Haptic profiling system and method

• US 20050184696A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Grant, Danny, Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Gregorio, Pedro, Ramstein, Christophe, Anastas, George V., Levin, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,982,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/567
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

An apparatus includes a characterization module configured to receive data associated with operational characteristics of a mechanical device, the operational characteristics being associated with a perceptual experience of the mechanical device. A conversion module is coupled to the characterization module. The conversion module is configured to automatically produce, substantially without user intervention, a parametric data set associated with the mechanical device based on the data. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving data associated with operational characteristics of a mechanical device. The operational characteristics are associated with a perceptual experience of the mechanical device. A parametric data set associated with the mechanical device is produced automatically, without user intervention. The parametric data set is associated with the mechanical device based on the data.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a characterization module configured to receive data associated with a plurality of operational characteristics of a mechanical device, the plurality of operational characteristics being associated with a perceptual experience of the mechanical device; and

a conversion module coupled to the characterization module, the conversion module configured to automatically produce, substantially without user intervention, a parametric data set associated with the mechanical device based on the data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device is at least one of analog data and digital data; and

the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device is digital data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller in communication with the conversion module, the controller configured to send a signal to a haptic device based on the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device, the signal operative to output a haptic effect from the haptic device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a design module in communication with the conversion module, the design module configured to modify the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device to produce a modified parametric data set; and

a controller in communication with the conversion module and the design module, the controller configured to send a signal based on the modified parametric data set, the signal being configured to cause a haptic device to output a haptic effect.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a design module in communication with the conversion module, the design module configured to modify the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device to produce modified parametric data set; and

a controller in communication with the conversion module and the design module, the controller configured to send a signal based on the modified parametric data set, the signal being operative to cause a haptic device to output a haptic effect,

the design module configured to compare the haptic effect to the operational characteristics of the mechanical device to produce a comparison signal,

the design module configured to modify the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device at least partially based on the comparison signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory component in communication with the conversion module, the memory component configured to store the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device in a library having a plurality of parametric data sets, each parametric data set from the plurality of parametric data sets being uniquely associated with a mechanical device from a plurality of mechanical devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data includes force profile data associated with operational characteristics of the mechanical device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data includes audio data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device, the audio data being indicative of audio quality, the apparatus further comprising:

a controller in communication with the conversion module and the design module, the controller configured to send a signal based on the modified parametric data, the signal configured to cause a haptic device to output a haptic effect and an audio effect.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving data associated with a plurality of operational characteristics of a mechanical device, the plurality of operational characteristics being associated with a perceptual experience of the mechanical device; and

producing automatically, without user intervention, a parametric data set associated with the mechanical device based on the data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device is at least one of analog data and digital data; and

the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device is digital data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending a signal to a haptic device, the signal being based on the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device, the signal being operative to cause the haptic device to output a haptic effect; and

comparing the haptic effect to the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

modifying the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device to produce modified parametric data set; and

sending a signal based on the modified parametric data set, the signal being operative to cause the haptic device to output a haptic effect.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending a signal to a haptic device, the signal being based on the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device, the signal being operative to cause the haptic device to output a haptic effect;

comparing the haptic effect to the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device;

modifying the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device based on the comparing; and

repeating the sending, the comparing and the modifying until a difference between the haptic effect and the operational characteristics of the mechanical device is within a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device in a library having a plurality of parametric data sets, each parametric data set from the plurality of parametric data sets being uniquely associated with a mechanical device from a plurality of mechanical devices.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the data includes force profile data associated with operational characteristics of the mechanical device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the data includes audio data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a design module configured to produce a user interface associated with a library having a plurality of predefined parametric data sets, each parametric data set from the plurality of predefined parametric data sets being uniquely associated with a haptic output from a plurality of haptic outputs,

the design module configured to send a signal based on at least one user command indicative of at least one parametric data set from the plurality of predefined parametric data sets, the signal operative to cause a haptic device to output a haptic output associated with a plurality of operational characteristics associated with a perceptual experience of a mechanical device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the plurality of operational characteristics associated with the mechanical device is based on a measurement of the mechanical device, and

the haptic output is operative to substantially simulate the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the characterization module includes a sensor in communication with the conversion module, the sensor being configured to send a measurement signal associated with a plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device,

the conversion module being configured to produce the parametric data set associated with the mechanical device based on the measurement signal, the parametric data set including at least two of a detent, a peak force, a dead band parameter, a friction parameter, a symmetry parameter, a click location, a velocity dependence, and an audio parameter.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a controller in communication with the design module,

the characterization module including a sensor in communication with the conversion module, the sensor being configured to send a measurement signal based on the haptic output by the haptic device,

the conversion module configured to modify the at least one parametric data set associated with the at least one user command to produce a modified parametric data set based on the measurement signal,

the controller configured to send a signal based on the modified parametric data set and operative to cause the haptic device to output a haptic effect associated with the modified parametric data set.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a characterization module configured to receive data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device; and

a conversion module in communication with the characterization module and the design module, the conversion module configured to automatically produce, without user intervention, the at least one parametric data set based on the data.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a characterization module configured to receive data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device; and

a conversion module in communication with the characterization module and the design module, the conversion module configured to automatically produce, without user intervention, the at least one parametric data set based on the data,

the data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device being at least one of analog data and digital data; and

the at least one parametric data set associated with the mechanical device being digital data.

23. A method, comprising:

producing a user interface associated with a library having a plurality of predefined parametric data sets, each parametric data set from the plurality of predefined parametric data sets being uniquely associated with a haptic output from a plurality of haptic outputs;

receiving a user command associated with the user interface; and

sending a test based on the user command and operative to cause a haptic device to output a haptic output associated with a plurality of operational characteristics associated with a perceptual experience of a mechanical device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the plurality of operational characteristics associated with the mechanical device is based on a measurement of the mechanical device, and

the haptic output is operative to substantially simulate the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving a measurement signal associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device; and

producing data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device based on the measurement signal, the plurality of operational characteristics including at least two of a detent, a peak force, a dead band parameter, a friction parameter, a symmetry parameter, a click location, a velocity dependence, and an audio parameter.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving a measurement signal based on the haptic output by the haptic device;

modifying the at least one parametric data set associated with the at least one user command to produce a modified parametric data set based on the measurement signal; and

sending a signal based on the modified parametric data set and being operative to cause the haptic device to output a haptic effect associated with the modified parametric data set.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device; and

automatically producing, without user intervention, the at least one parametric data set based on the data.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device; and

automatically producing, without user intervention, the at least one parametric data set based on the data,

the data associated with the plurality of operational characteristics of the mechanical device being at least one of analog data and digital data; and

the at least one parametric data set associated with the mechanical device being digital data.