HAPTIC FEEDBACK ASSISTED TEXT MANIPULATION

• US 20120139844A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: RAMSTEIN, Christophe, Birnbaum, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,503,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A system with a touchscreen generates haptic effects in response to a manipulation of text displayed on the touchscreen. The system senses a touch within the text, and determines if the touch is a manipulation of the text, and determines the type of the manipulation. The system then generates a type of haptic event that is based at least in part on the type of the manipulation that was determined.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to provide haptic feedback on a device comprising a touchscreen, the instructions comprising:

displaying text;

sensing a touch within the text;

determining if the touch is a manipulation of the text and a type of the manipulation; and

generating a type of haptic event based at least in part on the type of the manipulation.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the manipulation comprises a selection of the text.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the manipulation comprises an insertion or positioning of a cursor within the text.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the manipulation comprises copying, moving, and pasting the text.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the selection of the text comprises one of selecting a character, a word, a sentence, or a paragraph, and a first haptic event is generated for each of the character, the word, the sentence, and the paragraph.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein types of haptic events are generated by varying one or more of an amplitude, a time duration, or a frequency of a vibration.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a portion of the text that is blocked by the touch; and

generating and displaying a magnification window that includes the portion of the text.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the touch comprises a sliding of an object across the text, wherein the type of haptic event is based at least on a speed of the sliding.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein if the speed is a first amount, a first type of haptic event provides an individual character feeling, and if the speed is a second amount greater than the first amount, a second type of haptic event provides an individual word feeling.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining the type of manipulation comprises determining if a point of interest of the text is touched, wherein the point of interest comprises at least one of a name of a contact, a telephone number, and an address.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the type of haptic event is based at least on an availability of operations for the selected text.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the availability of operations comprises at least one of cut, copy, paste or insert.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the haptic event generated in response to the availability of paste comprises a strength based on a volume of selected text.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining the type of manipulation comprises determining if the text comprises a semantic annotation.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing a second touch within an image having a background and a foreground, wherein the touch traverses the foreground to the background;

generating a haptic event when the second touch moves to the background.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the selection of text comprises selecting an item comprising a word, sentence or paragraph, and haptic event is generated when the touch reaches an end of the item.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein types of haptic events are generated by at least one of a vibration, a local deformation of a surface, or a change of friction.

14. A computer implemented method for providing haptic feedback on a device comprising a touchscreen, the method comprising:

displaying text;

sensing a touch within the text;

determining if the touch is a manipulation of the text and a type of the manipulation; and

generating a type of haptic event based at least in part on the type of the manipulation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the manipulation comprises a selection of the text.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the manipulation comprises an insertion of a cursor within the text.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the manipulation comprises copying, moving, and pasting the text.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the selection of the text comprises one of selecting a character, a word, a sentence, or a paragraph, and a different type of haptic event is generated for each of the character, the word, the sentence, and the paragraph.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein different types of haptic events are generated by varying one or more of an amplitude, a time duration, or a frequency of a vibration.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a portion of the text that is blocked by the touch; and

generating and displaying a magnification window that includes the portion of the text.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch comprises a sliding of an object across the text, wherein the type of haptic event is based at least on a speed of the sliding.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions;

a touchscreen coupled to the processor;

an actuator coupled to the processor;

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

display text;

sense a touch within the text;

determine if the touch is a manipulation of the text and a type of the manipulation; and

generate a type of haptic event with the actuator based at least in part on the type of the manipulation.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the manipulation comprises a selection of the text.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the manipulation comprises an insertion of a cursor within the text.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the manipulation comprises copying, moving, and pasting the text.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the selection of the text comprises one of selecting a character, a word, a sentence, or a paragraph, and a different type of haptic event is generated for each of the character, the word, the sentence, and the paragraph.