Gaming accessory with sensory feedback device

• US 9,423,874 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Original Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Inventors: Mahlmeister, Jeffrey Nicholas, Hawver, Bruce, Wolff-Petersen, Jacob, Rom, Kim, Grever, Francis Arnold, Soelberg, Tino
• Primary Examiner(s): GIESY, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US13/957,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a device comprising a processor, a first signal from a motion-sensitive component of the device; receiving, by the device, a second signal from a touch-sensitive interface of the device, detecting, by the device, from a combined signal comprising the first signal and the second signal, a selection of a portion of the device; and causing, by the device, a sensory feedback generator to provide a feedback signal in accordance with the combined signal. The feedback signal may comprise an audible sound, a visual effect, a tactile effect, or any combination thereof. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive interface comprising a plurality of regions, each region bounded at least in part by a boundary defined by a user drawing;

a motion-sensitive component;

a haptic feedback generator;

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive interface, the motion-sensitive component, the haptic feedback generator and the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

receiving a first signal from the motion-sensitive component;

receiving a second signal from the touch-sensitive interface, wherein the second signal is associated with a region of the plurality of regions;

detecting from a combined signal, comprising the first signal and the second signal, a selection of the region; and

causing the haptic feedback generator to provide a haptic signal in accordance with the combined signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion-sensitive component comprises an actuator of a switch, and the first signal indicates movement of the touch-sensitive interface.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive interface comprises a capacitive sensor for detecting physical contact of the touch-sensitive interface by a user.

4. The device of claim 1,

wherein the second signal comprises a coordinate signal generated by the touch-sensitive interface indicating a location on the device of the selected region, and

wherein the operations further comprise detecting the location in accordance with the coordinate signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the haptic signal indicates a location of the selected region.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the boundary is defined by drawing on an image of the touch-sensitive interface using a graphical user interface.

7. The device of claim 1,

wherein the haptic signal comprises a vibration in the device, and

wherein the vibration has a frequency, an amplitude, a number of pulses, or a duration in accordance with a location of the selected region.

8. The device of claim 1,

wherein the touch-sensitive interface comprises light emitting material, and

wherein the haptic feedback generator provides a visual signal by selectively enabling a portion of the light emitting material corresponding to the selected region.

9. The device of claim 1,

wherein the touch-sensitive interface comprises a shape-shifting material, and

wherein the haptic feedback generator provides a tactile haptic signal by selectively causing formation of a shape corresponding to the selected region.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting to a computing device a third signal indicating the selection.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the selection corresponds to an expected user instruction relative to a use of the device; and

providing an additional haptic signal in accordance with the selection not corresponding to the expected user instruction.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first signal from a motion-sensitive component of a device;

receiving a second signal from a touch-sensitive interface of the device, wherein the second signal is associated with a region of a plurality of regions of the touch-sensitive interface, each region of the plurality of regions bounded at least in part by a boundary defined by a user drawing;

detecting from a combined signal, comprising the first signal and the second signal, a selection of the region; and

causing a haptic feedback generator of the device to provide a haptic signal in accordance with the combined signal.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first signal indicates movement of the touch-sensitive interface.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the second signal indicates physical contact of the touch-sensitive interface by a user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12,

wherein the second signal comprises a coordinate signal generated by the touch-sensitive interface indicating a location on the device of the selected region, and

wherein the operations further comprise detecting the location in accordance with the coordinate signal.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the haptic signal indicates a location of the selected region.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the boundary is defined by drawing on an image of the touch-sensitive interface using a graphical user interface.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, by a device comprising a processor, a first signal from a motion-sensitive component of the device;

receiving, by the device, a second signal from a touch-sensitive interface of the device, wherein the second signal is associated with a region of a plurality of regions of the touch-sensitive interface, each region of the plurality of regions bounded at least in part by a boundary defined by a user drawing;

detecting, by the device, from a combined signal comprising the first signal and the second signal, a selection of the region; and

causing, by the device, a sensory feedback generator to provide a feedback signal in accordance with the combined signal.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the second signal comprises a coordinate signal generated by the touch-sensitive interface indicating a location on the device of the selected region, and further comprising detecting the location in accordance with the coordinate signal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the feedback signal indicates a location of the selected region.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the boundary is defined by drawing on an image of the touch-sensitive interface using a graphical user interface.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the feedback signal comprises an audible sound, a visual effect, a tactile effect, or any combination thereof.