1. A device comprising:
a housing;
a processor coupled to the housing, the processor configured to process a software program stored in a memory;
a touch screen coupled to the housing, the touch screen configured to display graphical objects, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user’s interaction with the touch screen is provided to the processor;
a first actuator coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing, the first actuator configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen upon receiving a first activating signal from the processor; and
a second actuator coupled to the housing, the second actuator configured to output a second haptic effect to the housing upon receiving a second activating signal from the processor.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first activating signal is associated with a foreground event occurring in the software program.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second activating signal associated with a background event occurring in the software program.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the foreground event occurs as a result of the user’s interaction with the touch screen.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator only outputs the first haptic effect when a sensor coupled to the touch screen indicates the user touching the touch screen.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the user touches the touch screen with a stylus.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator outputs the first haptic effect and the second actuator outputs the second haptic effect at substantially the same time.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator outputs the first haptic effect and the second actuator outputs the second haptic effect at different times.
9. A method for operating a mobile device comprising:
displaying a graphical environment through a touch screen of a housing of the mobile device;
sensing a position of a user’s input in contact with the touch screen;
identifying a haptic event occurring in association with an interaction within the graphical environment; and
transmitting an activating signal to an actuator, wherein the actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the touch screen upon determining the haptic event is a foreground event.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the foreground event occurs as a result of the user’s interaction with the touch screen.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuator only outputs the haptic effect when a sensor of the touch screen indicates the user touching the touch screen.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuator only outputs the haptic effect when a sensor of the touch screen indicates the user touching the touch screen with a stylus.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuator is a screen actuator, the method further comprising transmitting an activating signal to a housing actuator, wherein the housing actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the housing upon determining the haptic event is a background event.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at substantially the same time.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at different times.
16. A method for operating a mobile device comprising:
displaying a graphical environment through a touch screen of a housing of the mobile device;
sensing a position of a user’s input in contact with the touch screen;
identifying a haptic event occurring in association with an interaction within the graphical environment; and
transmitting an activating signal to an actuator, wherein the actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the housing upon determining the haptic event is a background event.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the actuator is a housing actuator, the method further comprising transmitting an activating signal to a screen actuator, wherein the screen actuator imparts a haptic effect corresponding to the haptic event to the touch screen upon determining the haptic event is a foreground event.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at substantially the same time.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the screen actuator and the housing actuator output respective haptic effects at different times.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device, comprising:
a primary passage for a primary flow containing a plurality of particulates flowing therein;
at least a secondary passage having an input path and an output path and connected with said primary passage; and
at least an electrode assembly generating at least a dielectrophoresis force to drive at least a specific one of said plurality of particulates into said output path of said secondary passage.
2. The microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device of claim 1, wherein a secondary flow flows through said input path, said primary passage and said output path for selecting and separating one of said plurality of particulates.
3. The microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device of claim 2, wherein said primary flow flows into and out said primary passage through a inlet and a outlet.
4. The microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device of claim 1, wherein a flow trace is formed by filling said secondary flow into said input path to flow through a part of said primary passage and said output path.
5. The microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device of claim 4, wherein said primary passage and said secondary passage are driven by a primary chive pump arid a secondary drive pump connected therewith respectively so as to control a first flow speed of said primary flow in said primary passage and a second flow speed of said secondary flow in said secondary passage.
6. The microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device of claim 4, wherein said secondary flow is independent of said primary flow due to a laminar flow effect.
7. The microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device of claim 1, wherein said at least an electrode assembly adjusts at least an AC current parameter determined by one selected from a group consisting of an amplitude, a frequency and a phase to generate said at least a dielectrophoresis force for performing one of selecting and separating operations for said at least a specific one of said plurality of particulates.
8. A microfluidic dielectrophoresis method for a microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device having a primary passage, at least a secondary passage having an input path and an output path connected with said primary passage and at least an electrode assembly generating at least a dielectrophoresis force, comprising steps of:
filling said primary passage with a primary flow containing a plurality of particulates;
filling said input path with at least a secondary flow so as to make said secondary flow to flow through said input path, said primary passage and to flow out from said output path;
generating said at least a dielectrophoresis force for performing one of selecting and separating operations for at least a specific one of said plurality of particulates by said at least an electrode assembly; and
extracting said at least a specific one of said plurality of particulates via said output path.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of adjusting a parameter of said at least an electrode assembly for generating said at least a dielectrophoresis force where said parameter is one selected from a group consisting of an amplitude, a frequency and a phase.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least a secondary flow sequentially flows through said input path, said primary passage and said output path to for at least a flow trace.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said secondary flow is independent of primary flow.