WEARABLE DEVICE SURFACE HAPTICS INTERACTION

A wearable apparatus includes a wearable article that is wearable by a person. The wearable apparatus includes a display, an input portion on a surface of the apparatus, and a haptic actuator. A controller is electrically connected to the input portion and the haptic actuator. The controller is programmed to generate haptic drive signals in response to receiving an input signal from the input portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent document relates to haptic effects, and more particularly to wearable articles including haptic feedback in response to user interaction with an input surface.

BACKGROUND

Wearable technology is becoming more advanced and more popular. Some wearable devices provide functions similar to those provided by hand held devices such as smart phones. For example, a smartwatch is a wearable device that includes functionality that is enhanced beyond timekeeping, including mobile communications, media players, scheduling, etc. Some wearable devices are configured to run mobile applications, or “apps,” using a mobile operating system, and thus provide full or nearly full mobile phone capabilities.

Such wearable devices typically provide a user interface including a display and user input. In the case of a smartwatch, the user interface, including both the display and user input are typically arranged on or near the face of the watch.

SUMMARY

This patent document relates generally to wearable articles that include a user interface. In one aspect, a wearable apparatus includes a wearable article that is wearable by a person. The wearable apparatus includes a display, an input portion, and a haptic actuator. A controller is electrically connected to the input portion and the haptic actuator. The controller is programmed to generate haptic drive signals in response to receiving an input signal from the input portion.

Another aspect is a method of delivering haptic feedback through a wearable article. The method includes receiving an input signal from an input portion of a wearable article. The input portion surrounds a display of the wearable article. A haptic effect is provided in response to the received input signal, and an output is provided to the display in response to the input signal.

In one specific example, the wearable article is a wrist watch, or smartwatch. The watch includes a watch face display with an input portion surrounding the display, and a haptic actuator. A controller is electrically connected to the display, the input portion, and the haptic actuator. The controller is programmed to provide a display signal to the display and transmit haptic drive signals to the haptic actuator in response to receiving an input signal from the input portion,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Whenever appropriate, terms used in the singular also will include the plural and vice versa. The use of “a” herein means “one or more” unless stated otherwise or where the use of “one or more” is clearly inappropriate. The use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. The use of “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” and “having” are interchangeable and not intended to be limiting. The term “such as” also is not intended to be limiting. For example, the term “including” shall mean “including, but not limited to.”

In general terms, this patent document relates to a wearable apparatus that includes a user input. While wearable devices such as smartwatches provide convenient and extremely portable technology, the space available for user interfaces is limited. This can make it awkward or difficult for a user to make selections or provide input.

In accordance with aspects of this disclosure, an apparatus includes a display. The display may or may not include a touch screen. The apparatus can also include an input portion on a surface of the apparatus. The apparatus receives input through the input portion. The input portion may be connected to or positioned adjacent to an outer perimeter of the display, and another embodiment, the input portion is integrally formed with the display and is layered on top of or below the display. In yet another embodiment, the input portion is a separate unit that can be attached to the display. In another embodiment, the input portion can physically move or rotate around the display. In yet another embodiment, the input portion does not move or rotate but receives moving or rotating touch input. In another embodiment, the input portion and the display are the same. In yet another embodiment, the input portion is separate from the display and the display may or may not include a touch screen.

FIG. 1illustrates aspects an example embodiment in which the article is a wearable apparatus. The wearable apparatus includes a wearable article100that is wearable by a person. The wearable article100includes a display110, an input portion112on a surface of the article, and a haptic actuator102. A controller104is electrically connected to the input portion112and the haptic actuator102, and is programmed to transmit haptic drive signals to the haptic actuator102in response to receiving an input signal from the input portion112. Further, the controller104is coupled to the display110to control an output provided to the display110. For example, the controller104may be programmed to output various user interface displays in response to user input received via the input portion112. The display110can be any suitable graphics display device, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) based display. In some embodiments, the display110includes a touch screen.

FIG. 2illustrates an example in which the wearable article100is a wrist watch101that receives haptic feedback that reacts to the input portion112, such as a physical wheel or bezel that rotates around the display110. In the example shown inFIG. 2, the display110includes watch face. In other embodiments, the input portion112does not move or rotate, and the wearable article100receives haptic feedback in response to input to the non-movable or non-rotatable input portion112.

The controller104is any type of circuit that controls operation of the haptic actuator102based on receiving a signal or data from the input portion112. For instance, when a user touches the input portion112, a signal is input to the controller104. In response, the controller104operates the haptic actuator102to provide haptic feedback to the user touching the input portion112of the wearable article100. A haptic effect can be any type tactile sensation delivered to a person. The haptic effect embodies a message such as a cue, notification, or more complex information. The haptic feedback typically embodies a message to the person touching the input portion112. The message may provide tactile feedback to the user regarding the user's inputs to the wearable article100via a surface of the article including the input portion112.

