|Publication number||US8127437 B2|
|Application number||US 12/766,771|
|Publication date||Mar 6, 2012|
|Filing date||Apr 23, 2010|
|Priority date||Jun 29, 2007|
|Also published as||EP2174360A1, EP2174360A4, US7952261, US8319403, US20090001855, US20100205803, US20110169742, US20110285247, WO2009006318A1|
|Publication number||12766771, 766771, US 8127437 B2, US 8127437B2, US-B2-8127437, US8127437 B2, US8127437B2|
|Inventors||Michael G. Lipton, Ilya Polyakov, Alireza Zarrabi, Otto Hui, Silmon James BIGGS, Thomas A. Kridl, Gordon Russell, Jonathan R. Heim, Roger Hitchcock, Chris A. WEABER|
|Original Assignee||Bayer Materialscience Ag|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (80), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (2), Classifications (23), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/163,554, filed on Jun. 27, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/937,787, filed on Jun. 29, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention is directed to the use of electroactive polymer transducers to provide sensory feedback.
There are many known user interface devices which employ haptic feedback—the communication of information to a user through forces applied to the user's body, typically in response to a force initiated by the user. Examples of user interface devices which may employ haptic feedback include keyboards, touch screens, computer mice, trackballs, stylus sticks, joysticks, etc. The haptic feedback provided by these types of interface devices is in the form of physical sensations, such as vibrations, pulses, spring forces, etc., which are felt by the user.
Often, a user interface device with haptic feedback can be an input device which “receives” an action initiated by the user as well as an output device which provides haptic feedback indicating that the action was initiated. In practice, the position of some contacted or touched portion or surface, e.g., a button, of a user interface device is changed along at least one degree of freedom by the force applied by the user, where the force applied must reach some minimum threshold value in order for the contacted portion to change positions and to effect the haptic feedback. Achievement or registration of the change in position of the contacted portion results in a responsive force (e.g., spring-back, vibration, pulsing) which is also imposed on the contacted portion of the device acted upon by the user, which force is communicated to the user through his or her sense of touch.
One common example of a user interface device that employs a spring-back or “bi-phase” type of haptic feedback is a button on a mouse. The button does not move until the applied force reaches a certain threshold, at which point the button moves downward with relative ease and then stops—the collective sensation of which is defined as “clicking” the button. The user-applied force is substantially along an axis perpendicular to the button surface, as is the responsive (but opposite) force felt by the user.
Haptic feedback capabilities are known to improve user productivity and efficiency, particularly in the context of data entry. It is believed by the inventors hereof that further improvements to the character and quality of the haptic sensation communicated to a user may further increase such productivity and efficiency. It would be additionally beneficial if such improvements were provided by a sensory feedback mechanism which is easy and cost-effective to manufacture, and does not add to, and preferably reduces, the space, size and/or mass requirements of known haptic feedback devices.
The present invention includes devices, systems and methods involving electroactive transducers for sensory applications. In one variation, a user interface device having sensory feedback is provided. The device includes a user contact surface, an electroactive polymer transducer comprising an output member coupled to the contact surface, a sensor for sensing a mechanical force on the user contact surface and providing an activation signal to the transducer, wherein activation of the transducer moves at least a portion the user contact surface.
The coupling between the output member of the transducer and the user contact surface may include a mechanical means, magnetic means or both. In certain variations in which a mechanical coupling means is employed, at least one pin or protrusion extending between the output member and the user contact surface is provided. Where the pin or pins extends through the transducer sealing material, a compliant material may be used between the pin and the sealing material to ensure that the seal is not compromised upon movement of the pins. In certain embodiments, a pivotable lever is used to transfer motion from the transducer output member to the user contact surface whereby the pins extend from the lever through countersunk holes provided within the sealing material.
The user interface device may further include a sealing material adapted to substantially hermetically seal the transducer. A13. In certain embodiments, the sealing material forms a gasket between the user contact surface and the transducer, while in others, the sealing material encases the transducer.
The user interface device may be configured to provide a sensory feedback movement, i.e., movement of the contact surface which is sensed by the user, which is in a lateral or in a vertical direction relative to the contact surface. The user interface device may provide a single input or contact surface, e.g., a keypad, or may be provided in an array format having a plurality of contact surfaces, e.g., a keyboard.
