Method and apparatus for providing communications with haptic cues

• US 8,523,740 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• 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:
  US13/405,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 434/258, 715/700, 715/733, 715/744, 345/156, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 600/594
• 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 system for generating haptic signals, comprising:

a sensor configured to;

detect a condition, wherein the condition is associated with a speed of a moving object detected by the sensor;

generate an input based on the condition; and

transmit the input; and

a haptic device logically coupled to the sensor, the haptic device configured to;

receive the input; and

generate a haptic feedback based on the input, wherein an intensity of the haptic feedback varies based on the speed associated with the condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to be attachable to a body.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises a physical condition.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback comprises a haptic pacing sequence.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a second sensor logically coupled to the sensor, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect a body temperature and wherein the second sensor is configured to generate a second input based on the body temperature.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the haptic device is configured to receive the second input via a wireless communications network and generate a second haptic pacing sequence based on the first input and the second input.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the second sensor is configured to be attachable to a body.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to be attachable to a wearable object to be worn by a user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the condition comprises a strain associated with the wearable object.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the strain is associated with an abnormal posture of the user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the wearable object comprises a shoe and wherein the strain associated with the wearable object comprises a pressure exerted on the shoe.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the wearable object comprises a glove and wherein the strain associated with the wearable object comprises a pressure exerted on the glove.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the haptic device are housed in a single device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic device further comprises a selector.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the selector chooses the intensity of the haptic feedback based on the condition.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the condition is associated with an abnormality of a posture of a user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic device is configured to be attachable to a body.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition is further associated with a direction of the moving object in an environment.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensor is configured to track a plurality of moving objects at substantially the same time.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the moving object comprises a vehicle, a person, or an animal.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback comprises an emulation of a natural feeling of a predictable event in an environment.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback indicates a danger.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback indicates a safe condition.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to be implanted under a skin of a user of the system.

26. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the pressure exerted on the shoe at a first side of the shoe.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a second sensor configured to detect a pressure exerted on the shoe at a second side of the shoe.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a second sensor configured to detect a weight at a second side of the shoe.

29. The system of claim 9, wherein the strain is associated with an abnormal stride of a user.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the haptic feedback indicates a location of an abnormal pressure exerted on the shoe.

31. The system of claim 9, wherein the haptic feedback indicates a location of an abnormal strain on the wearable object.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a haptic actuator.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor an ambient environment for traffic situations.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the haptic device indicates warning information regarding driving conditions.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the haptic device indicates whether a vehicle is in a blind spot.

24. A method for generating haptic signals, comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, a condition, wherein the condition is associated with a speed of a moving object detected by the sensor;

generating, by the sensor, an input based on the speed associated with the condition;

transmitting, by the sensor, the input;

receiving, by a haptic device that is logically coupled to the sensor, the input; and

generating, by the haptic device, haptic feedback based on the input, wherein an intensity of the haptic feedback varies based on the speed associated with the condition.