Methods and apparatuses for generating tactile feedback for games and simulations

• US 8,834,266 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• 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:
  US13/711,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20130165226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 463 33- 36, 463 40- 42, 463/30, 463/46, 463/47
• 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 method and a device provide a tactile sensation. Devices include a plurality of actuators. The plurality of actuators includes first and second actuators. The first actuator is adapted to provide a first tactile sensation, and the second actuator is adapted to provide a second tactile sensation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing vibratory tactile sensations to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a hand-held game pad controller configured to be held by both of a user'"'"'s hands simultaneously, wherein the controller includes,

a first motor and a second motor, wherein,

each of the first and the second motor includes a mass secured to only a shaft,

the mass and shaft move relative to the controller only via rotation, such that when the shaft rotates vibrations are generated via the rotation of the attached mass, and

the vibrations are transmitted to both hands of the user holding the controller,

control circuitry coupled to and controlling the first and the second motors independently, wherein,

the control circuitry controls the motors in response to control signals received from a computer,

the control signals include instructions for vibrating the controller and are not audio signals, and

the control circuitry is configured to control the first and the second motors to each have a speed of rotation changeable in real time such that the first and the second motors generate vibrations simultaneously with independent intensities, and

a battery for powering the first and the second motor, wherein the first and the second motor are remote from the computer and operable without electrical connection to the computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control signals are received through at least one of bi-directional communications, uni-directional communications, wireless communications, and wired communications.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the second motor are different from each other in at least one size, shape, power rating, vibration type, and location within the hand-held game pad.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first motor is in a left hand side of the hand-held game controller, and wherein the second motor is in a right hand side of the hand-held game controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second motors are configured to operate differently in at least one of vibration duration, vibration speed, vibration intensity, vibration duty cycles, power output, activation by pulse-width modulation, activation by varying electric current, and activation with varying electric voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the second motors are attached to the hand-held game pad controller by at least one of fasteners, adhesive, press fitting, snap fitting, and friction fitting.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the computer is a video game console.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand-held game pad controller is configured to connect to the computer through a wireless connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to exchange configuration data with the computer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control circuitry is configured to transmit configuration data to the computer, and wherein the configuration data includes at least one of status data, verification data, and operating data.

9. An apparatus for providing vibratory tactile sensations to a user, the apparatus comprising:

a processor-based computer, wherein the computer includes,

a connector configured to connect to a hand-held game pad controller held by both of a user'"'"'s hands simultaneously, wherein the hand-held game pad controller includes control circuitry and two motors configured to generate vibration in the controller independent of one another simultaneously with independent intensities, and

a signal generator configured to generate and transmit control signals and configuration data to the hand-held game pad controller, wherein the control signals include instructions for vibrating the controller through independent operation of each of the two motors and the control signals are not audio signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer is a video game console.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer is configured to transmit the control signals through at least one of bi-directional communications, uni-directional communications, wireless communications, and wired communications.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control signals include instructions for each of the two motors to operate differently in at least one of vibration duration, vibration speed, vibration intensity, vibration duty cycles, and power output.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the hand-held game pad controller.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the connector includes a wireless connection with the hand-held game pad controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the configuration data includes parameters for processing of the control signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer is configured to receive at least one of status data, verification data, and operating data from the control circuitry.

14. A method for providing vibratory tactile sensations to a computer user, the method comprising:

generating, with a computer, control signals corresponding to a video game being executed on the computer;

transmitting, from the computer to a hand-held game pad controller, the control signals, wherein the hand-held game pad controller is held by both of the user'"'"'s hands simultaneously, and wherein the hand-held game pad controller includes control circuitry, two motors configured to generate vibration in the hand-held game pad controller independent of one another, and a battery for powering the first and the second motor remote from the computer and without electrical connection to the computer; and

vibrating the hand-held game pad controller based on the control signals, wherein the vibrating includes independently operating the two motors to generate vibrations simultaneously with independent intensities.