Abstract:
Various dynamic tactile feedback is provided to the user of a handheld electronic device through a scrollwheel depending on the types of data, priority of particular data and user preferences. In one embodiment the type of feedback is determined by a software module, which analyses the data being displayed on a display screen, and provides differing types and levels of feedback including resistance to rotational movement, such as free slides, partially resisted rotation, and full stops, as well as lateral motion feedback such as “bumps,” “holes,” and plateaus, to the user through a scrollwheel or scrollwheel. Intelligent software decides what if any feedback should be associated with a particular type of feedback In another embodiment of the invention, information telling the software application to use a particular feedback type is embedded in the data. The system then provides tactile feedback at specified locations according to the embedded data. For example, software reads tactile triggers embedded into a data page, such as an email, electronic document or web page, and then translate these tactile triggers into dynamic tactile feedback which is provided to the user of the handheld device through the scrollwheel.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     This invention relates to the field of hand-held electronic devices. Specifically this invention relates to providing dynamic tactile-feedback on hand-held electronic devices.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the State of the Art  
         [0004]     Many hand-held electronic devices provide input means allowing the user to manipulate data on the hand-held electronic device, including for example scrollwheels and keyboards. Scrollwheels are also commonly referred to as thumbwheels or roller wheels. Current scrollwheels provide limited tactile response to the user. Typical feedback to the user includes “bumps” or detents activated when the scrollwheel is rotated a predetermined distance, and “clicks” which are felt when the user pushes the scrollwheel in one or more direction, without rolling it. These feedback mechanisms typically correspond to moving the cursor on a display screen for “bumps” and selection of an option for “clicks.” Current scrollwheel functionality on handheld electronic devices, for example, allow users to scroll in both horizontal and vertical screen directions by rolling a scrollwheel, and to select screen icons by pushing the scrollwheel in towards the handheld electronic device. When rotated, the scrollwheel provides a feeling to the user of moving through “bumps” (detents).  
         [0005]     These feedback mechanisms, however, are limited in scope and are preset by the hardware within the device thereby provide inadequate information to the users. There is a need in the art to provide an improved feedback system.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In accordance with the teachings disclosed herein, systems and methods for providing dynamic tactile feedback to a user of a handheld electronic device are disclosed.  
         [0007]     As an example, a system may comprise a scrollwheel for providing input to the handheld electronic device, a dynamic feedback module connected to the scrollwheel for providing a plurality of types of feedback to a user of the handheld electronic device, each type of feedback associated with at least one of a plurality of feedback modes, and a software module for selecting a feedback mode from the plurality of feedback modes and activating the associated type of feedback provided by the dynamic feedback module.  
         [0008]     As another example, a method for providing feedback may comprise the steps of providing a user initiated input to the handheld electronic device through the scrollwheel, analysing data associated with the user initiated input, deciding if a feedback response is required, and if a feedback response is required, initiating an appropriate feedback mode.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The present system will be further understood from the following detailed description, with reference to the drawings in which similar reference numerals are used in different figures to denote similar elements.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary handheld electronic device in which a dynamic tactile feedback system can be implemented.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a representative diagram showing various types of feedback.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a screen of a handheld electronic device and illustrating different types of dynamic feedback.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a screen showing a messaging application.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a data page having different objects that trigger different types of feedback.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a method for providing dynamic feedback to a handheld electronic device user.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the use of clutch plates to provide resistance to rotation in a scrollwheel.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing the use of an electromagnetic motor for providing rolling resistance in a scrollwheel.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a diagram showing the use of a cam mechanism for providing lateral motion in scrollwheel.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     As handheld device users are forced to process more and more data and applications, the use of a limited number of preset feedback responses is not adequate. The feedback responses are constant, whether a particular set of data or a particular application is relevant, or irrelevant to the user. In one example, a user scrolling through a list of unread messages will currently feel the same feedback response whether a message is of normal or high importance.  
         [0020]     Providing the user with different feedback responses for different types or priority levels of data, allows the user to easily select relevant data from a list including both relevant and irrelevant data. Additionally, different users may desire different types or levels of feedback associated with different applications, events or data sets.  
