Method and apparatus for streaming force values to a force feedback device

• US 20040113932A1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B., Braun, Adam C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/701
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• 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 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• 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: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A method and apparatus for shaping force signals for a force feedback device. A source wave is provided and is defined by a set of control parameters (including a steady state magnitude, a frequency value and a duration value) and modified by a set of impulse parameters (including an impulse magnitude, and a settle time representing a time required for the impulse magnitude to change to the steady-state magnitude). Optionally, application parameters specifying a direction of force signal and trigger parameters specifying activating buttons can also be provided for the source wave. Using a host processor or a local processor, the force signal is formed from the source wave and the sets of control parameters and impulse parameters, where the force signal includes an impulse signal followed by a continual steady-state signal after an expiration of the settle time. A feel sensation is generated to a user of the force feedback device as physical forces produced by actuators on the force feedback device in response to the force signal. The steady-state magnitude value is lower than a magnitude value of a non-impulse-shaped force signal required to create a corresponding feel sensation having a similar apparent sensation to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a force feedback device to generate a force signal for creating a feel sensation upon a user of said force feedback device, the method comprising:

providing a set of control parameters defining characteristics for said feel sensation, said control parameters including at least one of a steady-state magnitude value, a frequency value, and a duration value, said steady-state magnitude value representing a steady-state magnitude of said feel sensation, said frequency value representing a frequency of said feel sensation, and said duration value representing a duration of said feel sensation; and

providing a set of impulse parameters, including;

an impulse value, said impulse value specifying an impulse force level of said feel sensation applied to said user, said impulse force level being different than said steady-state magnitude; and

a settle time, said settle time representing a time required for a magnitude of said force signal to change from said impulse force level to said steady-state magnitude,

wherein said set of control parameters and said set of impulse parameters are provided to a force feedback device, said force feedback device forming, using a processor, said force signal from said control parameters and said impulse parameters, said force signal being used to cause said feel sensation to be output.