A modular system configured to provide localized tactile feedback using an inertial actuator

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a modular system configured to provide localized tactile feedback using an inertial actuator. An electronic device includes a housing defining an aperture. An input device extends through the aperture and has a user input surface outside the housing. The inertial actuator is mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device and positioned within the housing. A mechanical wave damper provides mechanical wave damping between the input device and the housing. The electronic device enables tactile feedback to be provided locally to the input device. In some cases, the mechanical wave damper can suppress shaking of the input device relative to the housing by at least one order of magnitude.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The described embodiments generally relate to providing tactile feedback. More specifically, the described embodiments relate to providing tactile feedback using an inertial actuator. Background Art

[0002] Tactile feedback may be provided to a user of an electronic device in a variety of ways. In some devices, tactile feedback may be provided by purely mechanical means, such as a flexing dome or spring-loaded mechanism that clicks, pops, or snaps when a button or key is pressed, or by a ball and detent mechanism that provides a click when a crown or knob is rotated. In some devices, tactile feedback may be provided by electromechanical means, such as an inertial actuator that shakes the entire device, or by a piezoelectric actuator, shape memory alloy, or magnetoresistive-based actuator that applies force or vibration directly to a button, key, crown, or knob.

[0003] Factors influencing the selection of a tactile feedback device for a particular application include, for example, the size or cost of the electronic device, the available area or space on or within the device, the type of tactile feedback desired, whether tactile feedback can be provided globally or needs to be provided locally, the degree to which the input device (e.g., a button, key, crown, or knob) is removable or needs to be waterproof, and the like. Summary of the invention

[0004] Embodiments of the systems, devices, methods, and apparatus described in the present disclosure relate to modular systems for providing localized tactile feedback, and more specifically, to modular systems including inertial actuators. Typically, inertial actuators (e.g., linear resonant actuators (LRMs), eccentric rotating masses (ERMs), etc.) are used to provide global tactile feedback. That is, the inertial actuator is typically used to shake the entire device. As described herein, the input device can be separated from the housing of the device by a damping mechanism, and the inertial actuator can be coupled to the input device to shake the input device and provide localized tactile feedback to the input device (i.e., with minimal or significantly suppressed housing shaking).

[0005] In a first aspect, the present disclosure describes an electronic device. The electronic device may include a housing defining an aperture. An input device may extend through the aperture and have a user input surface external to the housing. An inertial actuator may be mechanically fixedly coupled to the input device and positioned within the housing. A mechanical wave damper may provide mechanical wave damping between the input device and the housing.

[0006] In another aspect, the present disclosure describes another electronic device. The electronic device may include a housing, a tactile feedback device, and an elastomer. The tactile feedback device may extend through the housing and include an input module having a user input surface and an inertial actuation module rigidly attached to the input module. The elastomer may mechanically isolate the tactile feedback device from the housing.

[0007] In another aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure describes another electronic device. The electronic device may include a housing having an internal volume, a tactile feedback device, and a damper. The tactile feedback device may include an input device extending through the housing and an inertial actuator attached to the input device and configured to shake the input device. The damper may be positioned between the tactile feedback device and the housing, and may be configured to suppress the propagation of a mechanical wave traveling from the input device toward the housing.

[0008] In addition to the illustrative aspects and embodiments described, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like structural elements, and in which:

[0010] Figures 1A to 1C An exemplary portion of an electronic device including an input device is shown;

[0011] Figure 2 An exemplary body of an input device is shown;

[0012] Figure 3 An example of an inertial actuator is shown;

[0013] Figure 4 An exemplary two-piece damper is shown;

[0014] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Shown is a reference Figures 2 to 4 The described assembly of the housing, input device, inertial actuator and damper;

[0015] Figure 6 An example of a headset including a crown is shown;

[0016] Figure 7 An example of an electronic watch including a crown and a push button is shown;

[0017] Figure 8 An example of a mobile phone including a pair of buttons is shown; and

[0018] Fig. 9 A sample electrical block diagram of an electronic device is shown.

[0019] The use of cross-hatching or shading in the drawings is generally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements and also to facilitate legibility of the drawings. Thus, the presence or absence of cross-hatching or shading does not express or indicate any preference or requirement for particular materials, material properties, element proportions, element sizes, commonality of similar illustrated elements, or any other feature, attribute, or characteristic of any element shown in the drawings.

[0020] Additionally, it should be understood that the proportions and sizes (relative or absolute) of the various features and elements (and collections and groupings thereof) and the boundaries, spacings, and positional relationships presented therebetween are provided in the accompanying drawings solely to facilitate understanding of the various embodiments described herein, and therefore may not necessarily be presented or illustrated to scale and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for the embodiments illustrated to exclude the embodiments described in conjunction therewith. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Reference will now be made specifically to the representative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to a preferred embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalent forms that may be included in the spirit and scope of the embodiments defined by the appended claims.

