System and method for providing a haptic effect to a musical instrument

• US 7,112,737 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Ramstein, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US10/891,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 846/45, 345/156
• US Class Current: 84/645
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/311 with controlled tactile or haptic feedback effect; output interfaces therefor

Abstract

A system and method for providing a haptic effect to a musical instrument is described. One method described comprises receiving a first signal having a set of parameters relating to sound, determining a haptic effect associated with at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters, and outputting a second signal associated with the haptic effect. The haptic effect can be determined using at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters to select the haptic effect from a database having one or more look-up tables. The second signal is provided to an actuator for causing a haptic effect at the musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal. The second signal can be applied to an input member, such as a key on a keyboard or a string on a guitar, or to the housing of the musical instrument, such as the neck of a guitar.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a database comprising at least one haptic effect; and

a processor configured to;

receive a first signal having a set of parameters relating to sound, wherein the parameters are compatible with the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) format;

select the haptic effect from the database, the selection being associated with at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters; and

output a second signal associated with the haptic effect.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive the first signal from a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) controller.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive the first signal by reading the first signal from a file.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the file is a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) file.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive the first signal from a musical instrument.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a musical instrument and at least one actuator configured to cause the haptic effect on an input member of the musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a musical instrument and at least one actuator configured to cause the haptic effect on an input member of the musical instrument which caused the first signal in response to receiving the second signal.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the musical instrument is a keyboard-based instrument, and the input member is selected from the group consisting of a key and a pitch bend.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a musical instrument and an actuator, the musical instrument comprising a housing and the actuator coupled to the housing and configured to cause the haptic effect on the housing in response to receiving the second signal.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a musical instrument selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, drum pads, wind controller, guitar, electric guitar, and a computer.

11. A method comprising:

reading a first signal from a file, the first signal having a set of parameters relating to sound;

selecting a haptic effect from a database, the selection being associated with at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters;

outputting a second signal associated with the haptic effect.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising causing the haptic effect on an input member of a musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising causing the haptic effect on an input member of a musical instrument which caused the first signal in response to receiving the second signal.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising causing the haptic effect on a housing of a musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal.

15. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a first signal having a set of parameters relating to sound,

compute a haptic effect using at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters, and

output a second signal associated with the haptic effect;

a musical instrument; and

at least one actuator configured to cause the haptic effect on an input member of the musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a musical instrument and at least one actuator configured to cause the haptic effect on an input member of the musical instrument which caused the first signal in response to receiving the second signal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the musical instrument is a keyboard-based instrument, and the input member is selected from the group consisting of a key and a pitch bend.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein, the musical instrument comprises housing, and wherein the actuator is coupled to the housing and is configured to cause the haptic effect on the housing in response to receiving the second signal.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising a musical instrument selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, drum pads, wind controller, guitar, electric guitar, and a computer.

20. A method comprising:

reading a first signal from a file, the first signal having a set of parameters relating to sound;

computing a haptic effect using at least one predetermined parameter from the set of parameters;

outputting a second signal associated with the haptic effect.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising causing the haptic effect on an input member of a musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising causing the haptic effect on an input member of a musical instrument which caused the first signal in response to receiving the second signal.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising providing the haptic effect on a housing of a musical instrument in response to receiving the second signal.