IP Library Granted Patent US 10,591,992
Granted Patent B2
US 10,591,992 · App. 13/919,492 · Granted Mar 17, 2020

Simulation of control areas on touch surface using haptic feedback

Inventor: Xin Feng (Arcadia, CA)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G06F3/016G06F3/04886
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,591,992
App. No.
13/919,492
Granted
Mar 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aspect provides an information handling device, including: a touch sensitive surface; one or more processors; a memory device storing instructions accessible to the one or more processors, the instructions being executable by the one or more processors to: detect one or more non-operational touch inputs to the touch sensitive surface; map the one or more non-operational touch inputs to a predetermined haptic effect selected from a plurality of predetermined haptic effects mapped to regions of the touch sensitive surface; and provide the predetermined haptic effect via a haptic layer of the touch sensitive surface. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (37)

1. An information handling device, comprising:

a touch sensitive surface;

one or more processors;

a memory device storing instructions accessible to the one or more processors, the instructions being executable by the one or more processors to:

detect one or more non-operational touch inputs to a border area dividing two touch sensitive sub-areas within the touch sensitive surface;

map the one or more non-operational touch inputs to a predetermined haptic effect, wherein the predetermined haptic effect is based upon a context determined from an input type of the one or more non-operational touch inputs; and

provide the predetermined haptic effect via a haptic layer of the touch sensitive surface.

2. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

determine a directionality of non-operational touch inputs to the touch sensitive surface;

wherein the predetermined haptic effect is modified according to the directionality of the one or more non-operational touch inputs.

3. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined haptic effect is modified to increase a base haptic feedback level according to a reduction in distance on the touch sensitive surface between an operational region and the one or more non-operational inputs to the touch sensitive surface.

4. The information handling device of claim 3 , wherein the base haptic feedback level is changed as the distance between the one or more non-operational touch inputs and a predefined border associated with an outer periphery of the touch sensitive surface changes.

5. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to determine a pressure at which a touch input selected from a non-operational touch input and an operational touch input is provided;

wherein a predetermined haptic effect is mapped according to the pressure.

6. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to: detect one or more additional non-operational touch inputs to a second region of the touch sensitive surface;

wherein a second predetermined haptic effect is provided via the haptic layer responsive to detecting the one or more additional non-operational touch inputs.

7. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a touch pad.

8. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a touch screen.

9. A method, comprising:

detecting one or more non-operational touch inputs to a border area dividing two touch sensitive sub-areas within a touch sensitive surface of an information handling device;

mapping the one or more non-operational touch inputs to a predetermined haptic effect, wherein the predetermined haptic effect is based upon a context determined from an input type associated with the one or more non-operational touch inputs; and

providing the predetermined haptic effect via a haptic layer of the touch sensitive surface.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a directionality of non-operational touch inputs to the touch sensitive surface;

wherein the predetermined haptic effect is modified according to the directionality of the one or more non-operational touch inputs.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined haptic effect is modified to increase a base haptic feedback level according to a reduction in distance on the touch sensitive surface between an operational region and the one or more non-operational inputs to the touch sensitive surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the base haptic feedback level is changed as the distance between the one or more non-operational touch inputs and a predefined border associated with an outer periphery of the touch sensitive surface changes.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a pressure at which a touch input selected from a non-operational touch input and an operational touch input is provided;

wherein a predetermined haptic effect is mapped according to the pressure.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting one or more additional non-operational touch inputs to a second region of the touch sensitive surface;

wherein a second predetermined haptic effect is provided via the haptic layer responsive to detecting the one or more additional non-operational touch inputs.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a touch pad.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a touch screen.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code being executable by a processor and comprising:

computer readable program code that detects one or more non-operational touch inputs to a border area dividing two touch sensitive sub-areas within the touch sensitive surface;

computer readable program code that maps the one or more non-operational touch inputs to a predetermined haptic effect, wherein the predetermined haptic effect is based upon a context determined from an input type associated with the one or more non-operational touch inputs;

computer readable program code that provides the predetermined haptic effect via a haptic layer of the touch sensitive surface.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2021
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LTD
Reel/Frame 055939/0434 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2013
From: FENG, XIN
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 030625/0650 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140368445A1 · Dec 18, 2014