Vibrotactile Haptic Feedback Devices

• US 20090295552A1
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Kenneth M., Schena, Bruce M., Moore, David F., Shahoian, Erik J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

Vibrotactile haptic feedback devices are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, a device includes: a mass, an actuator configured to vibrate the mass, and a coupling disposed between the actuator and the mass or between the mass and a housing, the coupling having a first configuration with a compliance and a second configuration with a compliance, the compliance of the coupling in the first configuration being different from the compliance of the coupling in the second configuration, the actuator being configured to output haptic feedback associated with the first configuration of the coupling and haptic feedback associated with the second configuration of the coupling, the haptic feedback associated with the first configuration of the coupling being different from the haptic feedback associated with the second configuration of the coupling.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a mass;

an actuator configured to vibrate the mass; and

a coupling disposed between the actuator and the mass or between the mass and a housing, the coupling having a first configuration with a compliance and a second configuration with a compliance, the compliance of the coupling in the first configuration being different from the compliance of the coupling in the second configuration, the actuator being configured to output haptic feedback associated with the first configuration of the coupling and haptic feedback associated with the second configuration of the coupling, the haptic feedback associated with the first configuration of the coupling being different from the haptic feedback associated with the second configuration of the coupling.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling includes a magnetic spring disposed between the actuator and the mass.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pivotable member coupled to the mass, the pivotable member including at least one magnet that is configured to be moved by a magnetic field of the actuator.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling is a flexure disposed between the mass and the housing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is mechanically grounded to the housing and is configured to move the mass, the mass including a magnet.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a first mechanically grounded actuator and a second mechanically grounded actuator, the second actuator configured to provide a magnetic force on the mass to provide a variable tension in the coupling.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling includes a flexible member coupled to the mass and the housing, the actuator being configured to move the mass via a magnetic field.

8. The device of claim 1, the actuator being a first actuator, the device further comprising a second actuator, the coupling being a tapered member having a centerline axis, the tapered member being coupled to the second actuator, the second actuator being coupled to the housing, the second actuator being configured to rotate the tapered member about its centerline axis to switch between its first configuration and its second configuration.

9. The device of claim 1, the coupling being a flexible member, wherein a compliance of the flexible member is configured to be varied by moving at least two grounded pincher rollers, the pincher rollers having a first position and a second position along a length of the flexible member, the first configuration of the flexible member being associated with the first position of the at least two grounded pincher rollers, the second configuration of the flexible member being associated with the second position of the at least two grounded pincher rollers.

10. The device of claim 9, the actuator being a first actuator, further comprising a second actuator, the second actuator being configured to move the at least two grounded pincher rollers.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a gamepad controller, the gamepad controller being configured to receive a signal from a host computer, the haptic feedback being output based on the signal, the signal being based on events occurring within a graphical environment implemented and displayed by the host computer.