable electronic device according to an example embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of an example of a portable electronic device;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a back view of an example of a portable electronic device;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an example actuator assembly of the
portable
electronic device in accordance with an example embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 5 is another exploded view of the example actuator assembly of the
portable electronic device;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view at an edge of the actuator assembly,
when the
actuator is not actuated;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view at a center of the actuator
assembly, when the
actuator is not actuated;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view at an edge of the actuator assembly,
when the
actuator is actuated;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view at center of the actuator assembly,
when the
actuator is actuated; and
[0017] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of
controlling a
portable electronic device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following describes an electronic device that includes a base, a
membrane coupled to and spaced from the base, an actuator disposed between the
base
and the membrane, and spaced from the membrane when the actuator is not
actuated,
and a controller configured to control actuation of the actuator to cause the
actuator to
contact the membrane.
[0019] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,
where
considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures
to
indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific
details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the example
embodiments
described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in
the art that
the example embodiments described herein may be practiced without these
specific
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details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components
have not
been described in detail so as not to obscure the example embodiments
described
herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limited to the scope
of the
example embodiments described herein.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of components including
internal
components of a portable electronic device according to an example embodiment.
The
portable electronic device 100, which may be in the form of, for example, a
watch,
includes multiple components such as a processor 102 that controls the
operations of the
portable electronic device 100. Communication functions, including data and
voice
communications, are performed through a communication subsystem 104. Data
received
by the portable electronic device 100 is decompressed and decrypted by a
decoder 106.
The communication subsystem 104 receives messages from and sends messages to a
wireless network 150. The wireless network 150 may be any type of wireless
network,
including, but not limited to, data-centric wireless networks, voice-centric
wireless
networks, and dual-mode networks that support both voice and data
communications
over the same physical base stations. The portable electronic device 100 is a
battery-
powered device and includes a power source 142 such as a rechargeable battery
or
batteries.
[0021] The processor 102 also interacts with additional subsystems such as a
Random Access Memory (RAM) 108, memory 110, buttons 112, sensors 114, a
display
116, an actuator 120, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 124, a data
port 126, a
speaker 128, a microphone 130, short-range communications 132 and other device
subsystems 134. User-interaction with the graphical user interface of the
portable
electronic device 100 is performed through the buttons 112 and the sensors
114. The
processor 102 may interact with the actuator 120 through a controller 122. The
processor
102 may interact with the sensors 114 via an electronic controller.
Information, such as
text, characters, symbols, images, icons, and other items that may be
displayed or
rendered on a portable electronic device, is displayed on the display 116 via
the
processor 102.
[0022] To identify a subscriber for network access according to the present
embodiment, the portable electronic device 100 may use a Subscriber Identity
Module or
a Removable User Identity Module (SIM/RUIM) card for communication with a
network
such as the wireless network 150. Alternatively, user identification
information may be
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programmed into memory 110.
[0023] The portable electronic device 100 includes an operating system 146 and
software programs or components 148 that are executed by the processor 102 and
are
typically stored in a persistent, updatable store such as memory 110.
Additional
applications or programs may be loaded onto the portable electronic device 100
through
the wireless network 150, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126,
the short-
range communications subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134.
[0024] In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or
web
page download is processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input to the
processor 102. The processor 102 then processes the received signal for output
to the
display 112 or alternatively to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 124. A subscriber
may also
compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for example, which may be
transmitted
over the wireless network 150 through the communication subsystem 104. For
voice
communications, the overall operation of the portable electronic device 100 is
similar.
The speaker 128 outputs audible information converted from electrical signals,
and the
microphone 130 converts audible information into electrical signals for
processing.
