Low cost force feedback device with actuator for non-primary axis
First Claim
1. A force feedback mouse device coupled to a host computer system implementing a host application program, the mouse device comprising:
- a mouse housing physically contacted by a user and movable in physical space in at least two degrees of freedom with respect to a ground, wherein a cover portion of said mouse housing is movably coupled to a base portion of said mouse by at least one hinge and wherein said user contacts said cover portion with a palm of a hand of said user, said cover portion including at least a portion of a top surface of said mouse housing;
at least one sensor operative to detect said movement of said mouse in physical space in two degrees of freedom with respect to said ground and to output sensor signals representative of said movement, said two degrees of freedom being approximately within a single plane; and
an actuator coupled to said mouse housing and operative to apply a linear output force in a direction approximately perpendicular to said single plane, said force applied along an axis extending through said mouse to said cover portion of said mouse housing rested upon by said hand of said user such that said cover portion is moved with respect to said base portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force feedback interface and method including an actuator in a non-primary axis or degree of freedom. The force feedback interface device is connected to a host computer that implements a host application program or graphical environment. The interface device includes a user manipulatable object, a sensor for detecting movement of the user object, and an actuator to apply output forces to the user object. The actuator outputs a linear force on the user object in non-primary linear axis or degree of freedom that is not used to control a graphical object or entity implemented by the host computer, and movement in the non-primary degree of freedom is preferably not sensed by sensors. The axis extends through the user object, and there are preferably no other actuators in the device, thus allowing the force feedback device to be very cost effective. Force sensations such as a jolt, vibration, a constant force, and a texture force can be output on the user object with the actuator. The force sensations can be output in a direction perpendicular to a planar degree of freedom, radial to spherical degree of freedom, and/or along a lengthwise axis of the user object.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A force feedback mouse device coupled to a host computer system implementing a host application program, the mouse device comprising:
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a mouse housing physically contacted by a user and movable in physical space in at least two degrees of freedom with respect to a ground, wherein a cover portion of said mouse housing is movably coupled to a base portion of said mouse by at least one hinge and wherein said user contacts said cover portion with a palm of a hand of said user, said cover portion including at least a portion of a top surface of said mouse housing; at least one sensor operative to detect said movement of said mouse in physical space in two degrees of freedom with respect to said ground and to output sensor signals representative of said movement, said two degrees of freedom being approximately within a single plane; and an actuator coupled to said mouse housing and operative to apply a linear output force in a direction approximately perpendicular to said single plane, said force applied along an axis extending through said mouse to said cover portion of said mouse housing rested upon by said hand of said user such that said cover portion is moved with respect to said base portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A tactile feedback mouse coupled to a host computer system implementing a host application program, the mouse comprising:
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a housing physically contacted by a hand of a user and movable in a plurality of degrees of freedom, two of said degrees of freedom being substantially in a single plane, wherein a cover portion of said housing is contacted by at least a portion of a palm of said hand of said user when said user operates said mouse, said cover portion being rotatably coupled to a base portion of said housing; at least one sensor coupled to said housing and operative to detect a position of said housing in said two planar degrees of freedom and to output a sensor signal representative of said movement; an actuator coupled to said housing and operative to apply a linear output force in a direction approximately perpendicular to said two planar degrees of freedom, said force applied to said cover portion of said housing rested upon by said palm of said user'"'"'s hand such that said cover portion is rotated with respect to said base portion, said rotation causing a tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s palm; and at least one button coupled to said housing that causes an input signal to be sent to said host computer system when said button is pressed by said user. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for providing tactile sensations to a user of a host computer, wherein a mouse interface device is coupled to a host computer displaying a graphical environment, the method comprising:
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providing a mouse interface device that is moveable in a plurality of degrees of freedom by said user, two of said degrees of freedom being substantially in a single plane, said mouse device having a cover portion and a base portion, wherein said cover portion is coupled to said base portion by a hinge and can be moved with respect to said base portion, wherein said cover portion is physically contacted by a palm of a hand of said user; providing sensor data to said host computer, said sensor data representing a position of said mouse device in said two planar degrees of freedom; receiving tactile data from said host computer, said tactile data describing, at least in part, a tactile sensation to be output to said user; causing an actuator to move said cover portion of said mouse device with respect to said base portion of said mouse device using said tactile data, said movement causing said cover portion to move approximately perpendicularly to said two planar degrees of freedom and providing said tactile sensation to said user. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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Specification