Designing compound force sensations for computer applications
First Claim
1. A method for implementing a force sensation design interface, said method comprising:
- causing a display of said force sensation design interface on a display device of a host computer;
receiving input from a user to said force sensation design interface, said input selecting a plurality of individual force sensations to be commanded by said host computer and output by a force feedback interface device, said force feedback interface device including a manipulandum physically engageable by a user and moveable in at least one degree of freedom, wherein each of said individual force sensations is provided with an edit display area displayed in said force sensation design interface;
including said plurality of selected force sensations in a compound force sensation based on input received from said user; and
causing a display of a time-based graphical representation of said compound force sensation, said representation displaying each of said individual force sensations included in said compound force sensation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and force feedback interface device. A force feedback device is connected to a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects a type of force sensation and designs and defines physical characteristics of the selected force sensation using the interface tool. A graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The user can include a plurality of force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also easily adjust the start times and durations of the force sensations using the graphical representation. The force sensations are output to a user manipulandum of a force feedback device to be felt by the user, where the graphical representation is updated in conjunction with the output of the force sensation. The user can iteratively modify force sensation characteristics and feel the results. Sounds can also be graphically represented and synchronized with the designed compound forces.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for implementing a force sensation design interface, said method comprising:
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causing a display of said force sensation design interface on a display device of a host computer;
receiving input from a user to said force sensation design interface, said input selecting a plurality of individual force sensations to be commanded by said host computer and output by a force feedback interface device, said force feedback interface device including a manipulandum physically engageable by a user and moveable in at least one degree of freedom, wherein each of said individual force sensations is provided with an edit display area displayed in said force sensation design interface;
including said plurality of selected force sensations in a compound force sensation based on input received from said user; and
causing a display of a time-based graphical representation of said compound force sensation, said representation displaying each of said individual force sensations included in said compound force sensation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
receiving changes from said user to at least one of said individual force sensations in said compound force sensation, said changes received in said edit display area of said changed individual force sensation, said changes provided after said compound force sensation is output; and
causing a display of said changes in said graphical representation of said compound force sensation.
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4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
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receiving changes from said user to said compound force sensation, said changes received in a display area of said compound force sensation, said changes provided after said compound force sensation is output; and
effecting said changes in said display area of said compound force sensation receiving said changes.
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5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising storing said compound force sensation to a storage medium accessible to said host computer.
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6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising accessing said stored compound force sensation from an application program different than said force sensation design interface.
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7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said time-based graphical representation includes a bar graph for each of said individual force sensations in said compound force sensation indicating a start time and duration of each of said individual force sensations relative to each other.
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8. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said updating of said graphical demonstration includes moving a marker across a plurality of bar graphs, each indicating a time period during which one of said individual force sensations is output.
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9. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein a sound is associated with said compound force sensation, wherein a start of a sound is synchronized with a start of said compound force sensation.
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10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said sound is selected by said user in said force sensation design interface and said user associates said sound with said compound force sensation.
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11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said compound force sensation also includes a lower-level compound force sensation, said lower-level compound force sensation including at least one individual force sensation.
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12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said individual force sensations include conditions, effects, and dynamics.
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13. An apparatus for implementing a force sensation design interface, said apparatus comprising:
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means for causing a display of said force sensation design interface on a display device of a host computer, said means for displaying providing an edit window for each individual force sensation to be created or edited by said user in said force design interface;
means for receiving input from a user to said force sensation design interface, said input selecting a plurality of said individual force sensations to be commanded by said host computer and output by a force feedback interface device, said force feedback interface device including a manipulandum graspable by a user and moveable in a degree of freedom; and
means for including said selected force sensation with at least one other individual force sensation in a compound force sensation based on input received from said user, wherein said means for causing a display displays a time-based graphical representation of said compound force sensation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium including program instructions executable on a computer for providing a force sensation design interface implemented by said computer, said program instructions performing steps comprising:
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causing a display of said force sensation design interface on a display device of a host computer;
receiving input from a user to said force sensation design interface, said input selecting an individual force sensation to be commanded by said host computer and output by a force feedback interface device, said force feedback interface device including a manipulandum graspable by a user and moveable in a degree of freedom;
including said selected force sensation with at least one other individual force sensation in a compound force sensation based on input received from said user; and
causing a display of a compound force sensation window in said design interface, said window including a time-based graphical representation of said individual force sensations; and
outputting said compound force sensation to said force feedback interface device to be felt by said user, wherein a marker moves across said time-based graphical representation to indicate a current point in time with respect to said individual force sensations. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for implementing a force sensation design interface, said method comprising:
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enabling a display of said force sensation design interface on a display device of a host computer;
enabling a reception of input from a user to said force sensation design interface, said input selecting a plurality of individual force sensations to be commanded by said host computer and output by a force feedback interface device, said force feedback interface device including a manipulandum physically engageable by a user and moveable in at least one degree of freedom, wherein each of said individual force sensations is provided with an edit display area displayed in said force sensation design interface;
enabling an inclusion of said plurality of selected force sensations in a compound force sensation based on input received from said user; and
enabling a display of a time-based graphical representation of said compound force sensation, said representation displaying each of said individual force sensations included in said compound force sensation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
enabling a reception of changes from said user to at least one of said individual force sensations in said compound force sensation, said changes received in said edit display area of said changed individual force sensation, said changes provided after said compound force sensation is output; and
enabling a display of said changes in said graphical representation of said compound force sensation.
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24. A method as recited in claim 20 further comprising:
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enabling a reception of changes from said user to said compound force sensation, said changes received in a display area of said compound force sensation, said changes provided after said compound force sensation is output; and
enabling said changes to take effect in said display area of said compound force sensation receiving said changes.
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25. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein said time-based graphical representation includes a bar graph for each of said individual force sensations in said compound force sensation indicating a start time and duration of each of said individual force sensations relative to each other.
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26. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said updating of said graphical demonstration includes moving a marker across a plurality of bar graphs, each indicating a time period during which one of said individual force sensations is output.
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27. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein a sound is associated with said compound force sensation, wherein a start of a sound is synchronized with a start of said compound force sensation.
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28. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein said compound force sensation also includes a lower-level compound force sensation, said lower-level compound force sensation including at least one individual force sensation.
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29. A method as recited in claim 24 further comprising enabling a storage of a plurality of parameters characterizing said force sensation to a storage medium accessible to said host computer, and further comprising enabling an access of said stored plurality of parameters by an application program different than said design interface, said application program using said plurality of parameters to output said characterized force sensation during execution of said application program.
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30. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein at least one of said selected individual force sensations is a periodic force sensation, and wherein said graphical representation of said periodic force sensation is an image of a periodic waveform.
Specification