System and method for ordering haptic effects

• US 10,152,128 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Da Costa, Henrique D., Grant, Danny A., Lacroix, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez, David E
• Application Number:
  US15/361,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20170147069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A signal associated with multiple haptic effects is received, each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects being associated with a time slot from multiple time slots. Each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects is associated with an effect slot from multiple effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect. An output signal is sent for each effect slot from the multiple effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot.

Claims

1. A device for ordering and outputting haptic effects, the device comprising:

one or more haptic output devices;

one or more processors in communication with the one or more haptic output devices, and configured

to retrieve a timeline effect definition that defines a series of haptic effects by defining a magnitude for each haptic effect of the series of haptic effects, and defines a series of respective time slots for the series of haptic effects by defining a duration for each time slot of the series of respective time slots, wherein the timeline effect definition further includes a parameter value that indicates whether to repeat at least a portion of the series of haptic effects,

to generate haptic effect signals based on the timeline effect definition, and

to communicate the haptic effect signals to the one or more haptic output devices, wherein the haptic effect signals cause the one or more haptic output devices to output the series of haptic effects during the series of respective time slots defined in the timeline effect definition.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to associate each haptic effect from the series of haptic effects with an event in a musical instrument digital interface (“

MIDI”

) file.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a client interface component configured to receive a signal, wherein the client interface component is configured to control at least one of creating a haptic effect, deleting a haptic effect, starting a haptic effect, stopping a haptic effect, and modifying a haptic effect based on the received signal.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein one of the series of haptic effects is a ramp-up effect.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein another one of the series of haptic effects is a braking effect.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is part of a virtual reality (VR) gaming system.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein respective magnitudes for the series of haptic effects in the timeline effect definition are different from each other.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein respective durations for the series of time slots are different from each other.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect signals that are generated for the series of haptic effects are constant signals.

10. A method for ordering and outputting haptic effects, the method comprising:

retrieving, by one or more processors, a timeline effect definition that defines a series of haptic effects by defining a magnitude for each haptic effect of the series of haptic effects, and defines a series of respective time slots for the series of haptic effects by defining a duration for each time slot of the series of respective time slots, wherein the timeline effect definition further includes a parameter value that indicates whether to repeat at least a portion of the series of haptic effects;

generating haptic effect signals based on the timeline effect definition; and

communicating the haptic effect signals to a haptic output device, wherein the haptic effect signals cause the one or more haptic output devices to output the series of haptic effects during the series of respective time slots defined in the timeline effect definition.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to associate each haptic effect from the series of haptic effects with an event in a musical instrument digital interface (“

MIDI”

) file.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving a signal at a client interface component, and controlling at least one of creating a haptic effect, deleting a haptic effect, starting a haptic effect, stopping a haptic effect, and modifying a haptic effect based on the received signal.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein one of the series of haptic effects is a ramp-up effect.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein one of the series of haptic effects is a braking effect.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following:

retrieving a timeline effect definition that defines a series of haptic effects by defining a magnitude for each haptic effect of the series of haptic effects, and defines a series of respective time slots for the series of haptic effects by defining a duration for each time slot of the series of respective time slots, wherein the timeline effect definition further includes a parameter value that indicates whether to repeat at least a portion of the series of haptic effects; and

communicating the timeline effect definition to a haptic output device, wherein the timeline effect definition causes the haptic output device to output the series of haptic effects during the series of respective time slots defined in the timeline effect definition.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to associate each haptic effect from the series of haptic effects with an event in a musical instrument digital interface (“

MIDI”

) file.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to generate a client interface component configured to receive a signal, wherein the client interface component is configured to control at least one of creating a haptic effect, deleting a haptic effect, starting a haptic effect, stopping a haptic effect, and modifying a haptic effect based on the received signal.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein one of the series of haptic effects is a ramp-up effect, and another one of the series of haptic effects is a brake effect.