[0022] Smaller mobile devices (e.g., phones, tablets or laptops, media players, etc.) and wearable devices (e.g., watches, headphones, earphones, fitness tracking devices, health monitoring devices, etc.) often provide tactile feedback by shaking the entire device. The means for shaking the device is typically an inertial actuator, such as an LRA or ERM. Inertial actuators are cost-effective and provide good tactile feedback. However, tactile feedback is provided globally (i.e., the entire device is shaken), which may increase power consumption and, in some cases, provide a poor user experience.

[0023] Sometimes, it may be desirable to provide tactile feedback locally, such as to an input device (e.g., to a button, key, crown, or knob). In these cases, piezoelectric actuators, shape memory alloys, or magnetoresistive-based actuators may be utilized to provide force or vibration directly to the input device. However, in order to take advantage of the small form factors provided by these types of tactile feedback mechanisms, the input device and its tactile feedback mechanism need to be tightly integrated—often requiring custom design and design-intensive solutions.

[0024] In some devices, the user may be tricked into thinking that haptic feedback is being provided locally when it is actually being provided globally. For example, an inertial actuator may shake the entire watch body when the user's finger is on a crown or button on the watch body, and the higher tactile sensitivity of the user's finger may cause the user to believe that haptic feedback is only being provided at the crown. In some cases, a higher frequency (or sharper) waveform may be used to simulate purely mechanical haptic feedback, which can sometimes improve the illusion of haptic feedback being provided locally when it is actually being provided globally.

[0025] Embodiments of the systems, devices, methods, and apparatus described in the present disclosure relate to modular systems for providing localized tactile feedback, and more particularly, to modular systems for providing localized tactile feedback using inertial actuators. The tactile feedback can be localized by directly coupling (e.g., attaching or anchoring) the inertial actuator to an input device and suppressing the propagation of mechanical waves from the input device (or inertial actuator) to the housing of the device using an elastomer, foam, spring, or other form of damping material or mechanism.

[0026] refer to Figures 1A to 9 These and other aspects are described. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0027] Directional terms, such as "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "above", "below", "below", "left", "right", etc., are used with reference to the orientation of some components in some of the figures described below. Because components in various embodiments can be positioned in a plurality of different orientations, the directional terms are used for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting in any way. Directional terms are intended to be interpreted broadly and, therefore, should not be interpreted to exclude components oriented in different ways. The use of alternative terms, such as "or", is intended to represent different combinations of alternative elements. For example, A or B is intended to include A or B, or A and B.

[0028] Figures 1A to 1C An exemplary portion 100 of an electronic device is shown. The portion 100 of the device includes a housing 102 and an input device 104. The input device 104 extends through an aperture 106 defined by the housing 102. Figure 1A A perspective view of the housing 102 and input device 104 is shown, as would be seen by a user of the device. Figure 1B A cross section of the housing 102 and input device 104 is shown. Figure 1C A plan view of the housing 102 and input device 104 is shown.

[0029] Main references Figure 1A, the housing 102 is illustrated as having a convex outer surface 108. A well 110 may be formed in the convex outer surface 108, and the input device 104 may be at least partially disposed within the well 110 and at least partially disposed outside the well 110 (e.g., outward from the convex outer surface 108 of the housing 102). Alternatively, the input device 104 may be flush with the convex outer surface 108, or may be set back relative to the top of the well 110. In other alternatives, the well 110 may not be provided, and the input device 104 may extend through the aperture 106 and extend outward from the convex outer surface 108 (or be flush or disposed inward relative to the convex outer surface). In further alternatives, the convex outer surface 108 may be flat, concave, or have other surface features. In some cases, the housing 102 may be formed of one or more of a polymer (plastic), glass, a metal (e.g., aluminum, steel, or chrome), or other materials.

[0030] For example, the input device 104 may take the form of a crown. The crown may have a user input surface 112 outside the housing 102. In some cases, the crown may be immovable. When the user attempts to rotate, push, or pull the crown, electromechanical tactile feedback may be provided to the user to confirm the user's attempted rotation, push, or pull. In some cases, the electromechanical tactile feedback may simulate mechanical tactile feedback to give the illusion that the crown is actually being rotated, pushed, or pulled. In other examples, the crown may actually be rotated, pushed, or pulled, and the electromechanical tactile feedback may be used to confirm or reinforce the user's rotation, push, or pull of the crown.

[0031] In alternative embodiments, input device 104 may take the form of a button, knob, or other type of input device.

[0032] Figure 1B An aperture 106 is shown through which the input device 104 may extend. The aperture may be formed by a single piece of the housing 102, as shown, or the aperture may be formed by two adjoining pieces of the housing 102. For example, the aperture 106 may be formed between a side wall of the housing 102 and a front cover or a rear cover.

