HAPTIC EFFECT CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100039244A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Tschirhart, Michael Dean
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/384.700
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal

Abstract

A haptic effect control system includes: a user interface adapted to receive a user-provided input and transmit a control signal representing the user-provided input; a controller in communication with the user interface and adapted to receive the control signal, analyze the control signal, and generate and transmit a first haptic-audio signal in response to the analysis of the control signal, wherein the first haptic-audio signal represents a first audio output for creating a desired sound pressure deviation from the ambient pressure of the user'"'"'s environment; and an audio system including a device capable of producing the first audio output having a desired sound pressure level, wherein the audio system is adapted to receive the first haptic-audio signal and transmit the first audio output in response to the first haptic-audio signal.

Claims

1. A haptic effect control system comprising:

a user interface adapted to receive a user-provided input and transmit a control signal representing the user-provided input;

a controller in communication with the user interface and adapted to receive the control signal, analyze the control signal, and generate and transmit a first haptic-audio signal in response to the analysis of the control signal, wherein the first haptic-audio signal represents a first audio output for creating a desired sound pressure deviation from an ambient pressure of an environment of the user; and

an audio system including a device capable of producing the first audio output having a desired sound pressure level, wherein the audio system is adapted to receive the first haptic-audio signal and transmit the first audio output in response to the first haptic-audio signal.

2. The haptic effect control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is a component of an integrated control panel for a vehicle.

3. The haptic effect control system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is one of a touch sensitive screen, a solid-state button, and a solid-state switch.

4. The haptic effect control system according to claim 1, wherein the audio system includes a speaker capable of producing at least the first audio output having a desired sound pressure level.

5. The haptic effect control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a processor adapted to analyze the control signal.

6. The haptic effect control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a storage system for storing data and information.

7. The haptic effect control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a programmable component adapted to provide user-controlled management of the haptic effect control system.

8. The haptic effect control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to generate and transmit a second haptic-audio signal representing a second audio output in the form of an audible signal and the audio system is adapted to receive the second haptic-audio signal and transmit the second audio output in response to the second haptic-audio signal.

9. A haptic effect control system comprising:

a user interface adapted to receive a user-provided input and transmit a control signal representing the user-provided input;

a controller adapted to receive the control signal, analyze the control signal, and generate and transmit a first haptic-audio signal in response to the analysis of the control signal, wherein the first haptic-audio signal represents a first audio output having a desired frequency for creating a sound pressure deviation from an ambient pressure of an environment of the user;

an audio system including a device capable of producing the first audio output having a desired frequency and sound pressure level, wherein the audio system is adapted to receive the first haptic-audio signal and transmit the first audio output in response to the first haptic-audio signal; and

a programmable component adapted to provide user-controlled management of at least one of the controller and the audio system.

10. The haptic effect control system according to claim 9, wherein the user interface is a component of an integrated control panel for a vehicle.

11. The haptic effect control system according to claim 9, wherein the user interface is one of a touch sensitive screen, a solid-state button, and a solid-state switch.

12. The haptic effect control system according to claim 9, wherein the audio system includes a speaker capable of producing the first audio output having a desired sound pressure level.

13. The haptic effect control system according to claim 9, wherein the controller includes a processor adapted to analyze the control signal.

14. The haptic effect control system according to claim 9, wherein the controller includes a storage system for storing data and information.

15. The haptic effect control system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to generate and transmit a second haptic-audio signal representing a second audio output in the form of an audible signal and the audio system is adapted to receive the second haptic-audio signal and transmit the second audio output in response to the second haptic-audio signal.

16. A method for providing a haptic sensation feedback to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a user-provided input;

generating a control signal, wherein the control signal represents the user-provided input;

analyzing the control signal; and

generating a first audio output in response to the analysis of the control signal, wherein the first audio output creates a desired sound pressure deviation from an ambient pressure of an environment of the user, thereby providing a perceived haptic sensation in the user.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of receiving a user-provided input is performed by a user interface integrated with a vehicle control panel.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of analyzing the control signal is performed by a controller adapted to receive the control signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the controller includes a programmable component adapted to provide user-controlled management of at least one of the analysis of the control signal and the generation of the first audio output.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of generating a second audio output in response to the analysis of the control signal, wherein the second audio output is an audible sound within a normal human range of hearing.