Haptic peripheral having a plurality of deformable membranes and a motor to move radial pins

• US 10,359,853 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Alghooneh, Mansoor, Cruz Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Lacroix, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/824,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20180081445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 3404072
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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: 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: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A haptic peripheral includes a housing with a frame having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart windows, a plurality of deformable membranes positioned within the plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart windows, and a haptic output device disposed within the housing and coupled to the plurality of deformable membranes. The haptic output device includes a motor, a converter, and a plurality of radially-extending pins. Each radially-extending pin has a first end attached to the converter and a second opposing end attached to a deformable membrane. The motor is configured to receive a control signal from a processor and is configured to rotate relative to the housing in response to the control signal. The converter converts rotary motion of the motor to linear motion to move the plurality of radially-extending pins to thereby radially extend the deformable membranes relative to the housing and provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral.

Claims

1. A haptic peripheral comprising:

a housing including a frame having a plurality of spaced apart windows;

a plurality of coverings, each covering positioned within one of the plurality of spaced apart windows of the frame; and

a haptic output device disposed within the housing and coupled to the plurality of coverings, the haptic output device including

a motor configured to receive a control signal from a processor and to provide rotary motion relative to the housing in response to the control signal, and

a converter configured to convert the rotary motion provided by the motor to linear motion to thereby radially extend the plurality of coverings relative to the housing and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral.

2. The haptic peripheral of claim 1, wherein the converter of the haptic output device includes

a cam plate coupled to the motor, the cam plate having a plurality of tracks defined therethrough,

a plurality of rollers, each roller of the plurality of rollers being slidably positioned within one of the plurality of tracks of the cam plate, and

a plurality of radially-extending pins, each radially-extending pin having a first end attached to a respective roller of the plurality of rollers and a second opposing end attached to a respective covering of the plurality of coverings,

wherein the motor is configured to rotate the cam plate relative to the housing in response to the control signal from the processor and rotation of the cam plate moves the plurality of rollers and the plurality of radially-extending pins to radially extend the plurality of coverings relative to the housing.

3. The haptic peripheral of claim 2, wherein the frame of the housing further includes a central disc having a plurality of radially-extending passageways formed therein, and wherein each radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins is slidably positioned within a respective radially-extending passageway of the plurality of radially-extending passageways of the central disc.

4. The haptic peripheral of claim 1, wherein the converter of the haptic output device includes

a ball screw coupled to the motor,

a plurality of radially-extending pins;

and

a plurality of flexures,

wherein each flexure of the plurality of flexures has a first end coupled to the ball screw and a second end fixed to the frame,

wherein each radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins has a first end attached to an intermediate point of a respective flexure of the plurality of flexures and a second opposing end attached to a respective covering of the plurality of coverings, and

wherein the motor is configured to rotate the ball screw relative to the housing in response to the control signal from the processor and rotation of the ball screw bends the plurality of flexures such that intermediate points of the plurality of flexures and the radially-extending pins attached respectively thereto extend radially outward to radially extend the plurality of coverings relative to the housing.

5. The haptic peripheral of claim 1, wherein the converter of the haptic output device includes

a ball screw coupled to the motor,

a plurality of radially-extending pins;

and

a plurality of flexures,

wherein each flexure of the plurality of flexures has a first end coupled to the ball screw and a hinge configured to radially extend when the ball screw is rotated,

wherein each radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins has a first end attached to a hinge of a respective flexure of the plurality of flexures, to radially extend therewith when the ball screw is rotated, and a second opposing end attached to a respective covering of the plurality of coverings, and

wherein the motor is configured to rotate the ball screw relative to the housing in response to the control signal from the processor and rotation of the ball screw radially extends the hinges of the plurality of flexures, with the plurality of radially-extending pins attached thereto, to radially extend the plurality of coverings relative to the housing.

6. The haptic peripheral of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coverings include at least six coverings.

7. The haptic peripheral of claim 1, wherein each covering of the plurality of coverings is configured to contact a user and is formed from a polymer material.

8. The haptic peripheral of claim 1, wherein the haptic peripheral is configured as a tablet computer controller including a docking portion configured to receive a tablet computer, and wherein the frame of the housing is configured to serve as a handle of the tablet computer controller.

9. A haptic peripheral comprising:

a housing including a frame having a plurality of spaced apart windows;

a plurality of coverings, each covering positioned within one of the plurality of spaced apart windows of the frame; and

a haptic output device disposed within the housing and coupled to the plurality of coverings, the haptic output device including

a motor configured to receive a control signal from a processor and to provide rotary motion relative to the housing in response to the control signal, and

a converter configured to convert the rotary motion of the motor to linear motion to selectively radially extend one or more coverings of the plurality of coverings relative to the housing and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral.

10. The haptic peripheral of claim 9, wherein the converter includes

a cam plate coupled to the motor, and

a plurality of radially-extending pins, each radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins having a first end configured for selective engagement to the cam plate and a second end attached to a respective covering of the plurality of coverings,

wherein the motor is configured to rotate the cam plate relative to the housing in response to the control signal from the processor and rotation of the cam plate causes selectively engaged one or more first ends of the radially-extending pins to radially extend one or more respective coverings of the plurality of coverings relative to the housing.

11. The haptic peripheral of claim 10, wherein the converter further includes a plurality of relays, each relay configured to perform the selective engagement to the cam plate of a first end of a respective radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins.

12. The haptic peripheral of claim 9, wherein the frame includes a first annular base, a second opposing annular base, and a plurality of slats longitudinally extending between the first and second annular bases.

13. The haptic peripheral of claim 10, wherein the frame of the housing further includes a central disc having a plurality of radially-extending passageways formed therein, and wherein each radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins is slidably positioned within a respective passageway of the plurality of radially-extending passageways of the central disc.

14. The haptic peripheral of claim 9, wherein the plurality of coverings include at least six coverings.

15. The haptic peripheral of claim 9, wherein the haptic peripheral is configured as a tablet computer controller including a docking portion configured to receive a tablet computer, and wherein the frame of the housing is configured to serve as a handle of the tablet computer controller.

16. A gaming system comprising:

a host computer;

a processor; and

a haptic peripheral including

a housing including a frame having a plurality of spaced apart windows,

a plurality of coverings, each covering positioned within one of the plurality of spaced apart windows of the frame, and

a haptic output device disposed within the housing and coupled to the plurality of coverings, the haptic output device including

a motor configured to receive a control signal from a processor and to provide rotary motion relative to the housing in response to the control signal, and

a converter configured to convert the rotary motion of the motor to linear motion to selectively radially extend one or more coverings of the plurality of coverings relative to the housing and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the processor is located within the housing of the haptic peripheral.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the processor is disposed in the host computer.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the converter includes

a cam plate coupled to the motor and

a plurality of radially-extending pins, each radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins having a first end configured for selective engagement to the cam plate and a second end attached to a respective covering of the plurality of coverings,

wherein the motor is configured to rotate the cam plate relative to the housing in response to the control signal from the processor and rotation of the cam plate causes selectively engaged one or more first ends of the radially-extending pins to radially extend one or more respective coverings relative to the housing.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the converter further includes a plurality of relays, each relay configured to perform the selective engagement to the cam plate of a first end of a respective radially-extending pin of the plurality of radially-extending pins.