Method and apparatus for designing force sensations in force feedback computer applications

• US 7,843,424 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Dean C., Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar; Srilakshmi K
• Application Number:
  US11/401,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 715/701, 715/702
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• 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: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and force feedback interface device. A force feedback device is connected to a host computer that displays the interface tool. Input from a user is received in the interface to select a type of force sensation to be commanded by a host computer and output by a force feedback interface device. Input, such as parameters, is then received from the user which designs and defines physical characteristics of the selected force sensation. A graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed on the host computer which provides a visual demonstration of a feel of the characterized force sensation so that the user can view an effect of parameters on said force sensation. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation, where the graphical representation is updated in conjunction with the output of the force sensation. The user can iteratively modify force sensation characteristics and feel the results, and store the characterized force sensations.

Claims

1. A system for designing a force sensation comprising:

a processor with access to a non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying program instructions;

a user interface provided via execution of program instructions by the processor and adapted to be coupled to a user object, the user object configured to generate a force sensation upon receiving a control signal, the user interface configured to display a graphical representation of the force sensation on a display screen, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to selectively adjust a parameter associated with the force sensation; and

a controller adapted to be coupled to the user object, the controller in communication with the user interface and configured to output a modified control signal to the user object in response to the adjusted parameter from the user interface, wherein the modified control signal is associated with a modified force sensation to be output by the user object.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the controller, the memory configured to store the modified force sensation, wherein the modified force sensation is selectively retrievable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface updates the graphical representation of the force sensation in response to the adjusted parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user object is coupled to the controller and the user interface, the user object configured to provide a sensor signal associated with manipulation of the user object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the parameter further comprises increasing a value associated with the parameter from zero.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the sensor signal represents at least one of:

a position of the user object in one or more degrees of freedom;

a velocity of the user object in one or more degrees of freedom;

or

an acceleration of the user object in one or more degrees of freedom.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation further includes a graphical physical model of the user object displayed on the screen.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical physical model of the force sensation displayed on the screen.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the graphical physical model is updated in real time with the manipulation of the user object.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the force sensation includes at least one of:

a spatial condition associated with manipulation of the user object;

a force signal;

a force profile;

or

a dynamic sensation associated with real-time interactions between manipulation of the user object and a simulated environment with which the user object is interacting.

11. A method for designing a force sensation comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of a force sensation on a display screen via a user interface, the force sensation able to be output by a user object upon receiving a control signal associated with the force sensation;

receiving a user input in the user interface adjusting a parameter associated with the force sensation;

modifying the force sensation and the graphical representation in response to the adjusted parameter; and

generating a modified control signal corresponding to the modified force sensation,

wherein the modified control signal is configured to be sent to the user object to output the modified force sensation.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from the user object upon manipulation of the user object, wherein the sensor signal is at least one of a position of the user object in one or more degrees of freedom, a velocity of the user object in one or more degrees of freedom, or an acceleration of the user object in one or more degrees of freedom.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing or retrieving the modified force sensation in a memory.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising updating the graphical representation of the force sensation in response to the adjusted parameter.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting of the parameter further comprises increasing a value associated with the parameter from zero.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical representation further includes a graphical physical model of the user object displayed on the screen.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical physical model of the force sensation displayed on the screen.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical physical model is updated in real time with the manipulation of the user object.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the force sensation includes at least one of:

a spatial condition associated with manipulation of the user object;

a force signal;

a force profile;

or a dynamic sensation associated with real-time interactions between manipulation of the user object and a simulated environment with which the user object is interacting.

20. A program storage device readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for designing a force sensation, said method comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of a force sensation on a display screen via a user interface, the force sensation able to be output by a user object upon receiving a control signal associated with the force sensation;

receiving a user input in the user interface adjusting a parameter associated with the force sensation;

modifying the force sensation and the graphical representation in response to the adjusted parameter; and

generating a modified control signal corresponding to the modified force sensation, wherein the modified control signal is configured to be sent to the user object to output the modified force sensation.

21. The program storage device of claim 20, further comprising storing or retrieving the modified force sensation in a memory.

22. The program storage device of claim 20, further comprising updating the graphical representation of the force sensation in response to the adjusted parameter.

23. The program storage device of claim 20, wherein the adjusting of the parameter further comprises increasing a value associated with the parameter from zero.

24. The program storage device of claim 20, wherein the graphical representation further includes a graphical physical model of the user object displayed on the screen.

25. The program storage device of claim 20, wherein the graphical representation includes a graphical physical model of the force sensation displayed on the screen.

26. The program storage device of claim 20, wherein the graphical physical model is updated in real time with the manipulation of the user object.