FIG. 3illustrates a more detailed block diagram of an embodiment of the wearable article100illustrated inFIG. 1. In this embodiment, the wearable article100includes the haptic actuator102and the controller104. The input portion112is in electrical communication with the controller104to provide user inputs. An actuator drive circuit114is in electrical communication with the controller104and the actuator102.

The actuator102can be any device that produces a motion. Examples of actuators include mechanisms such as motors; linear actuators such as solenoids; magnetic or electromagnetic mechanisms; and smart materials such as shape memory alloys, piezoelectric materials, electroactive polymers, and materials containing smart fluids. In some embodiments, the actuator102interacts with a surface of the article, such as the portion of the surface having the input portion112, to provide the haptic feedback to the user touching the input portion112.

The input portion112can be any type of input device that outputs a signal in response to a predetermined action from a user. In some embodiments, the input portion112is a touch sensitive device situated on a surface of the article, which could be any type of user input device that outputs a signal in response to being touched. In some embodiments, the input portion112includes a touch sensitive device that employs capacitive sensing using human body capacitance as input. The controller104receives user input as an input signal generated by the input portion112. The controller104processes the input signal and in response thereto, controls the actuator102to deliver a haptic message that may be related to information shown on the display110.

The actuator drive circuit114is a circuit that receives a haptic signal from the controller104. The haptic signal embodies haptic data, and the haptic data defines parameters the actuator control circuit114uses to generate a haptic drive signal. Examples of parameters that can be defined by the haptic data includes frequency, amplitude, phase, inversion, duration, waveform, attack time, rise time, fade time, and lag or lead time relative to an event. The haptic drive signal is applied to the actuator102.

The example controller104comprises a bus116, processor118, input/output (I/O) controller120, and memory122. The bus116includes conductors or transmission lines for providing a path to transfer data between the components in the controller104including the processor118, memory122, and I/O controller120. The bus116typically comprises a control bus, address bus, and data bus. However, the bus116can be any bus or combination of busses, suitable to transfer data between components in the controller104.

The I/O controller120is circuitry that monitors operation of the controller104and peripheral or external devices such as the input portion112, the display110and the actuator drive circuit114. The I/O controller120also manages data flow between the controller104and the peripheral devices and frees the processor118from details associated with monitoring and controlling the peripheral devices. Examples of other peripheral or external devices with which the I/O controller120can interface includes external storage devices; monitors; input devices such as keyboards, pointing devices; external computing devices; antennas; and any other remote devices.

The processor118can be any circuit configured to process information and can include any suitable analog or digital circuit. The processor118also can include a programmable circuit that executes instructions. Examples of programmable circuits include microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable gate arrays (PLA), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or any other processor or hardware suitable for executing instructions. In various embodiments, the processor118can be a single unit or a combination of two or more units. If the processor118includes two or more units, the units can be physically located in a single controller or in separate devices.

The memory122can include volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), flash memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, or any other suitable memory technology. The memory122also can include a combination of volatile and nonvolatile memory.

The memory122can store a number of program modules for execution by the processor118, including an event detection module124, a haptic determination module126, a registration module128, a communication module130, a display control module132, and a haptic control module134. Each module is a collection of data, routines, objects, calls, and other instructions that perform one or more particular task. Although certain modules are disclosed herein, the various instructions and tasks described herein can be performed by a single module, different combinations of modules, modules other than those disclosed herein, or modules executed by remote devices that are in communication with the controller104.

The event detection module124is programmed to receive data from the input portion112. Upon receiving the data, the event detection module124determines whether there is an event, condition, or operating state associated with a haptic effect. Upon identification of an event associated with a haptic effect, the haptic determination module126analyzes the input received from the input portion112to determine a haptic effect to deliver through the actuator102. An example technique the haptic determination module126can use to determine a haptic effect includes rules programmed to make decisions to select a haptic effect. Another example includes lookup tables or databases that relate haptic effects to data received from the input portion112.

The display control module132generates an output signal to determine the information provided on the display110. The display control module vaties the output shown on the display110based at least in part on input signals received via the input portion112. In this manner, a user may determine what content is shown on the display110.

The haptic control module134generates a haptic signal upon the haptic determination module126identifying a haptic effect to deliver to the actuator102. The haptic control module134receives haptic data and generates a haptic signal. The haptic control module134sends the haptic signal to the actuator drive circuit114, which then generates the haptic drive signal. The haptic drive signal embodies the message to be conveyed to the person touching the input area112.

