IP Library Patent Application 13082836
Patent Application
App. No. 13/082,836

TACTILE FEEDBACK METHOD AND APPARATUS

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/082,836
Abstract

A method includes displaying a representation of a navigation device on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detecting movement of a touch on the touch-sensitive display, and utilizing an actuator to provide a first tactile feedback when a location of the touch is associated with the representation and a second tactile feedback when the location of the touch is not associated with the representation.

Claims (28)

1 . A method comprising:

displaying a representation of a navigation device on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

detecting movement of a touch on the touch-sensitive display;

utilizing an actuator to provide a first tactile feedback when the touch is associated with the representation and a second tactile feedback when the touch is not associated with the representation.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein utilizing the actuator comprises actuating the actuator to change resistance to the movement of the touch on the touch-sensitive display when a location of the touch is associated with the representation.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the navigation device comprises a trackball and wherein utilizing the actuator comprises actuating the actuator to simulate a shape of the trackball.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first tactile feedback comprises a lower resistance to the movement and the second tactile feedback comprises a higher resistance to the movement.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is utilized to simulate resistance to movement during rolling of a trackball.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein utilizing an actuator comprises actuating an actuator when a location of the touch is associated with the representation.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein utilizing the actuator comprises actuating the actuator to change a distance between the touch-sensitive display and a back of a housing when a location of the touch is associated with the representation.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein utilizing the actuator comprises actuating the actuator to change resistance to movement of the touch on the touch-sensitive display when a location of the touch is associated with the representation.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first tactile feedback comprises a greater distance between the touch-sensitive display and a back of the electronic device and the second tactile feedback comprises a lesser distance between the touch-sensitive display and a back of the electronic device.

10 . A computer-readable medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of claim 1 .

11 . A portable electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a tactile feedback apparatus operably coupled to the touch-sensitive device;

a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive device and the tactile feedback apparatus and configured to:

display a representation of a navigation device on the touch-sensitive display;

detect movement of a touch on the touch-sensitive display;

provide a first tactile feedback when the touch is associated with the representation and a second tactile feedback when the touch is not associated with the representation.

12 . The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises an actuator that is actuated to change resistance to the movement of the touch on the touch-sensitive display when a location of the touch is associated with the representation to provide the first tactile feedback.

13 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the navigation device comprises a trackball and wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises an actuator that is actuated to change a distance between the touch-sensitive display and a back of a housing to simulate a shape of the trackball.

14 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the first tactile feedback comprises a lower resistance to the movement and the second tactile feedback comprises a higher resistance to the movement.

15 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the actuator is utilized to simulate resistance to movement during rolling of the trackball.

16 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises at least one actuator.

17 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises an actuator that is actuated when a location of the touch is associated with the representation to provide the first tactile feedback.

18 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the first tactile feedback and the second tactile feedback comprise different distances between the touch-sensitive display and a back of the device.

19 . The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the first tactile feedback and the second tactile feedback comprise different resistances to the movement of the touch.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2011
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 026428/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2011
From: MADABUSI SRINIVASAN, PRASAD VENKATESH
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026336/0591 →