Haptic feedback using a keyboard device

• US 7,688,310 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Duc Q
• Application Number:
  US11/497,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20060267949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first device of a computer, the first device comprising an input device;

a second device of the computer, the second device physically separate from the first device, the second device comprising a keyboard;

a processor configured to receive a first signal from the first device; and

an actuator configured to receive a second signal from the processor, the second signal based on the first signal and configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect to the second device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises at least one of a mouse, a trackball, a touchpad, or a touch screen.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect comprises at least one of a vibrotactile force, a kinesthetic force, a contact force or an inertial force.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises an input device actuator, the input device actuator configured to receive a third signal from the processor, the third signal configured to cause the input device actuator to output a haptic effect to the input device.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises one of a pager motor, a voice coil, a solenoid actuator, a stepper motor, a piezo-electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or a pneumatic actuator.

6. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first device of a computer, the first device comprising an input device;

transmitting a second signal to an actuator, the second signal based at least in part on the first signal;

outputting a haptic effect to a second device of the computer, the second device physically separate from the first device, the second device comprising a keyboard based on the second signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein outputting the haptic effect further comprises moving a cover portion of the keyboard, the cover portion moveably coupled to a base portion of the keyboard.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting a third signal to an input device actuator; and

outputting a haptic effect to the input device based at least in part on the third signal.

9. A system comprising:

a first device of a computer, the first device comprising a keyboard; and

an actuator configured to receive an actuator signal from a processor and to output a haptic effect to the first device based on the actuator signal, the actuator signal based on an input signal received by the processor from a second device of the computer, the second device physically separate from the first device.