Force feedback system including multi-tasking graphical host environment

• US 20090289779A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Braun, Adam C., Beamer, Jonathan L., Chang, Dean C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,020,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and graphical object positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a user device adapted to receive input from a user, the user device configured to provide input information based upon the input received from the user associated with manipulation of a graphical object in a graphical environment;

a processor configured to determine a force effect to be output based on the input information, the user preference information further including information associated with at least one force effect from a plurality of force effects, each force effect from the plurality of force effects being associated with a type of graphical object from the plurality of types of graphical objects;

a means for outputting a signal configured to cause the at least one force effect to be output when a cursor displayed in the graphical user interface interacts with a graphical object having a first type from the at least one type, the graphical object being associated with an application program from a plurality of application programs configured to run simultaneously, each application program from the plurality of application programs being configured to associate a force effect from the plurality of force effects with a graphical object from a plurality of graphical objects associated with that application program, each application program from the plurality of application programs being configured to interact with a background application program, the background application program being configured to associate a force effect from the plurality of force effects with at least one application program from the plurality of application programs.

2. A method for simulating a multi-tasking graphical environment implemented comprising:

creating a context associated with each of a plurality of application programs running in said multi-tasking graphical environment;

receiving an input from a user interface device;

receiving force effect commands from said application programs in response to said input;

sending said force effect commands in said context of an application program to a force feedback device when said application program is active in said multi-tasking environment;

commanding said force feedback interface device to output a force effect in response to said force effect commands; and

storing said force effect commands into said contexts, wherein each of said contexts is associated with at least one of said application programs running on a host computer.

3. A method for generating a force feedback, comprising:

determining a force feedback effect partially based on information associated with at least one type of graphical object from a plurality of types of graphical objects and information associated with a least one force feedback effect from a plurality of force feedback effects, the at least one type of graphical object being associated with a graphical user interface, each force feedback effect from the plurality of force feedback effects being associated with a type of graphical object from the plurality of types of graphic objects;

outputting a signal configured to cause the at least one force feedback effect in response to an interaction between an input from a user interface and a graphical object, the graphical object being associated with an application program from a plurality of application programs configured to run simultaneously, each application program from the plurality of application programs being configured to associate a force feedback effect from the plurality of force feedback effects with a graphical object from a plurality of graphical objects associated with that application program, each application program from the plurality of application programs providing information to a background application program.