Directional inertial tactile feedback using rotating masses
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing; and
a plurality of actuators coupled to the housing, the plurality of actuators configured to produce inertial forces in response to control signals, each actuator from the plurality of actuators having a shaft and an eccentric mass coupled to the shaft, each actuator from the plurality of actuators being configured to move its eccentric mass, the plurality of actuators including at least a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator and the second actuator being configured to output collectively a net inertial force in a selected direction, the selected direction being associated with a phase difference between a phase of the first actuator and a phase of the second actuator.
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Abstract
Directional haptic feedback for a haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback interface device, in communication with a host computer, includes a housing physically contacted by a user operating the interface device, and a plurality of actuators producing inertial forces when the actuators are driven by control signals. Each of the actuators includes a rotatable eccentric mass positioned offset on a rotating shaft of the actuator, where the actuators are rotated simultaneously such that centrifugal forces from the rotation of masses combine to output the inertial forces substantially only along a single axis having a desired direction approximately in a plane of rotation of the masses.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing; and
a plurality of actuators coupled to the housing, the plurality of actuators configured to produce inertial forces in response to control signals, each actuator from the plurality of actuators having a shaft and an eccentric mass coupled to the shaft, each actuator from the plurality of actuators being configured to move its eccentric mass, the plurality of actuators including at least a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator and the second actuator being configured to output collectively a net inertial force in a selected direction, the selected direction being associated with a phase difference between a phase of the first actuator and a phase of the second actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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receiving a signal at a first actuator having an eccentric mass, the signal for the first actuator being associated with a phase;
receiving a signal at a second actuator having an eccentric mass, the signal for the second actuator being associated with a phase different from the phase for the first actuator; and
moving the eccentric mass of the first actuator and the eccentric mass of the second actuator simultaneously to output collectively a net force in substantially one direction, the direction being associated with a phase difference between the phase of the first actuator and the phase of the second actuator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing; and
a plurality of actuators coupled to the housing, the plurality of actuators configured to produce haptic feedback in response to control signals, each actuator from the plurality of actuators having an associated phase, a shaft, and an eccentric mass coupled to and offset from the rotating shaft, each actuator from the plurality of actuators being configured to rotate its eccentric mass simultaneously with the remaining actuators from the plurality of actuators such that the haptic feedback is produced in a selected direction associated with the phase difference between the associated phases of the plurality of actuators. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification