ENERGY SAVINGS MODE FOR SILENT HAPTICS

• US 20170280397A1
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: DA COSTA, Henry, DATE, Yoshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 10,462,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• 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: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for energy savings with silent haptics is presented. A haptically-enabled device includes a processor that executes a haptic track containing haptic instructions. The haptic track is analyzed to determine the presence of a zero-force interval, also known as a silent haptic. The duration of the zero-force interval is determined, and if the duration exceeds a pre-determined threshold, then the system or method enters an energy savings mode. An overhead time associated with the terminating of the energy savings mode is determined. And, the energy savings mode is terminated at the conclusion of the zero-force interval less the overhead time.

Claims

1. A method of generating haptic effects, the method comprising:

executing, by a processor, a haptic track for a haptically-enabled device configured to generate a haptic effect;

determining a presence of a zero-force interval within the haptic track;

determining a duration of the zero-force interval;

determining if the duration of the zero-force interval exceeds a pre-determined threshold; and

entering, if the duration of the zero-force interval exceeds the pre-determined threshold, at a start of the zero-force interval, an energy savings mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an overhead time associated with a termination of the energy savings mode; and

terminating the energy savings mode at a conclusion of the zero-force interval less the overhead time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a premature termination of the energy savings mode upon receipt of a haptics call.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, upon the premature termination of the energy savings mode, determining a duration of the energy savings mode.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, based on the duration of the energy savings mode, synchronizing the haptic track with a time of the premature termination of the energy savings mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the duration of the energy savings mode, synchronizing the haptic track with a time of termination of the energy savings mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entering the energy savings mode comprises disabling a haptic interface logic system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the entering the energy savings mode further comprises suspending execution of the haptic track.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the haptic track for a future occurrence of a zero-force interval.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a haptic pattern that comprises the future occurrence of the zero-force interval and a non-silent haptic instruction, wherein execution of the haptic pattern occurs during the energy savings mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the haptic pattern comprises a pre-determined number of time intervals.

12. An energy savings haptic effects system comprising:

a haptically-enabled device configured to generate a haptic effect;

a timer; and

a processor configured to;

execute a haptic track comprising haptic instructions;

identify a presence of a zero-force interval within the haptic track;

determine a duration of the zero-force interval; and

determine if the duration of the zero-force interval exceeds a pre-determined threshold;

a power controller configured to;

enter an energy savings mode at a start of the zero-force interval if the duration of the zero-force interval exceeds the pre-determined threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an overhead time associated with a termination of the energy savings mode and to terminate, using the timer, the energy savings mode at a conclusion of the zero-force interval less the overhead time.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to prematurely terminate the energy savings mode upon receipt of a haptics call request.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein after the premature termination of the energy savings mode, using the timer to determine a duration of the energy savings mode.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein based on the duration of the energy savings mode, synchronizing the haptic track with a time of termination of the energy savings mode.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the haptic track for a future occurrence of a zero-force interval.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a haptic pattern that comprises the future occurrence of the zero-force interval and a non-silent haptic instruction, wherein execution of the haptic pattern occurs during the energy savings mode.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to enter an energy savings mode, the entry of the energy savings mode comprising:

executing, by a processor, a haptic track for a haptically-enabled device configured to generate a haptic effect;

determining a presence of a zero-force interval within the haptic track;

determining a duration of the zero-force interval;

determining if the duration of the zero-force interval exceeds a pre-determined threshold;

determining an overhead time associated with a termination of the energy savings mode;

entering, if the duration of the zero-force interval exceeds the pre-determined threshold, at a start of the zero-force interval, an energy savings mode; and

terminating the energy savings mode at a conclusion of the zero-force interval less the overhead time.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising analyzing the haptic track for a future occurrence of a zero-force interval.