Audio and tactile feedback based on visual environment

Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing section, electronic circuitry, a touch screen, and a user sensory feedback system. The electronic circuitry is mounted within the housing section. The touch screen is on the housing section. The touch screen is configured to sense a touch at an area of the touch screen. The electronic circuitry is configured to analyze a feature displayed at the area of the touch screen. The user sensory feedback system is proximate the housing section. The user sensory feedback system is configured to perform an operation based, at least partially, upon the touch at the area of the touch screen and upon an image analysis of the feature at the area of the touch screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic device and, more particularly, to audio and tactile feedback based on a visual environment of an electronic device.

2. Brief Description of Prior Developments

Many electronic device manufacturers provide touch screens for basic user interface (UI) control (e.g. icon selection, screen scrolling, etc.). As consumers demand increased functionality from electronic devices, there is a need to provide improved devices having increased touch screen capabilities. Currently there are many research activities studying how haptic feedback could be used in electronic devices. Electronic devices having tactile feedback are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0192771 discloses a touch pad having tactile feedback. Immersion Corporation has introduced a concept where a computer mouse has tactile feedback. One such mouse has been productized by Logitech. And, Reachin Technologies AB sells a programming toolkit for tactile application systems based on expensive 3D haptic devices, such as the Phantom® Device (by SensAble Technologies, Inc).

The demand for continuous size miniaturization generates challenges to implement added touch screen functionality. Accordingly, there is a desire to provide an improved touch screen user interface with feedback capabilities for an electronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing section, electronic circuitry, a touch screen, and a user sensory feedback system. The electronic circuitry is mounted within the housing section. The touch screen is on the housing section. The touch screen is configured to sense a touch at an area of the touch screen. The electronic circuitry is configured to analyze a feature displayed at the area of the touch screen. The user sensory feedback system is proximate the housing section. The user sensory feedback system is configured to perform an operation based, at least partially, upon the touch at the area of the touch screen and upon an image analysis of the feature at the area of the touch screen.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing section, electronic circuitry, a touch screen, and a user sensory feedback system. The electronic circuitry is mounted within the housing section. The touch screen is on the housing section. The touch screen is configured to sense a touch at an area of the touch screen. The electronic circuitry is configured to determine a first texture direction of a feature displayed at the area of the touch screen. The electronic circuitry is configured to determine a second different texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of on the touch screen. The user sensory feedback system is proximate the housing section. The user sensory feedback system is configured to operate in a first mode in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen and the first texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen. The user sensory feedback system is configured to operate in a second different mode in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen and the second texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed. A touch is sensed at an area of a touch screen. A feature displayed at the area of the touch screen is analyzed. A user sensory feedback system is operated in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen and an image analysis of the feature at the area of the touch screen.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed. A touch is sensed at an area of a touch screen. A first texture direction of a feature displayed at the area of the touch screen is determined. A second different texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen is determined. A user sensory feedback system is operated in a first mode in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen and the first texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen. The user sensory feedback system is operated in a second different mode in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen and the second texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations to provide feedback based on a feature displayed on a touch screen is disclosed. A touch at an area of the touch screen is sensed. A feature displayed at the area of the touch screen is analyzed. A user sensory feedback system is operated based, at least partially, upon the sensed touch at the area of the touch screen and upon a determined texture direction and/or or a graphical change, at the analyzed feature displayed at the area of the touch screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an electronic device10incorporating features of the invention. Although the invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.

In this embodiment the device10comprises an internet tablet device. However, in alternate embodiments the device could comprise any suitable type of electronic device. For example, the device10could comprise a mobile phone, a digital camera, a music player, a hand-held gaming device, a PDA, or a notebook computer. The device10generally comprises a housing section12, a transceiver14connected to an antenna16, electronic circuitry18, such as a controller for example, within the housing12, user input regions20and a display22. In alternate embodiments, the device10can have any suitable type of features as known in the art. In the embodiment shown the device10comprises user input regions20and a single display22. However, alternate embodiments may comprise any suitable number of displays or user input regions. Additionally, the user input region may comprise a keypad for example.

The display22is able to display various application displays and information including, for example, digital pictures, Internet web site pages, application control screen and menus. These are only some examples and should not be considered as limiting. In addition to being able to function as a display screen, the display22is a touch screen adapted to sense touch or depression of the display by a user's finger or a stylus. Thus, the display22forms a touch screen user interface which may be used for basic user interface (UI) control (e.g. icon selection, screen scrolling, etc.).

