Actuating at least one gyroscope to apply force at a device

• US 9,776,079 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Davis, Mark Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US14/269,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56

Abstract

In one aspect, a device includes at least one gyroscope, a processor, and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to identify a force-related parameter to apply at the device, and actuate the gyroscope to apply the force based at least in part on the identification.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

at least one gyroscope;

a processor; and

storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to;

identify a force-related parameter to apply at the device; and

based at least in part on the identification of the force-related parameter, actuate the gyroscope to apply a force at the device based at least in part on movement of the gyroscope.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the identification of the force-related parameter to apply at the device is at least partially based on a determination of movement of the device in at least a first direction and at least partially based on motion represented in audio video (AV) content.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

determine that the device is undergoing movement in a second direction at least substantially opposite the first direction; and

based on the determination that that the device is undergoing movement in the second direction, reduce the force.

4. The device of claim 1, comprising two gyroscopes, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

based on the identification, actuate the gyroscopes to apply the force at least in part based on alteration of the direction of the axis of rotation of at least one of the gyroscopes.

5. The device of claim 1, comprising two gyroscopes, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

based on the identification, actuate the gyroscopes to apply the force at least in part by increasing the angular momentum of at least one of the gyroscopes about its axis of rotation.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising two gyroscopes, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

based on the identification, actuate the gyroscopes to apply the force at least in part based on application of torque to the gyroscopes, the application of torque being from a source internal to the device.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the instructions are executable to:

based on the identification, actuate the gyroscopes to apply the force at least in part based on alteration of the directions of the respective axes of rotation of the two gyroscopes.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the directions of the respective axes of rotation are altered to be directed in at least substantially the same direction.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

reduce the force at least in part based on alteration of the respective directions of the axes of rotation of the gyroscopes to be at least substantially opposite each other.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

reduce the force by reducing the angular momentum of the gyroscopes about their respective axes from a first amount to a second amount less than the first amount.

11. The device of claim 4, comprising at least one motor controllable by the processor, wherein the direction of the axis of rotation of at least one of the gyroscopes is altered at least in part based on actuation of the at least one motor controllable by the processor.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

actuate a generator to collect power based on the motion of the gyroscopes at least during reduction of the force and to charge a battery on the device using the power.

13. A device, comprising:

at least one gyroscope;

a processor; and

storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to;

identify a direction-related parameter for force to generate at the device based at least in part on movement of the device; and

based at least in part on the identification, control the gyroscope to apply generate force at the device in the direction.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein device comprises two gyroscopes, and wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

control the gyroscopes to be oriented with their respective axes of rotation arranged to be oblique relative to each other.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the direction is a first direction, and wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

identity a second direction-related parameter for force to generate at the device based on additional movement of the device;

an

based at least in part on the identification of the second direction-related parameter for force to generate at the device, apply torque to the gyroscope to actuate the gyroscope to generate force in the second direction.

16. A method, comprising:

presenting audio video (AV) content on a display of a first device;

actuating a gyroscope on a second device to correspond to motion represented in the AV content.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein two gyroscopes are actuated to correspond to motion represented in the AV content at least in part by arranging the respective axes of rotation of the gyroscopes to be parallel to each other.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the gyroscopes are of at least substantially the same dimensions, and wherein the gyroscopes are actuated to correspond to motion represented in the AV content at least in part by actuating one of the gyroscopes to be rotated about its respective axis of rotation faster than the other gyroscope is rotated about its respective axis of rotation.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein two gyroscopes are actuated to correspond to motion represented in the AV content at least in part by changing the respective axes of rotation of the gyroscopes from being opposite each other to not being opposite each other.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the gyroscopes are of at least substantially the same dimensions, and wherein the two gyroscopes are actuated to correspond to motion represented in the AV content at least in part by arranging the respective axes of rotation of the gyroscopes to be oblique in at least two dimensions relative to each other.