Universal tactile feedback system for computer video games and simulations
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by a computer or video game system, tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:
- a hand-held game pad controller;
where said hand-held game pad controller is adapted to be held by both of a user'"'"'s hands simultaneously;
a plurality of motors, disposed within said hand-held game pad controller, for selectively generating tactile sensation as vibrations;
control circuitry, coupled to said plurality of motors, where said control circuitry is responsive to signals that are generated by said computer or video game system;
where said signals correspond to action executing on said computer or video game system;
where said control circuitry controls said plurality of motors, where at least two motors of said plurality of motors are controllable independently of each other;
where said at least two independently controllable motors each has an offset mass attached to its shaft and each said offset mass is attached to nothing else, such that when each motor is activated, its shaft rotates, such that said at least two motors each generate vibrations via the rotation of each said offset mass attached to each said shaft;
where the said rotation of each said offset mass occurs in only one direction;
where the speed of said rotation of each rotating shaft of each of said at least two motors is independently changeable in real time;
where said vibrations generated via the rotation of each said attached offset mass change in real time in accordance with said independently changing speed of rotation of said rotating shafts of said at least two motors;
where said at least two motors generate vibrations simultaneously, wherein the simultaneous vibrations are of independent intensities with respect to each other;
where said vibrations of said simultaneous independent intensities combine in said hand-held game pad controller into a simultaneous combination of vibrations;
where said simultaneous combination of vibrations is felt in both hands of the user holding the hand-held game pad controller.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A universal tactile feedback system for computer and video game systems is disclosed which provides real time tactile feedback to enhance a user'"'"'s experience while interacting with a computer/video game or simulation. The tactile feedback system operates both in host-independent and host-dependent modes, thereby allowing the system to function even when no accommodation is provided by the game or simulation system that is being used. The host-independent mode is responsive to the audio signal that is typically generated by a computer or video game system while it is executing a game or simulation. The host-dependent mode is responsive to control commands specifically generated by a computer or video game system while it is executing a game or simulation. The tactile feedback system then creates tactile sensations primarily via controller-based tactile sensation generators, such that the user feels physical sensations corresponding to events occurring within the game or simulation in real time.
-
Citations
52 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by a computer or video game system, tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:
-
a hand-held game pad controller; where said hand-held game pad controller is adapted to be held by both of a user'"'"'s hands simultaneously; a plurality of motors, disposed within said hand-held game pad controller, for selectively generating tactile sensation as vibrations; control circuitry, coupled to said plurality of motors, where said control circuitry is responsive to signals that are generated by said computer or video game system; where said signals correspond to action executing on said computer or video game system; where said control circuitry controls said plurality of motors, where at least two motors of said plurality of motors are controllable independently of each other; where said at least two independently controllable motors each has an offset mass attached to its shaft and each said offset mass is attached to nothing else, such that when each motor is activated, its shaft rotates, such that said at least two motors each generate vibrations via the rotation of each said offset mass attached to each said shaft; where the said rotation of each said offset mass occurs in only one direction; where the speed of said rotation of each rotating shaft of each of said at least two motors is independently changeable in real time; where said vibrations generated via the rotation of each said attached offset mass change in real time in accordance with said independently changing speed of rotation of said rotating shafts of said at least two motors; where said at least two motors generate vibrations simultaneously, wherein the simultaneous vibrations are of independent intensities with respect to each other; where said vibrations of said simultaneous independent intensities combine in said hand-held game pad controller into a simultaneous combination of vibrations; where said simultaneous combination of vibrations is felt in both hands of the user holding the hand-held game pad controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 52)
-
-
27. Apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by a computer or video game system, tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:
-
a pad; where said pad is adapted to be in contact with at least two different locations of a user'"'"'s body simultaneously; a plurality of motors, wherein each of said plurality of motors is disposed within said pad, or attached to the outside surface of said pad, for selectively generating tactile sensation as vibrations; control circuitry, coupled to said plurality of motors, where said control circuitry is responsive to signals that are generated by said computer or video game system; where said signals correspond to action executing on said computer or video game system; where said control circuitry controls said plurality of motors, where at least two of said plurality of motors are controllable independently of each other; where said at least two independently controllable motors each has an offset mass attached to its shaft and each said offset mass is attached to nothing else, such that when each motor is activated, its shaft rotates, such that said at least two motors each generate vibrations via the rotation of each said offset mass attached to each said shaft; where the said rotation of each said offset mass occurs in only one direction; where the speed of said rotation of each rotating shaft of each of said at least two motors is independently changeable in real time; where said vibrations generated via the rotation of each said attached offset mass change in real time in accordance with said independently changing speed of rotation of said rotating shafts of said at least two motors; where said at least two motors generate vibrations simultaneously, wherein the simultaneous vibrations are of independent intensities with respect to each other; where said vibrations of said simultaneous independent intensities combine in said pad into a simultaneous combination of vibrations; where said simultaneous combination of vibrations is felt in said at least two different locations of said user'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A system for generating tactile feedback, said system comprising:
-
a host computer; a control input device; where said control input device is adapted to be in contact with at least two different locations of a user'"'"'s body simultaneously; a plurality of motors, disposed within said control input device, for selectively generating tactile sensation as vibrations; control circuitry, coupled to said plurality of motors, where said control circuitry is responsive to signals that are generated by said host computer; where said signals correspond to actions executing on said host computer; where said control circuitry controls said plurality of motors, where at least two motors of said plurality of motors are controllable independently of each other; where said at least two independently controllable motors each has an offset mass attached to its shaft and each said offset mass is attached to nothing else, such that when each motor is activated, its shaft rotates, such that said at least two motors each generate vibrations via the rotation of each said offset mass attached to each said shaft; where the said rotation of each said offset mass occurs in only one direction; where the speed of said rotation of each rotating shaft of each of said at least two motors is independently changeable in real time; where said vibrations generated via the rotation of each said attached offset mass change in real time in accordance with said independently changing speed of rotation of said rotating shafts of said at least two motors; where said at least two motors generate vibrations simultaneously, wherein the simultaneous vibrations are of independent intensities with respect to each other; where said vibrations of said simultaneous independent intensities combine in said control input device into a simultaneous combination of vibrations; where said simultaneous combination of vibrations is felt in said at least two different locations of said user'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
Specification