KR20120070504A - Haptic feedback case for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tactile feedback case for an electronic device, and provides a haptic in conjunction with the electronic device through a tactile generator having a film-type actuator in the case protecting the electronic device, thereby protecting the electronic device while not damaging the usability. In addition to providing electronic devices without tactile output, various haptic effects can be provided and the operation feeling of electronic devices can be improved.

Description

Tactile feedback case for electronics {HAPTIC FEEDBACK CASE FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT}

The present invention relates to a tactile feedback case for an electronic device, and more particularly, to a tactile feedback case for an electronic device to provide tactile sensation by interlocking with an electronic device through a tactile generator having a film-type actuator in a case protecting the electronic device. It is about.

With the rapid development of communication technology and production technology, portable terminals have been rapidly improving memory capacity and display device performance compared to the past, enabling various multimedia functions such as video viewing, MP3 playback, and the Internet, which are functions other than wireless communication.

In addition, the mobile terminal is equipped with an online Internet game or an embedded game that can be enjoyed regardless of a place, and is provided as an input device that can provide input in an application without having a separate keyboard. 'Touchscreen' is used a lot.

Such a touch screen provides an interface through which a user can input a command or information to a terminal by touching an icon displayed on a screen using a finger, a stylus, a pen, or the like.

Therefore, when a user wants to make a call to the mobile terminal, the user can try dialing by pressing a phone number key or a call key by touching a corresponding icon provided on the touch screen of the display unit with a stylus pen or hand.

The user most commonly touches the touchscreen with his fingertips and moves the cursor displayed in the graphical environment by moving a finger on the screen. The user can also operate the stylus in relation to the touch screen by pressing the stylus tip on the touch screen and moving the stylus.

Background art of the present invention is disclosed in Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0020037 (2009.02.26.) "Vibration control apparatus and method of a mobile terminal".

As described above, when a touch is made through a touch screen or various events including a game are provided, various effects are provided to the user by providing tactile sense as well as the output of the speaker.

However, in recent years, as these portable terminals become smaller and lighter, there is a problem that it is difficult to deliver a more realistic feeling only by the vibration motor built into the portable terminal.

In addition, a terminal that does not provide tactile sensations according to various events has a problem in that various effects cannot be provided.

The present invention has been made to improve the above problems, a tactile feedback case for an electronic device to provide a haptic in conjunction with the electronic device through a tactile generator having a film-type actuator in the case for protecting the electronic device. The purpose is to provide.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a tactile feedback case for an electronic device includes: a main body for receiving the electronic device; Communication unit for receiving the tactile generation information from the electronic device; Film-type actuators that generate tactile sensations; And a control unit for operating the film-type actuator according to the tactile generation information received from the communication unit.

In the present invention, the main body is characterized in that it further comprises a connector connected to the electronic device for receiving power and haptic information.

In the present invention, the main body is characterized in that it further comprises a connector connected to the electronic device to receive power.

In the present invention, the communication unit is characterized in that to receive the tactile generation information from the electronic device in the short-range wireless communication.

The present invention is characterized in that it further comprises a power supply for supplying the power supplied through the connector to the control unit.

In the present invention, the power supply is characterized in that the battery.

In the present invention, the tactile occurrence information includes a click event, a menu event, a screen flip event, a screen lock event, a text highlighting event, a music event, and a GUI (Graphic User Interface) manipulation event in an electronic device.

The film actuator in the present invention is a fixing member attached to the bottom surface of the main body; A film type elastic part attached to the fixing member and whose length is stretched according to an operation signal of the controller; And it is characterized in that it further comprises a tactile generating member in contact with the film-type stretchable portion to output the movement in the film-like stretched portion to the tactile.

One side of the haptic generating member in the present invention is characterized in that the tactile enhancing member is further attached.

In the present invention, the fixing member is characterized in that the elastic material.

In the present invention, the elastic material is characterized in that it is conductive.

In the present invention, the film-type stretching portion is characterized in that it comprises an electroactive polymer, an electroactive cellulose and a shape memory alloy.

In the present invention, it is characterized in that a plurality of film-type stretches are arranged side by side.