[0033] The input device 104 may have a user input surface 112 external to the housing 102, and a body 114 (or shaft) protruding into the interior volume 116 of the housing 102. In some cases, the input device 104 may have a cap 118 that provides the user input surface 112, and the cap 118 may be attached to the body 114 (e.g., threaded onto the body 114, snapped onto the body 114, or glued to the body 114). In some cases, the assembly of the body 114 and the cap 118 in combination with the damper 120 may secure the input device 104 to the housing 102. In other cases, the input device 104 may also include a fastener 122 (e.g., a nut or a spring clip) that, in combination with the body 114 and the damper 120, secures the input device 104 to the housing 102. In the latter case, the cap 118 may be configured to provide a more pleasing user input surface 112, and the cap 118 need not necessarily be a structural member.

[0034] In some embodiments, the input device 104 may include or be integrated with electrical or electromechanical circuitry (e.g., capacitive, resistive, ultrasonic, magnetic, pressure-sensitive, or other types of circuitry) that is used to detect or quantify user input provided on or near the user input surface 112.

[0035] The inertial actuator 124 can be mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device 104 and positioned within the housing 102. In some cases, the inertial actuator 124 can be mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device 104 using glue, welding, or clamps. For example, the inertial actuator 124 can have a pair of spaced apart tabs 126 that are glued or welded to opposite sides of the body 114 of the input device 104. In some cases, the inertial actuator 124 can be mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device 104 using a bracket, a screw, or a nut and bolt. In some cases, the inertial actuator 124 can be mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device 104 through a connector, which may or may not carry electrical signals to or from the input device 104. The "fixed" aspect of the coupling of the inertial actuator 124 to the input device 104 can take the form of a rigid attachment (i.e., a coupling that transfers substantially all (>90%) of the inertial actuator movement to the input device 104) or a semi-rigid coupling (i.e., a coupling that transfers a majority (>50%) or a high percentage (>80%) of the inertial actuator movement to the input device 104).

[0036] The inertial actuator 124 may take a variety of forms, and in some cases may be or include an LRA or ERM. The inertial actuator 124 may be suspended within the housing 102 relative to the input device 104, and may not have any kind of rigid or semi-rigid coupling to the housing 102. In some cases, a foam, gel, or other type of padding or filler may be provided between the inertial actuator 124 and the housing 102. However, padding or filler that tends to inhibit the propagation of motion of the inertial actuator 124 is not considered to couple the inertial actuator 124 to the housing 102.

[0037] The flexible interconnect 128 may be coupled to the inertial actuator 124 and configured to carry control signals provided to the inertial actuator 124. Conductors included in or on the flexible interconnect 128 may be electrically coupled to the inertial actuator 124 and the controller 130 (e.g., a circuit, a microcontroller, or a processor). In some cases, the flexible interconnect 128 may be shared with the input device 104 (e.g., the flexible interconnect 128 may be a shared flexible interconnect). In these cases, the flexible interconnect 128 may also carry input signals generated by the input device 104 (and, in some cases, control signals provided to the input device 104) from / to the controller 130 (or to another controller). The flexible nature of the flexible interconnect 128 may enable the inertial actuator 124 to move freely (or relatively freely), and may tend not to propagate mechanical waves generated by the inertial actuator 124.

[0038] When activated, the inertial actuator 124 can shake the input device 104. The shaking can produce periodic or somewhat random vibrations. In some cases, the controller 130 can operate the inertial actuator 124 according to a periodic or non-periodic activation signal (or waveform). In some cases, the controller 130 can apply different activation waveforms to the inertial actuator 124. For example, a first activation waveform having a first shape can be applied to the inertial actuator 124 when the user induces a scrolling operation on the input device 104, and a second activation waveform having a second shape different from the first shape can be applied to the inertial actuator 124 when the user induces a pushing operation on the input device 104. Because the input device 104 is separated from the housing 102 by the damper 120, the controller 130 is able to provide local tactile feedback to the input device 104, with less or no tactile feedback being provided to the housing 102.

[0039] The input device 104 together with the inertial actuator 124 can provide a tactile feedback device 132 that extends through the housing 102. In some cases, the input device 104 can extend through the housing 102, as shown. In other cases, the inertial actuator 124 can extend through the housing 102 in addition or alternatively.

[0040] A damper 120 (e.g., a mechanical wave damper) can be positioned between the haptic feedback device 132 and the housing 102. In some cases, the damper 120 can be positioned between the input device 104 and the housing 102, and in some cases, the damper 120 can additionally or alternatively be positioned between the inertial actuator 124 and the housing 102. The damper 120 can be configured to mechanically isolate the haptic feedback device 132 from the housing 102, such as by suppressing the propagation of mechanical waves traveling from the input device 104 toward the housing 102. In some cases, the damper 120 can be configured to suppress the mechanical waves by an order of magnitude or more before they reach the housing 102, and in some cases, the damper 120 can completely prevent mechanical waves generated by the haptic feedback device 132 from reaching the housing 102.