The disclosed device10provides for a user sensory feedback system24to be incorporated into the touch screen22. The user sensory feedback system may utilize haptic technology for example. Haptic technology refers to technology which interfaces the user via the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations and/or motions to the user. For instance, a transducer or actuator26of the user sensory feedback system24can be placed underneath the touch screen22, generating feedback when the user presses virtual buttons on the screen22. The transducer or actuator26may be a piezoelectric actuator. Piezoelectricity is the ability of crystals to generate a voltage in response to applied mechanical stress. The piezoelectric effect is reversible in that piezoelectric crystals, when subjected to an externally applied voltage, can change shape by a small amount. The feedback can be made to plausibly simulate a real physical dome being under the button, thus creating a piezoactuator-based texture simulation or motion simulation.

It should be noted that the user sensory feedback system24may comprise any suitable type of transducer or actuator that can give audio and/or tactile feedback to the user at the moment the user presses the touch screen22. For example, the transducer/actuator26can be an electroacoustic transducer such as a loudspeaker, or an electromechanical transducer such as a vibrator/actuator/haptics device. Additionally, it should be noted that alternate embodiments may comprise any suitable number of transducers and/or actuators.

The output of the piezoelectric actuator26can be dynamic and easily programmed. The disclosed device10utilizes the piezoelectric actuator26to produce a simulation of physical materials on the touch screen22, when the user moves a finger or a stylus on the screen22.

For instance, consider a situation where there is a photograph used as a background image on the touch screen ‘desktop’, and there is a large white window with clear borders on top of it. Now, when the user moves the stylus on the background image, the piezoelectric actuator26is used to cause a bit of tremble on the screen22so that the background feels bumpy. When the stylus moves across the window border, there is a clear ‘click’ so that the user feels that there is a clear, sharp edge. When dragging the stylus on the window background, no tremble is generated, causing an illusion of a flat material that the window could comprise.

With well chosen materials for the stylus tip, and the touch screen22, even friction could be simulated. If the tip of the stylus is made out of rubber (i.e. high friction between the stylus and the screen22), dragging it requires a bit of force. Then, causing the screen22to tremble a bit would make the stylus tip bounce off the screen22a bit all the time, making it lighter to drag it, generating an illusion of a more slippery surface.

Operation of the disclosed device10having the user sensory feedback system24first comprises starting the device10in a powered-up state. Preferably, the analysis of the screen22contents (i.e. generating the instructions for how the acoustic/haptic actuator(s)26should be driven when the user touches a point on the screen22) would be done before a touch happens, to minimize the latency between the touch, and the time at which the output is generated.

To do this, every time the screen22contents have changed, the screen22contents are analysed (at least in the areas that changed), surrounding each point on screen22. For instance, a texture analysis algorithm can be run that analyzes the roughness in a pre-defined (e.g. 10 by 10 pixels) area around each point on screen22. Or an edge detection algorithm can be run for example. It should be noted that the screen22may display visual information such as a still image, a moving picture or a video, for example. It should also be noted that the visual information may comprise regions, icons, text or figures (all of which may be analyzed).

In some cases, the direction of movement can also play a role, for example an edge generates a different output depending on whether the point of touch is moving across the edge, or along the edge. The output can also simulate certain types of materials where the feeling is different depending on which way the screen22is touched or rubbed. For instance, fur feels different depending on whether it is touched in the direction along the hairs of the fur, or against them. This may be accomplished by determining a texture direction of the feature. The texture direction may be a first texture along a first direction of the feature. The feature may also comprise a second different texture along a second different direction of the same feature. The first and second directions and first and second textures may be at the same area of the display22. The texture direction may be defined by a color, intensity, sharpness, brightness or contrast of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22. For example, as in the case described above where ‘fur’ is displayed on the screen22, the color, intensity, sharpness, brightness or contrast of the feature can be associated with a texture direction of the feature at the area of the display22that is touched or pressed.

In some cases a finger/stylus being held still does not cause an acoustic/tactile output, but output is generated only when the finger/stylus is moving (a real-life example can be placing a finger on the edge of a paper sheet on a table, when the finger is still, the edge is not felt after a while, but when the finger is moved, the edge is felt again). This may be accomplished by operating the user sensory feedback system24to render the transducer26inactive for a period of time. Another example can be when a black color is displayed on a portion of the screen22, this could indicate just a graphical background and, therefore, there is no need to provide any type of feedback at the display22(i.e. transducers26are not active). This can also apply when there is a change of the feature(s) displayed on the display22.

