HUMAN INTERFACE DEVICE

• US 20100167820A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Toledo
• Original Assignee: University of Toledo
• Inventors: Shenai, Krishna, BARAKAT, HOUSSAM, Lilly, Bradford R.
• Application Number:
  US12/649,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20100167820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality

Abstract

A human interface device with an inherent built-in feedback mechanism for use by a user to remotely interface with a computer-simulated environment is disclosed herein. The human interface device comprises at least one sensor configured to sense a condition within the action of the computer-simulated environment and also operable to generate a communication concerning the sensed condition. At least one micro-controller is positioned within the human interface device and configured to receive the communication concerning the sensed condition from the at least one sensor. The at least one micro-controller is further configured to generate communication in reaction to the communication from the sensor. At least one actuator is configured to receive the communication from the at least one micro-controller and provide a sensory experience in reaction to the communication.

Claims

1. A human interface device for use by a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense a condition within the computer-simulated environment and generate a first communication concerning the sensed condition;

at least one micro-controller configured to receive the first communication concerning the sensed condition from the at least one sensor, the at least one micro-controller further configured to generate a second communication in reaction to the first communication from the sensor; and

at least one actuator configured to receive the second communication from the at least one micro-controller and provide a sensory experience in reaction to the second communication, wherein the at least one micro-controller is operable to independently determine the response of the at least one actuator appropriate to the condition sensed by the at least one sensor.

2. The human interface device of claim 1 wherein the at least one actuator is configured to respond solely to sensor information processed by the at least one micro-controller.

3. A gaming system comprising:

a host device having a central processing unit configured to control overall functions of the gaming system; and

a human interface device for use by a user of the gaming system and comprising;

at least one sensor configured to sense a condition within the gaming system and generate a first communication concerning the sensed condition;

at least one micro-controller positioned within the human interface device and configured to receive the first communication concerning the sensed condition from the at least one sensor, the at least one micro-controller further configured to independently process the first communication and generate a second communication in reaction to the first communication from the sensor; and

at least one actuator configured to receive the second communication from the at least one micro-controller and provide a sensory experience in reaction to the second communication.

4. The gaming system of claim 3 wherein the at least one controller does not require communication from the host system for operation.

5. The gaming system of claim 3 wherein the at least one controller does not communicate with the host system as to the processing of the first communication.

6. A method of operating a human interface device to remotely interface with a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing a condition within the action of a virtual reality system;

generating a first communication concerning the sensed condition;

sending the first communication to a human interface device for processing;

generating a second communication solely within the human interface device in reaction to the received communication;

sending the second communication to at least one actuator positioned with the human interface device; and

providing a sensory experience with the at least one actuator in reaction to the received human interface device communication.