[0041] In some embodiments, the damper 120 can take the form of a grommet (e.g., an elastomeric grommet) that surrounds a cross-section of the haptic feedback device 132 (e.g., a cross-section of the input device 104) and fits around a lip 134 (e.g., a lip 134) surrounding the housing 102. Figure 1C ). The lip 134 may have a circular or other shaped perimeter. The grommet may extend over the inner and outer surfaces of the lip 134, wherein the lip 134 is sandwiched between the opposing surfaces of the grommet. The opposing inner surfaces of the grommet may extend over the inner and outer surfaces of the lip 134, wherein the lip 134 is sandwiched therebetween. Opposing surfaces of the input device 104 (e.g., opposing surfaces of the body 114 and the fastener 122) may rest against the opposing outer surfaces of the grommet and compress the grommet and the lip 134 therebetween.

[0042] In alternative embodiments, the damper 120 may include a pair of elastomers that are respectively seated against the opposing inner and outer surfaces of the lip 134, or one or more springs (e.g., one or more coil springs or spring washers), or other components. Instead of or in addition to the elastomeric components, the damper 120 may include one or more foam, gel-filled, or paper (e.g., cardboard) components; or in the case of a spring-type damper, the damper 120 may include one or more metal components.

[0043] The damper 120 or its components can be tuned to suppress a specific type or range of mechanical waves generated by a specific type or range of tactile feedback provided by the inertial actuator 124. The properties of the damper 120 that can be tuned include its composition, thickness, hardness, width, cross section, filling, spring constant, etc. In some cases, the damper 120 can be fluid-filled (e.g., air-filled or gel-filled). In some cases, the damper 120 may have a convex section, a pit, a ring, or other features that provide spacing between the housing 102 and the damper 120 (e.g., an air-filled gap). In some cases, the damper 120 may allow more movement or specific types of movement in some directions, but not in other directions. Compared with the inertial actuator 124 being configured to move the input device 104 left and right or tilt the input device 104, if the inertial actuator 124 is configured to move in and out of the input device 104 relative to the housing 102, the damper 120 may be relatively thicker. When the damper 120 includes an elastomer, the elastomer may be silicone rubber in some cases.

[0044] The modular nature of the tactile feedback device 132 can enable it to be implemented in a variety of devices and for a variety of applications. In some cases, a designer of the tactile feedback device 132 can select an input module (i.e., a module that includes an input device, such as a crown, button, keycap, or knob) from a set of off-the-shelf input modules and select an inertial actuation module (i.e., a module that includes an inertial actuator), and then mechanically and fixedly attach these modules together to form the tactile feedback device 132. The modular tactile feedback device 132 can then be inserted into the aperture 106 of the housing 102 and can be separated from the housing 102 by the damper 120. In addition to the modular solution enabling the combination of off-the-shelf components, the modular solution makes it possible to test the operation of the components individually (e.g., compared to a custom-designed integrated solution).

[0045] Figures 2 to 5B A specific example of an input device, inertial actuator, damper, and assembled haptic feedback device extending through a housing is shown.

[0046] Figure 2 An exemplary body 200 of an input device is shown. The body 200 includes a base 202 and a neck 204. The base 202 may include various types of sensing or control circuitry. The neck 204 may extend from the base 202 and, in some cases, may be configured to mate with a fastener. For example, the neck 204 may be threaded and may receive a nut that helps retain the neck 204 within an aperture of the housing. In some cases, a fixed or rotatable shaft 206 may extend through the neck 204. A cap (such as reference Figure 1B The cap described above may be attached to the shaft 206 .

[0047] Flexible interconnect 208 may be electrically connected to circuitry housed within base 202 .

[0048] Figure 3 An exemplary inertial actuator 300 is shown. In some cases, the inertial actuator 300 can be an LRA or an ERM. The moving parts of the inertial actuator 300 can be housed within a cylindrical or other shaped body 302. A pair of tabs 304, 306 can extend from the body 302 and provide a means for mechanically and fixedly coupling the inertial actuator 300 to an input device (e.g., by gluing, welding, or clamping). In some cases, the tabs 304, 306 or other form of bracket can include a hole through which a screw or bolt can be inserted to attach the inertial actuator 300 to the input device.

[0049] The flexible interconnect 308 , and in some cases the same flexible interconnect connected to an input device, may be electrically connected to circuitry housed within the body 302 .

