Vector-Specific Haptic Feedback

• US 20090231277A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pacinian Corporation (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Krumpelman, Douglas M., Peterson, Cody George, Schlosser, James William, Huska, Andrew Parris
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, vector-specific movement can be imparted to a user interface device (UID) to provide vector-specific haptic feedback. In at least some embodiments, this vectored movement can be based on input received by the UID. The input can include information associated with the user'"'"'s interaction with an associated device integrated with or communicatively linked with the UID, and or with an application implemented on the associated device. In at least some embodiments, the UID can be configured with a controller, a microprocessor(s), and a vector-specific actuator that includes an electrically-deformable material.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, on a user interface device (UID), an input; and

responsive to receiving the input, imparting one or more vector-specific movements to the UID via an electrically-deformable material associated with the UID, wherein one or both of a direction or a magnitude of the one or more vector-specific movements is based, at least in part, on the input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UID comprises at least one of:

a video game controller, a mouse, a key or keyboard element, or a component of a computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises information about an event associated with an application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting the one or more vector-specific movements to the UID comprises:

utilizing the input to determine one or more drive parameters, wherein the one or more drive parameters specify one or both of the direction or the magnitude of the one or more vector-specific movements; and

applying, in accordance with the one or more drive parameters, one or more drive voltages to the electrically-deformable material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or both of the direction or the magnitude of the one or more vector-specific movements is further based at least in part on information other than the input.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information other than the input comprises information associated with the UID'"'"'s orientation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electroactive polymer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electrostatic material

9. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting the one or more vector-specific movements to the UID comprises imparting a plurality of individual vector-specific movements, at least two of which overlap.

10. A user interface device comprising;

a controller configured to receive an input; and

an electrically-deformable material associated with the controller and configured to be electrically driven to impart vector-specific movement to the user interface device, wherein one or both of a direction or a magnitude of the vector-specific movement is based at least in part on the input.

11. The user interface device of claim 10, wherein the user interface device comprises at least one of:

a video game controller, a mouse, a key or keyboard element, or a component of a computing device.

12. The user interface device of claim 10, wherein the input comprises information about an event associated with an application implemented on a device communicatively linked with the user interface device.

13. The user interface device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to utilize the input to determine one or more drive parameters, wherein the one or more drive parameters specify one or both of the direction or the magnitude of the vector-specific movement.

14. The user interface device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to cause one or more drive voltages to be applied to the electrically deformable material sufficient to impart the vector-specific movement.

15. The user interface device of claim 10, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises at least one of an electroactive polymer or an electrostatic material.

16. The user interface device of claim 10, wherein one or both of the direction or the magnitude of the vector-specific movement is further based at least in part on information other than the input.

17. The user interface device of claim 16, wherein the information other than the input is associated with the user interface device'"'"'s orientation.

18. A system comprising;

a user interface device (UID) configured to be communicatively linked with an associated device and to provide, responsive to receiving an input from the associated device, vector-specific haptic feedback via a vectored movement of the UID; and

an electrically-deformable material associated with the UID and configured to be electrically driven to impart the vectored movement based, at least in part, on the input.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the UID comprises at least one of:

a video game controller, a mouse, a key or keyboard element, or a component of a computing device.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a controller configured to determine, based at least in part on the input, one or more drive parameters, wherein the one or more drive parameters specify one or both of the direction or the magnitude of the vector-specific movement.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to cause one or more drive voltages to be applied to the actuator according to the one or more drive parameters.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises at least one of an electroactive polymer or an electrostatic material.

23. A system comprising:

a user interface device (UID) configured to provide vectored movement responsive to receiving an input; and

an electrically-deformable material associated with the UID and configured to impart the vectored movement to the UID responsive to one or more drive voltages being applied to the electrically-deformable material.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the UID comprises at least one of:

a video game controller, a mouse, a key or keyboard element, or a component of a computing device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electroactive polymer.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electrostatic material.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising a controller configured to determine, based at least in part on the input, one or more drive parameters, wherein the one or more drive parameters specify one or both of a direction or a magnitude of the vectored movement.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured to cause one or more drive voltages to be applied, in accordance with the one or more drive parameters, to the electrically-deformable material sufficient to impart the vectored movement to the UID.