In the present invention, the film type elastic part and the tactile generating member are characterized in that only a part of the contact area.

In the present invention, the communication unit, the film-type actuator and the control unit is embedded in the bottom surface of the main body.

The present invention provides a thin case that protects electronic devices and does not impair usability by providing a tactile sense in conjunction with an electronic device through a tactile generator having a film-type actuator in a case protecting the electronic device, as well as an electronic device without a tactile output. The device can provide various tactile effects and improve the operation feeling of the electronic device.

1 is a block diagram showing a tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view for explaining a state of use of the haptic feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of the tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating an operating state of a tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

1 is a block diagram showing a tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a view for explaining a state of use of the tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of the tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a connector 50 including a main body 100, a communication unit 10, a film type actuator 30, and a control unit 20. ).

The main body 100 is configured to accommodate a mobile phone, which is an electronic device 200, so that the electronic device 200 is inserted into the electronic device 200 in a state where the electronic device 200 is inserted into the electronic device 200. It is configured to protect from shock.

The communication unit 10 receives the tactile generation information from the electronic device 200.

In this case, the communication unit 10 may be connected to the electronic device 200 by wire to receive tactile generation information. In addition, the tactile generation information may be input through short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The tactile generation information generates various effects through tactile effects to the user, such as a click event, a menu event, a screen flip event, a screen lock event, a text highlighting event, a music event, and a GUI (Graphic User Interface) operation event in the electronic device 200. It includes the event signal to be.

The film-type actuator 30 generates vibration so that the user of the electronic device 200 can feel tactile.

The control unit 20 operates the film-type actuator 30 according to the tactile generation information received from the communication unit 10.

In addition, the present invention includes a connector 50 in the main body 100, when the communication unit 10 supports wired communication, the power is supplied from the electronic device 200 through the connector 50, the tactile generation information Receive input.

However, when the communication unit 10 supports wireless communication, only the power may be supplied from the electronic device 200 through the connector 50.

In addition, the present invention is provided with a power supply device 40 to charge the power supplied from the electronic device 200 to supply power to the control unit 20 when the communication unit 10 supports wireless communication electronic device 200 ) And the tactile generation information can be generated even though the connector 50 is not connected. In this case, the power supply device 40 may be a battery.

Looking at the configuration of the film-like actuator 30 according to the present invention in detail, the film-type actuator 30 can be formed wide in the lower portion of the main body 100 as shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 2, and a film actuator 30 is formed in the buried hole 110 under the main body 100.

In the present invention, the communication unit 10, the control unit 20, and the power supply device 40 may be formed in the buried hole 110 under the main body 100 as well as the film-type actuator 30.

That is, when the thickness of the components of the film-type actuator 30, the communication unit 10, the power supply device 40 and the control unit 20 to 0.3 ~ 0.5mm the thickness of the main body 100 to 1.5 ~ 2.5mm level It can hold | maintain, and the case by this invention can be formed very thin.

As shown in FIG. 3, the film type actuator 30 includes a fixing member 310, a film type elastic part 320, and a tactile generating member 330.

The fixing member 310 is attached to the bottom surface of the main body 100 to fix the elastic member such as rubber to freely move when the film type stretchable part 320 is stretched.

In addition, the elastic material may be a conductive material having elasticity so that the operation signal of the controller 20 may be applied to the film type stretchable part 320.

The film type stretchable part 320 is attached to the fixing member 310, and when the electric signal is applied by the operation signal of the controller 20, the length of the film type stretchable part 320 is increased or decreased. When an electrical signal is applied to the active cellulose, shape memory alloy, or the like, any material can be used as long as the length is momentarily increased or enjoyed.

In this case, the film type elastic part 320 may be arranged in parallel to increase the output of the movement.

The tactile generating member 330 is in contact with the film type elastic part 320 and outputs the movement in the film type elastic part 320 as a tactile sense.

In this case, the film type elastic part 320 and the tactile generating member 330 are in contact with only a part of the film type elastic part 320 so that the tactile generating member 330 can move from side to side when the film type elastic part 320 is stretched.

