Systems and Methods for Enhanced Haptic Effects

• US 20070236449A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Grant, Danny, Lacroix, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,152,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced haptic effects are described. One described method includes receiving an input signal having haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format, decoding the haptic information from the input signal, and determining a parameter associated with an actuator in a haptic device. The method further includes generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the parameter and the haptic information, and generating an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input signal having haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format;

decoding the haptic information from the input signal;

determining a parameter associated with an actuator in a haptic device;

generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the parameter and the haptic information; and

generating an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing a haptic effect based at least in part on the output signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input signal further includes synchronization data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia data comprises at least one of audio data or video data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first format is a multimedia format.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the multimedia format is one of:

a WAV format, a MIDI format, an Ogg format, a DIVX format, a QuickTime format, a MP3 format, a MPEG-2 format, a MPEG-4 format, a M4P format, or an AAC format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the haptic information is embedded in another media stream of the input signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the haptic information of the input signal is stored as an independent media stream in the multimedia data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the haptic information of the input signal is encoded at a predetermined information frequency.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined information frequency is 140 Hz.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein decoding the haptic information comprises using a band pass filter to access the haptic information encoded at a specific frequency.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter associated with the actuator in the haptic device comprises an attainable strength parameter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter associated with the actuator in the haptic device comprises a dynamic response characteristic.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter associated with the actuator in the haptic device comprises a frequency response characteristic.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises the same format as the input signal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator signal portion of the output signal is transmitted directly to the actuator.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator signal portion of the output signal is first mixed into the audio portion of the multimedia data of the output signal and then transmitted to a multi-function transducer.

18. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded processor-executable program code, comprising:

program code for receiving an input signal having a haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format;

program code for decoding the haptic information from the input signal;

program code for determining a parameter associated with an actuator in a haptic device;

program code for generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the parameter and the haptic information;

program code for generating an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 further comprising program code for producing a haptic effect based at least in part on the output signal.

20. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive an input signal having a haptic information and multimedia data, the input signal formatted in a first format;

decode the haptic information;

determine a haptic drive signal comprising the haptic information based at least in part on at least one parameter specific to a haptic device;

generate an actuator signal based at least in part on the parameter and the haptic information; and

generate an output signal comprising the multimedia data and the actuator signal, the output signal formatted in a second format.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising an actuator configured to produce a haptic effect based at least in part on the output signal.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the system further comprises a local memory in communication with the processor.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the local memory is configured to store a parameter specific to a haptic device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the local memory is configured to store a multimedia file.