Low-Cost Haptic Mouse Implementations

• US 20080316171A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B., Shahoian, Erik J.
• Application Number:
  US12/200,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

Low-cost haptic interface device implementations for interfacing a user with a host computer. A haptic feedback device, such as a mouse or other device, includes a housing physically contacted by a user, and an actuator for providing motion that causes haptic sensations on the device housing and/or on a movable portion of the housing. The device may include a sensor for detecting x-y planar motion of the housing. Embodiments include actuators with eccentric rotating masses, buttons having motion influenced by various actuator forces, and housing portions moved by actuators to generate haptic sensations to a user contacting the driven surfaces.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a housing

an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator having a mass configured to rotate about a shaft when activated;

a stop member coupled to the housing, the stop member being positioned at least partially in a path of rotation of the mass, the stop member configured to produce a tactile sensation when the mass comes in contact with the stop.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to output a sensor signal associated with a movement of the housing in one or more degrees of freedom with respect to ground.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a base portion and a moveable portion, wherein the moveable portion is moveable with respect to the base.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the mass is rotated against the stop member coupled to the moveable portion to impart the tactile sensation to the moveable portion.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the moveable portion is at least part of a button, the moveable portion configured to close a switch and output a button signal when actuated.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the stop member further comprises a first stop member and a second stop member, the first stop member coupled to the housing at a first position in the path of rotation, the second stop member coupled to the housing at a second position in the path of rotation, the first stop member and the second stop member configured to define a range of rotation of the mass along the path.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to be controlled harmonically with a drive signal input, the actuator configured to rotate the eccentric mass in two directions and produce the tactile sensation in response to the drive signal.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the eccentric mass is rotated harmonically away from the stop member to output the tactile sensation.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the tactile sensation is a vibration based on periodic interaction of the mass against the stop member.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a video game controller.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to output a sensor signal associated with a movement of the housing in one or more degrees of freedom with respect to ground.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a base portion and a moveable portion, wherein the moveable portion is moveable with respect to the base.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the mass is rotated against the stop member coupled to the moveable portion to impart the tactile sensation to the moveable portion.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the moveable portion is at least part of a button, the moveable portion configured to close a switch and output a button signal when actuated.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to be controlled harmonically with a drive signal input, the actuator configured to rotate the eccentric mass in two directions and produce the tactile sensation in response to the drive signal.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the tactile sensation is a vibration based on periodic interaction of the mass against the stop member.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a video game controller.

11. A device, comprising:

a housing

an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator having a mass configured to rotate about a shaft in two directions when activated;

a first stop member coupled to the housing, the first stop member positioned at a first position in a path of rotation of the mass,

a second stop member coupled to the housing, the second stop member positioned at a second position in the path of rotation of the mass, wherein the actuator outputs a tactile sensation upon the mass coming into contact with the first and second stop members.

19. A method of outputting a tactile sensation in an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving an activating signal to activate an actuator positioned within a housing of the electronic device;

rotating a mass of the actuator about a shaft in a first direction;

producing a tactile sensation upon the mass coming into contact with a stop member, wherein the stop member is coupled to the housing and positioned in a path of movement of the mass.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the stop member further comprises a first stop member and a second stop member, the first stop member coupled to the housing at a first position in the path of rotation, the second stop member coupled to the housing at a second position in the path of rotation, the first stop member and the second stop member configured to define a range of rotation of the mass along the path.