Providing force feedback using an interface device including an indexing function
First Claim
1. A method for providing an indexing feature in a force feedback interface device coupled to a host computer system displaying a graphical environment, said method comprising:
- sensing a position of a user-manipulated physical object in a planar workspace, wherein said position is relayed to said host computer system, said host computer system displaying a user-controlled graphical object on a display screen at a position derived from said position of said user-manipulated physical object in said planar workspace;
applying forces from at least one actuator of said force feedback interface device to said physical object;
receiving an indexing indication from said user that an indexing mode is active, wherein said user-controlled graphical object is displayed at a fixed position on said display screen by said host computer, regardless of said position of said physical object, while said indexing mode is active; and
ceasing said application of said forces to said physical object while said indexing mode is active;
whereby said user is able to redefine an offset between said position of said physical object and said position of said user-controlled graphical object when said indexing mode is active.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing force feedback including an indexing function. A force feedback interface device is coupled to a host computer system displaying a graphical environment. A position of a user-manipulated physical object in a degree of freedom, such as a planar workspace, is sensed by the device, and a user-controlled graphical object is dislplayed on a display screen at a position corresponding to the physical object position. An indexing indication is provided by the user to activate an indexing mode, during which the user-controlled graphical object is displayed at a fixed position on said display screen, regardless of the position of the physical object. The user is able to redefine an offset between the position of the physical object and the position of tile user-controlled graphical object during the indexing mode. A safety switch can be used to activate the indexing mode.
269 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method for providing an indexing feature in a force feedback interface device coupled to a host computer system displaying a graphical environment, said method comprising:
-
sensing a position of a user-manipulated physical object in a planar workspace, wherein said position is relayed to said host computer system, said host computer system displaying a user-controlled graphical object on a display screen at a position derived from said position of said user-manipulated physical object in said planar workspace; applying forces from at least one actuator of said force feedback interface device to said physical object; receiving an indexing indication from said user that an indexing mode is active, wherein said user-controlled graphical object is displayed at a fixed position on said display screen by said host computer, regardless of said position of said physical object, while said indexing mode is active; and ceasing said application of said forces to said physical object while said indexing mode is active; whereby said user is able to redefine an offset between said position of said physical object and said position of said user-controlled graphical object when said indexing mode is active. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A force feedback interface device for providing input from a force feedback interface device to a host computer system displaying a graphical environment, said force feedback interface device comprising:
-
a user manipulable physical object grasped by a user and moveable in a planar workspace, wherein a position of said physical object in said planar workspace determines a corresponding position of a user-controlled graphical object in said graphical environment; an actuator coupled to said physical object operative to apply a force in said planar workspace to said physical object; a sensor operative to a sense said position of said physical object in said planar workspace; an indexing selector operative to activate an indexing mode of said physical object, wherein said user-controlled graphical object is not updated in said graphical environment according to said position of said physical object when said indexing mode is active; and a safety switch coupled to said actuator and operative to prevent said actuator from outputting said force on said user manipulable object when said safety switch is opened by said user, wherein said safety switch allows said user to additionally activate said indexing mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A force feedback interface device for providing input from a force feedback interface device to a host computer displaying a graphical environment, said force feedback interface device comprising:
-
a user manipulable physical object grasped by a user and moveable in at least one degree of freedom, wherein a position of said physical object in said degree of freedom influences position of a user-controlled graphical object in said graphical environment; an actuator coupled to said physical object operative to apply a force in said degree of freedom to said physical object; a sensor operative to a sense said position of said physical object in said degree of freedom; and a microprocessor separate from said host computer and coupled to said actuator and to said sensor, said microprocessor outputting control signals to said actuator and receiving said position from said sensor, said microprocessor operative to activate and deactivate an indexing mode of said force feedback interface device, wherein said microprocessor reports said position of said physical object to said host computer when said indexing mode is inactive, and wherein said microprocessor does not report said position of said physical object to said host computer when said indexing mode is active. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A force feedback interface device for providing input from a force feedback interface device to a host computer displaying a graphical environment, said force feedback interface device comprising:
-
a user manipulable physical object grasped by a user and moveable in at least one degree of freedom, wherein a position of said physical object in said degree of freedom determines a corresponding position of a user-controlled graphical object in said graphical environment; an actuator coupled to said physical object operative to apply a force in said degree of freedom to said physical object; a sensor operative to sense said position of said physical object in said degree of freedom; and a mode selector separate from said host computer and operative to select an indexing mode of said force feedback interface device, wherein said mode selector causes a signal to be output to said host computer, said signal indicating to said host computer whether said indexing mode is active, wherein when said indexing mode is active, said host computer does not update said position of said user-controlled graphical object in said graphical environment based on said position of said physical object in said degree of freedom, and wherein said force application by said actuator is disabled when said said indexing mode is active. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
Specification