For example, when the tactile generating member 330 is in contact with the right side of the film type elastic part 320, the film type elastic part 320 may move to the left side when the film type elastic part 320 decreases and move to the right side when the film type elastic part 320 is stretched. In this case, when the film type elastic part 320 is controlled to rapidly decrease and repeat the stretching operation, the haptic generating member 330 may quickly generate a feeling such as vibration by shaking from side to side. Alternatively, when the film type elastic part 320 is rapidly reduced and stops the operation, the haptic generating member 330 quickly generates a feeling of colliding to the left.

In addition, by attaching a tactile enhancing member 340 to one side of the tactile generating member 330 to increase the change of inertia in the movement of the tactile generating member 340, the tactile information can be strongly transmitted by generating a stronger tactile sense. Make sure

In this case, when the battery is provided, the battery may be used as the tactile enhancer 340.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an operating state of a tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 20 of the tactile feedback case for an electronic device is connected to the electronic device 200 through the connector 50 in a state in which the electronic device 200 is accommodated in the main body 100 as shown in FIG. 2. In step S10, the tactile generation information output from the electronic device 200 is input through the communication unit 10 while receiving power from the electronic device 200.

Tactile generation information is not only visual information but also buttons or menus when operating various user interfaces on the screen through input devices such as touch screens of devices including computing functions such as mobile phones, smartphones, and tablets, which are electronic devices 200. Creates a variety of effects through tactile effects such as click events, menu events, page flip events, screen lock events, text highlighting events, music events, and graphical user interface (GUI) manipulation events that make users feel real. It includes the event signal to be.

When the control unit 20 receives the tactile generation information as described above, the film-type actuator 30 outputs an operation signal to generate the tactile sensation so as to feel the tactile sensation (S20).

In this case, the film-type actuator 30 has a tactile sensation through the tactile generating member 330 as the film-type elastic part 320 is moved to the left and right as the film-type elastic part 320 is instantaneously stretched when an electric signal, which is an operation signal, is input from the controller 20. The generated tactile sensations are further increased by the tactile enhancer 340 to allow the user to feel the tactile sense using the electronic device 200.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art to which the art belongs can make various modifications and other equivalent embodiments therefrom. Will understand. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

10: communication unit 20: control unit
30: film type actuator 40: power supply
50: connector 100: main body
110: buried hole 200: electronic device

Claims (15)

A main body for accommodating electronic devices;
A communication unit configured to receive tactile generation information from the electronic device;
Film-type actuators that generate tactile sensations; And
And a control unit for operating the film type actuator according to the tactile generation information received from the communication unit.
The haptic feedback case for an electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a connector connected to the electronic device to receive a power and the tactile generation information.
The haptic feedback case of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a connector connected to the electronic device to receive power.
The haptic feedback case of claim 3, wherein the communication unit receives the tactile generation information from the electronic device through short-range wireless communication.
The haptic feedback case for an electronic device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a power supply device for supplying the power supplied through the connector to the controller.
6. The haptic feedback case of claim 5, wherein the power supply is a battery.
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the tactile information includes a click event, a menu event, a screen flip event, a screen lock event, a text highlighting event, a music event, and a graphical user interface (GUI) manipulation event in the electronic device. Tactile feedback case for electronic devices.
The method of claim 1, wherein the film actuator
A fixing member attached to the bottom surface of the main body;
A film type elastic part attached to the fixing member and having a length stretched in response to an operation signal of the controller; And
And a haptic generating member which is in contact with the film type elastic part and outputs the movement in the film type elastic part as a tactile sense.
The tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to claim 8, wherein a tactile enhancing member is further attached to one side of the tactile generating member.
The tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the fixing member is an elastic material.
The tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the elastic material is conductive.
The tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the film type stretch part comprises an electroactive polymer, an electroactive cellulose, and a shape memory alloy.
The tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the film type stretchable part is arranged side by side.
The tactile feedback case for an electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the film type elastic part and the tactile generating member are in contact only with a partial region.
The haptic feedback case of claim 1, wherein the communication unit, the film actuator, and the control unit are embedded in a bottom surface of the main body.

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