Force feedback joystick with digital signal processor controlled by host processor

• US 5,742,278 A
• Filed: 11/01/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Osborne, Timothy R., Chen, Elaine Y., Coill, Matthew, DiLascia, Paul, An, Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US08/502,430
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/159, 345/161, 345/162, 345/163, 345/167, 345/184, 463/30, 463/36-39, 128/782, 434/45, 364/274, 364/274.1, 364/275, 364/275.1, 364/275.2
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0004 using BRAILLE
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A force feedback joystick unit connected to the serial port of a personal computer applies a variety of force effects to the joystick handle in response to commands from the executing personal computer program. Forces are applied to the joystick, which is mounted on a gimbal support for movement in two degrees of freedom, by a pair of drive motors which operate under the control of a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP is programmed to respond to predetermined commands issued by a program executing on the personal computer to produce basic force effects including a constant force, a spring force proportional to the displacement of the joystick handle from a reference, a damping force proportional to the velocity of the joystick, and a time varying force effect having a selectable waveform, magnitude and period. More complex forces effects are produced by combining the basic effects. Custom force effects can be defined by the executing application program, the definitions being downloadable from the personal computer into the DSP which thereafter produces the defined custom force effect upon subsequent command from the personal computer. Multiple force effects, including both basic predefined effects and complex custom effects can be simultaneously operative and can be independently initiated and terminated by commands from the personal computer.

Claims

1. A programmable input and output device for use with a digital computer to which it is electrically coupled, said device comprising:

a. a moveable member manipulatable by a human user in at least one degree-of-freedom;

b. a sensor that produces position signals specifying a position of said moveable member with respect to said one degree-of-freedom;

c. a memory in which force effect definitions and for associating each of said stored definitions with a unique effect identifier for each force effect definition are stored;

d. a processor that is electrically coupled to the memory to access the force effect definitions in response to force commands received from the digital computer, said processor producing a control signal in response to the force commands; and

e. an actuator, electrically coupled to the processor and mechanically coupled to said movable member, said actuator applying a force to said moveable member in said one degree-of-freedom in response to the control signal, a direction and a magnitude of said force being specified by at least one of said force effect definitions that is referenced by a corresponding effect identifier included in said force commands.

2. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said moveable member is manipulatable in plural degrees-of-freedom, and wherein at least one of said effect definitions includes at least one degree-of-freedom identifier and one or more parameters associated therewith, and wherein said actuator applies a force to said moveable member in the degree-of-freedom specified by said degree-of-freedom identifier, said force having a magnitude and a direction specified by said one or more parameters.

3. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of said force effect definitions is a compound force effect definition, which includes information specifying a magnitude and a direction of the force to be applied in each of the plural degrees-of-freedom, and wherein said actuator applies a compound force to said manipulatable member in said plural degrees-of-freedom simultaneously, as specified by said compound force effect definition.

4. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said force effect definitions includes a duration parameter, and wherein said reduces the application of said force as a function of the time elapsed after the receipt of a force command containing an effect identifier, which specifies a force effect definition including said duration parameter.

5. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control signal produced by said processor in response to a plurality of concurrent force commands causes the actuator to apply a motive force to said moveable member which is an additive combination of forces specified by said plurality of concurrent force commands.

6. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said force effect definitions includes a time-varying waveform definition, and wherein the control signal produced by said processor in response to a force command containing a force effect definition that includes said time-varying waveform definition causes said actuator to apply a time-varying force to said moveable member in accordance with said time-varying waveform definition.

7. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said time-varying waveform definition includes direction, magnitude, frequency, and waveshape parameter values to which said processor responds by producing a control signal that causes the actuator to apply said time-varying force in a direction and with a magnitude, frequency, and waveshape specified by said direction, magnitude, frequency, and waveshape parameter values, respectively.

8. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein at least one of said force effect definitions identified by one of said effect identifiers is a partial force effect definition, which includes a first set of one or more force-defining parameters;

wherein selected ones of said force commands include an identifier, which specifies one of said partial force effect definitions and a second set of one or more force-defining parameters; and

wherein said processor produces a control signal in response to said selected ones of said force commands that causes the actuator to apply a motive force in accordance with a combination of force-defining parameters included in both said first and said second sets.

9. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the memory is non-volatile and said portion is used for permanently storing a plurality of predetermined standard force effect definitions, and wherein in response to a force command signal containing an effect identifier, which specifies a selected one of said standard force effect definitions, said processor produces a control signal that causes the actuator to apply a force to said moveable member as specified by said selected one of said predetermined standard force effect definitions.

10. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processor receives a plurality of said force effect definitions from said computer and stores said plurality of force effect definitions in said memory.

11. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of said force effect definitions include a spring force parameter, and wherein said processor produces a control signal causing said actuator to apply a spring force to said moveable member having a magnitude proportional to a displacement of said moveable member from a predetermined position.

12. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of said force effect definitions include a constant force parameter, and wherein said processor produces a control signal causing said actuator to apply a constant force to said moveable member, said constant force having a magnitude and a direction indicated by said constant force parameter.

13. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor determines a velocity of said moveable member, at least selected ones of said force effect definitions including a damping force parameter said processor determining a control signal that causes said actuator to apply a damping force to oppose the movement of said moveable member, said damping force having a magnitude that varies as a function of said velocity signal and said damping force parameter.

14. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said moveable member is manipulatable in plural degrees-of-freedom within a predetermined total region of movement, and wherein at least selected ones of said force effect definitions are each an object force definition comprising geometric parameters defining a subregion within said total region and force specification parameters, and wherein said processor produces a control signal causing said actuator to urge said moveable member in a direction normal to a boundary of said subregion with a force having a magnitude specified by said force specification parameters.

15. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said force specification parameters include a constant indicating a magnitude of a constant force, a stiffness coefficient, and a damping coefficient, and wherein said processor produces a control signal in response thereto that cause said actuator to urge said member in a direction normal to said boundary with a force, which combines the constant force having a magnitude that varies as a function of said constant, a spring force having a magnitude that varies as a function of a product of said stiffness coefficient and a displacement of said moveable member from a predetermined position, and a damping force having a magnitude that varies as a function of a product of said damping coefficient and a velocity of said moveable member.

16. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processor transmits information to said computer specifying the position of said moveable member, and the magnitude and direction of the force applied to said moveable member by said actuator.

17. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processor determines a velocity of said moveable member as a function of the position signals.

18. The programmable input and output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processor determines an acceleration of said moveable member as a function of the position signals.

19. A programmable input and output device for use with a digital computer to which it is electrically coupled, said device comprising:

a. a moveable member manipulatable by a user in a plurality of degrees-of-freedom;

b. a sensor that produces position signals specifying a position of said moveable member with respect to said plurality of degrees-of-freedom;

c. a memory in which force effect definitions with a unique effect identifier for each force effect definition are stored;

d. a processor that is electrically coupled to the memory to access the force effect definitions in response to force commands received from the digital computer, said processor producing a control signal in response to the force commands; and

e. an actuator, electrically coupled to the processor and mechanically coupled to said movable member, said actuator applying a force to said movable member in at least one of said plurality of degrees-of-freedom in response to the control signal, a direction and a magnitude of said force being specified by at least one of said force effect definitions that is referenced by a corresponding effect identifier included in said force commands.