Force sensor with haptic feedback

1. A method comprising:

determining a touch value based on a touch applied to a touch-sensitive sensor;

determining an elapsed time that the touch value initially exceeds a first threshold value, the first threshold value associated with a push event;

setting a second threshold value of the touch-sensitive sensor based on the elapsed time, the second threshold value associated with a release event;

selecting a haptic feedback response based on the elapsed time; and

generating an output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response includes generating a control signal that causes a haptic actuator to provide the haptic feedback response as a mechanical wave with a frequency that is based on the elapsed time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response includes generating a control signal that causes a haptic actuator to provide the haptic feedback response as a mechanical wave with a amplitude that is based on the elapsed time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the second threshold value comprises:

comparing the elapsed time with a threshold time value;

determining that the elapsed time exceeds the threshold time value; and

establishing the second threshold value such that a difference between the second threshold value and the first threshold value is directly related to the amount of time that the elapsed time exceeds the threshold time value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the second threshold value comprises:

comparing the elapsed time with a threshold time value;

determining that the elapsed time does not exceed the threshold time value; and

establishing the second threshold value as substantially equal to the first threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the elapsed time with a threshold time value, wherein generating the output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response includes generating the output signal responsive to a determination that the elapsed time exceeds the threshold time value.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output signal includes a signal for controlling actuation of an acoustic actuator.

8. A method comprising:

determining a touch value based on a touch applied to a touch-sensitive sensor;

determining an amount that the touch value initially exceeds a first threshold value, the first threshold value being associated with a push event;

setting a second threshold value of the touch-sensitive sensor based on the amount, the second threshold value associated with a release event;

selecting a haptic feedback response based on the amount;

generating an output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the touch value and the first threshold value are force values and wherein determining the touch value includes measuring a force applied to the touch-sensitive interface.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising comparing the amount with a threshold amount value, wherein the amount and the threshold amount value are time values and wherein determining the amount includes measuring an elapsed time that the touch value exceeds the first threshold value.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the touch value includes a force component and a position component and the first threshold value includes a force value.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising comparing the amount with a threshold amount value, wherein the amount and the threshold amount value are distance values and wherein determining the amount includes determining a distance associated with a change in position of the touch value applied to the touch-sensitive sensor.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response includes generating a control signal that causes a haptic actuator to provide the haptic feedback response as a mechanical wave with a frequency that is based on the amount.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response includes generating a control signal that causes a haptic actuator to provide the haptic feedback response as a mechanical wave with a amplitude that is based on the amount.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising comparing the amount with a threshold amount value, wherein setting the second threshold value comprises:

determining that the amount exceeds the threshold amount value; and

establishing the second threshold value such that a difference between the second threshold value and the first threshold value is directly related to a part of the amount that exceeds the threshold amount value.

16. The method of claim 8 , further comprising comparing the amount with a threshold amount value, wherein setting the second threshold value comprises:

determining that the amount does not exceed the threshold amount value; and

establishing the second threshold value as substantially equal to the first threshold value.

17. The method of claim 8 , further comprising comparing the amount with a threshold amount value, wherein generating the output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response includes generating the output signal responsive to a determination that the amount exceeds the threshold amount value.

18. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive interface configured to detect a touch on a surface of the touch-sensitive interface;

a memory; and

a processing unit in communication with the memory and the touch-sensitive interface, the processing unit configured to:

determine a touch value based on the touch applied to the touch-sensitive sensor;

determine an amount that the touch value initially exceeds a first threshold value, the first threshold value being associated with a push event;

set a second threshold value of the touch-sensitive interface based on the amount the second threshold value associated with a release event;

select a haptic feedback response based on the amount; and

generate an output signal indicative of the haptic feedback response.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising an actuator configured to provide the haptic feedback response as a mechanical wave with a frequency that is based on the amount.

20. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising an actuator configured to provide the haptic feedback response as a mechanical wave with an amplitude that is based on the amount.

21. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising comparing the amount with a threshold amount value, wherein setting the second threshold value comprises:

determining that the amount exceeds the threshold amount value; and

establishing the second threshold value such that a difference between the second threshold value and the first threshold value is directly related to the amount that exceeds the threshold amount value.

22. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising comparing the amount with a threshold amount value, wherein setting the second threshold value comprises:

determining that the amount does not exceed the threshold amount value; and

establishing the second threshold value as substantially equal to the first threshold value.

23. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the electronic device is operably coupled to a steering wheel.