Devices Using Tactile Feedback To Deliver Silent Status Information

• US 20140125470A1
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Application Number:
  US14/071,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 15/04 with electric stunning-means ejecting electrically charged liquid jets F41B9/00; electric shock creating harpoons F42B30/14; electric circuits or apparatus for killing or stunning H05C
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0018 for nearby electrical discharge, i.e. the electrodes being positioned on the device and the device brought manually or otherwise into contact with a nearby target batons with electric discharge capability F41B15/04; electric shock devices for animals A01K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

Handheld weapons using tactile feedback to deliver silent status information are described. One embodiment comprises a handheld weapon comprising: a housing comprising a user contactable region, a tactile element coupled to the user contactable region, and an actuator coupled to the tactile element and capable of outputting a haptic sensation localized to the tactile element.

Claims

1. A handheld device comprising:

a haptic feedback assembly;

a fingerprint sensor configured to detect a fingerprint;

a processor coupled to the fingerprint sensor, the processor configured to;

receive a signal associated with the fingerprint; and

determine a haptic effect based on the fingerprint; and

a drive circuit coupled to the processor and the haptic feedback assembly, the drive circuit configured to send a drive signal to the haptic feedback assembly.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a user input device.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback assembly comprises one or more of:

a piezoelectric ceramic actuator, a voice coil, a moving magnet actuator, a solenoid, or an electro-active polymer.

4. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect is a periodic force sensation.

5. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the periodic force sensation comprises a sine wave, a square wave, a saw-toothed-up wave, a saw-toothed down, or a triangle wave.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, further comprising a tactile element coupled to the fingerprint sensor, and wherein the haptic feedback assembly is configured to output the haptic effect to the tactile element.

7. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect is a confirmation effect.

8. The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the confirmation effect is a confirmation of an identification of the user.

9. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect is associated with a status of the handheld device.

10. A method for determining a haptic effect comprising:

receiving a signal associated with a fingerprint from a fingerprint sensor;

determining a haptic effect based on the fingerprint; and

outputting a haptic signal to a haptic feedback assembly configured to output the haptic effect.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a user input device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the haptic effect is a periodic force sensation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the periodic force sensation comprises a sine wave, a square wave, a saw-toothed-up wave, a saw-toothed down, or a triangle wave.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a tactile element, and wherein the haptic feedback assembly is configured to output the haptic effect to the tactile element.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the haptic effect is a confirmation effect.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the confirmation effect is a confirmation of an identification of the user.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the haptic effect is associated with a status of a mobile device.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:

receive a signal associated with a fingerprint from a fingerprint sensor;

determine a haptic effect based on the fingerprint; and

output a haptic signal to a haptic feedback assembly configured to output the haptic effect.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a user input device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the haptic effect is a periodic force sensation.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the periodic force sensation comprises a sine wave, a square wave, a saw-toothed-up wave, a saw-toothed down, or a triangle wave.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a tactile element, and wherein the haptic feedback assembly is configured to output the haptic effect to the tactile element.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the haptic effect is a confirmation effect.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the confirmation effect is a confirmation of an identification of the user.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the haptic effect is associated with a status of a mobile device.