         [0021]     Turning now to the drawing figures,  FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an exemplary handheld electronic device  100  in which a dynamic tactile feedback system can be implemented. The handheld electronic device  100  comprises a display  110  for displaying user data and a scrollwheel  120  capable of providing dynamic feedback to a user. This handheld electronic device also includes an auxiliary input device, shown here as a keyboard  130 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are a variety of possible form factors and input interfaces for the handheld electronic device  100 . For example, the auxiliary input device could be a touchscreen interface or some other input interface.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a representative diagram showing various types of feedback that may be returned to the user based on the type of data, application or event that is selected by the user on the handheld electronic device  100 . Dotted line  201  represents a frictional resistance, which works against the users movement of the scrollwheel. This resistance could be accomplished by using an electromechanical device, such as a motor, to resist the motion of the scrollwheel  120 . This resistance could be used to represent any number of data types, including but not limited to data on a web page or the text in an email. “Bump”  202  represents a physical movement of the scrollwheel towards or away from the user which would push the scrollwheel back against the user&#39;s thumb, but would not stop the scrollwheel motion. This motion could be accomplished by using an actuator or an electromechanical device. The “bump” could be used to represent a change in the data, for example a paragraph change on a page of text or in an email or a location where optional data needs to be entered into a data form. Flat line  203  is a “free slide” where the scrollwheel provides no resistance to the user&#39;s actions. The “free slide” could be accomplished by allowing the scrollwheel to roll smoothly. The “free slide” could be used to represent data that does not need close inspection, for example a blank section in a text page or data that the user has already processed. “Hole”  204  represents a temporary physical stopping of the scrollwheel accompanied by movement towards or away from the user. The “hole” could be accomplished using an actuator or electromechanical device to move the scrollwheel towards or away from the user accompanied by a motor or electromechanical braking system to prevent the scrollwheel from moving in a particular direction, while still allowing the scrollwheel to move in the opposite direction. The “hole” could be used to represent any number of important types of data including an important line in an email or text page or the location of a mandatory data item that must be entered on a data form. Once the text has been processed or the data entered the scrollwheel would be released by the software, or in the alternative the scrollwheel could simply be rolled out of the “hole,” the user then being able to continue moving the scrollwheel. Vertical line  205  represents a complete physical stopping of the scrollwheel. This could be accomplished by using a motor or electromechanical braking system to hold the scrollwheel in place. This complete stopping of the scrollwheel could be used to indicate an end to the data being processed, for example the user having reached the end of a text page or email.  
         [0023]     As further examples of the system, on-screen situations are described below, where the cursor travel relative to its screen position would result in various types of feedback being provided to the user. The type of feedback provided could be subject to the software programming of the position of the cursor. The type of feedback provided to the user would differ for different cursor positions on the screen. Some of the types of feedback are bumps, holes, plateaus, free slides, resistant surfaces, and abrupt stops as described above.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a screen of a handheld electronic device and illustrating different types of dynamic feedback. The display screen  300  shows a variety of objects, including the current time  302 , the number of unread messages  303 , wireless signal strength  304  and battery level  305 . The display screen also shows icons representing various applications, including an email application icon  310 , a compose message application icon  311 , a search messages icon  312 , a phone application icon  313  and an address book application icon  314 . Various other icons  330  for additional applications are also shown.  
         [0025]     The first cursor position  323  indicates that the address book application icon  314  is the current active icon.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment of the invention, when the user wishes to move the cursor from its first cursor position  323  to a second cursor position  321  associated with the email application icon  310  in order to select the email application icon  310  for example, the user will roll the scrollwheel in a particular direction as dictated by the device software. Rolling the scrollwheel will cause the cursor to move from the first cursor position  323 , following path  322  to the second cursor position  321 . As this takes place, various types of feedback are provided to the user depending on triggers or messages from application software on the device. The feedback line  320  shown in  FIG. 3  is a graphical representation of several types of triggers that can be associated with the icons displayed on the screen  300 . In the first cursor position  323 , the address book application icon  314  is associated with a hole trigger  324 . In a hole trigger  324 , the scrollwheel would require a change in rotational force to move the cursor from the first current position  323  to the second cursor position  321 . The user would experience a programmed feedback as the cursor moves along from icon to icon along the path  322  until reaching the second cursor position  321 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a screen  400  showing a messaging application. Screen  400  shows a number of objects including the number of unread messages  402  and listing messages received on Friday  410 , including urgent messages  412  and  413 , and messages received on Thursday  420 , including low priority message  421 . The cursor  411  is currently associated with the most recently received message. By rolling the scrollwheel, the position of the cursor  411  can be moved up and down the list along the path  430 . As the cursor  411  highlights a particular message, for example urgent message  412 , a particular type of feedback is activated, for example the scrollwheel could move laterally or “bump” when an urgent message  412  or  413  is highlighted. In a similar manner, when the cursor  411  highlights a regular priority message  414 , a different type of feedback may be activated, such as a smaller “bump” or no bump at all. Similarly, when the cursor  411  highlights the low priority message  421 , a third different type of feedback may be activated.