Generation of Consistent Haptic Effects

• US 20070202841A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Grant, Danny A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0215 for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A system generates a consistent haptic effect in a handset that includes an actuator. The system determines performance data for the actuator, and generates haptic effect controller parameters from the performance data by comparing the performance data with reference performance data derived from a reference actuator. The system then stores the haptic effect controller parameters on the handset.

Claims

1. A method of generating a consistent haptic effect in a second device having a second actuator, said method comprising:

determining second performance data for the second actuator; and

generating haptic effect controller parameters from said second performance data by comparing the second performance data with reference performance data for a reference actuator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the controller parameters on the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining second performance data comprises:

finding the maximum and optimal stop time for different pulse widths for the second actuator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining second performance data comprises:

generating pulses at different frequencies to generate pulse widths;

capturing acceleration profiles for each pulse width;

measuring magnitude and envelope values from the captured acceleration profiles; and

storing the measured data in a first matrix of magnitude vs. frequency and a second matrix of envelope vs. frequency.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating pulses at different frequencies comprises generating unidirectional and bidirectional pulses.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating controller parameters from said performance data comprises:

finding an intersection of the measured data in the first and second matrices with the reference performance data.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein storing the controller parameters on the second device comprises loading a kernel of the second device with the controller parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference performance data comprises magnitude and acceleration data of the reference actuator of a reference device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining second performance data comprises coupling an accelerometer to the second actuator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is a wireless mobile handset.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a reference features matrix based on measurements at a plurality of locations on a reference device that houses the reference actuator;

generating a plurality of second features matrices for each of a plurality of positions of the reference actuator within the second device;

selecting one of the second features matrices that best matches the reference features matrix; and

locating the reference actuator within the second device based on the selected second features matrix.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the haptic effect controller parameters using a mass and perception metrics.

13. An apparatus for generating a consistent haptic effect in a second device having a second actuator, said apparatus comprising:

means for determining second performance data for the second actuator; and

means for generating haptic effect controller parameters from said second performance data by comparing the second performance data with reference performance data for a reference actuator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for storing the controller parameters on the second device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for determining second performance data comprises:

means for finding the maximum and optimal stop time for different pulse widths for the second actuator.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said means for determining second performance data comprises:

means for generating pulses at different frequencies to generate pulse widths;

means for capturing acceleration profiles for each pulse width;

means for measuring magnitude and envelope values from the captured acceleration profiles; and

means for storing the measured data in a first matrix of magnitude vs. frequency and a second matrix of envelope vs. frequency.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for generating controller parameters from said performance data comprises:

means for finding an intersection of the measured data in the first and second matrices with the reference performance data.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for generating a reference features matrix based on measurements at a plurality of locations on a reference device that houses the reference actuator;

means for generating a plurality of second features matrices for each of a plurality of positions of the reference actuator within the second device;

means for selecting one of the second features matrices that best matches the reference features matrix; and

means for locating the reference actuator within the second device based on the selected second features matrix.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for modifying the haptic effect controller parameters using a mass and perception metrics.

20. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to create a consistent haptic effect in a second device having a second actuator by:

determining second performance data for the second actuator; and

generating haptic effect controller parameters from said second performance data by comparing the second performance data with reference performance data for a reference actuator.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, said instructions further causing said processor to:

store the controller parameters on the second device.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein determining second performance data comprises:

finding the maximum and optimal stop time for different pulse widths for the second actuator.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein determining second performance data comprises:

generating pulses at different frequencies to generate pulse widths;

capturing acceleration profiles for each pulse width;

measuring magnitude and envelope values from the captured acceleration profiles; and

storing the measured data in a first matrix of magnitude vs. frequency and a second matrix of envelope vs. frequency.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the generating pulses at different frequencies comprises generating unidirectional and bidirectional pulses.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the generating controller parameters from said performance data comprises:

finding an intersection of the measured data in the first and second matrices with the reference performance data.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 20, said instructions further causing said processor to:

generate a reference features matrix based on measurements at a plurality of locations on a reference device that houses the reference actuator;

generate a plurality of second features matrices for each of a plurality of positions of the reference actuator within the second device;

select one of the second features matrices that best matches the reference features matrix; and

locate the reference actuator within the second device based on the selected second features matrix.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 20, said instructions further causing said processor to:

modify the haptic effect controller parameters using a mass and perception metrics.

28. A system for creating a consistent haptic effect in a second device having a second actuator, said system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

a first interface to the second device; and

a second interface to an accelerometer;

wherein said memory stores instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to;

determine second performance data for the second actuator; and

generate haptic effect controller parameters from said second performance data by comparing the second performance data with reference performance data for a reference actuator.

29. The system of claim 28, said instructions further causing said processor to:

store the controller parameters on the second device.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein determining second performance data comprises:

finding the maximum and optimal stop time for different pulse widths for the second actuator.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein determining second performance data comprises:

generating pulses at different frequencies to generate pulse widths;

capturing acceleration profiles for each pulse width;

measuring magnitude and envelope values from the captured acceleration profiles; and

storing the measured data in a first matrix of magnitude vs. frequency and a second matrix of envelope vs. frequency.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the generating pulses at different frequencies comprises generating unidirectional and bidirectional pulses.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the generating controller parameters from said performance data comprises:

finding an intersection of the measured data in the first and second matrices with the reference performance data.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein said first interface is coupled to said second actuator.

35. The system of claim 28, said instructions further causing said processor to:

generate a reference features matrix based on measurements at a plurality of locations on a reference device that houses the reference actuator;

generate a plurality of second features matrices for each of a plurality of positions of the reference actuator within the second device;

select one of the second features matrices that best matches the reference features matrix; and

locate the reference actuator within the second device based on the selected second features matrix.

36. The system of claim 28, said instructions further causing said processor to:

modify the haptic effect controller parameters using a mass and perception metrics.

37. A method of generating a consistent haptic effect in a second device having a second actuator, said method comprising:

determining second performance data for the second device; and

generating haptic effect controller parameters from said second performance data by comparing the second performance data with reference performance data for a reference device

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

storing the controller parameters on the second device.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the second actuator is not in the same location in the second device as a first actuator in the first device.