The devices and systems of the present invention may be fabricated at least in part by web-based manufacturing techniques. For example, one such method includes forming at lest the transducers by such techniques where an electroactive polymer film is provided and an array of electrodes is formed on the film. The electrode array is then sandwiched between a top and bottom array of frame components to form an array of electroactive polymer transducers. The resulting array may be kept in array format or may be singulated into a plurality of individual transducers, depending on the type of user interface device.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading the details of the invention as more fully described below.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings. To facilitate understanding, the same reference numerals have been used (where practical) to designate similar elements that are common to the drawings. Included in the drawings are the following:
Variation of the invention from that shown in the figures is contemplated.
The devices, systems and methods of the present invention are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.
Sensory or haptic feedback device 2 includes various components including, from top to bottom as illustrated in
With reference to
In fabricating transducer 20, elastic film is stretched and held in a pre-strained condition by two opposing rigid frame sides 8 a, 8 b. It has been observed that the pre-strain improves the dielectric strength of the polymer layer 26, thereby improving conversion between electrical and mechanical energy, i.e., the pre-strain allows the film to deflect more and provide greater mechanical work. Typically, the electrode material is applied after pre-straining the polymer layer, but may be applied beforehand. The two electrodes provided on the same side of layer 26, referred to herein as same-side electrode pairs, i.e., electrodes 32 a and 34 a on top side 26 a of dielectric layer 26 (see
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the electrodes has a semi-circular configuration where the same-side electrode pairs define a substantially circular pattern for accommodating a centrally disposed, rigid output disc 20 a, 20 b on each side of dielectric layer 26. Discs 20 a, 20 b, the functions of which are discussed below, are secured to the centrally exposed outer surfaces 26 a, 26 b of polymer layer 26, thereby sandwiching layer 26 therebetween. The coupling between the discs and film may be mechanical or be provided by an adhesive bond. Generally, the discs 20 a, 20 b will be sized relative to the transducer frame 22 a, 22 b. More specifically, the ratio of the disc diameter to the inner annular diameter of the frame will be such so as to adequately distribute stress applied to transducer film 10. The greater the ratio of the disc diameter to the frame diameter, the greater the force of the feedback signal or movement but with a lower linear displacement of the disc. Alternately, the lower the ratio, the lower the output force and the greater the linear displacement.
Because of their light weight and minimal components, EAP transducers offer a very low profile and, as such, are ideal for use in sensory/haptic feedback applications. Examples of EAP transducers and their construction are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,368,862; 7,362,031; 7,320,457; 7,259,503; 7,233,097; 7,224,106; 7,211,937; 7,199,501; 7,166,953; 7,064,472; 7,062,055; 7,052,594; 7,049,732; 7,034,432; 6,940,221; 6,911,764; 6,891,317; 6,882,086; 6,876,135; 6,812,624; 6,809,462; 6,806,621; 6,781,284; 6,768,246; 6,707,236; 6,664,718; 6,628,040; 6,586,859; 6,583,533; 6,545,384; 6,543,110; 6,376,971 and 6,343,129; and U.S. Published Patent Application Nos. 2006/0208610; 2008/0022517; 2007/0222344; 2007/0200468; 2007/0200467; 2007/0200466; 2007/0200457; 2007/0200454; 2007/0200453; 2007/0170822; 2006/0238079; 2006/0208610; 2006/0208609; and 2005/0157893, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Referring again to
The bottom side of sensory feedback device 2 includes a plate 12 which provides mechanical stability to device 2 by way of a mechanical coupling (not shown), e.g., bolts, which are placed in thru-holes 24 within each of the above described layers of device 2. Plate 12 also functions as an electrical adaptor having electrical traces or contacts 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, which may be in the form a printed circuit board housed within the user interface device, for electrical communication with the control electronics and a source of power (discussed in greater detail below). The exemplary pattern of electrical traces includes traces 14 a and 14 b for connection to each of the two designate high voltage electrodes and a single trace 14 c for connection to both of the grounded electrodes.
