Haptic communication devices
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving an input signal associated with a position of a handheld communication device;
determining a distance between the handheld communication device and a predetermined location based on the position of the handheld communication device;
outputting a control signal to an actuator coupled to a housing of the handheld communication device, the control signal based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location; and
causing a haptic effect to be output by the actuator based on the control signal, the haptic effect comprising a number of a plurality of vibrations that varies based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location, wherein the number of the plurality of vibrations provides a quantitative measure of the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for providing customized “haptic messaging” to users of handheld communication devices in a variety of applications. In one embodiment, a method of using haptic effects to relate location information includes: receiving an input signal associated with a position of a handheld communication device (100); determining the position of the handheld communication device (100) relative to a predetermined location; and providing a haptic effect associated with a distance between the position of the handheld communication device (100) and the predetermined location. In another embodiment, a handheld communication device (100) can be used as a two-way haptic remote control.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving an input signal associated with a position of a handheld communication device; determining a distance between the handheld communication device and a predetermined location based on the position of the handheld communication device; outputting a control signal to an actuator coupled to a housing of the handheld communication device, the control signal based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location; and causing a haptic effect to be output by the actuator based on the control signal, the haptic effect comprising a number of a plurality of vibrations that varies based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location, wherein the number of the plurality of vibrations provides a quantitative measure of the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor configure the processor to perform one or more operations, the operations, comprising:
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receiving an input signal associated with a position of a handheld communication device; determining a distance between the handheld communication device and a predetermined location based on the input signal; outputting a control signal to an actuator coupled to a housing of the handheld communication device, the control signal based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location; and causing a haptic effect to be output by the actuator based on the control signal, the haptic effect comprising a number of a plurality of vibrations that varies based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location, wherein the number of the plurality of vibrations provides a quantitative measure of the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A handheld communication device, comprising:
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a housing; an actuator coupled to the housing; and a processor coupled to the housing, the processor configured to; receive an input signal associated with a position of the handheld communication device; determine a distance between the handheld communication device and a predetermined location based on the input signal; output a control signal to the actuator, the control signal based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location; and cause a haptic effect to be output by the actuator based on the control signal, the haptic effect comprising a number of a plurality of vibrations that varies based on the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location, wherein the number of the plurality of vibrations provides a quantitative measure of the determined distance between the position of the handheld communication device and the predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification