System for haptically representing sensor input

• US 9,501,149 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• 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:
  US14/819,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 340/4.12, 340/539.12, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/575, 345/156, 345/158, 345/173
• 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 method of generating a haptic effect comprising:

receiving input from a sensor, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information;

mapping the received input to a deformation haptic signal comprising modulating the deformation haptic signal based on an updating of the input; and

sending the deformation haptic signal to an actuator coupled to a device to generate the haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect comprises a deformation of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received input comprises interaction parameters, wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

the mapping the received input to the deformation haptic signal further comprising generating the deformation haptic signal when the value of an interaction parameter exceeds a specified value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is in contact with a user'"'"'s skin, and the input is an electrical conductance of the skin.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a housing and the deformation comprises altering a shape of the housing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the haptic effect provides directional information.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the haptic effect emulates a handshake or heartbeat.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein the deformation of the device is based on one or more characteristics of the user identified from the electrical conductance.

7. 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;

mapping the received input to a deformation haptic signal comprising modulating the deformation haptic signal based on an updating of the input; and

sending the deformation haptic signal to an actuator coupled to a device to generate the haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect comprises a deformation of the device.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the received input comprises interaction parameters, wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

the mapping the received input to the deformation haptic signal further comprising generating the deformation haptic signal when the value of an interaction parameter exceeds a specified value.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the sensor is in contact with a user'"'"'s skin, and the input is an electrical conductance of the skin.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the device comprises a housing and the deformation comprises altering a shape of the housing.

11. computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the haptic effect provides directional information.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the haptic effect emulates a handshake or heartbeat.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the deformation of the device is based on one or more characteristics of the user identified from the electrical conductance.

13. 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 a haptic effect;

wherein the haptic representation module is configured to receive input from a sensor, wherein the input comprises extra-sensory information;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to map the received input to a deformation haptic signal comprising modulating the deformation haptic signal based on an updating of the input;

wherein the haptic representation module is further configured to send the deformation haptic signal to the actuator to generate the haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect comprises a deformation of the system.

14. The haptic representation system of claim 13, wherein the received input comprises interaction parameters, wherein each interaction parameter comprises a value;

the mapping the received input to the deformation haptic signal further comprising generating the deformation haptic signal when the value of an interaction parameter exceeds a specified value.

15. The haptic representation system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is in contact with a user'"'"'s skin, and the input is an electrical conductance of the skin.

16. The haptic representation system of claim 13, further comprising a housing, wherein the deformation comprises altering a shape of the housing to provide directional information.

17. The haptic representation system of claim 13, wherein the haptic effect emulates a handshake or heartbeat.

20. The haptic representation system of claim 15, wherein the deformation of the system is based on one or more characteristics of the user identified from the electrical conductance.