Sony Ericsson PlayStation haptic phone patent app

Via IV MB:

>> March 6, 2008

ORIENTATION BASED MULTIPLE MODE MECHANICALLY VIBRATED TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for reconfiguring the graphical user interface (GUI) of a mechanically vibrated touchscreen display associated with a portable mobile communications device that is operable in a variety of modes. The reconfiguration of the GUI is based on the orientation of the portable mobile communications device. An orientation sensing mechanism senses whether the portable mobile communications device is currently in a portrait or landscape orientation. An orientation sensing application accesses an orientation profile that associates each mode of operation with either a portrait or landscape orientation and determines which mode of operation is the default mode for the sensed orientation of the portable mobile communications device. The GUI of the mechanically vibrated touchscreen display is then reconfigured for the default mode of operation.

Assignee Name and Adress: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB

Tactile feedback touchscreen display means driven by software controlled operating modes can quickly reconfigure a portable mobile communications device display to represent multiple different modes or applications such as those presented above.

Integrating motion/orientation sensing technology with tactile feedback touchscreen displays allows the portable mobile communications device to automatically reconfigure itself for a different mode of operation without the user having to delve into the intricacies of the user interface to manipulate the functions.

The mechanically vibrated touchscreen display is configurable and can provide a tactile sensation that gives the user the sensation of actually pressing a button.

The mechanically vibrated touchscreen display is configurable and re-configurable to suit the mode or application desired by the user. In this example, when the user presses an area of the mechanically vibrated touchscreen display that corresponds to one of the buttons that is associated with the PSP.TM. interface, a tactile sensation is returned to the user that indicates a button was pressed.