HAPTIC PERIPHERAL HAVING HAPTICALLY-ENHANCED USER INPUT ELEMENT INCLUDING MECHANICAL KEY AND INTEGRATED SMART MATERIAL ACTUATOR FOR PROVIDING HAPTIC EFFECTS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a haptic feedback system that provides improved haptic feedback or effects to a user input element of a haptic peripheral.SOLUTION: A haptic peripheral includes a housing and a haptically-enhanced input element. The input element is configured to receive an input from a user, and includes a mechanical key having a keycap with a contact surface configured to come in contact with the user and a smart material actuator integrated onto the contact surface. The smart material actuator is configured to receive a control signal from a processor and to deform at least a portion of the contact surface relative to the keycap in response to the control signal, thereby providing a haptic effect to the user of the haptic peripheral. The haptic peripheral also includes a braking actuator coupled to the mechanical key to hold the mechanical key in a depressed position to indicate an inactive status to a user. The haptic peripheral and the haptically-enhanced input element may be modular.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3