With its overall very low-profile and square shape, the sensory/haptic feedback devices of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in a keyboard, touch screen, computer mouse and other user interface devices where only a single finger 38 is used to contact the input portion of the device, as illustrated in
With the electrode configuration described above (i.e., two working electrode pairs), transducer 10 is capable of functioning in either a single or a two-phase mode. In the manner configured, the mechanical displacement of the output component, i.e., the two coupled discs 20 a and 20 b, of the subject sensory feedback device described above has is lateral rather than vertical. In other words, instead of the sensory feedback signal being a force in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface 4 a of the user interface pad 4 and parallel to the input force (designated by arrow 60 a in
When operating sensory/haptic feedback device 2 in single-phase mode, only one working pair of electrodes of actuator 30 would be activated at any one time. The single-phase operation of actuator 30 may be controlled using a single high voltage power supply. As the voltage applied to the single-selected working electrode pair is increased, the activated portion (one half) of the transducer film will expand, thereby moving the output disc 20 in-plane in the direction of the inactive portion of the transducer film.
To effect a greater displacement of the output member or component, and thus provide a greater sensory feedback signal to the user, actuator 30 is operated in a two-phase mode, i.e., activating both portions of the actuator simultaneously.
Various types of mechanisms may be employed to communicate the input force 60 a from the user to effect the desired sensory feedback 60 b (see
Referring now to
Another variation of the present invention involves the hermetic sealing of the EAP actuators to minimize any effects of humidity or moisture condensation that may occur on the EAP film. For the various embodiments described below, the EAP actuator is sealed in a barrier film substantially separately from the other components of the tactile feedback device. The barrier film or casing may be made of, such as foil, which is preferably heat sealed or the like to minimize the leakage of moisture to within the sealed film. Each of these device embodiments enables coupling of the feedback motion of the actuator's output member to the contact surface of the user input surface, e.g., keypad, while minimizing any compromise in the hermetically sealed actuator package. Various exemplary means for coupling the motion of the actuator to the user interface contact surface are also provided.
One such coupling means involves the use of magnets.
Another embodiment of a sealed actuator is illustrated in
The actuators of the present invention may be provided in a planar array fabricated by continuous web-based manufacturing techniques. Such arrays are highly practical as sensory/haptic feedback devices are often provided in array formats themselves. A computer keyboard is a common example of such.
Regarding methodology, the subject methods may include each of the mechanical and/or activities associated with use of the devices described. As such, methodology implicit to the use of the devices described forms part of the invention. Other methods may focus on fabrication of such devices.
As for other details of the present invention, materials and alternate related configurations may be employed as within the level of those with skill in the relevant art. The same may hold true with respect to method-based aspects of the invention in terms of additional acts as commonly or logically employed. In addition, though the invention has been described in reference to several examples, optionally incorporating various features, the invention is not to be limited to that which is described or indicated as contemplated with respect to each variation of the invention. Various changes may be made to the invention described and equivalents (whether recited herein or not included for the sake of some brevity) may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Any number of the individual parts or subassemblies shown may be integrated in their design. Such changes or others may be undertaken or guided by the principles of design for assembly.
Also, it is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Reference to a singular item, includes the possibility that there are plural of the same items present. More specifically, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “said,” and “the” include plural referents unless the specifically stated otherwise. In other words, use of the articles allow for “at least one” of the subject item in the description above as well as the claims below. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. Without the use of such exclusive terminology, the term “comprising” in the claims shall allow for the inclusion of any additional element—irrespective of whether a given number of elements are enumerated in the claim, or the addition of a feature could be regarded as transforming the nature of an element set forth n the claims. Stated otherwise, unless specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein are to be given as broad a commonly understood meaning as possible while maintaining claim validity.
In all, the breadth of the present invention is not to be limited by the examples provided.
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|U.S. Classification||29/825, 29/830, 29/831, 29/827, 29/832, 29/852|
|Cooperative Classification||Y10T29/49126, Y10T29/4913, Y10T29/49121, Y10T29/49128, Y10T29/49165, Y10T29/49117, Y10T29/4902, Y10S310/80, H01H13/84, H01H2217/018, H01L41/0986, G06F3/016, H01H2003/008|
|European Classification||H01H13/84, H01L41/09L, G06F3/01F|
|Apr 23, 2010||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE, INC., CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LIPTON, MICHAEL GABRIEL;POLYAKOV, ILYA;ZARRABI, ALIREZA;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080630 TO 20081227;REEL/FRAME:024283/0038
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