System for haptically representing sensor input

• US 9,116,546 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Birnbaum, David, Ullrich, Christopher J., Grant, Danny, Modarres, Ali, Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US13/597,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 340/4.12, 340/539.12, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/475, 340/573.1, 340/573.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A haptic representation system is provided that generates a haptic effect in response to sensor input. The sensor input is mapped to a haptic signal. The haptic signal is sent to an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal. The actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the haptic effect.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a haptic effect, the generating the haptic effect comprising:

receiving input from a sensor, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information, wherein the input further comprises one or more interaction parameters, and wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

mapping the received input to a haptic signal; and

sending the haptic signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect;

the mapping the received input to the haptic signal further comprising modulating the haptic signal when new input is received, wherein the new received input comprises an update of at least one value of at least one interaction parameter of the received input; and

the sending the haptic signal to the actuator to generate the haptic effect further comprising sending the modulated haptic signal to the actuator to modulate the generated haptic effect.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1,

the mapping the received input to the haptic signal further comprising generating the haptic signal when the value of at least one interaction parameter exceeds a specified value.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a vibration actuator, and wherein the haptic effect generated by the vibration actuator comprises a vibration haptic effect.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a deformation actuator, and wherein the haptic effect generated by the deformation actuator comprises a deformation haptic effect.

5. A computer-implemented method for generating a haptic effect, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving input from a sensor, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information, wherein the input further comprises one or more interaction parameters, and wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

mapping the received input to a haptic signal; and

sending the haptic signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect;

the mapping the received input to the haptic signal further comprising modulating the haptic signal when new input is received, wherein the new received input comprises an update of at least one value of at least one interaction parameter of the received input; and

the sending the haptic signal to the actuator to generate the haptic effect further comprising sending the modulated haptic signal to the actuator to modulate the generated haptic effect.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5,

the mapping the received input to the haptic signal further comprising generating the haptic signal when the value of at least one interaction parameter exceeds a specified value.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a vibration actuator, and wherein the haptic effect generated by the vibration actuator comprises a vibration haptic effect.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a deformation actuator, and wherein the haptic effect generated by the deformation actuator comprises a deformation haptic effect.

9. A haptic representation system comprising:

a memory configured to store a haptic representation module;

a processor configured to execute the haptic representation module stored on the memory; and

an actuator configured to output one or more haptic effects;

wherein the haptic representation module is configured to receive input from a sensor, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information, wherein the input further comprises one or more interaction parameters, and wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to map the received input to a haptic signal;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to send the haptic signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to modulate the haptic signal when new input is received, wherein the new input comprises an update of at least one value of at least one interaction parameter of the received input; and

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to send the modulated haptic signal to the actuator to modulate the generated haptic effect.

10. The haptic representation system of claim 9,

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to generate the haptic signal when the value of at least one interaction parameter exceeds a specified value.

11. The haptic representation system of claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises a vibration actuator, and wherein the haptic effect generated by the vibration actuator comprises a vibration haptic effect.

12. The haptic representation system of claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises a deformation actuator, and wherein the haptic effect generated by the deformation actuator comprises a deformation haptic effect.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a haptic effect, the generating the haptic effect comprising:

receiving input from a sensor, wherein the input further comprises one or more interaction parameters, and wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

mapping the received input to a haptic signal; and

sending the haptic signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect;

wherein the haptic signal is at least one of a force haptic signal, a deformation haptic signal, or an impedance haptic signal;

wherein the haptic effect is at least one of a force haptic effect, a deformation haptic effect, or an impedance haptic effect;

the mapping the received input to the haptic signal further comprising modulating the haptic signal when new input is received, wherein the new received input comprises an update of at least one value of at least one interaction parameter of the received input; and

the sending the haptic signal to the actuator to generate the haptic effect further comprising sending the modulated haptic signal to the actuator to modulate the generated haptic effect.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the haptic effect is a force haptic effect, and wherein the force haptic effect causes a device to apply a force to a user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the force haptic effect causes the device to apply pressure to the user'"'"'s body.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the haptic effect is a deformation haptic effect, and wherein the deformation haptic effect causes a device to deform.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the deformation haptic effect causes the device to modify at least one of a macro-shape of the device or a texture of the device, and wherein the deformation of the devices comprises at least one of a visual deformation, a haptic deformation, a quasi-static deformation, or a dynamic deformation.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the haptic effect is an impedance haptic effect, and wherein the impedance haptic effect causes a device to produce a mechanical impedance in response to user input.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the impedance haptic effect causes the device to stiffen in response to pressure that is applied to the device by a user.

21. A computer-implemented method for generating a haptic effect, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving input from a sensor, wherein the input further comprises one or more interaction parameters, and wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

mapping the received input to a haptic signal; and

sending the haptic signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect;

wherein the haptic signal is at least one of a force haptic signal, a deformation haptic signal, or an impedance haptic signal;

wherein the haptic effect is at least one of a force haptic effect, a deformation haptic effect, or an impedance haptic effect;

the mapping the received input to the haptic signal further comprising modulating the haptic signal when new input is received, wherein the new received input comprises an update of at least one value of at least one interaction parameter of the received input; and

the sending the haptic signal to the actuator to generate the haptic effect further comprising sending the modulated haptic signal to the actuator to modulate the generated haptic effect.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the haptic effect is a force haptic effect, and wherein the force haptic effect causes a device to apply a force to a user.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the haptic effect is a deformation haptic effect, and wherein the deformation haptic effect causes a device to deform.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the haptic effect is an impedance haptic effect, and wherein the impedance haptic effect causes a device to produce a mechanical impedance in response to user input.

26. A haptic representation system comprising:

a memory configured to store a haptic representation module;

a processor configured to execute the haptic representation module stored on the memory; and

an actuator configured to output one or more haptic effects;

wherein the haptic representation module is configured to receive input from a sensor, wherein the input further comprises one or more interaction parameters, and wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to map the received input to a haptic signal;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to send the haptic signal to an actuator to generate the haptic effect;

wherein the haptic signal is at least one of a force haptic signal, a deformation haptic signal, or an impedance haptic signal;

wherein the haptic effect is at least one of a force haptic effect, a deformation haptic effect, or an impedance haptic effect;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to modulate the haptic signal when new input is received, wherein the new input comprises an update of at least one value of at least one interaction parameter of the received input; and

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to send the modulated haptic signal to the actuator to modulate the generated haptic effect.

27. The haptic representation system of claim 26, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information.

28. The haptic representation system of claim 26, wherein the haptic effect is a force haptic effect, and wherein the force haptic effect causes a device to apply a force to a user.

29. The haptic representation system of claim 26, wherein the haptic effect is a deformation haptic effect, and wherein the deformation haptic effect causes a device to deform.

30. The haptic representation system of claim 26, wherein the haptic effect is an impedance haptic effect, and wherein the impedance haptic effect causes a device to produce a mechanical impedance in response to user input.