Controlling power distribution to haptic output devices

• US 10,452,170 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2019
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• 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:
  US16/296,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20190258328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 228 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 for a plurality of haptic output devices, the method comprising:

receiving a haptic drive instruction for the plurality of haptic output devices;

determining an excess projected current and an available current for the plurality of haptic output devices based on one or more operational characteristics of the plurality of haptic output devices;

determining a current reduction value for one or more of the plurality of haptic output devices based on the excess projected current, the available current, and respective priority values for each of the plurality of haptic output devices; and

producing a haptic effect based on the current reduction value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices are 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 plurality of haptic output devices includes a trigger or a rumble output device.

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

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices include a bi-directional haptic output device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operational characteristics include a startup current or a steady state current.

8. 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 plurality of haptic output devices, the instructions comprising;

receiving a haptic drive instruction for the plurality of haptic output devices;

determining an excess projected current and an available current for the plurality of haptic output devices based on one or more operational characteristics of the plurality of haptic output devices;

determining a current reduction value for one or more of the plurality of haptic output devices based on the excess projected current, the available current, and respective priority values for each of the plurality of haptic output devices; and

producing a haptic effect based on the current reduction value.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices are included within a controller or gamepad.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices includes a trigger or a rumble output device.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein a timing of a drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices include a bi-directional haptic output device.

14. The device according to claim 8, wherein the one or more operational characteristics include a startup current or a steady state current.

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

receiving a haptic drive instruction for the plurality of haptic output devices;

determining an excess projected current and an available current for the plurality of haptic output devices based on one or more operational characteristics of the plurality of haptic output devices;

determining a current reduction value for one or more of the plurality of haptic output devices based on the excess projected current, the available current, and respective priority values for each of the plurality of haptic output devices; and

producing a haptic effect based on the current reduction value.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices are included within a controller or gamepad.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices includes a trigger or a rumble output device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein a timing of a drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of haptic output devices include a bi-directional haptic output device.