Method and apparatus for providing communications with haptic cues

• US 8,123,660 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Kruse, Barbara, Anastas, George V., Olien, Neil, Steger, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/966,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 434/258, 715/700, 715/744, 715/733, 345/156, 340/407.1, 340/407.2
• US Class Current: 482/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/22 Stride length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and apparatus of generating haptic cues for pacing and monitoring are disclosed. After sensing an event via a component, a process for generating haptic cues generates an input in response to the event. The component, in one example, may be a sensor or a combination of a sensor and a haptic actuator. Upon receipt of the input, the process retrieves a haptic signal from a tactile library in response to the input. A haptic feedback in response to the haptic signal is subsequently generated.

Claims

1. A method for generating haptic cues, comprising:

sensing a first event via a first component;

generating a first input in response to the first event;

receiving the first input via a wireless network from the first component;

computing a first speed of pacing in response to the first input;

retrieving a first haptic signal from a tactile library in response to the first speed of pacing, wherein the first haptic signal comprises a first haptic pacing sequence corresponding to the first speed of pacing; and

generating a first haptic feedback in response to the first haptic signal, wherein the first haptic feedback comprises a series of haptic cues based on the first haptic pacing sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

sensing a second event via a second component;

generating a second input in response to the second event;

receiving the second input via the wireless network from the second component;

computing a second speed of pacing in response to the first input and the second input;

retrieving a second haptic signal from the tactile library in response to the second speed of pacing, wherein the second haptic signal comprises a second haptic pacing sequence corresponding to the second speed of pacing; and

generating a second haptic feedback in response to the second haptic signal, wherein the second haptic feedback comprises a second series of haptic cues based on the second haptic pacing sequence.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing a first event includes detecting a heart rate;

and wherein sensing a second event includes detecting a body temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a first haptic feedback further comprises activating the first component to generate the first haptic feedback.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing a first event includes detecting a predefined movement from a distance and transmitting information indicating the movement over the wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing a first event includes detecting a moving object in an ambient environment and calculating a speed of the moving object and direction of the moving object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein generating a first haptic feedback in response to the first haptic signal further includes generating haptic feedback emulating natural sensation associated to the moving object.