Systems and methods for enhanced haptic effects

• US 10,152,124 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Lacroix, Robert, Grant, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Srilakshmi K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castiaux, Brent D
• Application Number:
  US11/697,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,267 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 715701, 715702
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced haptic effects are described. One described method includes receiving an input signal having haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format, decoding the haptic information from the input signal, and determining a parameter associated with an actuator in a haptic device. The method further includes generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the parameter and the haptic information, and generating an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input signal having haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format, and wherein the multimedia data does not comprise encoded haptic information;

determining haptic information from the input signal;

determining a resonant frequency associated with an actuator in a haptic device;

generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the resonant frequency and the haptic information;

generating an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format, wherein the actuator signal portion of the output signal is encoded onto a carrier wave that is then encoded as frequency modulated data on an audio portion of the multimedia data of the output signal, and

transmitting the output signal to an output device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing a haptic effect based at least in part on the output signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input signal further includes synchronization data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia data comprises at least one of audio data or video data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first format is a multimedia format.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the multimedia format is one of:

a WAV format, a MIDI format, an Ogg format, a DIVX format, a QuickTime format, a MP3 format, a MPEG-2 format, a MPEG-4 format, a M4P format, or an AAC format.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a parameter associated with the actuator and generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameter associated with the actuator in the haptic device comprises a dynamic response characteristic.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameter associated with the actuator in the haptic device comprises a frequency response characteristic.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises the same format as the input signal.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a multi-function transducer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the multi-function transducer is configured to output both sound and vibration.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is encoded processor-executable program code, comprising:

program code for receiving an input signal having haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format, and wherein the multimedia data does not comprise encoded haptic information;

program code for determining haptic information from the input signal;

program code for determining a resonant frequency associated with an actuator in a haptic device;

program code for generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the resonant frequency and the haptic information;

program code for generating an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format, wherein the actuator signal portion of the output signal is encoded onto a carrier wave that is then encoded as frequency modulated data on an audio portion of the multimedia data of the output signal, and

program code for transmitting the output signal to an output device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising program code for producing a haptic effect based at least in part on the output signal.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the output device comprises a multi-function transducer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the multi-function transducer is configured to output both sound and vibration.

13. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive an input signal having haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format, and wherein the multimedia data does not comprise encoded haptic information;

determine haptic information from the input signal;

determine a haptic drive signal comprising the haptic information based at least in part on a resonant frequency specific to a haptic device;

generate an actuator signal based at least in part on the resonant frequency and the haptic information;

generate an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format, wherein the actuator signal portion of the output signal is encoded onto a carrier wave that is then encoded as frequency modulated data on an audio portion of the multimedia data of the output signal, and

transmit the output signal to an output device.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an actuator configured to produce a haptic effect based at least in part on the output signal.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises a local memory in communication with the processor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the local memory is configured to store a parameter specific to a haptic device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the local memory is configured to store a multimedia file.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the output device comprises a multi-function transducer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the multi-function transducer is configured to output both sound and vibration.