Haptic device testing

• US 7,938,009 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Gregorio, Pedro, Grant, Danny A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAYYAZ, NASHMIYA SAQIB
• Application Number:
  US11/555,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 73662-663, 736/49
• US Class Current: 73/649
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• 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 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing

Abstract

A method of testing a haptic device that includes an actuator and has a first weight includes placing the haptic device on a test fixture that has a second weight that is greater than the first weight. The haptic device is placed on the test fixture so that the actuator within the haptic device is substantially close to the center of gravity of the test fixture. The method further includes causing the haptic device to generate haptic effects via the actuator, and measuring the acceleration of the test fixture during the haptic effects.

Claims

1. A method of testing a haptic device of a first weight and comprising an actuator, said method comprising:

receiving the haptic device on a mass having a second weight that is greater than the first weight and having a first center of gravity, wherein said haptic device is received on the mass so that the actuator is substantially close to the first center of gravity,

wherein said haptic device has a second center of gravity, and said actuator is located within said haptic device at a position different from the second center of gravity;

causing said haptic device to generate haptic effects via the actuator; and

measuring an acceleration of said mass during the haptic effects.

2. The method of claim 1, where the haptic effects are vibrotactile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second weight is approximately twice the first weight.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mass is a plate.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a strength of vibrations based on the acceleration of said mass, wherein the calculating comprises a scaling to compensate for the first weight.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the plate has a substantially larger linear dimension than said haptic device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a rise time and a stop time based on the acceleration of said mass.

5. A method of testing a haptic device of a first weight and comprising an actuator, said method comprising:

receiving the haptic device on a mass having a second weight that is greater than the first weight and having a first center of gravity, wherein said haptic device is received on the mass so that the actuator is substantially close to the first center of gravity;

causing said haptic device to generate haptic effects via the actuator;

measuring an acceleration of said mass during the haptic effects; and

vibration testing the actuator before the actuator is placed in said haptic device.

9. A system for testing a haptic device having a first weight and comprising an actuator, said system comprising:

a test fixture having a second weight and having a second center of gravity;

an accelerometer coupled to said test fixture; and

a processor adapted to be coupled to said haptic device to cause said haptic device to generate haptic effects and to receive acceleration measurements from said accelerometer, wherein said haptic device has a first center of gravity, and said actuator is located within said haptic device at a position different from the first center of gravity;

wherein said second weight is greater than said first weight, and the system tests said haptic device when said haptic device is placed on the test fixture so that the actuator is substantially close to said second center of gravity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second weight is approximately twice said first weight.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said test fixture is a plate.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said test fixture has a high mass relative to said haptic device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said haptic effects are vibrotactile.

14. A method of testing a haptic device comprising:

receiving the haptic device on a test fixture so that an actuator within the haptic device substantially coincides with a first center of gravity of the test fixture;

activating the actuator to generate a haptic effect; and

measuring an acceleration of said test fixture.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the haptic device has a first weight and said test fixture has a second weight that is greater than said first weight.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second weight is approximately twice said first weight.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said test fixture is a plate.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the haptic device has a second center of gravity, and said actuator is located within said haptic device at a position different from the second center of gravity.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising vibration testing the actuator before the actuator is placed in the haptic device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising calculating a strength of vibrations based on the acceleration of said test fixture, wherein the calculating comprises a scaling to compensate for the first weight.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the vibration testing generates a first frequency range, further comprising calculating a second frequency range of the haptic device based on the acceleration of said test fixture and determining whether the first frequency range approximately matches the second frequency range.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising calculating a rise time and a stop time based on the acceleration of said test fixture.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said plate has a substantially larger linear dimension than said haptic device.