Haptically enhanced interactivity with interactive content

• US 10,073,598 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Birnbaum, David M., Grant, Danny A., Heubel, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nam, Hyun
• Application Number:
  US15/639,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers

Abstract

Interactive content may be presented to a user that is manipulating a peripheral. One or more state parameters that are related to the position of the peripheral may be determined. The peripheral may be identified from a plurality of possible peripherals. The interactive content may be adjusted based at least in part on the one or more position parameters and/or the identification of the peripheral. Haptic feedback to be provided to the user may be determined based at least in part on the one or more position parameters and/or the identification of the peripheral.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to;

determine a position of a peripheral in free space;

identify the peripheral from among a plurality of possible peripherals;

adjust interactive content that is output by a content output appliance based on the position of the peripheral in free space;

determine a first feedback parameter using an identifier of the peripheral and a second feedback parameter using the position of the peripheral in free space; and

transmit a haptic signal configured to cause the peripheral to output haptic feedback in accordance with the first feedback parameter and the second feedback parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the peripheral comprises identifying a type of the peripheral from among a plurality of peripheral types.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral includes a card bearing graphics, and wherein identifying the peripheral comprises identifying the peripheral based on the graphics.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is a mobile telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral identification sensor configured to generate an output signal that conveys information identifying the peripheral from the plurality of possible peripherals, wherein the peripheral is identified based on the output signal from the peripheral identification sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the peripheral identification sensor is configured to determine an identity of the peripheral via radio frequencies identification (RFID) sensing.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor configured to generate an output signal that conveys information related to the position of the peripheral, wherein the position of the peripheral is determined based on the output signal from the position sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback is generated based on the interactive content that is output by the content output appliance.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter/receiver configured to wirelessly transmit information related to the haptic feedback to an actuator, the actuator being configured to output the haptic feedback.

10. A peripheral comprising:

an actuator configured to generate haptic feedback;

a base device configured to removably couple with a plurality of accessories;

one or more identifying features configured to identify the peripheral to a processor;

a wireless transmitter/receiver configured to receive information from the processor, the information defining a first feedback parameter and a second feedback parameter usable to generate the haptic feedback, wherein the first feedback parameter is determined using the identifying features of the peripheral and the second feedback parameter is determined using a position of the peripheral; and

an actuator control configured to control the actuator in accordance with the first feedback parameter and the second feedback parameter to generate the haptic feedback.

11. The peripheral of claim 10, wherein the actuator or the actuator control are carried by the base device.

12. The peripheral of claim 10, further comprising an accessory coupled to the base device, wherein the accessory comprises the one or more identifying features.

13. The peripheral of claim 10, further comprising an electronic display configured to present interactive content.

14. The peripheral of claim 10, further comprising a touch screen configured to present a configurable setting and to receive a selection of a value for the configurable setting, wherein the value for the configurable setting impacts the haptic feedback that is generated by the actuator.

15. The peripheral of claim 14, wherein the configurable setting at least partially controls operation of the actuator control.

16. The peripheral of claim 10, wherein the one or more identifying features comprise a subscriber identity module card.

17. A method comprising:

determining, by a processor, a position of a peripheral in free space;

identifying, by the processor, the peripheral from among a plurality of possible peripherals;

adjusting, by the processor, interactive content that is output by a content output appliance based on the position of the peripheral in free space;

determining, by the processor, a first feedback parameter using an identifier of the peripheral and a second feedback parameter using the position of the peripheral in free space; and

transmitting, by the processor, a haptic signal configured to cause the peripheral to output haptic feedback in accordance with the first feedback parameter and the second feedback parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein identifying the peripheral comprises identifying a type of the peripheral from among a plurality of peripheral types.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the peripheral includes a card bearing graphics, and wherein identifying the peripheral comprises identifying the peripheral based on the graphics.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the peripheral is a mobile telephone.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating, by a peripheral identification sensor, an output signal that conveys information identifying the peripheral from the plurality of possible peripherals; and

identifying, by the processor, the peripheral based on the output signal from the peripheral identification sensor.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the haptic feedback is generated based on the interactive content that is output by the content output appliance.