Haptic interface system for video systems

• US 7,830,361 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Muraki, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin
• Application Number:
  US11/694,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 463 36- 37
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A haptic interface system is presented including manipulating a haptic controller having an accelerometer; programming a video system processor for responding to moving the accelerometer of the haptic controller; and activating a haptic response device by the video system processor for updating the haptic controller including heating, cooling, illuminating, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method of operating a haptic interface system comprising:

manipulating a haptic controller having an accelerometer, a direction button, and activation keys;

programming a video system processor for responding to moving the accelerometer of the haptic controller, activating the direction button, pushing one of the activation keys, or a combination thereof for operating the video system processor program; and

activating a haptic response device by the video system processor for updating the haptic controller including heating, cooling, illuminating, or a combination thereof.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein activating the haptic response device includes powering a heating device, pumping a refrigerant, illuminating a light source, or a combination thereof.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

loading a program in the video system processor;

executing the program by monitoring the haptic controller; and

managing a temperature and a light of the haptic controller by the program.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising powering a heating device for elevating a temperature of the haptic controller by the haptic response device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising selecting a light source for illuminating the haptic controller by the haptic response device.

6. A method of operating a haptic interface system comprising:

manipulating a haptic controller having an accelerometer, a direction button, and activation keys for detecting a movement of the haptic controller;

programming a video system processor for responding to moving the accelerometer of the haptic controller, activating the direction button, pushing one of the activation keys, or a combination thereof for operating the video system processor program; and

activating a haptic response device by the video system processor for updating the haptic controller including heating, cooling, illuminating, or a combination thereof in which the video system processor includes executing a program for managing the haptic response device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein activating the haptic response device includes powering a heating device, pumping a refrigerant, illuminating a light source, or a combination thereof in which illuminating the light source includes having a first color for hot and a second color for cold.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

loading a program in the video system in which the program includes a video game;

executing the program by monitoring the haptic controller includes playing the video game; and

managing a temperature and a light of the haptic controller by the program includes determining a light and a temperature by the video game.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising powering a heating device for elevating a temperature of the haptic controller by the haptic response device including activating a cooling pump for lowering the temperature of the haptic controller.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising selecting a light source for illuminating the haptic controller by the haptic response device including causing the haptic controller to be a first color when hot or a second color when cold.

11. A haptic interface system comprising:

a haptic controller having an accelerometer, a direction button, and activation keys;

a video system processor programmed to respond to the accelerometer movement, the direction button activated, one of the activation keys pushed or a combination thereof in the haptic controller; and

a haptic response device activated by the video system processor for updating the haptic controller by heating, cooling, illuminating, or a combination thereof.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising an interconnect link adapter coupled to the haptic response device.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the haptic controller includes a controller, a controller glove pair, a sword, a wand, or a combination thereof.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a heating device for elevating a temperature of the haptic controller by the haptic response device.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a light source for illuminating the haptic controller by the haptic response device.

16. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the haptic response device is coupled to a heating system, a cooling system, and a light source.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising an interconnect link adapter coupled to the haptic response device in which the interconnect link adapter is coupled to a refrigerant source and a refrigerant return.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the haptic controller includes a controller, a controller glove pair, a sword, a wand, or a combination thereof coupled to the video system processor by an interconnect link.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a heating device for elevating a temperature of the haptic controller by the haptic response device in which the heating device is mounted on a controller casting.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the light source for illuminating the haptic controller by the haptic response device includes the light source having more than one color.