System and method for ordering haptic effects

• US 7,765,333 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Lacroix, Robert A., Da Costa, Henrique D., Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Grant, Danny A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kindred; Alford W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez; David E
• Application Number:
  US10/983,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,087 Days
• Field of Search: 710/5, 710/6, 710/8, 710/58
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A signal associated with multiple haptic effects is received, each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects being associated with a time slot from multiple time slots. Each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects is associated with an effect slot from multiple effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect. An output signal is sent for each effect slot from the multiple effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first component configured to associate each basis haptic effect from a plurality of basis haptic effects with a time slot from a plurality of time slots;

a second component configured to associate each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects with an effect slot from a plurality of effect slots for the associated time slot, the second component being further configured to cause each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects associated with each of the plurality of effect slots to be output during the associated time slot, wherein the plurality of effect slots distinguish the plurality of basis haptic effects from one another whereby multiple basis haptic effects can be are simultaneously output when their associated time slots overlap; and

a client interface component configured to receive a signal, the client interface component being further configured to control at least one of creating a basis haptic effect, deleting a basis haptic effect, starting a basis haptic effect, stopping a basis haptic effect, and modifying a basis haptic effect, at least partially based on the received signal, the client interface component being located on a first processor, the first component and the second component being located on a second processor different from the first processor, the second processor being in communication with the first processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a client interface component configured to receive a signal; and

a driver in communication with the client interface component, the first component, and the second component, the driver being configured to coordinate communications between the client interface component, the first component, and the second component at least partially based on the signal received by the client interface component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a client interface component configured to receive a signal; and

a driver in communication with the client interface component, the first component, and the second component, the driver being configured to coordinate communications between the client interface component, the first component, and the second component at least partially based on the signal received by the client interface component, the second component being configured to cause each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects to be output at least partially based on the signal received by the client interface device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a haptic device in communication with the second component, the haptic device being configured to output the plurality of basis haptic effects.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a resource manager in communication with the second component, the resource manager configured to manage resources available in the second component, the resources being associated with causing each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects to be output, the resources including the plurality of effect slots.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second component is configured to cause a ramp-up effect to be output before a second basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects is output.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second component is configured to cause a braking effect after a penultimate basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects is output.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a client interface component configured to receive a signal, the client interface component being further configured to control at least one of creating a basis haptic effect, deleting a basis haptic effect, starting a basis haptic effect, stopping a basis haptic effect, and modifying a basis haptic effect, at least partially based on the received signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a client interface component configured to receive a signal, the client interface component being further configured to control at least one of creating a basis haptic effect, deleting a basis haptic effect, starting a basis haptic effect, stopping a basis haptic effect, and modifying a basis haptic effect, at least partially based on the received signal;

a resource manager in communication with the second component, the resource manager being configured to manage resources available in the second component, the resources being associated with causing each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects to be output, the resources including the plurality of effect slots; and

a driver in communication with the client interface component, the first component, and the second component, the driver being configured to coordinate communications between the client interface component, the first component, and the second component at least partially based on the signal received by the client interface component, the second component being configured to cause each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects to be output at least partially based on the signal received by the client interface device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second component is from a plurality of second components, each second component from the plurality of second components being configured to output signals uniquely related to one mode of operation from a plurality of modes of operation of the apparatus, a first mode of operation from the plurality of modes of operation being a haptic mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component is configured to associate each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects at least partially based on an event in an event-driven file.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component is configured to associate each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects at least partially based on an event in a MIDI file.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component is configured to associate each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects at least partially based on a cellular telephone ring-tone.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component is configured to associate each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects at least partially based on an event in an event-driven file, and wherein the second component is configured to output signals related to a first mode of operation from a plurality of modes of operation, the first mode of operation being a haptic mode, the apparatus further comprising:

a third component configured to provide a non-haptic output based on the event-driven file.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are included in a cellular telephone.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a first component configured to associate each basis haptic effect from a plurality of basis haptic effects with a time slot from a plurality of time slots;

a second component configured to associate each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects with an effect slot from a plurality of effect slots, the second component being further configured to cause each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects to be output during the time slot associated with that haptic effect; and

a client interface component configured to receive a signal, the client interface component being further configured to control at least one of creating a basis haptic effect, deleting a basis haptic effect, starting a basis haptic effect, stopping a basis haptic effect, and modifying a basis haptic effect, at least partially based on the received signal, the client interface component being located on a first processor, the first component and the second component being located on a second processor different from the first processor, the second processor being in communication with the first processor.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a first component configured to associate each basis haptic effect from a plurality of basis haptic effects with a time slot from a plurality of time slots;

a second component configured to associate each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects with an effect slot from a plurality of effect slots, the second component being further configured to cause each basis haptic effect from the plurality of basis haptic effects to be output during the time slot associated with that haptic effect; and

a client interface component configured to receive a signal, the client interface component being further configured to control at least one of creating a basis haptic effect, deleting a basis haptic effect, starting a basis haptic effect, stopping a basis haptic effect, and modifying a basis haptic effect, at least partially based on the received signal, the client interface component and the first component being located on a first processor, the second component being located on a second processor different from the first processor, the second processor being in communication with the first processor.