Cursor control system with tactile feedback

• US 6,373,463 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Beeks, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAMANI, ALI A
• Application Number:
  US09/172,539
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/158, 345/156, 345/163, 345/162, 345/145, 345/146, 345/160
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A cursor control system suitable for interactive use with an application program, and in response to specific conditions associated with the application program, the cursor control system provides tactile feedback that can be felt by the user. In particular, when the cursor or pointer indicates a selectable component of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), the cursor control system will provide tactile feedback to the user. In addition, when a valid selection is made on the GUI, the cursor control system will also provide tactile feedback to the user.

Claims

1. A cursor control system for interactive use with an application program, said system comprising:

a pointing device configured to receive information from a user;

a plurality of motion inducers configured to provide tactile feedback to said user via said pointing device; and

a pointing device processor configured to determine which one of said plurality of motion inducers to activate and to activate said determined motion inducer in response to specific conditions associated with said application program, wherein said pointing device processor is housed within said pointing device.

2. The cursor control system of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of motion inducers is configured to generate a concussive force to said pointing device.

3. The cursor control system of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of motion inducers is configured to generate a concussive force to a component associated with said pointing device.

4. The cursor control system of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of motion inducers is configured to generate a vibrating force to said pointing device.

5. The cursor control system of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of motion inducers is configured to generate a vibrating force to a component associated with said pointing device.

6. The cursor control system of claim 1, wherein said pointing device further comprises an input device configured to receive information from the user, and wherein each of said plurality of motion inducers induces motion to said input device.

7. The cursor control system of claim 6, wherein said input device comprises a touch pad.

8. The cursor control system of claim 6, wherein said input device comprises a trackball.

9. The cursor control system of claim 6, wherein said input device comprises a joy stick.

10. The cursor control system of claim 6, wherein said input device comprises a mouse.

11. A cursor control system for use by a user, comprising:

a main processor configured to generate display signals, wherein said display signals include signals corresponding to an image having at least one selectable component and a pointer, and wherein said main processor is configured to generate a control signal associated with a position of said pointer;

a display responsive to said display signals from said main processor and configured to render said image based on said display signals; and

a pointing device, wherein said pointing device comprises;

an input device configured to receive information from the user and generate input signals based on said information;

a plurality of motion inducers configured to provide tactile feedback to the user via said pointing device in response to a received control signal; and

a pointing device processor configured to receive said input signals from said input device, transmit said input signals to said main processor, receive said control signal from said main processor, determine which of said plurality of motion inducers to activate in response to said control signal, and transmit said control signal to said determined motion inducer, wherein said pointing device processor is housed within said pointing device.

12. The cursor control system of claim 11, wherein said input device comprises a touch pad.

13. The cursor control system of claim 11, wherein said input device comprises a trackball.

14. The cursor control system of claim 11, wherein said input device comprises a joy stick.

15. The cursor control system of claim 11, wherein said input device comprises a mouse.

16. The cursor control system of claim 11, wherein one of said plurality of motion inducers comprises a bumping source.

17. The cursor control system of claim 11, wherein one of said plurality of motion inducers comprises a vibrating source.

18. The cursor control system of claim 17, wherein said vibrating source is configured to induce different vibrations, in response to different control signals received from said main processor.

19. A method for providing tactile feedback for an input device associated with a computer system that runs an application program, said input device having a pointing device processor electrically connected to a plurality of motion inducers, wherein said pointing device processor is housed within said input device, said method comprising the steps of:

generating display signals from a main processor, wherein said display signals include signals corresponding to an image having at least one selectable component and a pointer;

rendering said image on a display;

transmitting a control signal from said main processor to said pointing device processor when said pointer indicates said selectable component;

determining, by said pointing device processor, which one of said plurality of motion inducers to activate in response to said control signal; and

activating said determined motion inducer such that said determined motion inducer imparts a detectable motion to said input device.