FIG. 2illustrates a flow chart representing an exemplary algorithm of the disclosed device10. The algorithm includes the following steps. Create table of outputs for each point on the screen22, based on image analysis (e.g. texture analysis around a point, edge detection, color/brightness/sharpness etc.), possibly also calculating different values for movements in different directions (step102). Is the screen22content changing (step104)?

The algorithm allows for the audio and/or tactile feedback for each position to depend on the visual information of the area pressed in the touch screen22. For example, the user sensory feedback system24can provide an audio and/or tactile feedback at the area of the touch screen22in response to a color, intensity, sharpness, brightness, or contrast of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22. During usage, the user's finger or stylus hits the screen22. No tactile feedback is necessarily generated yet. If no table of outputs for the point of touch exists (e.g. in a video case), the output for the point of touch is calculated. It can be dependent on movement so that when the finger/stylus is still, no output is generated.

FIG. 3illustrates a flow chart representing another exemplary algorithm of the disclosed device10. The algorithm includes the following steps. Is the user touching the screen22(step202)? Does a table of outputs exist for the point(s) of touch (step204)? Generate output instructions based on image analysis (e.g. texture analysis, color analysis, edge detection etc) and possibly, direction of movement, for the point(s) of touch (step206). Drive acoustic and/or haptic actuator(s)26based on output instructions for the point(s) of touch (step208). Is the user still touching the screen22(step210)? Is the point of touch moving (step212)? Make note of the movement direction (step214).

If the finger/stylus is kept on the screen22and moved, the system makes note of the direction of the movement, in case the table of outputs has different values for different directions for the point to which the finger/stylus moved.

The user sensory feedback system24may comprise transducers/actuators26at different areas of the touch screen. This allows for the user sensory feedback system24to respond to a touch at other areas of the touch screen22. For example the user sensory feedback system24could continue working even if the pressed area changes coordinates (or area of the screen22). Additionally, the touch screen22and the user sensory feedback system24may be configured to provide feedback (which for example, may be audio or tactile feedback) when the user's finger or stylus touches a border of the touch screen22.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary desktop environment300on the display22of the device10, which may be a Nokia® N800 Internet Tablet™ for example. The table of outputs for the screen22may include for example, a rule that the greater the contrast between two pixels (in the direction of movement), the greater the output for the acoustic/tactile actuator(s). An example of this is shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. InFIG. 4, the user touches the screen22, by moving a thumb or finger28along an area (illustrated by dotted lines302) of the screen22. An output of the area surrounding the dotted lines302is shown separately inFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a diagram400illustrating the output signal to the user sensory feedback system24(which may comprise a piezoactuator/loudspeaker/etc., for example) when the finger28is on each spot of the area. The output signal is generated by analyzing the desktop area300with an edge detection algorithm for example. The edge detection algorithm converts the desktop area300into a “bump map” as shown inFIG. 5. For example, the edges304,306,308of the features displayed on the desktop300correspond to the peaks404,406,408, respectively, shown in diagram400.

FIG. 6illustrates an exemplary method500of providing feedback at the touch screen22. The method500includes the following steps. Sensing a touch at an area of a touch screen22(step502). The sensing may be by a piezoelectric sensor for example. Analyzing a feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22(step504). And, operating a user sensory feedback system in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen22and an image analysis of the feature at the area of the touch screen22(step506). This may be a change in a picture such as a slide show, or an animation for example. Rendering the at least one transducer26inactive for a change of the feature (step508). Operating the user sensory feedback system in response to a touch at another area of the touch screen22(step510). Operating the user sensory feedback system in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen22, wherein the area comprises at least one border of the touch screen22, and wherein the user sensory feedback system provides an audio or tactile feedback (step512). It should be noted that any of the above steps may be performed alone or in combination with one or more of the steps.

FIG. 7illustrates another exemplary method600of providing feedback at the touch screen22. The method includes the following steps. Sensing a touch at an area of a touch screen22(step602). Determining a first texture direction of a feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22(step604). Determining a second different texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22(step606). Operating a user sensory feedback system in a first mode in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen22and the first texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22(step608). Operating the user sensory feedback system in a second different mode in response to the touch at the area of the touch screen22and the second texture direction of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22(step610). Providing an audio and/or tactile feedback to a user at a moment of the touch on the touch screen22(step612). Providing an audio or tactile feedback at the area of the touch screen22in response to a color, intensity, sharpness, brightness, or contrast of the feature displayed at the area of the touch screen22(step614). It should be noted that any of the above steps may be performed alone or in combination with one or more of the steps.

