Systems and methods for providing haptic effects

• US 20060038781A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Levin, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing haptic effects are disclosed. One disclosed system comprises an actuator, a non-volatile memory configured to store a haptic effect profile, and a processor in communication with the actuator and the non-volatile memory. The processor may be configured to receive a sensor signal indicating a movement of a manipulandum, to identify an effect parameter associated with the sensor signal in the haptic effect profile, and to generate an output signal based, at least in part, on the effect parameter. The generated output signal may be configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the effect parameter.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an actuator;

a non-volatile memory configured to store a haptic effect profile; and

a processor in communication with the actuator and the non-volatile memory, the processor configured to;

receive a sensor signal indicating a movement of a manipulandum;

identify an effect parameter associated with the sensor signal in the haptic effect profile; and

generate an output signal based, at least in part, on the effect parameter, the output signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the effect parameter.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the haptic effect profile comprises a selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a selector configured to allow selection of at least one haptic effect profile from the selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the selector is configured to allow permanent selection of the at least one haptic effect profile.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with the manipulandum and the processor, wherein the sensor is configured to generate the sensor signal.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of actuators.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory is configured to download the haptic effect profile.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a downloaded haptic effect profile.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the downloaded haptic effect profile is configured to be downloaded from a programmable bus.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the downloaded haptic effect profile is configured to be downloaded to the non-volatile memory.

11. A method comprising:

providing an actuator;

providing a non-volatile memory configured to store a haptic effect profile; and

providing a processor in communication with the actuator and the non-volatile memory, the processor configured to;

receive a sensor signal indicating a movement of a manipulandum;

identify an effect parameter associated with the sensor signal in the haptic effect profile; and

generate an output signal based, at least in part, on the effect parameter, the output signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the effect parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the haptic effect profile comprises a selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a selector configured to allow selection of at least one haptic effect profile from the selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the selector is configured to allow permanent selection of the at least one haptic effect profile.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a sensor in communication with the manipulandum and the processor, wherein the sensor is configured to generate the sensor signal.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a sensor signal indicating a movement of a manipulandum from a sensor in communication with the manipulandum;

identifying an effect parameter associated with the sensor signal in a locally-stored haptic effect profile; and

generating an output signal based, at least in part, on the effect parameter, the output signal configured to cause an actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the effect parameter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the locally-stored haptic effect profile comprises a selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting at least one haptic effect profile from the selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein selecting at least one haptic effect profile comprises permanently selecting the at least one haptic effect profile.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of actuators.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising modifying the locally-stored haptic effect profile.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving the locally-stored haptic effect profile from a programmable bus.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing the locally-stored haptic effect profile in a non-volatile memory.

24. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising:

program code for receiving a sensor signal indicating a movement of a manipulandum from a sensor in communication with the manipulandum;

program code for identifying an effect parameter associated with the sensor signal in a locally-stored haptic effect profile; and

program code for generating an output signal based, at least in part, on the effect parameter, the output signal configured to cause an actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the effect parameter.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the locally-stored haptic effect profile comprises a selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising program code for selecting at least one haptic effect profile from the selectable plurality of haptic effect profiles.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the program code for selecting at least one haptic effect profile comprises program code for permanently selecting the at least one haptic effect profile.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising program code for modifying the locally-stored haptic effect profile.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising program code for receiving the locally-stored haptic effect profile from a programmable bus.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising program code for storing the locally-stored haptic effect profile in a non-volatile memory.