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  diagram of a data page  500  having different objects that trigger different types of feedback. The data page  500  comprises a number of objects typically found in data pages such as web pages, including a title  510 , an image  520 , an image linking to a web page  521 , a text field  530 , radio buttons  540 , plain text  550 , bold text  560  and an email address  570 . In this example, as the cursor  580  is moved about the page using a scrollwheel, various types of feedback are returned to the user. As an example, starting at the title  510 , a “plateau,” or constant resistance to scrollwheel rotation, may be sent to the scrollwheel, laterally moving the scrollwheel and maintaining its outward position, indicating a starting position. As the cursor  580  is moved through the regular image  520 , no feedback may be given, or a “free slide” may be allowed, where the scrollwheel has no frictional resistance. When the cursor highlights the image with a link to a website  521 , a type of feedback such as a resistance to rotation may be sent to the user to indicate the presence of the link. As the cursor  580  highlights the text field  530 , a “hole” type of feedback may be sent through the scrollwheel, wherein the user experiences the feeling of the scrollwheel being moved laterally down, indicating to the user that they are able to enter data. While the cursor passes through the radio buttons  540 , the user may be sent a series of “bumps” or detents as each of the possible options are highlighted. Scrolling through the regular text  550 , the user may experience no feedback, or perhaps slight rolling resistance. When the cursor  580  encounters the bold text  560 , however, the scrollwheel rolling resistance would increase, indicating an area of particular interest to the user. Finally, upon reaching the email address  570  at the end of the page, the scrollwheel may be sent a “bump” indicating a link to an email address. The scrollwheel may then placed in “full-stop” mode, where the rolling resistance is increased to a maximum value, indicating to the user that the end of the data page has been reached. It will be appreciated by someone skilled in the art that the various types of feedback associated with the assorted objects on the data page can be selected based on a number of criteria. They may be selected based on user preferences, based on feedback data embedded in the data page, based on a software application analyzing the page and determining where a particular type of feedback is appropriate, or based on some other criteria.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a method for providing dynamic feedback to a handheld electronic device user. In step  600 , a software module on the handheld electronic device is in a standby state waiting for user input. In step  610 , the user initiates an input signal to the handheld electronic device using the scrollwheel. This user-initiated input may include a roll of the scrollwheel, a click of the scrollwheel, or some combination of roll and click, and generally corresponds to a cursor action on the display screen. In step  620 , the software module analyses data associated with the input the user just performed (often with respect to a new cursor position). In step  630 , the software module determines if a dynamic feedback response is required. If a dynamic feedback response is not required, the software module simply returns to a wait state. If a dynamic feedback response is required, the appropriate type of feedback is activated in step  640 , after which the software module returns to its wait state.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of the invention for providing frictional resistance. In this embodiment, a scrollwheel  700  is connected to and rotates about a body assembly  710 , and the scrollwheel  700  comprises a first mechanical clutch plate  720  which rotates with the scrollwheel  700 . The body assembly  710  comprises a second mechanical clutch plate  721  that is rotationally fixed with respect to the body assembly but capable of engaging the first clutch plate  720 . The mechanical clutch plates  720  and  721  are aligned so they are substantially coplanar, and are separated by a small gap  722 . When a force  740  is applied normal to the surfaces of the clutch plates  720  and  721  of sufficient magnitude to cause the first clutch plate  720  to engage the second clutch plate  721 , the resulting friction force will oppose rotation of the scrollwheel  700 . It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the resulting frictional force is approximately proportional to the normal force  740  multiplied by the frictional coefficient “μ”, and that varying the normal force  740  will cause the frictional force opposing the rotation of the scrollwheel  700  to vary accordingly. To generate the required normal force  740 , various means may be used, including an electromagnetic solenoid  730  connected to an electronic brake controller  750  or some other electrical or mechanical means as will be evident to one skilled in the art.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing the use of an electromagnetic motor for providing rolling resistance in a scrollwheel. A scrollwheel  800 , which is connected to and rotates about a body assembly  810 , also comprises an electromagnetic motor  820 , which is controlled by a motor controller  830 . By adjusting the properties of the electromagnetic motor  820 , the motor controller  830  can increase or reduce the required scrollwheel  800  rolling resistance.  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is a diagram showing the use of a cam mechanism for providing lateral motion in scrollwheel. Lateral scrollwheel motion is generally defined as motion along a plane normal to the axis of the scrollwheel. Pushing the edge of the scrollwheel causing it to move in towards the body of a handheld electronic device, without causing rotation to the scrollwheel, for example, is one type of lateral movement. In  FIG. 9 , a scrollwheel  900  is connected to and rotates  901  about a body assembly  910 . In this embodiment, the body assembly  910  is connected to or may even be a part of a slide assembly  920 . The slide assembly  920  allows the entirety of the scrollwheel  900  and body assembly  910  to move freely laterally  902  with respect to the handheld electronic device. To control this lateral movement  902 , the slide assembly  920  is connected to a control mechanism such as cam mechanism  930  with a cam  931 , or alternatively a lever mechanism (not shown), a solenoid mechanism (not shown) or some other actuating means. The cam mechanism  930  is connected to a cam controller  940  responsible for controlling the lateral position of the scrollwheel. As the cam  931  connected to the cam mechanism  930  and the slide assembly  920  moves, the scrollwheel  900  and body assembly  910  move laterally  902  correspondingly.  
         [0033]     It should be mentioned that although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained herein.