Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes

• US 8,462,125 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Birnbaum, David M., Ullrich, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US12/502,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 : Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications

Abstract

Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is a virtual messaging environment, and the mode of interaction is associated with a virtual message object in the virtual messaging environment, the virtual message object having a virtual physical parameter;

receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface, wherein the interaction is associated with the virtual message object in the virtual messaging environment;

determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the interaction with the virtual messaging object, the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface, and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and

generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the haptic signal to the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to output the haptic effect.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual message object comprises a token.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual message object comprises a data file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual message object comprises one of:

a ball, a tube, a balloon, a capsule, or an egg.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual physical parameter comprises one or more of:

a size, a mass, a shape, a collision behavior, a friction profile or a texture profile.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode of interaction comprises a passive mode of interaction.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the haptic effect comprises one or more of:

feedback representing texture, feedback representing tension, or feedback representing grip.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction comprises an active mode of interaction.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the haptic effect comprises one or more of:

feedback representing a flick, feedback representing a stroke, feedback representing popping, feedback representing cracking, feedback representing friction, feedback representing a collision, feedback representing collisions, or feedback representing movement.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal indicates a change in the mode of interaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is controlled to return to a default setting after a period of time.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect:

touch, pressure, acceleration, inclination, or inertia.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, the program code comprising:

program code to receive a first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is a virtual messaging environment and the mode of interaction is associated with a virtual message object in the virtual messaging environment, the virtual message object having a virtual physical parameter;

program code to receive a second signal associated with a user interaction with the graphical user interface, wherein the interaction is associated with the virtual message object in the virtual messaging environment;

program code to determine a haptic effect based, at least in part, on the interaction with the virtual messaging object, the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface, and the type of interaction with the graphical user interface; and

program code to generate a haptic signal configured to generate the haptic effect.

15. A system, comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting a user interaction and generating a first signal;

a processor configured to;

receive the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is a virtual messaging environment and wherein the mode of interaction is associated with a virtual message object in the virtual messaging environment, the virtual message object having a virtual physical parameter;

receive a second signal associated with a type of interaction with the graphical user interface, wherein the interaction is associated with the virtual message object in the virtual messaging environment;

determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the interaction with the virtual messaging object, the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface, and the type of interaction with the graphical user interface; and

generate a haptic signal configured to generate the haptic effect; and

an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal and generate the haptic effect.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a display configured to display a visual representation of the graphical user interface.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second signal is generated by a touch-screen.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first signal indicates a change in the mode of interaction.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first signal is controlled by a switch.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises one of:

a pressure sensor, gyroscopic sensor, accelerometer, or a touch-sensitive input device.