Methods and systems for providing haptic control
Haptic systems are disclosed which may provide increased resolution in tactile feedback. A tiered haptic system may be formed by stacking of haptic elements. One or more arrays of shape change elements such as, for example, piezoelectric elements may be used to actuate a screen surface. Arrays may also be used to sense tactile interactions and stimuli on a screen surface. An embedded haptic system may be formed by inserting haptic elements into a contoured elastic sheet. The embedded haptic system may provide tactile interactions to a user. In some embodiments, both tiered and embedded haptic arrangements may be used.
1. An electronic device comprising:
an input surface; and
a haptic control system positioned below the input surface, the haptic control system comprising:
a first elastic sheet in contact with the input surface;
a first array of shape-change elements embedded within the first elastic sheet and configured to provide a high-resolution physical response to a first electric signal;
a second elastic sheet positioned below, and coupled to, the first elastic sheet;
and
a second array of shape-change elements embedded within the first elastic sheet, the second array of shape-change elements configured to provide a low-resolution physical response to a second electric signal.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first array of shape-change elements is configured to deform a first region of the input surface.
3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the second array of shape-change elements is configured to deform a second region of the input surface, the second region comprising the first region.
4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first region is a subregion of the second region.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising control circuitry coupled to the first array and the second array and configured to deform at least one shape-change element of the first array and at least one shape-change element of the second array in response to receiving the first and second electrical signals.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display positioned below the second elastic sheet.
7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the display comprises an organic light emitting diode display sheet.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first elastic screen sheet comprises a flexible organic light emitting diode display sheet.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shape-change elements of the first array of shape-change elements comprises a piezoelectric element.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shape-change elements of the second array of shape-change elements comprises a piezoelectric element.
11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shape-change elements of the first array of shape-change elements comprises a memory polymer.
12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shape-change elements of the second array of shape-change elements comprises a memory polymer.
13. A haptic input device comprising:
an input surface configured to elastically deform;
an elastic sheet positioned below the input surface and comprising:
a first plurality of shape-changed elements arranged in a first grid pattern, positioned below the input surface, embedded in the elastic sheet, and configured to withdraw a first region of the input surface in response to a first signal; and
a second plurality of shape-change elements embedded in the elastic sheet and positioned below and aligned with the first plurality of shape-change elements and configured to withdraw a second region of the input surface comprising the first region of the input surface in response to a second signal.
14. The haptic input device of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the shape-change elements of the first plurality of shape-change elements comprises one of a piezoelectric element and a memory polymer.
15. The haptic input device of claim 13 , wherein the low-resolution shape-change element comprises one of a piezoelectric element and a memory polymer.
16. A method for providing haptic feedback using a haptic input device comprising an elastic sheet embedding a first array of shape-change elements of a first size stacked upon a second array of shape-change elements of a second size greater than the first size, the method comprising:
identifying a first shape-change element of the first array of shape-change elements;
identifying a second shape-change element of the second array of shape-change elements positioned below the first shape-change element and separated from the first shape-change element by an elastic sheet comprising an electrical trace;
causing a first control signal to be applied to the first shape-change element corresponding a high-resolution physical response; and
causing a second signal to be applied to the second shape-change element via the electrical trace, the second signal corresponding to a low-resolution physical response; wherein
the high-resolution physical response and the low-resolution physical response cooperate to define a topological feature on an input surface of the haptic input device.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying content on an elastic display disposed atop the first array.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are applied at substantially the same time.