Isometric haptic feedback interface
First Claim
1. An interface device providing pan, scroll, or zoom functions for a displayed image on a display screen of a host computer, the interface device comprising:
- a user manipulatable object moveable in at least one degree of freedom by a user;
at least one sensor operative to detect said movement of said user manipulatable object; and
an actuator coupled to said user manipulatable object, wherein a force resistance is output by said actuator as controlled by a processor to oppose said movement of said user manipulatable object in said at least one degree of freedom, wherein a scroll, pan, or zoom function for said displayed image is performed in response to said movement of said user manipulatable object against said resistance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force feedback interface having isotonic and isometric control capability coupled to a host computer that displays a graphical environment such as a GUI. The interface includes a user manipulatable physical object movable in physical space, such as a mouse or puck. A sensor detects the object'"'"'s movement and an actuator applies output force on the physical object. A mode selector selects isotonic and isometric control modes of the interface from an input device such as a physical button or from an interaction between graphical objects. Isotonic mode provides input to the host computer based on a position of the physical object and updates a position of a cursor, and force sensations can be applied to the physical object based on movement of the cursor. Isometric mode provides input to the host computer based on an input force applied by the user to the physical object, where the input force is determined from a sensed deviation of the physical object in space. The input force opposes an output force applied by the actuator and is used to control a function of an application program, such as scrolling a document or panning or zooming a displayed view. An overlay force, such as a jolt or vibration, can be added to the output force in isometric mode to indicate an event or condition in the graphical environment.
136 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An interface device providing pan, scroll, or zoom functions for a displayed image on a display screen of a host computer, the interface device comprising:
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a user manipulatable object moveable in at least one degree of freedom by a user;
at least one sensor operative to detect said movement of said user manipulatable object; and
an actuator coupled to said user manipulatable object, wherein a force resistance is output by said actuator as controlled by a processor to oppose said movement of said user manipulatable object in said at least one degree of freedom, wherein a scroll, pan, or zoom function for said displayed image is performed in response to said movement of said user manipulatable object against said resistance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A haptic feedback interface device allowing isometric control from a user, said interface device coupled to a host computer displaying a graphical environment, the interface device comprising:
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a user manipulatable object moveable in at least one degree of freedom by a user;
at least one sensor providing a sensor signal, said sensor signal including information from which a motion of said user manipulatable object is derived, and wherein a deviation of said user manipulatable object from a reference position is determined based on said sensor signal, said deviation being used to provide isometric control over a value or object implemented by said host computer; and
an actuator outputting a tactile sensation to said user, said tactile sensation being output during said isometric control based on an event occurring in said graphical environment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of scrolling a list of data based on input from a user, said list of data being visually displayed by a computer, the method comprising:
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receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, said sensor signal including information from which a motion of a user manipulatable object in a degree of freedom is derived;
causing a resistance to be applied which opposes said motion of said user manipulatable object, said resistance being applied using an actuator; and
causing said displayed list of data to be scrolled in response to said user pushing said user manipulatable object against said resistance, a speed of said scrolling being controlled, at least in part, by a magnitude of said pushing. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of controlling a scrolling function of a computer using an interface device, the method comprising:
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causing a restoring force to be applied which acts to return a user manipulatable object of said interface device towards an origin within a degree of freedom of said user manipulatable object, said restoring force being applied using an actuator;
causing an effect force to be applied which provides an overlaid temporal sensation felt by a user of said interface device, said effect force being applied simultaneously with said application of said restoring force using said actuator; and
causing a scrolling function on said host computer to be implemented, wherein a speed of scrolling for said scrolling function is influenced by data from a sensor of said interface device, said sensor detecting user-caused motion of said user object against said restoring force in said degree of freedom. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification