Haptically enhanced interactivity with interactive content

• US 9,727,217 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Birnbaum, David M., Grant, Danny A., Heubel, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nam, Hyun
• Application Number:
  US14/293,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20140281958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 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 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers

Abstract

Interactive content may be presented to a user that is manipulating a peripheral. One or more state parameters that are related to the position of the peripheral may be determined. The peripheral may be identified from a plurality of possible peripherals. The interactive content may be adjusted based at least in part on the one or more position parameters and/or the identification of the peripheral. Haptic feedback to be provided to the user may be determined based at least in part on the one or more position parameters and/or the identification of the peripheral.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a manipulatable input device movable through real space in at least three degrees of freedom, the manipulatable input device incorporating a haptic output device;

a processor in communication with the haptic output device;

a memory on which instructions executable by the processor are stored for causing the processor to;

receive one or more sensor signals indicating a position of the manipulatable input device in the at least three degrees of freedom and an identification of the manipulatable input device;

establish a communication pathway between the manipulatable input device and the processor;

after establishing the communication pathway, determine a feedback parameter based at least in part on the position of the manipulatable input device in the at least three degrees of freedom and the identification of the manipulatable input device; and

transmit a haptic signal to the haptic output device, the haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output a haptic effect according to the feedback parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the manipulatable input device comprises an accessory.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the manipulatable input device further comprises a base device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the base device comprises the haptic output device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the manipulatable input device comprises a plurality of accessories.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the accessory comprises a paper-like form factor.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the accessory comprises a book-like form factor and at least one page that includes embedded information configured to trigger presentation of interactive content by a content output appliance.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the accessory comprises a wearable accessory or clothing.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the accessory comprises a mobile telephone.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect is further based on interactive content.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor configured to detect the position of the manipulatable input device in the at least three degrees of freedom and transmit a first sensor signal; and

an identification sensor configured to identify the manipulatable input device and transmit a second sensor signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein an electronic display configured to display content is disposed on the manipulatable input device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the content comprises interactive content.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic display comprises a touchscreen.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the manipulatable input device comprises a user interface configured to present user configurable settings and receive selections of values for the user configurable settings.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the haptic signal in response to interactive content comprising a virtual hand contacting another virtual hand being output on a display.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the identification sensor is configured to identify the manipulatable input device based on a visual characteristic of the manipulatable input device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect comprises changing a shape of a deformation feature of the manipulatable input device.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, one or more sensor signals indicating a position of a manipulatable input device in at least three degrees of freedom and an identification of the manipulatable input device, wherein the manipulatable input device incorporates a haptic output device;

establishing, by the processor, a communication pathway between the manipulatable input device and the processor;

after establishing the communication pathway, determining by the processor a feedback parameter based at least in part on the position of a manipulatable input device in the at least three degrees of freedom and the identification of the manipulatable input device; and

transmitting, by the processor, a haptic signal to the haptic output device, the haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output a haptic effect according to the feedback parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying the manipulatable input device from a plurality of manipulatable input devices based on the one or more sensor signals; and

adjusting interactive content output to a user via a content output appliance based at least in part on the identification of the manipulatable input device.