Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation

• US 9,358,689 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Ramsay, Erin B., da Costa, Henrique D., Olien, Neil, Lacroix, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Application Number:
  US12/615,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/4.12
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1689 Teleoperation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40619 Haptic, combination of tactile and proprioceptive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal including a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an actuator; and

a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to;

receive a 2-bit signal comprising a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and

transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate in the actuation state at a fixed power.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of the actuator is configured to generate a haptic effect.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the haptic effect is a click.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed power is substantially the maximum power of the actuator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises an H-bridge.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a relay.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuation state comprises a direction in which the actuator will apply torque.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuation state comprises one of:

braking, pulsing, or bending.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

determine if the power state is on; and

determine the actuation state.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising a digital control circuit configured to transmit the 2-bit message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital control circuit is further configured to determine a length of time to power the actuator.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital control circuit comprises a processor.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital control circuit comprises a Field Programmable Gate Array.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a manipulandum configured to transmit signals to the digital control circuit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the haptic effect is output onto the manipulandum.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the manipulandum comprises a touch-sensitive interface.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to contain the control circuit and the actuator.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a mobile device housing.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a greeting card.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a remote control housing.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a 2-bit message comprising a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state;

transmitting a power signal to an actuator based on the 2-bit message, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate in the indicated actuation state at a fixed power, the actuator configured to generate a haptic effect.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the haptic effect is a click.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining if the power state is on; and

determining the actuation state.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving an input signal from a manipulandum.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining a length of time to output the haptic effect.

26. A system comprising:

a processor configured to transmit a 2-bit message comprising a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state;

a control-circuit in communication with the processor, the control circuit configured to;

receive the 2-bit message;

determine if the power state is on;

determine the actuation state; and

output a power signal to a motor in communication with the control circuit, the power signal configured to cause the motor to operate at the actuation state at substantially the maximum speed of the motor;

a manipulandum configured to detect user interaction and transmit an interface signal to the processor; and

a housing configured to enclose the processor, control circuit, manipulandum, and motor.