Usable hidden controls with haptic feedback

• US 10,359,857 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2013
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Levesque, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Nguyen H
• Application Number:
  US13/945,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0019 the keyless data carrier having only one limited data transmission rangs
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0096 Electronic keys comprising a non-biometric sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system configured to activate a hidden control includes a sensor configured to sense an input by a user. The input includes a gesture. The system includes a haptic output device configured to output a haptic feedback as the input is being sensed, and a processor configured to determine if the sensed input corresponds to a predetermined gesture associated with activation of a control, and if the sensed input corresponds to the predetermined gesture to activate the control.

Claims

1. A system configured to determine if a user has permission to activate a hidden control, the system comprising:

a user identification device configured to determine an identity of the user to generate an identified user;

a hidden control, at least a portion of the hidden control being a physical mechanism, the hidden control configured to be at least substantially invisible to a human eye, the hidden control being a lock, and activation of the hidden control including unlocking the lock;

a touch sensor configured to sense a touch input applied to a touch surface by the user, the touch surface being located proximal to a location of the hidden control, and the touch input including a gesture;

a haptic output device configured to generate

a first haptic effect to identify a location of the hidden control for the identified user if the identified user is permitted to activate the hidden control, and

a second haptic effect to confirm that the touch input corresponds to a predetermined gesture; and

a processor configured to

determine if the identified user is permitted to activate the hidden control, and initiate actuation of the haptic output device to generate the first haptic effect upon determining that the identified user is permitted to activate the hidden control, and

determine if the touch input corresponds to the predetermined gesture, and initiate actuation of the haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect upon determining that the touch input corresponds to the predetermined gesture.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises an actuator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises a non-mechanical or non-vibratory device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device is configured to generate electrostatic friction or ultrasonic surface friction.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein the processor is further configured to activate the hidden control if the touch input corresponds to the predetermined gesture.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification device is configured to sense a radio frequency identification tag.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user identification device comprises a biometric sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second haptic effects comprise electrostatic friction or ultrasonic surface friction.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first haptic effect is not generated so that the location of the hidden control remains undetectable if the identified user is not permitted to activate the hidden control.

10. A method for determining if a user has permission to active a hidden control, the method comprising:

determining an identity of the user to generate an identified user;

determining if the identified user is permitted to activate the hidden control;

generating a first haptic effect to identify a location of the hidden control for the identified user if the identified user is permitted to activate the hidden control;

sensing, by a touch sensor, a gesture applied to a touch surface by the user,

the touch surface being located proximal to the hidden control,

the touch sensor and the hidden control being substantially invisible to a human eye, and

at least a portion of the hidden control being a physical mechanism;

determining if the gesture corresponds to a predetermined gesture, the predetermined gesture being associated with activation of the hidden control; and

generating a second haptic effect to confirm that the gesture corresponds to the predetermined gesture,

the hidden control being a lock where the activation of the hidden control includes unlocking the lock.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second haptic effects are generated with a haptic output device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second haptic effects comprise a vibration.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second haptic effects comprise electrostatic friction or ultrasonic surface friction.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising

activating the hidden control if the gesture corresponds to the predetermined gesture.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the identity of the user is determined by detecting a radio frequency identification tag within a vicinity of the hidden control.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the identity of the user is determined with a biometric sensor.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first haptic effect is not generated so that the location of the hidden control remains undetectable if the identified user is not permitted to activate the hidden control.