Universal tactile feedback system for computer video games and simulations

• US 6,422,941 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1997
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig Thorner
• Original Assignee: Craig Thorner
• Inventors: Thorner, Craig, Heilman, Paul M. III
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/935,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/46, 463/47, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

A universal tactile feedback system for computer and video game systems is disclosed which provides real time tactile feedback to enhance a user'"'"'s experience while interacting with a computer/video game or simulation. The tactile feedback system operates both in host-independent and host-dependent modes, thereby allowing the system to function even when no accomodation is provided by the game or simulation system that is being used. The host-independent mode is responsive to the audio signal that is typically generated by a computer or video game system while it is executing a game or simulation. The host-dependent mode is responsive to control commands specifically generated by a computer or video game system while it is executing a game or simulation. The tactile feedback system then creates tactile sensations primarily via seat-based and/or vest-based tactile sensation generators, such that the user can feel physical sensations that correspond to the events occurring within the game or simulation in real time.

Claims

1. In a computer or video game system, apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by said computer or video game system, a tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:

a flexible pad;

a plurality of actuators, attached to said pad, for selectively generating tactile sensation; and

a control circuit, coupled to said plurality of actuators, where said control circuit is responsive to signals that are generated by said computer or video game system, for generating a control signal to control activation of said plurality of actuators, where said signals correspond to action portrayed on said computer or video game system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is responsive to audio signals that are generated by said computer or video game system, where said audio signals are comprised of the sound that is generated by software executing on said computer or video game system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is responsive to direct digital signals that are generated by said computer or video game system, where said direct digital signals are generated by software that is executing on said computer or video game system, where said software has been designed to communicate with said control circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said audio signal responsive control circuit comprises:

an audio signal processor for processing an audio signal generated by said computer or video game system and generating a processed signal; and

a control signal generator, coupled to said audio signal processor, for generating, in response to said audio signal, said control signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said audio signal processor generates said processed signal in response to frequency, amplitude, and rate of change of said audio signal, where said audio signal corresponds to a scene displayed on said computer or video game system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, when augmented by a tactile feedback hardware suite geared to flight simulations, comprised of all or a subset of the following, where substantially unified tactile sensation is provided throughout multiple independent tactile feedback actuators, such that the illusion of physical interconnection between all the disparate control input devices is provided by:

a throttle tactile feedback actuator;

ajoystick tactile feedback actuator;

a control yolk tactile feedback actuator or actuators; and

rudder pedal tactile feedback actuators.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, when augmented by a tactile feedback hardware suite geared to driving simulations, comprised of all or a subset of the following, where substantially unified tactile sensation is provided throughout multiple independent tactile feedback actuators, such that the illusion of physical interconnection between all the disparate control input devices is provided by:

a steering wheel tactile feedback actuator;

a shift knob tactile feedback actuator;

a pedal base unit tactile feedback actuator or actuators; and

a brake pedal tactile feedback actuator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shift knob actuator is comprised of one or both of the following:

a gear shift knob;

a vibratory actuator embedded within said gear shift knob; and

a solenoid embedded within said gear shift knob.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, when augmented by a tactile feedback hardware suite geared to open body combat games, comprised of all or a subset of the following, where substantially unified tactile sensation is provided thioughout multiple independent tactile feedback actuators, such that the illusion of physical connection to the executing software is provided by:

a vest-based tactile sensation generator;

a left hand tactile feedback actuator;

a right hand tactile feedback actuator;

a left foot tactile feedback actuator; and

a right foot tactile feedback actuator.

12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said audio signal responsive control circuit further comprises:

an analog pre-processing section; and

a digital post-processing section.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein configuration data can be transmitted to the control circuit without substantially interrupting the real-time function of the system.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the digital post-processing section employs a set of real-time reconfigurable digital signal processing parameters that determine how said audio signal is processed.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the analog pre-processing section utilizes the following:

a variable gain preamplifier; and

independent frequency filters.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the digital signal processing parameters include one or more of the following parameters:

a squelch value;

a preamp qualifier value;

a preamp multiplier value;

an equalizer value;

a maximum value limiter;

a rise rate limiter;

a decay rate limiter;

a crash detection value;

a crash time span value;

a crash maximum value; and

a crash fadeout value.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the digital post-processing section utilizes an algorithm that, on each cycle through said algorithm, adopts the highest resulting value in any given frequency band as the result for that digital post-processing cycle.

6. In a computer or video game system, apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by said computer or video game system, a tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:

a flexible seat cushion;

a plurality of actuators, attached to said flexible seat cushion, for selectively generating said tactile sensation; and

a control circuit, coupled to said plurality of actuators, where said control circuit is responsive to an audio signal for generating a control signal to control activation of said plurality of actuators, where said audio signal corresponds to action portrayed on said computer or video game system.

7. In a computer or video game system, apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by said computer or video game system, a tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:

a flexible seat cushion;

a plurality of actuators, attached to said flexible seat cushion, for selectively generating said tactile sensation; and

a control circuit, coupled to said plurality of actuators, where said control circuit is responsive to direct digital signals for generating a control signal to control activation of said plurality of actuators, where said direct digital signals correspond to action portrayed on said computer or video game system.