[0050] Figure 4 An exemplary two-piece damper 400 is shown, including a first gasket or component 402 and a second gasket or component 404. The first component 402 can be placed against the exterior of a housing 406, and the second component 404 can be placed against the interior of the housing 406. The first component 402 and the second component 404 can be compressed between the surfaces of an input device and can act as a mechanical wave damper. One or both of these components can have a neck or protrusion 408 around its aperture 410, which can extend through an aperture 412 in the housing 406 and isolate the input device or haptic feedback device from the walls of the aperture 412.

[0051] In an alternative embodiment, the first component 402 and the second component 404 may be replaced by grommets, such as Figure 1B shown.

[0052] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Shown is a reference Figures 2 to 4 The assembly of the housing 406, the input device, the inertial actuator 300 and the damper 400 is shown. Figure 5A As shown, a tab (eg, tab 306) of the inertial actuator 300 may be positioned against an opposing surface of the base 202 of the input device 500. The tabs 304, 306 may be glued or welded to the base 202.

[0053] Although the body 302 of the inertial actuator 300 is illustrated as being positioned to one side of the base 202 (i.e., laterally offset relative to the base 202), the body 302 of the inertial actuator 300 may alternatively be positioned at an end (e.g., in an inline configuration) of the base 202 or body 200 of the input device 500. The position of the body 302 of the inertial actuator 300 relative to the base 202 or body 200 of the input device 500 may be adjusted as desired for a particular application.

[0054] The damper components 402, 404 may be positioned against respective inner and outer surfaces of the housing 406, surrounding the aperture 412 in the housing 406. The neck 204 of the input device 500 may then be inserted into the aperture 412. The neck 204 may be retained within the aperture 412 by threading a nut 502 onto the neck 204. The nut 502 may be tightened to compress the damper components 402, 404 and form a seal that prevents fluid or other environmental contaminants from entering the interior of the device through the aperture 412.

[0055] The cap 504 may be snapped, glued, or threaded onto the neck 204 of the input device 500 and / or may be coupled to a shaft extending through the neck 204 of the input device 500 .

[0056] like Figure 5B (relative to Figure 5A Show FIG. 5B to FIG. 5B ), the inertial actuator 300 can be configured to move along the axis 550 of its cylindrical body 302 so as to be able to move the inertial actuator 300 by tilting the cap 504 in one direction and then tilting it in the opposite direction (e.g., Figure 5B The inertial actuator 300 may be configured to generate movement more or less parallel to the axis of the neck 204 and the cap 504, so that the cap 504 moves inward and outward from the device to provide tactile feedback to the user of the device.

[0057] Figures 6 to 8 shows that it can be combined with reference Figures 1A to 5B Various examples of devices having a crown or button configured as described in any of the above. Specifically, Figure 6An example of a headset 600 including a crown 602 is shown. The crown 602 may be used to turn on the headset 600; adjust the volume of the headset 600; or for other purposes. If the inertial actuators were anchored to the housing 604 of the ear cups 606 of the headset 600, and tactile feedback were to be provided globally to the ear cups 606, the tactile feedback may provide an adverse user experience to the user of the headset 600. For example, shaking of the ear cups 606 may be felt at the user's ears, but not at the user's fingers (e.g., when they operate the crown 602 with their fingers). Perhaps worse, the shaking of the ear cups 606 may produce sound waves that interfere with the user's enjoyment of the audio produced by the headset 600. Compared to reference Figures 1A to 5B The described haptic feedback device similarly configures the crown 602 so that haptic feedback can be provided to the crown 602 while suppressing the propagation of mechanical waves provided to the crown 602 so that they do not travel to the ear cup 606 (or are suppressed as they travel from the crown 602 toward the ear cup 606).

[0058] Figure 7 An example of an electronic watch 700 or other wearable device (e.g., a health monitoring device or a fitness tracking device) is shown. The watch 700 may include a body 702 (e.g., a watch body) and a band 704. The band 704 may be used to attach the watch body 702 to a body part (e.g., an arm, wrist, leg, ankle, or waist) of a user. The housing of the watch body 702 may include a sidewall 706 that at least partially surrounds a display 708. The sidewall 706 may support other housing components, such as a front cover 710 or a back cover. The front cover 710 may be positioned above the display 708 and may provide a window through which the display 708 may be viewed. In some embodiments, the display 708 may be attached to (or adjacent to) the sidewall 706 and / or the front cover 710. In an alternative embodiment of the watch 700, the display 708 may not be included and / or the sidewall 706 may have an alternative configuration.

