Nokia Patent Application for Haptic Feedback Technology

Nokia Patent Application for Haptic Feedback Technology. Following the previous Nokia Patent Application for tube-shaped mobile phone, Here's now an interesting news for Nokia fans who're waiting next-gen touchscreen devices. A new patent application from Nokia for localized haptic feedback system. The new patent has been published under the patent cooperation treaty (PCT), so we finally got a few more details about Nokia's Haptikos Tactile technology.

The patent application text describes the technology as a "plurality of closely spaced voltage controllable protuberances." Using tactile feedback technology, on-screen buttons feel as if they press and release like mechanical buttons allowing touch screens to be more effective, especially in environments where vibro and audio feedback are inappropriate or difficult to use.

The basic technology is achieved by placing a plurality of closely spaced voltage controllable protuberances that can be raised and lowered to provide press and release like feeling corresponding to the user's selection.

Interestingly, this tactile feedback layer is thin and completely transparent which makes it invisible to the user when it is placed above the touchscreen, or even integrated into the touchscreen plane. When no current is applied, the protuberances are flush with the surface of touchscreen and the whole surface area feels solid and smooth. When voltage is applied, the protuberances raise from the surface with increasing extent, providing the feel of tactile elements on a touchscreen. By controlling on which parts of the touchscreen and when the protuberances are raised, and illusion of a tactile feedback is achieved.

(source)