Universal tactile feedback system for computer video games and simulations

• US 8,308,558 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig Thorner
• Original Assignee: Craig Thorner
• Inventors: Thorner, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ROSS A
• Application Number:
  US12/105,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 6, 463 36- 38, 463/46, 463/47, 463/30, 463/48
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• 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 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• 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 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

A universal tactile feedback system for computer and video game systems is disclosed which provides real time tactile feedback to enhance a user'"'"'s experience while interacting with a computer/video game or simulation. The tactile feedback system operates both in host-independent and host-dependent modes, thereby allowing the system to function even when no accommodation is provided by the game or simulation system that is being used. The host-independent mode is responsive to the audio signal that is typically generated by a computer or video game system while it is executing a game or simulation. The host-dependent mode is responsive to control commands specifically generated by a computer or video game system while it is executing a game or simulation. The tactile feedback system then creates tactile sensations primarily via controller-based tactile sensation generators, such that the user feels physical sensations corresponding to events occurring within the game or simulation in real time.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by a computer or video game system, tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:

a hand-held game pad controller;

where said hand-held game pad controller is adapted to be held by both of a user'"'"'s hands simultaneously;

a plurality of motors, disposed within said hand-held game pad controller, for selectively generating tactile sensation as vibrations;

control circuitry, coupled to said plurality of motors, where said control circuitry is responsive to signals that are generated by said computer or video game system;

where said signals correspond to action executing on said computer or video game system;

where said control circuitry controls said plurality of motors, where at least two motors of said plurality of motors are controllable independently of each other;

where said at least two independently controllable motors each has an offset mass attached to its shaft and each said offset mass is attached to nothing else, such that when each motor is activated, its shaft rotates, such that said at least two motors each generate vibrations via the rotation of each said offset mass attached to each said shaft;

where the said rotation of each said offset mass occurs in only one direction;

where the speed of said rotation of each rotating shaft of each of said at least two motors is independently changeable in real time;

where said vibrations generated via the rotation of each said attached offset mass change in real time in accordance with said independently changing speed of rotation of said rotating shafts of said at least two motors;

where said at least two motors generate vibrations simultaneously, wherein the simultaneous vibrations are of independent intensities with respect to each other;

where said vibrations of said simultaneous independent intensities combine in said hand-held game pad controller into a simultaneous combination of vibrations;

where said simultaneous combination of vibrations is felt in both hands of the user holding the hand-held game pad controller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said computer or video game system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said hand-held game pad controller has only two motors disposed within said hand-held game pad controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, where said signals that are generated by said computer or video game system to which said control circuitry is responsive, are generated by software that is executing on said computer or video game system, where said software has been designed to communicate with said control circuitry.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said software that is executing on said computer or video game system is a software application or video game.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, where said signals that are generated by said computer or video game system to which said control circuitry is responsive, are communicated via one or more of the following:

(1) bi-directional communications;

(2) uni-directional communications;

(3) wireless communications;

(4) wired communications.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, where the said plurality of motors are battery powered.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, where said plurality of motors comprises two motors, where a first motor of said two motors is disposed within a left hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s left hand, and a second motor of said two motors is disposed within a right hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s right hand.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, where said tactile sensation of independent intensities is generated by independently controlling said two motors in one or more of the of the following ways:

(1) activating for varying durations;

(2) activating at varying speeds;

(3) activating at varying activity values;

(4) activating at varying duty cycles;

(5) activating with varying power output parameters;

(6) activating via pulse-width modulation;

(7) activating with varying electric current;

(8) activating with varying electric voltage;

(9) activating at varying levels of vibration.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, where at least one of said plurality of motors is disposed within a left hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s left hand, and at least a second motor of said plurality of motors is disposed within a right hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s right hand.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, where said tactile sensation of independent intensities is generated by independently controlling said at least two motors in one or more of the of the following ways:

(1) activating for varying durations;

(2) activating at varying speeds;

(3) activating at varying activity values;

(4) activating at varying duty cycles;

(5) activating with varying power output parameters;

(6) activating via pulse-width modulation;

(7) activating with varying electric current;

(8) activating with varying electric voltage;

(9) activating at varying levels of vibration.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of motors is disposed within said hand-held game pad controller by any one or more of the following:

(1) attachment to an interior surface of said hand-held game pad controller with one or more fasteners;

(2) attachment to an interior surface of said hand-held game pad controller with an adhesive;

or (3) placement within said hand-held game pad controller by press fitting, snap fitting, or friction fitting.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, where said control circuitry is responsive to audio signals that are generated by said computer or video game system, where said audio signals are comprised of the sounds that are generated by software that is executing on said computer or video game system.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, where said control circuitry operates in either one or both of two possible modes of operation:

