Haptic feedback device
First Claim
1. A joystick apparatus comprising:
- a base;
a graspable handle coupled to the base and moveable in a plurality of rotatable degrees of freedom with respect to the base;
a sensor configured to sense movement of the handle relative to the base about the plurality rotatable degrees of freedom, the sensor configured to output a sensor signal to a processor; and
an actuator comprising a stationary portion and moving portion, the stationary portion coupled to the base and the moving portion coupled to the handle, the moving portion configured to move between an extended and a retracted position relative to the stationary portion when activated to provide a force sensation to the handle along an axis oriented along a length of the handle, the actuator further comprising a spring coupled between the stationary portion and the moving portion, the spring configured to bias the moving portion to an extended position along the axis, and wherein the actuator is configured to be activated upon receiving a control signal from the processor in response to the sensor signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force feedback interface and method including an actuator in a non-primary axis or degree of freedom. The force feedback interface device is connected to a host computer that implements a host application program or graphical environment. The interface device includes a user manipulatable object, a sensor for detecting movement of the user object, and an actuator to apply output forces to the user object. The actuator outputs a force sensation on the user object in non-primary axis or degree of freedom. Force sensations such as a jolt, vibration, a constant force, and a texture force can be output on the user object with the actuator. The force sensations can be output in a direction perpendicular to a planar degree of freedom, radial to spherical degree of freedom, and/or along a lengthwise axis of the user object. The system may be utilized where multiple users are able to manipulate respective user manipulatable objects to interact with one another over a network environment and experience the non-primary degree of freedom/axis force sensation.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A joystick apparatus comprising:
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a base; a graspable handle coupled to the base and moveable in a plurality of rotatable degrees of freedom with respect to the base; a sensor configured to sense movement of the handle relative to the base about the plurality rotatable degrees of freedom, the sensor configured to output a sensor signal to a processor; and an actuator comprising a stationary portion and moving portion, the stationary portion coupled to the base and the moving portion coupled to the handle, the moving portion configured to move between an extended and a retracted position relative to the stationary portion when activated to provide a force sensation to the handle along an axis oriented along a length of the handle, the actuator further comprising a spring coupled between the stationary portion and the moving portion, the spring configured to bias the moving portion to an extended position along the axis, and wherein the actuator is configured to be activated upon receiving a control signal from the processor in response to the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A steering wheel apparatus, comprising:
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a base; a wheel adapted to be manipulated by a user using physical contact, the wheel having a shaft oriented about an axis and coupled to the base, wherein the wheel is rotatable about the axis with respect to the base; a sensor coupled to the wheel and configured to sense rotation of the wheel relative to the base along the axis, the sensor configured to output a sensor signal corresponding to the sensed rotation to a processor; and an actuator comprising a stationary portion and moving portion, the stationary portion coupled to the base and the moving portion coupled to the shaft, the moving portion configured to move between an extended and a retracted position relative to the stationary portion when activated to provide a force sensation to the wheel along the axis, the actuator further comprising a spring coupled between the stationary portion and the moving portion, the spring configured to bias the moving portion to an extended position along the axis and wherein the actuator is activated upon receiving a control signal from the processor in response to the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A stylus, comprising:
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a cylindrical body configured to be held by a user, the cylindrical body including a tip at a first end, the tip including a ball therein adapted to be in contact with a substantially planar surface, the tip configured to allow the ball to freely rotate when the tip is moved along the planar surface; and an actuator positioned within the cylindrical body and comprising a stationary portion and moving portion, the moving portion configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the stationary portion when activated by a control signal from a processor to provide a force sensation to the cylindrical body along an axis oriented along a length of the cylindrical body, the actuator further comprising a spring coupled between the stationary portion and the moving portion, the spring configured to bias the moving portion to an extended position along the axis, and wherein the actuator is configured to apply a force to the ball to output a force sensation to be felt by the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A video game system comprising:
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a plurality of interface devices, each coupled to a respective host computer communicating with a host application program over a network, each interface device having a user manipulatable object configured to move in at least one primary degree of freedom; each interface device having an actuator comprising a stationary portion and moving portion, the moving portion configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the stationary portion to produce a force sensation on the user manipulatable object along a non-primary degree of freedom upon receiving a control signal from its respective host computer, each actuator further comprising a spring coupled between the stationary portion and the moving portion, the spring configured to bias the moving portion to an extended position along the axis; each interface device having a sensor configured to the sense movement of the user manipulatable object in the at least one primary degree of freedom, each sensor configured to provide a sensor signal associated with the sensed movement to the host application program via its respective host computer, wherein the host application program notifies at least one of the host computers to send the control signal to its respective actuator to output the linear force sensation in response to the sensor signal.
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Specification