Haptic feedback devices and methods for simulating an orifice

• US 20040095310A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cohen, Robert, Gregorio, Pedro, Bailey, David, Olien, Neil, Cunningham, Rich
• Granted Patent: US 6,965,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an input device and an actuator. The input device has an interface portion. The interface portion defines a selectively adjustable orifice having a range of sizes. The interface portion defines a plane and a longitudinal axis. An actuator is coupled to the interface portion of the input device. The actuator is configured to apply a haptic feedback force inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis within the plane to at least three locations of the interface portion when a change in a size of an object disposed within the interface portion is sufficient to adjust the size of the orifice.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an input device having an interface portion, the interface portion defining a selectively adjustable orifice having a range of sizes, the interface portion defining a plane and a longitudinal axis; and

an actuator coupled to the interface portion of the input device, the actuator configured to apply a haptic feedback force inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis within the plane to at least three locations of the interface portion when a change in a size of an object disposed within the interface portion is sufficient to adjust the size of the orifice.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the interface portion of the input device is configured to accept into the orifice of the interface portion the object having a first portion with its own longitudinal axis and a second portion with its own longitudinal axis different from the longitudinal axis of the first portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the interface portion of the input device is configured to have a first size from the range of sizes when the first portion of the object is disposed within the orifice of the interface portion of the input device; and

the interface portion of the input device is configured to have a second size from the range of sizes when the second portion of the object is disposed within the orifice of the interface portion of the input device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the input device has a plurality of members each having a first end and a second end, the first end of each member from the plurality of members being pivotable, the second end of each member from the plurality of members collectively defining the interface portion of the input device, the plurality of members including a first member; and

the actuator is coupled to the first member and configured to apply the haptic force via the second end of the first member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the input device has a first member, a second member and a third member, each of which is uniquely associated with a location from the at least three locations of the interface portion of the input device; and

the actuator is configured to apply the haptic force via the first member, the second member and the third member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user device has a first member, a second member and a third member each of which is uniquely associated with a location from the at least three locations of the interface portion of the input device,

the first member, the second member and the third member each is interlocking and nested with the remaining members.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user device has a helical spring defining a torus having an opening, the opening of the torus corresponding to the interface portion of the user device; and

the actuator including a member disposed around the opening of the torus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the actuator is configured to receive a control signal, the actuator configured to apply the haptic feedback force based on the control signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor coupled to the actuator, the processor is configured to send a control signal to the actuator,

the actuator configured to apply the haptic feedback force based on the control signal.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

an input device having a reconfigurable interface portion defining an orifice having a range of sizes; and

an actuator coupled to the interface portion of the input device, the actuator configured to apply a haptic feedback force in a substantially radial direction to the interface portion of the input device in response to an object having at least two portions with different cross-sections being inserted into the interface portion of the input device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the input device defines a plane; and

the actuator is configured to apply the haptic feedback force to at least three locations of the interface portion of the input device, the at least three locations of the interface portion of the input device being disposed within the plane defined by the interface portion of the input device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the interface portion of the input device is configured to accept, into the orifice of the interface portion, the object having a first portion its own longitudinal axis and a second portion with its own longitudinal axis different from the longitudinal axis of the first portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the input device has a plurality of members each having a first end and a second end, the first end of each member from the plurality of members being pivotable, the second end of each member from the plurality of members collectively defining the interface portion of the input device, the plurality of members including a first member; and

the actuator is coupled to the first member and configured to apply the haptic feedback force via the second end of the first member.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the input device has a first member, a second member and a third member, each of which is uniquely associated with a location from the at least three locations of the interface portion of the input device; and

the actuator is configured to apply the haptic feedback force via the first member, the second member and the third member.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the input device has a first member, a second member and a third member, each of which is uniquely associated with a location from the at least three locations of the interface portion of the input device,

the first member, the second member and the third member each is interlocking and nested with the remaining members.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the input device has a helical spring defining a torus having an opening, the opening of the torus corresponding to the interface portion of the input device; and

the actuator including a member disposed around the opening of the torus.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the actuator is configured to receive a control signal, the actuator is configured to apply the haptic feedback force based on the control signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a processor coupled to the actuator, the processor being configured to send a control signal to the actuator,

the actuator being configured to apply the haptic feedback force based on the control signal.

19. A method for simulating an interface portion defining an orifice, comprising:

receiving, at the interface portion, a force having a first component parallel to an axis and a second component perpendicular to the axis, the second component of the received force having a first direction, the orifice defining a plane, the axis being substantially perpendicular to the orifice plane; and

applying, to the interface portion, a force having a component perpendicular to the axis in a second direction, substantially opposite from the first direction, in response to the received force.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the received force is based on an object being disposed within the orifice of the interface portion, the object having a range of sizes corresponding to a range of longitudinal positions of the object disposed within the orifice of the interface portion; and

the component of the applied force is a constant value independent of the longitudinal position of the object within the orifice of the interface portion.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the received force is based on an object being disposed within the orifice of the interface portion, the object having a range of sizes corresponding to a range of longitudinal positions of the object disposed within the orifice of the interface portion; and

the component of the applied force is a first value in response to an increasing size of the object disposed within the orifice of the interface portion, the component of the applied force is a second value in response to a decreasing size of the object disposed within the orifice of the interface portion, the first value being different from the second value.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the received force is based on an object being disposed within the orifice of the interface portion, the object having a range of sizes corresponding to a range of longitudinal positions of the object disposed within the orifice of the interface portion; and

the component of the applied force has a range of values based on the size of the orifice of the interface portion.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the received force is based on an object being disposed within the orifice of the interface portion, the object having a range of sizes corresponding to a range of longitudinal positions of the object disposed within the orifice of the interface portion; and

the component of the applied force has a range of values based on at least one of a simulated patient age, a simulated patient cervix condition and a simulated patient prior number of births.