Controlling power distribution to haptic output devices

• US 10,268,286 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Venkatesan, Srivatsav, Shah, Kaniyalal, Billington, Douglas George, Rank, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Michaud, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US14/979,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20160179220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• 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 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling power and/or current consumption for multiple haptic output devices are provided. Various features of the haptic output device may be described within a data structure. In response to a haptic instruction, a power budget for the haptic output device may be determined in accordance with its operational characteristics. A drive signal may then be applied to the haptic output device to produce the haptic effect in accordance with the calculated power budget. The calculated power budget may be configured to limit the current or power drawn by the haptic output device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling current consumption of a haptic output device, the method comprising:

receiving a haptic drive instruction for the haptic output device;

determining an excess projected current and an available current for the haptic output device based on a startup current or a steady state current of the haptic output device;

determining a current reduction value for the haptic output device based on the excess projected current and the available current; and

applying a drive signal to the haptic output device to produce a haptic effect, the drive signal based on the current reduction value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is included within a controller or gamepad.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the startup current or the steady state current of the haptic output device is stored in a data structure that further includes priority information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the data structure further includes one of queue information, bidirectional information, or status information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is a trigger or a rumble output device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a timing of the drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is bi-directional.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the available current comprises a limited current that is available to render a plurality of haptic effects.

10. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing a program for execution by the processor, the program including instructions for controlling current consumption of a haptic output device, the instructions comprising;

receiving a haptic drive instruction for the haptic output device;

determining an excess projected current and an available current for the haptic output device based on a startup current or a steady state current of the haptic output device;

determining a current reduction value for the haptic output device based on the excess projected current and the available current; and

applying a drive signal to the haptic output device to produce a haptic effect, the drive signal based on the current reduction value.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the haptic output device is included within a controller or gamepad.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the startup current or the steady state current of the haptic output device is stored in a data structure that further includes priority information.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the data structure further includes one of queue information, bidirectional information, or status information.

15. The device according to claim 10, wherein the haptic output device is a trigger or a rumble output device.

16. The device according to claim 10, wherein a timing of the drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

17. The device according to claim 10, wherein the haptic output device is bi-directional.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program configured to be executed by a processor to control current consumption of a haptic output device, the program comprising instructions for:

receiving a haptic drive instruction for the haptic output device;

calculating an excess projected current for the haptic output device;

determining an available current for the haptic output device based on a startup current or a steady state current of the haptic output device;

calculating a current reduction value based on the available current;

applying a drive signal to the haptic output device to produce a haptic effect, the drive signal based on the current reduction value.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the haptic output device is included within a controller or gamepad.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the startup current or the steady state current of the haptic output device is stored in a data structure that further includes priority information.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the data structure further includes one of queue information, bidirectional information, or status information.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the haptic output device is a trigger or a rumble output device.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein a timing of the drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the haptic output device is bi-directional.