Tactile man-machine communication system

• US 3,919,691 A
• Filed: 05/26/1971
• Issued: 11/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Noll A. Michael
• Original Assignee: Noll A. Michael
• Inventors: Noll, A. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vandenburg, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/147,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5,324,324A 250/231 235/151 444/1 445/1
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

Operation of a computer system is enhanced by means of a threedimensional tactile control unit interactively coupled by a software package to the computer. By means of a sticklike mechanism, which is mechanically controlled by a servomotor system and energized by computer-generated signals proportional to a stored definition of a three-dimensional object, the hand of an operator is restrained to move over the surface of the object. Hence, surfaces of a three-dimensional object, otherwise virtually impossible to display, may be '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'felt'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' by the operator.

Claims

1. A tactile terminal for a graphic computer system, which comprises, in combination, a data generator for delivering to a computer coordinate signals in a three-dimensional coordinate system which define the position of a point in space, means for comparing the position defined by said coordinate signals to the position of a prescribed point within said three-dimensional coordinate system stored within said computer to produce signals related to any difference therebetween, and responsive means supplied with said related signals from said computer to control said data generator to produce coordinate signals which correspond substartially to said prescribed point.

2. A tactile terminal, as defined in claim 1, wherein, said data generator comprises, an orthogonally movable arm, and signal generator means operatively associated with said arm for developing signals representative respectively of the position of said arm in each of said three coordinate directions.

3. A tactile terminal, as defined in claim 1, wherein, said responsive means for controlling said data generator comprises, means associated with said arm for controlling its motion in each of said coordinate directions in response to said related signals.

4. A tactile terminal, as defined in claim 1, in further combination with, means associated with said computer and responsive to said coordinate signals and to data stored within said computer for generating the coordinates of a stereoscopic display of an object, the surface of which contains said prescribed point, and the said point in space, and means responsive to said stereoscopic coordinates for displaying a stereoscopic image.

5. A system for enabling an individual physically to perceive the surface configuration of a multidimensional object, which comprises, adjustable means for developing voltages representative of the coordinates of a point in space, means for selectively controlling the mobility of said adjustable means, means supplied with reference coordinate data representative of the surface contouR of a multidimensional object, means for determining any difference between the coordinate position represented by said voltages and a corresponding reference coordinate position, and means responsive to a difference for controlling the mobility of said adjustable means.

6. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein, said adjustable means comprises three signal generators individually controlled by an orthogonally movable element.

7. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for selectively controlling the mobility of said adjustable means comprises, three force producing elements mechanically coupled to said adjustable means.

8. An interactive system for enabling an individual physically to perceive the surface configuration of a three-dimensional object, which comprises, orthogonally movable means for developing voltages representative of the coordinates of a point in a three-dimensional coordinate system, means for selectively controlling the mobility of said movable means, means supplied with reference coordinate data representative of the surface contour of a three-dimensional object, means for determining any difference between the coordinate position represented by said voltages and a corresponding reference coordinate position, means responsive both to a difference and to a prescribed control law for developing mobility control signals, and means responsive to said mobility control signals for actuating said mobility control means.

9. An interactive system as defined in claim 8, wherein, said prescribed control law is selected to restrain the mobility of said orthogonally movable means in prescribed directions.

10. A tactile communication system, which comprises, first orthogonally movable means at a first location for developing voltages representative of the coordinates of a point in space, means for selectively controlling the mobility of said first movable means, second orthogonally movable means at a second location for developing voltages representative of the coordinates of a point in space, means for determining any difference between the coordinate position represented by said voltages developed by said first movable means and the coordinate position represented by said voltages developed by said second movable means, and means responsive to a difference for actuating said mobility controlling means.