Method and Apparatus for Generating Mood-Based Haptic Feedback

• US 20100123588A1
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz Hernandez, Juan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A method and apparatus of generating mood-based haptic feedback are disclosed. A haptic system includes a sensing device, a digital processing unit, and a haptic generator. The sensing device, in one embodiment, is configured to detect user'"'"'s modalities in accordance with mood information collected by one or more sensors and capable of issuing a sensing signal in response to the user'"'"'s modalities. The digital processing unit is capable of identifying a user'"'"'s condition in accordance with the sensing signal and providing a haptic signal in response to the user'"'"'s condition. The user'"'"'s condition, in one aspect, indicates user'"'"'s mood and/or user'"'"'s psychological conditions. The haptic generator generates haptic feedback in accordance with the haptic signal.

Claims

1. A haptic system, comprising:

a sensing device configured to detect user'"'"'s mood states in accordance with detected mood information collected by one or more sensors and capable of issuing a sensing signal in response to the user'"'"'s mood states;

a processing unit coupled to the sensing device and configured to identifying a user'"'"'s condition in accordance with the sensing signal, wherein the digital processing unit provides a haptic signal in response to the user'"'"'s condition; and

a haptic generator coupled to the digital processing unit and capable of generating haptic feedback in accordance with the haptic signal.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an active device logically coupled to the digital processing unit and capable of generating haptic feedback based on the user'"'"'s mood.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the active device employs a wireless communications network to communicate with the digital processing unit.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the active device is a gaming device capable of adjusting game events in accordance with the user'"'"'s condition.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the active device is an alert device capable of issuing an alert in connection with the user'"'"'s condition.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a sensing device configured to detect user'"'"'s mood states is capable of detecting one of facial expressions, voices, temperatures, level of humidity, and electrical pulses.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a sensing device configured to detect user'"'"'s mood states is further capable of detecting ambient conditions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a digital processing unit coupled to the sensing device and configured to identifying a user'"'"'s condition is capable of determining user'"'"'s mood in accordance with the sensing signals.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a haptic generator coupled to the digital processing unit is coupled to the digital processing unit via a wireless communications network.

10. A method for generating haptic cues, comprising:

sensing a first event associated with a user;

generating a sensing signal in response to the first event;

receiving the sensing signal via a network and determining one of user'"'"'s conditions in response to the sensing signal;

generating a haptic signal in accordance with the user'"'"'s condition and forwarding the haptic signal to a haptic generator; and

generating a haptic feedback in response to the haptic signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting levels of difficulties of a game in accordance with the user'"'"'s condition.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing an alert indicating the user'"'"'s condition.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising sensing a second event associated with ambient condition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein sensing a second event associated with ambient condition includes detecting temperature of surrounding environment.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein sensing a first event associated with a user includes sensing one of facial expressions, voices, and heart rates.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein determining one of user'"'"'s conditions in response to the sensing signal further includes identifying user'"'"'s mood.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a sensing signal in response to the first event further includes:

providing a happy indicator when the first event indicates a happy mood; and

providing a sad indicator when the first event indicates a sad mood.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the sensing signal via a network includes obtaining the sensing signal through a wireless communications network.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein forwarding the haptic signal to a haptic generator includes sending the haptic signal to another haptic system operated by another user via a communications network.

20. An apparatus for generating haptic cues, comprising:

means for sensing a first event associated with a user;

means for generating a sensing signal in response to the first event;

means for receiving the sensing signal via a network and determining one of user'"'"'s conditions in response to the sensing signal;

means for generating a haptic signal in accordance with the user'"'"'s condition and forwarding the haptic signal to a haptic generator; and

means for generating a haptic feedback in response to the haptic signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for adjusting levels of difficulties of a game in accordance with the user'"'"'s condition.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for providing an alert indicating the user'"'"'s condition.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for sensing a second event associated with ambient condition.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein means for sensing a second event associated with ambient condition includes mean for detecting temperature of surrounding environment.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein means for sensing a first event associated with a user includes sensing one of facial expressions, voices, and heart rates.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein means for determining one of user'"'"'s conditions in response to the sensing signal further includes identifying user'"'"'s mood.