[0025] The sensors 114 may be any suitable sensors such as capacitive sensors
including a capacitive sensor layer or layers of suitable material such as
indium tin oxide
(ITO). The sensors 114 may be located on a periphery of the face of the
portable
electronic device 100, as illustrated in the front view of the portable
electronic device
shown in FIG. 2. One or more touches, on the touch sensors, also known as
touch
contacts or touch events, may be detected. A location of the touch may be
determined
based on the sensor at which the touch is detected. A signal is provided to
the controller
116 in response to detection of a touch. A touch may be detected from any
suitable
object, such as a finger or thumb. The electronic controller, through which
the sensors
interact with the processor 102, and/or the processor 102 may detect a touch
and multiple
simultaneous touches may be detected.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a front view and back view of the
portable
electronic device 100, which in the present embodiment is in the shape of a
watch and is
normally worn at or near the wrist of a user, are shown. The portable
electronic device
100 includes a housing 202 that houses the internal components shown and
described
above with reference to FIG. 1. The housing 202 includes a front frame 204 and
a back
206, joined by sidewalls that extend between the front frame 204 and the back
206. The
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housing 202 may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, a high
density
plastic. The front frame 204 frames the display 116 and the sensors 114 (shown
in FIG.
1) are distributed around the front frame 204.
[0027] In the example shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, four buttons 112 extend from
two
opposing sidewalls, although any suitable number of buttons may be utilized.
Alternatively, the portable electronic device 100 may be without such buttons.
[0028] The back 206 of the portable electronic device 100 includes an opening
through which a cover 302 of an actuator assembly 300 is exposed. In the
present
example, the opening is circular and the actuator assembly 300 is disposed in
the
opening such that an outer surface of a cover of the actuator assembly 300, is
generally
flush with the remainder of the back 206 of the portable electronic device
100.
Alternatively, the cover may extend across the entire back of the portable
electronic
device 100 rather than at an opening in the back.
[0029] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show exploded perspective views of the actuator
assembly
300, including the cover 302, the actuator 120, and a base 402. As described,
the cover
302 is exposed at the back 206 of the housing 202 (shown in FIG. 3) of the
portable
electronic device 100. The cover 302 is supported by and coupled to the base
402. The
actuator 120 is disposed between the base 402 and the cover 302.
[0030] The cover 302 is generally planar on the outer surface 404, which is
exposed
at the back 206 of the housing 202 (shown in FIG. 3). Alternatively, the cover
302 is
shaped, for example, to fit or curve around a wrist. The inner surface 406 is
shaped to
provide support and flexibility. The inner surface 406 of the cover 302
includes a
peripheral rim 408 that is thick to provide support for a flexible membrane
410 which is
centered within and coaxial with the rim 408. The rim 408 includes a groove
412 that
extends around the rim 408 to mate with a cylindrical projection from the base
402. A
plurality of spaced apart raised lips 414 on the inner surface 406, extend
around the
margin of the membrane 410. A cylindrical protrusion 416 extends from a center
of the
membrane 410 on the inner surface 406. The membrane 410 is thin compared to
the rim
408, the raised lips 414 and the cylindrical protrusion 416, to facilitate
elastic deformation
of the membrane 410, for example, when a force is imparted to the cylindrical
protrusion
416. The cover 302 is greater in thickness at the cylindrical protrusion 416
than at the
remainder of the membrane 410 to provide a reinforced area at which the
actuator strikes
the cover 302.
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[0031] The base 402 is generally planar on an outer surface 420, on an
opposite side
of the base 402 as the cover 302. The inner surface 422 includes a peripheral
rim 424
that includes a tongue 426 that protrudes from and extends around an interior
edge of the
peripheral rim 424. The tongue 426 is sized and shaped to mate with the groove
412 of
the cover 302. A plurality of spaced apart teeth 428 extend around the margin
of a tray
430 which is centered within a coaxial with the rim 424. The teeth 428 are
sized, shaped,
and located to cooperate with the raised lips 414 of the cover 302 and spaced
therefrom,
to clamp the actuator 120 therebetween. The base 402 is sized to support the
actuator
120 and the cover 302, and is supported within the housing 202 of the portable
electronic
device 100. Alternatively, the base 402 may be incorporated into the housing.
