Tactile mouse

• US 20010010513A1
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Kenneth M., Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A low-cost tactile feedback mouse device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions and manipulations in a graphical environment provided by a computer. The mouse device includes a sensor device able to detect the movement of the mouse in the planar workspace. An actuator is coupled to the housing of the mouse and applies an inertial force in a particular degree of freedom, preferably along an axis perpendicular to the planar workspace, where the inertial force is transmitted through the housing to the user. The actuator outputs the inertial force preferably by linearly moving an inertial mass along the Z-axis. The output force is correlated with interaction of a controlled graphical object, such as a cursor, with other graphical objects in a graphical environment displayed by the host computer. The inertial force can be a pulse, vibration, texture force, or other type of force.

Claims

1. A tactile feedback mouse coupled to a host computer implementing a host application program, said mouse physically moved by a user in a planar workspace, the mouse comprising:

a housing that is physically contacted by said user;

a sensor device coupled to said housing of said mouse, said sensor device detecting said movement of said mouse in said planar workspace and outputting sensor signals representative of said movement; and

an actuator coupled to said housing of said mouse, said actuator operative to apply an inertial force approximately along an axis perpendicular to said planar workspace, wherein said inertial force is transmitted through said housing to said user contacting said housing.

2. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 1

wherein said actuator outputs said inertial force to said housing by moving an inertial mass.

3. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 2

wherein said actuator is a linear actuator that moves said inertial mass bi-directionally along a linear axis that is substantially perpendicular to said planar workspace.

4. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 2

wherein said actuator is a rotary actuator that rotates a shaft.

5. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 4

wherein said rotary actuator moves said inertial mass approximately linearly by rotating said inertial mass a small fraction of a full revolution of said shaft.

6. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 3

wherein said linear actuator is a voice coil actuator.

7. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 2

wherein said inertial force is correlated with a graphical representation displayed by said host computer, wherein a position of said mouse in said planar workspace corresponds with a position of a cursor displayed in said graphical representation.

8. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 1

wherein said inertial force is a pulse correlated with the interaction of a user-controlled cursor with a graphical object displayed in a graphical user interface.

9. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 8

wherein said pulse is output with a magnitude dependent on a characteristic of said graphical object with which said cursor interacts.

10. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 9

wherein said characteristic of said graphical object is a type of said graphical object, wherein said type includes one of an icon, a window, and a menu item.

11. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 9

wherein said pulse is output when said cursor moves between menu items in a displayed graphical menu.

12. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 1

wherein said force is included in a force sensation, said force sensation being one of a pulse, vibration, and texture force.

13. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 1

further comprising a microprocessor, separate from said host computer, coupled to said sensor and to said actuator, said microprocessor operative to receive host commands from said host computer and output force signals to said actuator for controlling said inertial force, and operative to receive said sensor signals from said sensors, process said sensor signals, and report locative data to said host computer derived from said sensor signals and indicative of said movement of said mouse.

14. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 1

wherein said actuator outputs said force in response to a command received by said mouse from said host computer.

15. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 1

wherein said sensor device includes a ball that frictionally contacts a surface on which said mouse is moved by said user.

16. A tactile feedback mouse as recited in

claim 1

wherein said sensor device includes an optical sensor that detects motion of a surface on which said mouse is moved relative to said housing of said mouse.

17. A haptic feedback interface device coupled to a host computer implementing a host application program, said interface device physically moved by a user, the interface device comprising:

a moveable object that is physically contacted by said user;

a sensor device coupled to said moveable object of said interface device, said sensor device detecting said movement of said moveable object in said planar workspace and outputting sensor signals representative of said movement; and

an actuator coupled to said moveable object of said interface device, said actuator operative to apply an inertial force substantially along a particular degree of freedom, wherein said inertial force is transmitted through said moveable object to said user contacting said moveable object, and wherein said inertial force is correlated with the interaction of a user-controlled cursor with a graphical object displayed in said graphical environment.

18. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 17

wherein said moveable object is a mouse and said mouse is moved in a planar workspace, and wherein said actuator is coupled to a housing of said mouse.

19. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 18

wherein said actuator outputs said inertial force to said housing by moving an inertial mass.

20. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 19

wherein said actuator is a linear actuator that moves said inertial mass bi-directionally along a linear axis that is substantially perpendicular to said planar workspace.

21. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 20

wherein said linear actuator is a voice coil actuator.

22. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 17

wherein said inertial force is a pulse correlated with the interaction of a user-controlled cursor with a graphical object displayed in a graphical user interface.

23. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 22

wherein said pulse is output when said cursor moves between menu items in a displayed graphical menu.

24. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 17

wherein said force is included in a force sensation, said force sensation being one of a pulse, vibration, and texture force.

25. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 17

further comprising a microprocessor, separate from said host computer, coupled to said sensor and to said actuator, said microprocessor operative to receive host commands from said host computer and output force signals to said actuator for controlling said inertial force, and operative to receive said sensor signals from said sensors, process said sensor signals, and report locative data to said host computer derived from said sensor signals and indicative of said movement of said moveable object.

26. A haptic feedback interface device as recited in

claim 25

wherein said sensor device includes an optical sensor that detects motion of a surface on which said moveable object is moved relative to said moveable object.

27. A method for providing haptic feedback to a user interacting with a graphical environment displayed by a host computer, the user manipulating a mouse device, the method comprising:

detecting the motion of said mouse device in a planar workspace and providing an indication of said motion to said host computer;

receiving information from said host computer indicating that a tactile sensation is to be output, said tactile sensation being correlated with an interaction or event occurring within said graphical environment; and

outputting an inertial force on the housing of said mouse device approximately along an axis substantially perpendicular to said planar workspace, said inertial force caused by moving an inertial mass coupled to an actuator, wherein said user can contact said housing and experience said inertial force.

28. A method as recited in

claim 27

wherein said actuator is a linear actuator that moves said inertial mass bidirectionally along said axis substantially perpendicular to said planar workspace to cause said inertial force along said axis.

29. A method as recited in

claim 28

wherein said inertial force is correlated with an interaction between a user-controlled cursor and a graphical object displayed in said graphical environment.