ARCHITECTURE AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR HAPTIC OUTPUT DEVICES

• US 20160175703A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: VENKATESAN, Srivatsav, PROCK, Andrew C., SHAH, Kaniyalal, DA COSTA, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 10,254,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

The embodiments are directed toward an architecture and communication protocol for controlling haptic output devices. According to the embodiments, a composite drive signal is generated that includes a first drive signal to be rendered by a first haptic output device, a second drive signal to be rendered by a second haptic output device, and a packet identifier. A controller includes the first haptic output device that is associated with a first user input element and the second haptic output device associated with a second user input element. The composite drive signal is transmitted to controller, and the execution order of the first and second drive signals is determined based on the packet identifier.

Claims

1. A method for driving a plurality of actuators, each actuator being associated with one of a plurality of user input elements, the method comprising:

generating a composite drive signal that includes a first drive signal to be rendered by a first haptic output device, a second drive signal to be rendered by a second haptic output device, and a packet identifier, the first haptic output device associated with a first user input element and the second haptic output device associated with a second user input element;

transmitting, to a controller, the composite drive signal; and

wherein the execution of the first and second drive signals at the controller is based on the packet identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising simultaneously transmitting the first and second drive signals.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising synchronizing a first clock and a second clock, the first clock being disposed at a host device, and the second clock being disposed at a peripheral device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composite drive signal is received on a USB compliant channel.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of user input elements are disposed at a peripheral device comprising a controller or gamepad.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first or second user input element is a trigger element of a peripheral device.

7. A device comprising:

a processors; and

memory storing a program for execution by the processor, the program including instructions for;

generating a composite drive signal that includes a first drive signal to be rendered by a first haptic output device, a second drive signal to be rendered by a second haptic output device, and a packet identifier, the first haptic output device associated with a first user input element and the second haptic output device associated with a second user input element;

transmitting, to a controller, the composite drive signal; and

wherein the execution of the first and second drive signals at the controller is based on the packet identifier.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising instructions for simultaneously transmitting the first and second drive signals.

9. The device according to claim 7, further comprising instructions for synchronizing a first clock and a second clock, the first clock being disposed at a host device, and the second clock being disposed at a peripheral device.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the composite drive signal is received on a USB compliant channel.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of user input elements are disposed at a peripheral device comprising a controller or gamepad.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the first or second user input element is a trigger element of a peripheral device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program configured to be executed by a processor, the program comprising instructions for:

generating a composite drive signal that includes a first drive signal to be rendered by a first haptic output device, a second drive signal to be rendered by a second haptic output device, and a packet identifier, the first haptic output device associated with a first user input element and the second haptic output device associated with a second user input element;

transmitting, to a controller, the composite drive signal; and

wherein the execution of the first and second drive signals at the controller is based on the packet identifier.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for simultaneously transmitting the first and second drive signals.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for synchronizing a first clock and a second clock, the first clock being disposed at a host device, and the second clock being disposed at a peripheral device.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the composite drive signal is received on a USB compliant channel.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the plurality of user input elements are disposed at a peripheral device comprising a controller or gamepad.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first or second user input element is a trigger element of a peripheral device.