[0032] The actuator 120 includes a piezoelectric disk 440 such as a PZT
ceramic disk
adhered to a metal substrate 442 of larger diameter than the piezoelectric
disk 440 for
bending when the piezoelectric disk 440 contracts diametrically as a result of
build up of
charge across the piezoelectric disk 440. The actuator 120 is electrically
connected to a
piezo driver that communicates with the controller 122. The controller 122 may
be a
microcontroller that communicates with the processor 102. Alternatively, the
processor
102 may control the actuator 120. The controller 122 controls the piezo driver
that
controls the current/voltage to the piezoelectric disk 440 of the actuator
120. When the
charge is reduced by a discharge current/voltage, the actuator 120 returns to
the state in
which the actuator is not actuated, i.e., the actuator 120 is not bent.
[0033] Reference is now made to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, which show partial
sectional
views at an edge of the actuator assembly 300 and a center of the actuator
assembly
300, respectively. The membrane 410 is spaced from the base 402. The metal
substrate
442 of the actuator 120 is disposed between the teeth 428 of the base 402 and
the raised
lips 414 of the cover 302 such that the actuator is spaced from the membrane
410 when
the actuator 120 is not actuated, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Referring now to
FIG. 8 and FIG.
9, which show partial sectional views of one side of the actuator assembly 300
and a
center of the actuator assembly 300, respectively, when the actuator 120 is
actuated.
The current/voltage to the actuator 120 is controlled by the controller to
increase the
charge across the piezoelectric disk 440 of the actuator 120 and thereby
actuate the
actuator 120 over a very short period of time. The actuator 120 bends when the
charge
across the piezoelectric disk increases and the actuator 120 strikes the
cylindrical
protrusion 416 in the center of the membrane 410.
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[0034] A flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the portable
electronic device
100 is shown in FIG. 10. The method may be carried out by software executed,
for
example, by the processor 102 in communication with the controller of the
actuator 120.
Coding of software for carrying out such a method is within the scope of a
person of
ordinary skill in the art given the present description. The method may
contain additional
or fewer processes than shown and/or described. An event is detected at 1002
and the
actuator is actuated at 1004 to provide, for example, a notification of the
event for the
user. The event may be, for example, receipt of an email, text message, an
instant
message, or any other suitable message. The event may also be a calendar event
reminder, and alarm, or any other suitable reminder at the portable electronic
device 100.
The event may also be receipt of a query by user-interaction with the portable
electronic
device 100, for example, to request an indication of the number of unopened
emails. In
response, the controller determines the number and responds by communicating
with the
controller to actuate the actuator the same number of times.
[0035] When the portable electronic device 100 is worn on or near the wrist of
the
user, actuation of the actuator 120 provides tactile output in the form of,
for example, a
pulsation or beat, as the membrane 410 is deflected when the actuator 120
strikes the
membrane 410.
[0036] In the above-described example, the portable electronic device 100 is a
PDA
and includes features and functions of a PDA. In another example embodiment,
the
portable electronic device may function without a display. For example, the
device may
not have any display or, alternatively, may include an analog watch face and
components
of an analog watch. In another example embodiment, the electronic device may
function
without the sensors.
[0037] In alternative examples, the portable electronic device may include
more or
fewer functions and features.
[0038] Alternatively, the portable electronic device may include short-range
communication capabilities only, for communicating with a handheld electronic
communication device. In this example, the portable electronic device
communicates
with the handheld electronic communication device and provides a peripheral
display for
displaying information from the handheld electronic communication device. In
this
example, detection of an event may include receipt of data from the handheld
electronic
communication device such as a total number of unopened emails.
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[0039] Advantageously, tactile output is provided from a portable electronic
device in
contact with the skin of a user to provide information to the user without
requiring viewing
of a display. Such information may be useful, for example, when a user is in a
meeting,
driving a vehicle, or in any other instance in which viewing of a display is
difficult,
dangerous, or disruptive. The provision and control of tactile output in touch-
sensitive
devices is desirable.
[0040] While the embodiments described herein are directed to particular
implementations of the actuating assembly and the portable electronic device
and the, it
will be understood that modifications and variations may occur to those
skilled in the art.
All such modifications and variations are believed to be within the sphere and
scope of
the present disclosure.
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