The registration module128receives and processes registration data such as device information, context information, or other data used for system functions. The device information may include identifying data such as an address or other data. Examples of addresses include media access control (MAC) addresses, uniform resource locators (URL), or other network addresses.

The communication module130facilitates communication between the controller104and remote devices. Examples of remote devices include computing devices, sensors, other wearable articles, exercise equipment, etc. Examples of computing devices include servers, desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, smartphones, home automation computers and controllers, and any other device that is programmable. The communication can take any form suitable for data communication including communication over wireless or wired communication signal or data paths.

Alternative embodiments of the program modules are possible. For example, some alternative embodiments might have more or fewer program modules than the event detection module124, haptic determination module126, registration module128, communication module130, display control module132, and haptic control module134. For example, the controller104can be configured to deliver only a single haptic effect. Such embodiments might not have a haptic determination module126, and the event detection module124or some other module would cause the haptic control module134to send the haptic data to the haptic control module134. In other alternative embodiments, there is no event detection module124and the haptic control module134sends a haptic signal to the actuator control circuit114upon the controller104receiving an input from the input portion112.

FIG. 4shows an exemplary embodiment of portions of the wearable device100, including the display110and the input portion112. In the illustrated embodiment, the user can interact with the input portion112of the device100to provide input. The device100can receive one touch or multiple different touches either in serial or concurrently as the input. While the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 4shows a circular device receiving two simultaneous inputs, one of ordinary skill in the art understands that the device can be any shape: square, rectangular, oval, triangular, sphere, pyramid, etc., and receive anywhere from a single touch input to multiple touch inputs at one time.

FIG. 4also shows an exemplary application of the device100. InFIG. 4, a user is scrolling through a list of text150by moving one or more input points140,142around the input portion112that is surrounding the circular display110. In other embodiments, a single input point may be used. As the user rotates the input, clockwise or counterclockwise, around the input portion, the list150will scroll up or down based on the input. As the user scrolls through the list150, a haptic effect is applied as the user scrolls the list150. In one example, the user can receive a haptic effect as each Main text152is highlighted on the display110, providing a “virtual detent” for the user, indicating to the user that the next Main text has been displayed. Such virtual detents also can be used to provide a sense of speed at which the list items are scrolled on the display110by increasing the frequency of the haptic effect as the user increases the scroll rate by increasing the rotational or other touch input to the input area112.

Various types of single or multiple touch inputs are possible. For example, referring the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, a single touch input may scroll the list150line-by-line. Further, a haptic effect may be applied as each Main text152is highlighted. A double-touch input may switch to a page view, where the list150is scrolled a full screen or “page” at a time, with a haptic effect being provided as each page is displayed.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bshow another exemplary embodiment of an application for the device. In this exemplary embodiment, the user is able to toggle between different applications running on the device100. As the user moves their input clockwise or counter-clockwise, the device will shift from one application160shown inFIG. 5Ato another application162shown inFIG. 5B. In the illustrated example, the application160displays information for a desired city or location, and the application162is a music player. In some examples, the display110includes a touch screen that allows the user to provide input in addition to the input portion112surrounding the display110. The user may be able to start and stop the selected song in the music player application162shown inFIG. 5B, for example, by touching the play or pause symbols shown on the display110once the desired application has been selected using the input portion112surrounding the display. Moreover, haptic effects may be provided in response to user inputs provided via a touch screen display100.

In some embodiments, different types of single or multiple touch inputs transmit different user inputs. For example, referring the embodiment shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, a single rotational touch to the input portion112may toggle the display110between different applications. Within the selected application, such as the application160showing weather conditions for a selected city, a multi touch input may allow the user to select different cities. Still further, single or multi touch inputs may provide different user inputs. For example, referring still to the application160, a multi touch rotational input in a clockwise direction may allow the user to scroll from city-to-city, and a counterclockwise multi touch rotational input may allow the user to toggle between a Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature display. Similarly, for the music player application162shown inFIG. 5B, various combinations of single and multi touch inputs in one or more rotational directions may allow the user to select different songs, adjust volume, reverse or fast forward, etc. Additionally, different haptic effects may be provided based on the user's single or multi touch inputs.

FIG. 6shows a side view angle of an embodiment of the input portion112. In one embodiment, the input portion112is a surrounding bezel113that is raised above the display110. In yet another embodiment, the input portion112may be flush with the display110. As noted above, the bezel113may be physically movable or rotatable around the display110, and the controller104may receive inputs based on the physical movement of the bezel113by the user as well as inputs based on the user touching the input portion112. In other embodiments, the bezel113is fixed relative to the display110such that the bezel113is not movable, wherein rotational movement inputs are received by the controller104via the input portion112.