[0059] The various parts of the housing of the device (e.g., sidewall 706, front cover 710, and back cover) can be formed by the same or different materials. In some cases, the sidewall 706 can be formed using one or more metals (e.g., stainless steel), polymers (e.g., plastics), ceramics, or composite materials (e.g., carbon fiber). The front cover 710 can be formed, for example, using one or more of glass, crystals (e.g., sapphire), or transparent polymers (e.g., plastics) that enable the user to view the display 708 through the front cover 710. In some cases, a portion of the front cover 710 (e.g., the peripheral portion of the front cover 710) can be coated with an opaque ink to cover the parts included in the housing. The back cover can be formed using the same material as that used to form the sidewall 706 or the front cover 710. In some cases, the back cover can be a part of an integral element that also forms the sidewall 706. In other embodiments, all external parts of the housing can be formed by transparent materials, and the parts in the watch 700 can be covered by the opaque ink or opaque structure in the housing 102 or not.

[0060] The front cover 710 can be mounted to the side wall 706 to cover the opening defined by the side wall 706 (i.e., the opening into the interior volume in which the various electronic components of the watch 700 (including the display 708) can be located). The front cover 710 can be mounted to the side wall 706 using fasteners, adhesives, seals, gaskets, or other components.

[0061] A display stack or device stack (hereinafter referred to as the "stack") including display 708 may be attached (or adjacent) to the inner surface of front cover 710 and extend into the interior volume of watch 700. In some cases, the stack may include a touch sensor (e.g., a grid of capacitive, resistive, strain-based, ultrasonic, or other types of touch sensing elements) or other layers of optical, mechanical, electrical, or other types of components. In some cases, the touch sensor (or a portion of a touch sensor system) may be configured to detect a touch applied to an outer surface of front cover 710 (e.g., to the display surface of watch 700).

[0062] The display 708 may include one or more light emitting elements and may be configured, for example, as a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescent (EL) display, or other types of displays. In some embodiments, the display 708 may include or be associated with one or more touch sensors, force sensors, and / or pressure sensors configured to detect touch, force, and / or pressure applied to the surface of the front cover 710.

[0063] Watch body 702 may include an input or selection device, such as a crown 712 or a button 714. Crown 712 or button 714 may be used to control various aspects of watch 700. For example, crown 712 may be used to select an application displayed on display 708, select a watch function, adjust the volume of a speaker, adjust the brightness of display 708, provide biometric features, etc. In some cases, button 714 may be used to turn watch 700 on or off. In some cases, an inertial actuator may be attached to crown 712 or button 714, or a different inertial actuator may be attached to each of crown 712 and button 714. In some cases, the inertial actuator may be attached to crown 712 or button 714, as described in reference to FIG. Figures 1A to 5B Any one of the above.

[0064] The watch 700 may also include various sensor systems. For example, the watch 700 may include one or more cameras, speakers, microphones, or other components (e.g., audio components, imaging components, and / or sensing components) configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from the watch 700. In some embodiments, the watch 700 may have a port 716 (or a set of ports) on the sidewall 706 (or elsewhere), and an ambient pressure sensor, ambient temperature sensor, internal / external differential pressure sensor, gas sensor, particulate matter sensor, or air quality sensor may be positioned in or near the port 716.

[0065] Figure 8 An example of a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone) is shown. Phone 800 may include a housing 802 that at least partially surrounds a display 804. Housing 802 may include or support a front cover 806 or a back cover 808. Front cover 806 may be positioned above display 804 and may provide a window through which a user may view display 804 (including images displayed thereon). In some embodiments, display 804 may be attached to (or adjacent to) housing 802 and / or front cover 806.

[0066] The display 804 may include one or more light emitting elements or pixels, and in some cases may be an LED display, an OLED display, an LCD, an EL display, a laser projector, or another type of electronic display. In some embodiments, the display 804 may include or be associated with one or more touch sensors and / or force sensors configured to detect touch and / or force applied to the surface of the front cover 806.

[0067] Various components of the housing 802 can be formed of the same or different materials. For example, the side wall 818 of the housing 802 can be formed using one or more metals (e.g., stainless steel), polymers (e.g., plastics), ceramics, or composite materials (e.g., carbon fiber). In some cases, the side wall 818 can be a multi-segment side wall including a set of antennas. The antenna can form a structural component of the side wall 818. The antenna can be coupled (coupled to each other or to other components) and electrically isolated (electrically isolated from each other or to other components) in structure by one or more non-conductive segments of the side wall 818. The front cover 806 can be formed, for example, using one or more of glass, crystal (e.g., sapphire) or transparent polymers (e.g., plastics), which enable the user to view the display 804 through the front cover 806. In some cases, a portion of the front cover 806 (e.g., the peripheral portion of the front cover 806) can be coated with an opaque ink to cover the components included in the housing 802. The back cover 808 can be formed using the same material as the material used to form the side wall 818 or the front cover 806, or can be formed using different materials. In some cases, the back cover 808 can be part of a unitary element that also forms the sidewalls 818 (or those portions of the sidewalls 818 that are non-conductive if the sidewalls 818 are multi-segment sidewalls). In other embodiments, all exterior components of the housing 802 can be formed of a transparent material, and components within the phone 800 can be covered or uncovered by an opaque ink or opaque structure within the housing 802.

