Directional tactile feedback for haptic feedback interface devices
First Claim
1. An interface device providing directional haptic feedback to a user, said interface device in communication with a host computer, the device comprising:
- a housing physically contacted by said user;
at least one sensor for detecting user input from said user; and
at least two actuator assemblies coupled to said housing, each of said actuator assemblies including a moving inertial mass, wherein said actuator assemblies are positioned in said housing to cause directional inertial sensations on said housing, wherein a single control signal is provided to each of said actuator assemblies at different magnitudes to provide said directional inertial sensations felt by said user.
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Abstract
Directional haptic feedback provided in a haptic feedback interface device. An interface device includes at least two actuator assemblies, which each include a moving inertial mass. A single control signal provided to the actuator assemblies at different magnitudes provides directional inertial sensations felt by the user. A greater magnitude waveform can be applied to one actuator to provide a sensation having a direction approximately corresponding to a position of that actuator in the housing. In another embodiment, the actuator assemblies each include a rotary inertial mass and the control signals have different duty cycles to provide directional sensations. For power-consumption efficiency, the control signals can be interlaced or pulsed at a different frequency and duty cycle to reduce average power requirements.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An interface device providing directional haptic feedback to a user, said interface device in communication with a host computer, the device comprising:
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a housing physically contacted by said user;
at least one sensor for detecting user input from said user; and
at least two actuator assemblies coupled to said housing, each of said actuator assemblies including a moving inertial mass, wherein said actuator assemblies are positioned in said housing to cause directional inertial sensations on said housing, wherein a single control signal is provided to each of said actuator assemblies at different magnitudes to provide said directional inertial sensations felt by said user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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15. An interface device providing directional haptic feedback to a user, said interface device providing said haptic feedback in accordance with a display of a computer, the device comprising:
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a housing physically contacted by said user;
at least one sensor for detecting user input from said user; and
at least two actuator assemblies coupled to said housing, each of said actuator assemblies including a rotary inertial mass that is driven uni-directionally, wherein said actuator assemblies are positioned in said housing to cause directional inertial sensations on said housing, wherein a control signal is provided to each of said actuator assemblies at a different duty cycle to provide said directional inertial sensations felt by said user.
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25. A method for providing directional haptic feedback to a user manipulating an interface device, said interface device in communication with a host computer, the method comprising:
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detecting input from said user based on said manipulation of said interface device; and
outputting a directional inertial sensation on a housing of said interface device physically contacted by said user, wherein said directional inertial sensation is caused by at least two actuator assemblies, each of said actuator assemblies moving an inertial mass, wherein said actuator assemblies are positioned in said housing to cause said directional inertial sensations and wherein a single control signal is provided to each of said actuator assemblies at different magnitudes to provide said directional inertial sensations felt by said user.
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33. A method for providing directional haptic feedback to a user manipulating an interface device, said interface device in communication with a host computer, the method comprising:
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detecting input from said user based on said manipulation of said interface device; and
outputting a directional inertial sensation on a housing of said interface device physically contacted by said user, wherein said directional inertial sensation is caused by at least two actuator assemblies, each of said actuator assemblies rotating an inertial mass uni-directionally, wherein said actuator assemblies are positioned in said housing to cause said directional inertial sensation and wherein a control signal is provided to each of said actuator assemblies at a different duty cycle to provide said directional inertial sensation felt by said user. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification