Method and apparatus for distributing haptic synchronous signals

• US 7,839,269 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Kruse, Barbara, Steger, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/954,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20090153350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/815.57, 340/815.83, 340/429, 340/426.19, 340/549, 340/545.5, 345/156, 345/157, 345/162, 345/168, 345/173
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/285 in cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/06 for rowing or sculling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 5/025 Electronic metronomes rhytem generation for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/185 Stick input, e.g. drumsticks with position or contact sensors stick for music conducting applications, e.g. conductor baton movement detection G10H2220/206
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/331 Ring or other finger-attached control device
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/355 Geolocation input, i.e. control of musical parameters based on location or geographic position, e.g. provided by GPS, WiFi network location databases or mobile phone base station position databases
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/395 Acceleration sensing or accelerometer use, e.g. 3D movement computation by integration of accelerometer data, angle sensing with respect to the vertical, i.e. gravity sensing. conductor baton movement sensing G10H2220/206, angle sensing without reference to gravity G10H2220/391; player body joint angle sensing G10H2220/321

Abstract

A haptic signal distribution system capable of distributing haptic synchronous signals includes a master haptic device and groups of slave haptic devices. In one embodiment, the master haptic device is configured to distribute haptic synchronous signals to slave haptic devices. The haptic synchronous signals, for instance, may include information relating to a tempo for a piece of music. A haptic signal distribution system, for example, allows a master wearable haptic device to selectively distribute haptic synchronous signals to one or more groups of slave wearable haptic devices via a wireless communications network. Upon receipt of the haptic synchronous signals, each slave wearable haptic device generates a series of haptic feedback having a rhythm of beats in response to the haptic synchronous signals.

Claims

1. A haptic coordinating system, comprising:

a master wearable haptic device configured to distribute one or more sets of haptic coordinating signals via a wireless communications network, wherein the master wearable haptic device is configured to attach to an object, wherein the master wearable haptic device further includes a sensor adapted to sense movements of the master wearable haptic device, wherein the sensor is configured to generate haptic coordinating signals in accordance with the movements detected; and

a plurality of slave wearable haptic device, logically coupled to the master wearable haptic device, configured to selectively receive at least a set of haptic coordinating signals and generate haptic feedback in response to the haptic coordinating signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the master wearable haptic device is configured to attach to a part of body.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the master wearable haptic device includes a master clock using global positioning system (“

GPS”

) to synchronize the master clock; and

wherein each of the plurality of slave wearable haptic devices includes a slave clock using GPS to synchronize the slave clock.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slave wearable haptic device is divided into multiple groups, wherein each group of the multiple groups of slave wearable haptic devices is configured to receive one or more sets of haptic coordinating signals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each set of haptic coordinating signals further includes a recipient address for addressing targeted group of slave wearable haptic devices.