Systems and methods for haptically-enhanced smart home architectures

• US 10,452,145 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Venkatesan, Srivatsav, Franz, Graciela D., Shah, Kaniyalal
• Primary Examiner(s): Castiaux, Brent D
• Application Number:
  US15/350,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/00 Knobs or handles for wings; Knobs, handles, or press buttons for locks or latches on wings E05B5/00, E05B7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/003 Handles pivoted about an axis perpendicular to the wing E05B3/00, E05B5/00, E05B13/106 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/007 Indication by a tactile impulse to the user, e.g. vibration of a lock-, handle- or key-part
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for haptically-enhanced smart home architectures. For example, one disclosed method includes determining a building component condition of a building component; determining an interaction with a control device in the building, the control device associated with the component of the building and comprising a haptic output device; determining a haptic effect based on the building component condition; and transmitting a signal to the haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to output the haptic effect.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a sensed condition of a building system component of a building from a sensor corresponding to the building system component, the building system component activatable by a user;

receiving an indication of an interaction with a control device of the building from the control device, the control device associated with the building system component and comprising a haptic output device;

in response to receiving the indication of the interaction with the control device of the building;

determining a haptic effect based on the sensed condition and the control device; and

transmitting a signal to the control device to cause the haptic output device to output the haptic effect.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to change a state of the building system component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sensed condition comprises an activation state of the building system component; and

determining the haptic effect is based on an incompatibility of a building state with the activation state of the building system component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a light switch, a door knob, a door handle, an alarm system control panel, or an HVAC control panel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect comprises a kinesthetic haptic effect.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction comprises a manipulation of an input device of the control device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the haptic effect is further based on a type of the input device.

8. A system comprising:

a sensor corresponding to a building system component of a building, the building system component activatable by a user;

a control device associated with the building system component and comprising a haptic output device;

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the sensor, and the control device, the processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to;

receive a sensed condition from the sensor;

receive an indication of an interaction with the control device from the control device;

in response to receipt of the indication of the interaction with the control device of the building;

determine a haptic effect based on the sensed condition and the control device; and

transmit a signal to the control device to cause the haptic output device to output the haptic effect.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control device is configured to change a state of the building system component.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensed condition comprises an activation state of the building system component;

and

wherein the processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to determine the haptic effect based on an incompatibility of a state of the building with the activation state of the building system component.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the control device comprises a light switch, a door knob, a door handle, an alarm system control panel, or an HVAC control panel.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the haptic effect comprises a kinesthetic haptic effect.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the interaction comprises a manipulation of an input device of the control device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to determine the haptic effect further based on a type of the input device.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable program code configured to cause a processor to:

receive a sensed condition of a building system component of a building from a sensor corresponding to the building system component;

receive an indication of an interaction with a control device of the building from the control device, the control device associated with the building system component and comprising a haptic output device;

in response to receipt of the indication of the interaction with the control device of the building;

determine a haptic effect based on the sensed condition and the control device; and

transmit a signal to the control device to cause the haptic output device to output the haptic effect.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the control device is configured to change a state of the building system component.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sensed condition comprises an activation state of the building system component;

and

wherein the processor-executable program code is further configured to cause the processor to determine the haptic effect based on an incompatibility of a state of the building with the activation state of the building system component.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the haptic effect comprises a kinesthetic haptic effect.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the interaction comprises a manipulation of an input device of the control device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the processor-executable program code is further configured to cause the processor to determine the haptic effect further based on a type of the input device.