(1) a host-dependent mode of operation;

(2) a host-independent mode of operation.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hand-held game pad controller has only two motors disposed within said hand-held game pad controller.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, where said signals that are generated by said computer or video game system to which said control circuitry is responsive, are generated by software that is executing on said computer or video game system, where said software has been designed to communicate with said control circuitry.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said software that is executing on said computer or video game system is a software application or video game.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, where said control circuitry is responsive to audio signals that are generated by said computer or video game system, where said audio signals are comprised of the sounds that are generated by software that is executing on said computer or video game system.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, where said signals that are generated by said computer or video game system to which said control circuitry is responsive, are communicated via one or more of the following:

(1) bi-directional communications;

(2) uni-directional communications;

(3) wireless communications;

(4) wired communications.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, where said control circuitry operates in either one or both of two possible modes of operation:

(1) a host-dependent mode of operation;

(2) a host-independent mode of operation.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, where said plurality of motors are battery powered.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, where each motor of the said plurality of motors can be different from the others, in at least one of the following ways:

(1) size;

(2) shape;

(3) power consumption;

(4) type;

(5) the tactile sensations each can produce when controlled;

(6) the desired effect each is intended produce when controlled;

(7) the desired application;

(8) the location wherein said motors are disposed within said hand-held game pad controller;

(9) the manner by which said motors are disposed within said hand-held game pad controller.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, where at least one of said plurality of motors is disposed within a left hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s left hand, and at least a second motor of said plurality of motors is disposed within a right hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s right hand.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, where said plurality of motors comprises two motors, where a first motor of said two motors is disposed within a left hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s left hand, and where a second motor of said two motors is disposed within a right hand side of said hand-held game pad controller and predominantly provides tactile sensation to said user'"'"'s right hand.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, where said tactile sensation of independent intensities is generated by independently controlling said at least two motors in one or more of the of the following ways:

(1) activating for varying durations;

(2) activating at varying speeds;

(3) activating at varying activity values;

(4) activating at varying duty cycles;

(5) activating with varying power output parameters;

(6) activating via pulse-width modulation;

(7) activating with varying electric current;

(8) activating with varying electric voltage;

(9) activating at varying levels of vibration.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of motors is disposed within said hand-held game pad controller by any one or more of the following:

(1) attachment to an interior surface of said hand-held game pad controller with one or more fasteners;

(2) attachment to an interior surface of said hand-held game pad controller with an adhesive;

or (3) placement within said hand-held game pad controller by press fitting, snap fitting, or friction fitting.

52. The apparatus of claim 2, where each motor of the said plurality of motors can be different from the others, in at least one of the following ways:

(1) size;

(2) shape;

(3) power consumption;

(4) type;

(5) the tactile sensations each can produce when controlled;

(6) the desired effect each is intended produce when controlled;

(7) the desired application;

(8) the location wherein said motors are disposed within said hand-held game pad controller;

(9) the manner by which said motors are disposed within said hand-held game pad controller.

27. Apparatus for providing, in response to signals generated by a computer or video game system, tactile sensation to a user of said computer or video game system, said apparatus comprising:

a pad;

where said pad is adapted to be in contact with at least two different locations of a user'"'"'s body simultaneously;

a plurality of motors, wherein each of said plurality of motors is disposed within said pad, or attached to the outside surface of said pad, for selectively generating tactile sensation as vibrations;

control circuitry, coupled to said plurality of motors, where said control circuitry is responsive to signals that are generated by said computer or video game system;

where said signals correspond to action executing on said computer or video game system;

where said control circuitry controls said plurality of motors, where at least two of said plurality of motors are controllable independently of each other;

where said at least two independently controllable motors each has an offset mass attached to its shaft and each said offset mass is attached to nothing else, such that when each motor is activated, its shaft rotates, such that said at least two motors each generate vibrations via the rotation of each said offset mass attached to each said shaft;

where the said rotation of each said offset mass occurs in only one direction;

where the speed of said rotation of each rotating shaft of each of said at least two motors is independently changeable in real time;

where said vibrations generated via the rotation of each said attached offset mass change in real time in accordance with said independently changing speed of rotation of said rotating shafts of said at least two motors;

where said at least two motors generate vibrations simultaneously, wherein the simultaneous vibrations are of independent intensities with respect to each other;

where said vibrations of said simultaneous independent intensities combine in said pad into a simultaneous combination of vibrations;

where said simultaneous combination of vibrations is felt in said at least two different locations of said user'"'"'s body.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is a hand-held game pad, or at least part of a hand-held game pad.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is flexible.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is plastic.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is metal.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is a seat, or at least part of a seat.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is a flexible seat cushion, or at least part of a flexible seat cushion.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is a vest, or at least part of a vest.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said pad is a control input device, or at least part of a control input device.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, where said signals that are generated by said computer or video game system to which said control circuitry is responsive, are generated by software that is executing on said computer or video game system, where said software has been designed to communicate with said control circuitry.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein said software that is executing on said computer or video game system is a software application or video game.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, where said control circuitry is responsive to audio signals that are generated by said computer or video game system, where said audio signals are comprised of the sounds that are generated by software that is executing on said computer or video game system.

