Handheld Computer Interface With Haptic Feedback

• US 20100245232A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Birnbaum, David M., Grant, Danny A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A handheld computer interface includes an enclosure, a mass coupled to the enclosure, and an actuator coupled to the mass to change a position of the mass relative to the enclosure. When the actuator receives a signal indicating a change in the center of mass of the interface, it changes the position of the mass.

Claims

1. A handheld computer interface comprising:

an enclosure;

a mass coupled to the enclosure; and

an actuator coupled to the mass to change a position of the mass relative to the enclosure;

wherein the actuator is adapted to receive a signal indicating a change to a center of mass of the interface and changes the position of the mass in response to the signal.

2. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver coupled to the actuator for receiving the signal.

3. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, further comprising a first sensor that detects the position of the mass.

4. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, wherein the signal is generated by an application executed on a computer system.

5. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, wherein the application is a video game.

6. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a tubular shape and has a long axis, and the position of the mass varies along the long axis.

7. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, wherein the change of position of the mass causes the interface to change an inertial property of the interface to a user who is grasping the interface at a first position on the enclosure.

8. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor from a group of sensors comprising:

an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an electric field sensor, a strain gauge, an infrared reflection sensor, a camera, and a microphone.

9. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, further comprising an impact actuator.

10. The handheld computer interface of claim 1, further comprising a vibrotactile actuator.

11. A method of operating a handheld computer interface that is grasped by a user at a first point, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a computer system that a center of mass of the handheld computer interface should be changed; and

in response to the signal, moving a mass relative to the first point, wherein the mass is coupled to the computer interface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the handheld computer interface is a cylinder having a long axis, and the mass is moved along the long axis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mass is internal to the rod.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising sensing a position of the mass relative to the first point.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer system is executing a video game, and the signal is generated based on an activity on the video game.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the video game is a golf game, and the handheld computer interface simulates a golf club.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the video game is a baseball game, and the handheld computer interface simulates a baseball bat.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the video game is a lacrosse game, and the handheld computer interface simulates a lacrosse stick club.

19. A computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to operate a handheld computer interface that comprises an enclosure, actuator and a mass coupled to the actuator, the instructions comprising:

receiving a request from an application to change the perceived weight of the handheld computer interface, wherein the interface is grasped by a user'"'"'s hand;

calculating a position of the mass relative to the hand to achieve the perceived weight; and

generating signals to cause the actuator to move the mass to the calculated position.

20. The computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the application is a video game.

21. The computer readable media of claim 20, wherein the video game is a golf game and the handheld computer interface functions as a golf club.

22. The computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the enclosure is a rod that comprises a long axis, and the mass moves along the long axis.