Tactile feedback interface device including display screen

• US 7,889,174 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Culver, Craig F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad; Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro; Leonid
• Application Number:
  US11/594,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345/167, 345/173, 345/184
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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
• 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 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A control device including a housing and a carrier moveable with respect to the housing in a first rotary degree of freedom. A first sensor senses the movement of the carrier and outputs a first control signal. A roller rotatably coupled to the carrier rotates with the carrier in the first degree of freedom and rotates independently of the carrier in a second rotary degree of freedom. A second sensor senses rotary motion of the roller and outputs a second control signal. Preferably, an arm member coupled between carrier and housing pivots about an axis. A third sensor, such as a switch, can be used to detect when the carrier has been pushed in a direction substantially orthogonal to a plane of rotation of the arm member. Force feedback can also be provided in the rotary degrees of freedom of the control device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a manipulandum movable in a first rotary degree of freedom and a second rotary degree of freedom, wherein an axis of rotation of the first rotary degree of freedom is substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second rotary degree of freedom;

a sensor configured to detect a movement of the manipulandum and to output a first sensor signal associated with the movement;

a first actuator operable to provide tactile feedback to the manipulandum in the first rotary degree of freedom, the tactile feedback associated with the first sensor signal;

a second actuator operable to provide tactile feedback to the manipulandum in the second rotary degree of freedom, the tactile feedback associated with the first sensor signal; and

a first processor operable to control the first actuator and the second actuator and to receive the first sensor signal from the sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to detect a position of the manipulandum.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor is further configured to detect the movement of the manipulandum from the position and to output a second sensor signal associated with the movement of the manipulandum from the position, the first processor configured to receive the second signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first processor is configured to associate a value with the position of the manipulandum in a position control mapping mode and to control a rate of change of the value in a rate control mapping mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first processor is operable to control the tactile feedback to the manipulandum in the rate control mapping mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the manipulandum comprises a roller.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the roller is configured to transmit a roller signal to the first processor.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the roller is moveable in two degrees of freedom.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the two degrees of freedom comprise a rotary degree of freedom and a translatory degree of freedom.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a local display screen.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first processor is included in one of a video game console, a computer, a Web-access device, or an electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second processor, separate from the first processor and operable to communicate with the first processor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication interface operable to communicate with the first processor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement comprises at least one of a distance, a direction, or a rate of change.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement is measured substantially in real-time.