SENSATION INDUCTION DEVICE, SENSATION INDUCTION SYSTEM, AND SENSATION INDUCTION METHOD

• US 20170087458A1
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: NAKAGAWA, YUSUKE, KOMORI, AKIHIRO
• Granted Patent: US 10,449,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

[Object] To provide a sensation induction device, a sensation induction system, and a sensation induction method capable of improving a sense of realism by interlocking a sound output and a vibration output. [Solution] A sensation induction device includes a plurality of actuators and a plurality of speakers. The sensation induction device includes a plurality of sets of mutually associated actuator and speaker in which at least one actuator among the plurality of actuators and at least one speaker among the plurality of speakers are mutually associated. An output from the actuator and an output from the speaker are controlled to be interlocked for each set of mutually associated actuator and speaker.

Claims

1. A sensation induction device comprising:

a plurality of actuators; and

a plurality of speakers,

wherein the sensation induction device includes a plurality of sets in which at least one actuator among the plurality of actuators and at least one speaker among the plurality of speakers are mutually associated, and

an output from the actuator and an output from the speaker are controlled to be interlocked for each set of mutually associated actuator and speaker.

2. The sensation induction device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a casing configured to contain the plurality of actuators and the plurality of speakers,

wherein the actuators associated with the speakers included in the different sets are installed in the casing to be spaced from each other.

3. The sensation induction device according to claim 2,

wherein the casing includes an end portion, and

the actuators associated with the speakers included in the different sets are installed near the end portion to be spaced from each other.

4. The sensation induction device according to claim 3,

wherein the casing includes a plurality of the end portions different from each other, and

the actuators associated with the speakers included in the different sets are installed near the different end portions.

5. The sensation induction device according to claim 2,

wherein the casing includes a plurality of holding portions for holding the casing, and

the actuators associated with the speakers included in the different sets are installed inside or near the different holding portions.

6. The sensation induction device according to claim 2,

wherein the speakers associated with the actuators included in the different sets are installed in the casing to be spaced from each other.

7. The sensation induction device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a change in a position or a direction of the casing,

wherein the output from the actuator and the output from the speaker are controlled to be interlocked for each set of mutually associated speaker and actuator in interlock with the change in the position or the direction of the casing.

8. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein a plurality of the actuators are associated with at least one of the speakers, and

the plurality of actuators vibrate in relatively different directions.

9. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein the actuator associated with the speaker is installed near the associated speaker.

10. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein the mutually associated actuator and speaker are configured to be integrated.

11. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein the output from one of the mutually associated actuator and speaker is controlled based on another control signal generated based on a control signal for controlling the output from the other of the actuator and the speaker.

12. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein the outputs from the mutually associated actuator and speaker are controlled based on a result of physical calculation for feeding a sensation back to a user.

13. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein the outputs from the mutually associated actuator and speaker are controlled based on at least one of a shape and roughness of a surface of an object in a video calculated based on an analysis result of the video.

14. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein an amplitude of at least one of the outputs from the mutually associated actuator and speaker is restricted in a frequency band in which the outputs from the actuator and speaker overlap.

15. The sensation induction device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to control the outputs from the mutually associated actuator and speaker so that the outputs from the actuator and speaker are interlocked.

16. The sensation induction device according to claim 1,

wherein the outputs from the mutually associated actuator and speaker are controlled to be interlocked with a video output displayed on a display unit.

17. The sensation induction device according to claim 16, further comprising:

the display unit.

18. A sensation induction system comprising:

a sensation induction device that includes a plurality of actuators and a plurality of speakers and includes a plurality of sets in which at least one actuator among the plurality of actuators and at least one speaker among the plurality of speakers are mutually associated;

an information processing device configured to output a control signal for controlling an operation of the sensation induction device; and

a control unit configured to perform control such that an output from the actuator and an output from the speaker are interlocked for each set of mutually associated actuator and speaker based on the control signal.

19. A control device comprising:

a signal processing unit configured to generate a control signal for performing control such that, in a sensation induction device that includes a plurality of actuators and a plurality of speakers and includes a plurality of sets in which at least one actuator among the plurality of actuators and at least one speaker among the plurality of speakers are mutually associated, an output from the actuator and an output from the speaker are interlocked for each set of mutually associated actuator and speaker; and

an output unit configured to output the generated control signal to the sensation induction device.

20. A sensation induction method comprising:

outputting a control signal for performing control of an operation of a sensation induction device that includes a plurality of actuators and a plurality of speakers and includes a plurality of sets in which at least one actuator among the plurality of actuators and at least one speaker among the plurality of speakers are mutually associated; and

performing control based on the control signal such that an output from the actuator and an output from the speaker are interlocked for each set of mutually associated actuator and speaker.