Method and apparatus for providing tactile responsiveness in an interface device
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving tactile data from a host computer running a host application;
storing the tactile data in a local memory of a tactile control processor, the tactile control processor configured to modulate haptic feedback;
the tactile data from the local memory using firmware configured to run on tactile control processor the accessing of the tactile data being associated with the host application; and
outputting the haptic feedback from a force generator associated with an interface device.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus implementing a user interface device, such as a mouse or trackball, having electronically controllable tactile responsiveness which is flexibly programmable. A user interface device effects positioning of a cursor within a limited area, such as on a display screen, with limits imposed by controllable tactile responsiveness. Programmable force-position characteristics relate the tactile responsiveness of the interface device to the position of the cursor within the limited area or on the display screen. In a described embodiment, the interface device includes at least two sets of wheels that move as the interface device is actuated. The at least two sets of wheels are aligned on mutually orthogonal axes. A servo motor is attached to each of the at least two sets of wheels. A position encoder is associated with each servo motor and outputs position information to a controller that has access to force-position relation information that is a function of a screen display on which the cursor is manipulated. The controller outputs a digital signal, in accordance with the force-display position relation information. The digital signal is converted to an analog current signal applied to the servo motor(s) to generate force in the servo motor. The force, presenting a tactile response to a human interacting with the user interface device, is perceived as a resistance, tactile pressure or lack thereof, or as a positive, assisted motion which is indicative of position on a screen display.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving tactile data from a host computer running a host application;
storing the tactile data in a local memory of a tactile control processor, the tactile control processor configured to modulate haptic feedback;
the tactile data from the local memory using firmware configured to run on tactile control processor the accessing of the tactile data being associated with the host application; and
outputting the haptic feedback from a force generator associated with an interface device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An interface device, comprising:
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a manipulandum;
a actuator configured to output a force, the force being associated with haptic feedback when the force is modulated to produce a modulated force;
a local data storage device, the local data storage device being configured to store torque data received from a host computer, the torque data being associated with the modulated force;
a controller, the controller being configured to be in communication with the host computer and in communication with the local data storage, the controller being further configured to control based on a signal associated with a host software application of the host computer, the controller being further configured to access the torque data from the local data storage in response to the signal associated with the host software application; and
a sensor, the sensor being configured to provide position information to the controller, the position information being associated with movement of the interface device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A haptic feedback system, comprising:
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a host application configured to display graphical information in response to position information received from haptic feedback device; and
a device driver, the device driver being configured to enable communication between the host application and a separate microprocessor associated with the haptic feedback device, the device driver being further configured to transfer tactile information from a host computer to the separate microprocessor, the tactile information being associated with output haptic feedback. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method, comprising:
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displaying graphical information, the graphical information being associated with position information received from a haptic feedback device; and
outputting haptic feedback, the haptic feedback device having a microprocessor, the microprocessor having a device driver, the device driver being configured to facilitate the download of tactile information from a host computer separate from the microprocessor, the haptic feedback being associated with the tactile information. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A device, comprising:
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a manipulandum;
an actuator to produce a tactile sensation;
a local data storage device configured to be accessible by a tactile controller, the tactile controller configured to store said tactile data in said local data storage; and
the tactile controller further configured to be in communication with a host computer, the host computer with a host software application, the tactile controller further configured to control the actuator in accordance with the host software application, receive the tactile data from the host computer, and store the tactile data in the local data storage device, the tactile data being associated with the tactile sensation. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification