Force-feedback stylus and applications to freeform ink

• US 7,508,382 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Denoue, Laurent, Foote, Jonathan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; My-Chau T
• Application Number:
  US10/833,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20050243072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345/173, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/19.01, 178/19.04
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03546 using a rotatable ball at the tip as position detecting member
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

This invention relates to a force-feedback apparatus which includes a stylus that is equipped with an electromagnetic device or a freely rotating ball. The stylus is functionally coupled to a controller which is capable of exerting a magnetic field to the electromagnetic device or to the rotating ball, which results in a force being created between the stylus and a surface. This invention also relates to a method of using a force-feedback stylus including moving a force-feedback stylus over a surface, controlling a force-feedback device via a controller coupled to the force-feedback stylus and applying a force to the force-feedback stylus via the force-feedback device, the force being determined for at least features on the surface.

Claims

1. A force-feedback apparatus for generating a force-feedback between a stylus-type device and a magnetic surface, comprising:

a stylus-type device having an electromagnetic device disposed at a tip of the stylus-type device;

a controller coupled to the stylus-type device, the controller being capable of generating a magnetic field between the stylus-type device and the magnetic surface to cause the stylus-type device to provide a haptic sensation to a user of the stylus-type device; and

a projector functionally coupled to the stylus-type device through the controller and capable of projecting objects displayed on the magnetic surface,

wherein the magnetic field generated by the controller varies based on one of a location of the stylus-type device over the magnetic surface and the objects displayed on the magnetic surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the objects displayed on the magnetic surface are one of:

a pattern displayed on the magnetic surface;

one or more features displayed on the magnetic surface; and

type of action performed by the stylus-type device on the magnetic surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more features on the surface are at least one of a contour, a map, a simulated sheet, an area and a design with multiple aspects.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stylus-type device is coupled to the controller using a coupling wire or wirelessly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic surface is coupled to a plurality of stylus-type devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the haptic sensation varies in intensity based on the objects displayed on the magnetic surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the haptic sensation provided to the user comprises one or more of a vibration, a pulse, a stop-like sensation, a braking-type sensation, a heating sensation and a chilling sensation.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a position sensing device coupled to the controller for locating the stylus-type device on the magnetic surface.

8. A method of generating a force-feedback to a user in an apparatus comprising a surface functionally coupled to a stylus-type device, the method comprising:

monitoring motion of a stylus-type device over the surface, said stylus-type device having a force-feedback device incorporated therein;

projecting objects displayed on the surface by a projector functionally coupled to the stylus-type device;

controlling the force-feedback device with a controller functionally coupled to the stylus-type device and to the surface; and

applying a force between the stylus-type device and the surface via the force-feedback device, the force being determined by the objects displayed on the surface to thereby provide a haptic feedback to the user from the stylus-type device,

wherein the force is a magnetic force and the surface is a magnetic surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the objects displayed on the surface are one of:

a pattern displayed on the surface;

one or more features displayed on the surface; and

the type of action performed by the stylus-type device on the surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more features on the surface are at least one of a contour, a map, a simulated sheet, an area and a design with multiple aspects.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the force-feedback device comprises an electromagnet.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the force-feedback device comprises a ball that is capable of freely rotating.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ball has a rough texture.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the force-feedback device is a solenoid that is capable of entering in contact with the ball.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the force-feedback device is an electromagnetic brake that is capable of blocking the ball.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the stylus-type device is controlled by the controller using one of a wire and a wireless coupling device.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the surface is functionally coupled to a plurality of styluses.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the contour is a freeform contour.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring the motion of the stylus-type device over the surface is by using a position sensing device functionally coupled to the controller.

19. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions for generating a force-feedback, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

monitoring the location of the stylus-type device over the surface, the stylus-type device having a force-feedback device incorporated therein;

projecting objects displayed on the surface by a projector functionally coupled to the stylus-type device;

controlling the force-feedback device with a controller functionally coupled to the stylus-type device and to the surface; and

applying a force between the stylus-type device and the surface via the force-feedback device, the force being determined by the objects displayed on the surface, to thereby cause the stylus-type device to encounter resistance at specific locations on the surface,

wherein the force is a magnetic force and the surface is a magnetic surface.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the monitoring the location of the stylus-type device over the surface is by using a position sensing device functionally coupled to the controller.