System and method for haptic display of data transfers

• US 9,417,694 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Birnbaum, David M., Ullrich, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sitta, Grant
• Application Number:
  US12/609,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20110102332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 345/156
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method is disclosed for transferring digital information from a first electronic device to a second electronic device. In one example, the first device is a computer having a touch screen and the second device is a personal memory device carried or worn by an individual. The method includes selecting information on the first electronic device to be transferred, which can be done by touching the touch screen and performing a predefined finger gesture on the screen. Next, communication is established between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, preferably through a wireless connection such as Bluetooth. The selected information from the first electronic device then begins to upload to the second electronic device. As the information is transferred, vibrotactile sensations are imparted to the body of an individual with the vibrotactile sensations being indicative of the upload of information. For instance, sensations might be sequentially imparted in a line along an individual'"'"'s arm to convey the progress of information upload to the individual.

Claims

1. A method of transferring digital information from a first electronic device to a second electronic device comprising:

receiving a selection of information on the first electronic device to be transferred to the second electronic device;

establishing communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

causing the selected information to be transferred from the first electronic device to the second electronic device, wherein the second electronic device stores the selected information based on the transfer;

imparting a first vibrotactile sensation that indicates a beginning of the transfer of the selected information;

imparting a second vibrotactile sensation that indicates a progress of the transfer of the selected information, wherein imparting the second vibrotactile sensation comprises

imparting vibrotactile sensations sequentially in a predetermined spatial array via an array of vibrotactile actuators disposed in a band or sleeve worn on the individual'"'"'s arm based on the progress of the transfer of the selected information;

imparting a third vibrotactile sensation that indicates a completion of the transfer of the selected information; and

imparting a continuous or intermittent vibrotactile sensation after the third vibrotactile sensation to indicate that the selected information is stored at the second electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information or an icon representing the information is displayed on a touch screen of the first electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the selection of information on the first electronic device further comprises receiving a touch on the touch screen in the vicinity of the displayed information or icon.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving a touch on the touch screen further comprises receiving a hand gesture on the touch screen.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device further comprises establishing wireless communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device comprises a personal storage device.

7. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

wirelessly receiving the selected information and storing, at the personal storage device, the selected information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the selected information to be transferred from the first electronic device to the second electronic device further comprises causing the selected information to be wirelessly transmitted to the second electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial array comprises a line.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is a cell phone and the second electronic device is a wristwatch.

10. A method of providing an indication of a transfer of information between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the method comprising:

imparting a first vibrotactile sensation that indicates a beginning of the transfer of information between the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

imparting a second vibrotactile sensation that indicates a progress of the transfer of information between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, wherein imparting the second vibrotactile sensation comprises

imparting vibrotactile sensations sequentially in a predetermined spatial array via an array of vibrotactile actuators disposed in a band or sleeve worn on the individual'"'"'s arm based on the progress of the transfer of the information;

imparting a third vibrotactile sensation that indicates a completion of the transfer of information; and

imparting a continuous or intermittent vibrotactile sensation after the third vibrotactile sensation to indicate that the information is stored at the second electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first electronic device comprises a computer and the second electronic device comprises a personal storage device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer includes a touch screen display and wherein the information to be transferred is selected based on the touch screen display being engaged by a user in a predetermined manner.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the first electronic device is a cell phone and the second electronic device is a wristwatch.

13. A vibrotactile display device comprising:

a plurality of vibrotactile actuators arranged in a predetermined array on a wearable item with a first vibrotactile actuator, a second vibrotactile actuator, and a third vibrotactile actuator being arranged in a line, the wearable item configured to be worn by an individual on a predetermined portion of the body; and

an actuator controller coupled to the plurality of vibrotactile actuators, the controller being configured to;

actuate the first vibrotactile actuator to impart a first vibrotactile sensation to the predetermined portion of the body that indicates a beginning of a transfer of information between a first electronic device and a second electronic device;

actuate the first vibrotactile actuator, the second vibrotactile actuator and the third vibrotactile actuator sequentially along the line to sequentially impart the first vibrotactile sensation, a second vibrotactile sensation, and a third vibrotactile sensation, respectively, to the predetermined portion of the body that indicates a progress of the transfer of information between the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

actuate the third vibrotactile actuator to impart the third vibrotactile sensation to the predetermined portion of the body that indicates a completion of the transfer of information between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

actuate the first vibrotactile actuator, the second vibrotactile actuator, and/or the third vibrotactile actuator to impart a continuous or intermittent vibrotactile sensation to the predetermined portion of the body after the third vibrotactile sensation to indicate that the selected information is stored at the second electronic device.

14. The vibrotactile display device of claim 13, wherein the wearable item is an armband.

15. The vibrotactile display device of claim 13, wherein the first vibrotactile actuator, the second vibrotactile actuator, and the third vibrotactile actuator are actuated sequentially along the line in a first direction to indicate progress of an upload of information between the first electronic device to the second electronic device.

16. The vibrotactile display device of claim 15, wherein the first vibrotactile actuator, the second vibrotactile actuator, and the third vibrotactile actuator are actuated sequentially along the line in a second direction opposite the first direction to indicate progress of a download of information between the second electronic device to the first electronic device.

17. The vibrotactile display device of claim 13, wherein the first vibrotactile sensation imparted by the first vibrotactile actuator is a different vibrotactile haptic effect from the second vibrotactile sensation imparted by the second vibrotactile actuator.

18. The vibrotactile display device of claim 14, wherein the armband is coupled to a memory device configured to store transferred information.

21. The vibrotactile display device of claim 13, wherein the wearable item is a wristwatch.