Force feedback system including multi-tasking graphical host environment
DCFirst Claim
1. A software method in a multi-tasking environment comprising:
- concurrently running a plurality of application programs, wherein each application program includes one or more data sets, each data set comprising a representation of one or more force effects;
receiving from an active application program a force effect command;
generating a signal representing the force effect command; and
outputting a force effect based on the signal.
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Abstract
A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and graphical object positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A software method in a multi-tasking environment comprising:
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concurrently running a plurality of application programs, wherein each application program includes one or more data sets, each data set comprising a representation of one or more force effects; receiving from an active application program a force effect command; generating a signal representing the force effect command; and outputting a force effect based on the signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A software method in a multi-tasking environment comprising:
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storing a plurality of representations of force effects in memory, wherein each representation of a force effect is associated with an application program; running a plurality of application programs in the multi-tasking environment concurrently; making one of the plurality of concurrently running application programs active; receiving from the active application program a force effect command; and generating a signal representing the force effect command. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A haptic computer system comprising:
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a computer memory for storing a plurality of application programs; a means for concurrently running more than one of the a plurality of application programs in a multi-tasking environment; a means for making one of the plurality of concurrently running application programs the active application program; and a force sensation generator configured to output one or more force sensations associated with the active application program.
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11. A haptic computer system comprising:
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a computer memory configured to store a plurality of application programs that command force sensations; a processor configured to run more than one of the plurality of application programs concurrently; an operating system configured to provide a multi-tasking environment for the plurality of application programs, wherein one of the plurality of concurrently running applications is an active application program; and an actuator configured to output one or more force sensations commanded by the active application program.
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Specification