Referring now also toFIG. 8, the device10generally comprises a controller700such as a microprocessor for example. The electronic circuitry includes a memory702coupled to the controller700, such as on a printed circuit board for example. The memory could include multiple memories including removable memory modules for example. The device has applications704, such as software, which the user can use. The applications can include, for example, a telephone application, an Internet browsing application, a game playing application, a digital camera application, etc. These are only some examples and should not be considered as limiting. One or more user inputs20are coupled to the controller and one or more displays22are coupled to the controller700. The user sensory feedback system24(including the transducers/actuators26) is also coupled to the controller700. The device10is preferably programmed to automatically provide a feedback response at the display when there is a change in feature displayed on the touch screen22. However, in an alternate embodiment, this might not be automatic. The user might need to actively select a change in the application being used/run.

In conventional configurations, there is unutilized potential in piezoelectric displays. The disclosed device10provides a desktop-like user interface for the user, and utilizes haptic feedback so that the user can feel different materials on the desktop. For instance, moving a cursor over a scrollbar can be felt on the user's hand, making it easier to hit it. Or, the background image of the desktop feels bumpy while the windows feel smooth. In short—the system creates an illusion that the desktop is made of a physical substance, providing tactile sensations in addition to the visual ones, increasing the usability of the system.

Although the transducer/actuator of the disclosed user sensory feedback system may generate additional sound and increase energy consumption, the device10provides significant advantages over the conventional configurations. The disclosed device10allows the user to ‘feel’ the items shown in the display in addition to seeing them. This adds to the usability, especially in a mobile context when the user's attention may be divided by providing feedback through several modalities is helpful.

The invention provides for analyzing the displayed image to create a “tactile map” of the screen content. The content can be, for example, just an image, or feature, on the screen or any other application. The image or feature can also be something else other than color. For example, a face detection algorithm could be performed on an image, and only produce haptic output when the user's finger is on a face. Or, in another example, a direction detection algorithm may be performed, wherein haptic output would be generated only on areas where there are vertical lines.

Additionally, it should be noted that the haptic output could be dependent on the direction in which the user's point of touch (i.e. the point where the finger or stylus is) is moving. Thus, if there are vertical lines on the screen, haptic output could be generated when the point of touch is moving across the lines (i.e. in the horizontal direction) but not when it's moving along the lines (i.e. the vertical direction). This way, the illusion of some surface structures could be generated.

The invention provides for tactile output to be based on the image analysis (or face detection) of what is on screen. Conventional configurations generally provide pre-generated content, wherein when a system detects that a cursor was moved over a window border, a pre-defined tactile force is produced. Conventional configurations also do not account for how features or images (such as a window border for example) look on the display screen. An advantage of the invention provides for a tactile force to be generated even if the window border is invisible (or not visible on the screen).

The invention provides for the screen contents under the cursor to be analyzed (image analysis), either beforehand (so that a “table of outputs” may be generated, similar to step102shown inFIG. 2) or during use (similar to steps204and206shown inFIG. 3). Additionally, if no “table of outputs” has been generated, then the output related to the current position could be immediately calculated.

In conventional configurations, the haptic output needs to be programmed beforehand, and therefore cannot be performed on some features or images, such as photos that the user has taken for example. The invention on the other hand, provides for the roughness of an image to be analyzed, and when the user's finger/stylus is moving on it, tactile output is generated accordingly. The invention also provides for the color or brightness of a feature or image to be analyzed. For example, a yellow color could be defined to produces a certain type of vibration. However, in alternate embodiments, even more delicate image processing could be performed.

The invention allows a feature on the touch screen to be based on image analysis, wherein the feature is under the point of touch where the cursor/stylus currently is. This provides a feature based on image analysis. This feature can be, for example, the color or brightness of the pixel under the point of touch. However, the features can be also something more complex, such as the overall roughness of the image in an area (of some pre-defined size) around the point of touch, for example. In another example, the feature could be the direction of the graphical texture around the point. In yet another example, whether the point of touch is on such area of the image where a face is detected to exist. This haptic output generation could also be dependent on the direction in which the point of touch is moving.

The invention adds value to the user experience when, for example, trying to simulate material properties in the displayed image/content, and using different tactile vibration patterns when sliding a finger across the touch screen.