39. The apparatus of claim 27, where said signals that are generated by said computer or video game system to which said control circuitry is responsive, are communicated via one or more of the following:

(1) bi-directional communications;

(2) uni-directional communications;

(3) wireless communications;

(4) wired communications.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, where said plurality of motors are battery powered.

41. The apparatus of claim 27, where said control circuitry operates in either one or both of two possible modes of operation:

(1) a host-dependent mode of operation;

(2) a host-independent mode of operation.

42. The apparatus of claim 27, where each motor of said plurality of motors can be different from the others, in at least one of the following ways:

(1) size;

(2) shape;

(3) power consumption;

(4) type;

(5) the tactile sensations each can produce when controlled;

(6) the desired effect each is intended produce when controlled;

(7) the desired application;

(8) the location wherein said motors are disposed within said pad, or attached to the outside surface of said pad;

(9) the manner by which said motors are disposed within or attached to the outside surface of said pad.

43. The apparatus of claim 27, where at least one of said plurality of motors is disposed within one side of said pad and predominantly provides tactile sensation at said side of said pad, and at least a second motor of said plurality of motors is disposed within a relative opposite side of said pad and predominantly provides tactile sensation at said relative opposite side of said pad.

44. The apparatus of claim 27, where said tactile sensation of independent intensities is generated by independently controlling said at least two motors in one or more of the of the following ways:

(1) activating for varying durations;

(2) activating at varying speeds;

(3) activating at varying activity values;

(4) activating at varying duty cycles;

(5) activating with varying power output parameters;

(6) activating via pulse-width modulation;

(7) activating with varying electric current;

(8) activating with varying electric voltage;

(9) activating at varying levels of vibration.

45. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein each of said plurality of motors is disposed within said pad by any one or more of the following:

(1) attachment to an interior surface of said pad with one or more fasteners;

(2) attachment to an interior surface of said pad with an adhesive;

or (3) placement within said pad by press fitting, snap fitting, or friction fitting.

46. A system for generating tactile feedback, said system comprising:

a host computer;

a control input device;

where said control input device is adapted to be in contact with at least two different locations of a user'"'"'s body simultaneously;

a plurality of motors, disposed within said control input device, for selectively generating tactile sensation as vibrations;

control circuitry, coupled to said plurality of motors, where said control circuitry is responsive to signals that are generated by said host computer;

where said signals correspond to actions executing on said host computer;

where said control circuitry controls said plurality of motors, where at least two motors of said plurality of motors are controllable independently of each other;

where said at least two independently controllable motors each has an offset mass attached to its shaft and each said offset mass is attached to nothing else, such that when each motor is activated, its shaft rotates, such that said at least two motors each generate vibrations via the rotation of each said offset mass attached to each said shaft;

where the said rotation of each said offset mass occurs in only one direction;

where the speed of said rotation of each rotating shaft of each of said at least two motors is independently changeable in real time;

where said vibrations generated via the rotation of each said attached offset mass change in real time in accordance with said independently changing speed of rotation of said rotating shafts of said at least two motors;

where said at least two motors generate vibrations simultaneously, wherein the simultaneous vibrations are of independent intensities with respect to each other;

where said vibrations of said simultaneous independent intensities combine in said control input device into a simultaneous combination of vibrations;

where said simultaneous combination of vibrations is felt in said at least two different locations of said user'"'"'s body.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said control input device is a hand-held game pad controller.

48. The system of claim 46, where said signals that are generated by said host computer to which said control circuitry is responsive, are generated by software that is executing on said host computer, where said software has been designed to communicate with said control circuitry.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said software that is executing on said host computer is a software application or video game.

50. The system of claim 46, where said control circuitry is responsive to audio signals that are generated by said host computer, where said audio signals are comprised of the sounds that are generated by software that is executing on said host computer.

51. The system of claim 46, where said tactile sensation of independent intensities is generated by independently controlling said at least two motors in one or more of the of the following ways:

(1) activating for varying durations;

(2) activating at varying speeds;

(3) activating at varying activity values;

(4) activating at varying duty cycles;

(5) activating with varying power output parameters;

(6) activating via pulse-width modulation;

(7) activating with varying electric current;

(8) activating with varying electric voltage;

(9) activating at varying levels of vibration.