[0068] The front cover 806 can be mounted to the side wall 818 to cover the opening defined by the side wall 818 (i.e., the opening into the interior volume in which the various electronic components of the phone 800 (including the display 804) can be located). The front cover 806 can be mounted to the side wall 818 using fasteners, adhesives, seals, gaskets, or other components.

[0069] A display stack or device stack (hereinafter "stack") including display 804 (and in some cases front cover 806) may be attached (or abut) to the inner surface of front cover 806 and extend into the interior volume of phone 800. In some cases, the stack may also include a touch sensor (e.g., a grid of capacitive, resistive, strain-based, ultrasonic, or other types of touch sensing elements) or other layers of optical, mechanical, electrical, or other types of components. In some cases, the touch sensor (or a portion of a touch sensor system) may be configured to detect a touch applied to the outer surface of front cover 806 (e.g., to the display surface of phone 800).

[0070] The stack may also include a sensor 816 or sensor array, where the sensors are positioned in front of or behind or interspersed between the light-emitting elements of the display 804. In some cases, the sensor array 816 may extend across an area that is equal in size to the area of ​​the display 804. Alternatively, the sensor array 816 may extend across an area that is smaller or larger than the area of ​​the display 804, or may be positioned adjacent to the display 804 as a whole. Although the sensor array 816 is illustrated as having a rectangular border, the array may alternatively have borders with different shapes, including, for example, irregular shapes. The sensor array 816 may be variously configured as an ambient light sensor, a light-emitting element (e.g., OLED) health sensor (e.g., an aging sensor), a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a health sensor, a biometric sensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor or a facial recognition sensor), a camera, a depth sensor, and the like. The sensor array 816 may also or alternatively be used as a proximity sensor for determining whether an object (e.g., a finger, a face, or a stylus) is adjacent to the front cover 806. In some implementations, the sensor array 816 can provide a stacked touch sensing capability (ie, a touch sensor).

[0071] In some cases, a force sensor (or portion of a force sensor system) may be positioned within the interior volume below the display 804 and / or to the side of the display 804 (and in some cases, within the stackup). The force sensor (or force sensor system) may be triggered in response to the touch sensor detecting one or more touches on the front cover 806 (or indicating the location of one or more touches on the front cover 806), and may determine the magnitude of the force associated with each touch, or the magnitude of the force associated with the entire set of touches.

[0072] In some cases, the front of the phone 800 may include one or more front-facing cameras 810, speakers 812, microphones, or other components 814 (e.g., audio components, imaging components, and / or sensing components) configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from the phone 800. In some cases, the front-facing camera 810, alone or in combination with other sensors, may be configured to operate as a biometric authentication or facial recognition sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor array 816 may be configured to operate as a front-facing camera 810, a biometric authentication sensor, or a facial recognition sensor.

[0073] The phone 800 may also include buttons or other input devices positioned along the side wall 818 of the phone 800 and / or on its rear surface. For example, a first button 820-1 and a second button 820-2 may be positioned along the side wall 818 and, in some cases, may extend through an aperture in the side wall 818. These buttons 820-1, 820-2 may be used to adjust the volume of the speaker, turn the phone 800 off or on, etc. In some embodiments, one or both of the buttons 820-1, 820-2 may be part of a tactile feedback device and may be used as described in reference to FIG. Figures 1A to 5B Any of the configurations described in .

[0074] The sidewall 818 may include one or more ports 822 that allow air, but not liquid, to flow into and out of the phone 800. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be positioned in or near the port 822. For example, an ambient pressure sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, an internal / external differential pressure sensor, a gas sensor, a particulate matter concentration sensor, or an air quality sensor may be positioned in or near the port 822.

[0075] Fig. 9 An exemplary electrical block diagram of an electronic device 900 is shown, which in some cases may take the form of a reference Figures 6 to 8 The device described herein is in the form of one of the following and / or includes a device as described in reference Figures 1A to 5B One or more of the tactile feedback devices described. The electronic device 900 may include a display 902 (e.g., a light-emitting display), a processor 904, a power supply 906, a memory 908 or a storage device, a sensor system 910, or an input / output (I / O) mechanism 912 (e.g., an input / output device, an input / output port, or a tactile input / output interface). The processor 904 may control some or all operations of the electronic device 900. The processor 904 may communicate directly or indirectly with some or all other components of the electronic device 900. For example, a system bus or other communication mechanism 914 may provide communication between the display 902, the processor 904, the power supply 906, the memory 908, the sensor system 910, and the I / O mechanism 912.

