Vector-specific haptic feedback

• US 8,525,782 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Cody George, Huska, Andrew Parris, Schlosser, James William, Krumpelman, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUBER, PAUL W
• Application Number:
  US13/488,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, vector-specific movement can be imparted to a user interface device (UID) to provide vector-specific haptic feedback. In at least some embodiments, this vectored movement can be based on input received by the UID. The input can include information associated with the user'"'"'s interaction with an associated device integrated with or communicatively linked with the UID, and or with an application implemented on the associated device. In at least some embodiments, the UID can be configured with a controller, a microprocessor(s), and a vector-specific actuator that includes an electrically-deformable material.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, on a user interface device (UID), an input, the input including event-associated information, the event-associated information based on a user'"'"'s interaction with an application implemented on associated device; and

responsive to receiving the input, imparting individual vector-specific movements to the UID via an electrically-deformable material associated with the UID, wherein a direction or a magnitude of the individual vector-specific movements is based, at least in part, on the input and at least two of the individual vector-specific movements overlap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UID is selected from a group consisting of a component of the associated device, a component integrated with the associated device, and a component separate from and communicatively linked with the associated device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the imparting the individual vector-specific movements to the UID comprises:

utilizing the event-associated information to determine one or more drive parameters, wherein the one or more drive parameters specify the direction or the magnitude of the individual vector-specific movements; and

applying, in accordance with the one or more drive parameters, one or more drive voltages to the electrically-deformable material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the direction or the magnitude of the one or more vector-specific movements is further based at least in part on information other than the input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information other than the input comprises information is associated with an orientation of the UID.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

an electroactive polymer and a conductive material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the imparting the individual vector-specific movements to the UID comprises overlapping three of the individual vector-specific movements to impart a three-dimensional haptic feedback to the UID.

8. A user interface device, comprising;

a controller configured to receive an input, the input including information about an event associated with an application implemented on an associated device communicatively linked with the user interface device;

an actuator interface module configured to apply one or more drive voltages to one or more regions of a vector-specific actuator, the vector-specific actuator configured to impart individual vector-specific movements to the user interface device, each of the individual vector-specific movements correlating with a portion of the event associated with the application implemented on the communicatively linked associated device wherein at least two of the individual vector-specific movements overlap in accordance with the event; and

an electrically-deformable material associated with the controller and configured to be electrically driven to impart the individual vector-specific movement to the user interface device, wherein a direction or a magnitude of the vector-specific movement is based at least in part on the input.

9. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein the user interface device is selected from a group consisting of:

a video game controller, a mouse, a key or keyboard element, and a component of a computing device.

10. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein three of the individual vector- specific movements overlap to impart three-dimensional haptic feedback.

11. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to utilize the input to determine one or more drive parameters, wherein the one or more drive parameters specify at least one of the direction, the magnitude, a start time, or a duration time of the individual vector-specific movements.

12. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein the actuator interface module is further configured to cause the one or more drive voltages to be applied to the electrically deformable material sufficient to impart the individual vector-specific movements.

13. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electroactive polymer.

14. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises conductive material.

15. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein one or both of the direction or the magnitude of the individual vector-specific movements is further based at least in part on information other than the input, wherein the information other than the input comprises information associated with an orientation of the user interface device.

16. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein the information about the event is selected from a group consisting of event acceleration, event magnitude, event timing, and event direction.

17. A controller for a user interface device (UID) comprising:

an input receiver configured to receive an input from an associated device, the input including event-associated information based on a user'"'"'s interaction with the associated device;

a vector movement determiner configured to determine directions or magnitudes of at least two individual vector-specific movements based, at least in part, on the input, the at least two individual vector-specific movements to be applied to the UID in an overlapping way; and

an electrically-deformable material driver configured to impart the at least two individual vector-specific movement in the overlapping way via an electrically-deformable material associated with the UID.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the vector movement determiner is configured to determine the directions or magnitudes by:

utilizing the event-associated information to determine one or more drive parameters specifying the directions or the magnitudes; and

applying one or more drive voltages to the electrically-deformable material in accordance with the one or more drive parameters.

19. The controller of claim 17, wherein the directions or the magnitudes are further based at least in part on an orientation of the UID.

20. The controller of claim 17, wherein the vector movement determiner is configured to determine the directions or magnitudes by determining at least three individual vector-specific movements, and wherein the electrically-deformable material driver is configured to impart the at least two individual vector-specific movement in the overlapping way by overlapping at least three of the individual vector-specific movements.