Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes

• US 9,612,662 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Birnbaum, David M., Ullrich, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US14/712,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20150268727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345169, 345173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 : Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications

Abstract

Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal associated with a mode of interaction, the mode of interaction associated with one or more of an active mode of interaction or a passive mode of interaction;

receiving a second signal associated with a user interaction;

determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction and the user interaction; and

generating a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the active mode of interaction to the passive mode of interaction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the passive mode of interaction to the active mode of interaction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is controlled to return to a default setting after a period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal is received from a sensor configured to detect one or more of an orientation or movement of an electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction comprises an interaction with a touch surface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user interaction further comprises interaction with one or more objects displayed in a graphical user interface associated with the touch surface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mode of interaction comprises the active mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with a virtual object.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the mode of interaction comprises the passive mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with one or more surface features of a virtual object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal is received from a sensor configured to detect one or more of an orientation or movement of an electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user interaction comprises one or more of:

tilting, shaking, rotating, or moving the electronic device.

12. A portable device comprising:

a first sensor configured to output a first sensor signal associated with a mode of interaction, the mode of interaction associated with one or more of an active mode of interaction or a passive mode of interaction;

a second sensor configured to output a second sensor signal associated with a user interaction; and

a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to;

determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction and the user interaction; and

output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

13. The portable device of claim 12, wherein the first sensor signal is associated with changing from the active mode of interaction to the passive mode of interaction.

14. The portable device of claim 12, wherein the second sensor signal is associated with changing from the passive mode of interaction to the active mode of interaction.

15. The portable device of claim 12, wherein the user interaction comprises interaction with one or more objects displayed in a graphical user interface.

16. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the mode of interaction comprises the active mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with a virtual object.

17. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the mode of interaction comprises the passive mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with one or more surface features of a virtual object.

18. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:

receive a first signal associated with a mode of interaction, the mode of interaction associated with one or more of an active mode of interaction or a passive mode of interaction;

receive a second signal associated with a user interaction;

determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction and the user interaction; and

output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

19. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the active mode of interaction to the passive mode of interaction.

20. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the passive mode of interaction to the active mode of interaction.