[0076] The processor 904 may be implemented as any electronic device capable of processing, receiving, or transmitting data or instructions, whether such data or instructions are in the form of software or firmware or encoded in other ways. For example, the processor 904 may include a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller, or a combination of such devices. As used herein, the term "processor" is intended to cover a single processor or processing unit, multiple processors, multiple processing units, or one or more other appropriately configured computing elements.

[0077] It should be noted that components of the electronic device 900 may be controlled by multiple processors. For example, selected components of the electronic device 900 (e.g., the sensor system 910) may be controlled by a first processor and other components of the electronic device 900 (e.g., the display 902) may be controlled by a second processor, wherein the first processor and the second processor may or may not communicate with each other.

[0078] The power supply 906 may be implemented with any device capable of providing energy to the electronic device 900. For example, the power supply 906 may include one or more batteries or rechargeable batteries. Additionally or alternatively, the power supply 906 may include a power connector or a power cord that connects the electronic device 900 to another power source such as a wall outlet.

[0079] The memory 908 can store electronic data that can be used by the electronic device 900. For example, the memory 908 can store electronic data or content, such as, for example, audio and video files, documents and applications, device settings and user preferences, timing signals, control signals, and data structures or databases. The memory 908 may include any type of memory. By way of example only, the memory 908 may include random access memory, read-only memory, flash memory, removable memory, other types of storage elements, or combinations of these memory types.

[0080] The electronic device 900 may also include one or more sensor systems 910 positioned at almost any location on the electronic device 900. The sensor system 910 may be configured to sense one or more types of parameters, such as, but not limited to, light; touch; force; heat; movement; relative motion; biometric data of a user (e.g., biological parameters); particle concentration, air quality; proximity; location; connectivity; and the like. By way of example, the sensor system 910 may include a thermal sensor, a position sensor, an optical or optical sensor, an accelerometer, a pressure transducer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a health monitoring sensor, a particle sensor, an air quality sensor, and the like. In addition, the one or more sensor systems 910 may utilize any appropriate sensing technology, including, but not limited to, magnetic, capacitive, ultrasonic, resistive, optical, acoustic, piezoelectric, or thermal technology. In some cases, one or more of the sensor systems 910 may include one or more lasers and laser safety circuits as described herein.

[0081] The I / O mechanism 912 may transmit or receive data from a user or another electronic device. The I / O mechanism 912 may include a display 902, a touch sensing input surface, a crown, one or more buttons (e.g., a graphical user interface "home" button), one or more cameras (including an under-display camera), one or more microphones or speakers, one or more ports such as a microphone port, and / or a keyboard. Additionally or alternatively, the I / O mechanism 912 may transmit electronic signals via a communication interface such as a wireless, wired, and / or optical communication interface. Examples of wireless and wired communication interfaces include, but are not limited to, cellular and Wi-Fi communication interfaces. In some cases, the I / O mechanism 912 may include one or more lasers and laser safety circuits as described herein.

[0082] The above description uses specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments for explanation. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, after reading this specification, the embodiments can be practiced without specific details. Therefore, for the purpose of illustration and description, the foregoing description of the specific embodiments described herein is presented. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, after reading this specification, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: a housing defining an aperture; an input device extending through the aperture and having a user input surface external to the housing; an inertial actuator mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device and suspended within the housing; as well as A mechanical wave damper is positioned within the aperture and provides mechanical wave damping between the input device and the housing.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to operate the inertial actuator to provide localized tactile feedback to the input device; as well as A flexible interconnect electrically couples the inertial actuator to the controller. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a convex outer surface. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical wave damper comprises an elastomer.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical wave damper comprises foam.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical wave damper comprises a spring.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the inertial actuator comprises a linear resonant actuator.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the inertial actuator comprises an eccentric rotating mass.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a crown.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a button.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the inertial actuator is mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device via a bracket.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the inertial actuator is mechanically and fixedly coupled to the input device by gluing.

13. An electronic device comprising: shell; a tactile feedback device extending through the housing and comprising: an input module extending through the aperture of the housing, the input module having a user input surface; and an inertial actuation module rigidly attached to the input module; and An elastomer is positioned within the aperture and mechanically isolates the haptic feedback device from the housing.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the housing defines an ear cup of a headphone.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the housing defines a watch body.

16. An electronic device, comprising: a housing having an interior volume and an aperture; A tactile feedback device, the tactile feedback device comprising: an input device extending through the aperture; and an inertial actuator attached to the input device and configured to shake the input device; and A damper is positioned between the haptic feedback device and a portion of the housing and is configured to suppress propagation of mechanical waves traveling from the input device toward the housing. The electronic device according to claim 16 , wherein the damper comprises an elastic body.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the dampener comprises a grommet surrounding a cross-section of the input device.

19. The electronic device according to claim 16, further comprising: A shared flexible interconnect is configured to carry input signals generated by the input device and control signals provided to the inertial actuator.

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