Tactile feedback apparatus and method

• US 9,468,846 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
• Inventors: Terrell, Scott Michael, Ortega, Antonio Meneses, Roberts, Thomas John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORTELL, JOHN F
• Application Number:
  US12/362,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,818 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for a tactile feedback instrument, and more specifically, some embodiments are directed toward methods and apparatuses for a tactile feedback stylus. Some embodiments of the invention provide a stylus used in conjunction with mobile devices. Further embodiments of the invention provide a game system, comprising a game console and a stylus. Within such embodiments, the stylus comprises an electric motor and a control circuit coupled to the electric motor that is in communication with the game console and controls the electric motor. Within some of these embodiments, the stylus can vibrate or rumble when the electric motor is activated in response to gaming activity.

Claims

1. A game system, comprising:

a game console;

a stylus, wherein the stylus comprises;

an electric motor,

a receiver, and

a control circuit electrically coupled to the electric motor and electrically coupled to the receiver, wherein the control circuit is in communication with the game console through the receiver and controls the electric motor; and

a cartridge detachably coupled to the game console, the cartridge comprising;

a pulse-width modulator configured to generate a signal pulse, and

a transmitter electrically coupled to the game console and configured to transmit the signal pulse to the stylus to trigger activation of the electric motor.

2. The game system of claim 1, wherein the stylus rumbles or vibrates when the electric motor is activated.

3. The game system of claim 1, wherein the stylus further comprises a feedback mechanism electrically coupled to the control circuit that provides an electric shock, a temperature change, a physical jolt, audible waves or inaudible waves.

4. The game system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a game cartridge comprising an electronically readable medium storing instructions to enable the game console to execute a computer game.

5. The game system of claim 1, wherein the signal pulse has a frequency approximately ranging from 40 Hz to 100 Hz and a duty cycle approximately ranging from 20% to 80%.

6. The game system of claim 1, wherein the stylus further comprises a mono-stable circuit that activates the electric motor for a fixed period of time based on the signal pulse received.

7. The game system of claim 1, wherein the stylus further comprises an LED electrically coupled to the control circuit.

8. The game system of claim 1, wherein the LED activates when the electric motor activates.

9. The game system of claim 1, wherein the game console sends a command to the stylus to activate the LED.

10. The game system of claim 1, further comprising a first transceiver comprising the transmitter and a second transceiver comprising the receiver, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver establish a bi-directional wireless connection between the game console and stylus through which the game console and the stylus can send and receive data and commands.

11. The game system of claim 10, wherein the stylus further comprises a button for sending commands to the game console.

12. The game system of claim 10, wherein the stylus further comprises a sensor.

13. The game system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer, a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a moisture sensor, a temperature sensor, a heart-rate sensor, or an orientation sensor.

14. A stylus system, comprising:

a stylus, wherein the stylus comprises;

an electric motor,

a control circuit electrically coupled to the electric motor, wherein the control circuit controls the electric motor, and

a receiver, wherein the receiver is electrically coupled to the control circuit; and

a cartridge configured to detachably couple to a game console, the cartridge comprising;

a pulse-width modulator configured to generate a signal pulse, and

a transmitter configured to electrically couple to the game console and transmit the signal pulse to the stylus to trigger activation of the electric motor.

15. The stylus system of claim 14, wherein the stylus rumbles or vibrates when the electric motor is activated.

16. The stylus system of claim 14, wherein the stylus further comprises a feedback mechanism electrically coupled to the control circuit that provides an electric shock, a temperature change, a physical jolt, audible waves or inaudible waves.

17. The stylus system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter and the receiver establish a wireless connection such that the transmitter can issue commands to the stylus.

18. The stylus system of claim 14, wherein the cartridge is a game cartridge comprising an electronically readable medium storing instructions to enable the game console to execute a computer game.

19. The stylus system of claim 14, wherein the signal pulse has a frequency approximately ranging from 40 Hz to 100 Hz and a duty cycle approximately ranging from 20% to 80%.

20. The stylus system of claim 14, wherein the stylus further comprises a mono-stable circuit that activates the electric motor for a fixed period of time upon receiving the signal pulse.

21. The stylus system of claim 14, wherein the stylus further comprises an LED electrically coupled to the control circuit.

22. The stylus system of claim 21, wherein the LED activates when the electric motor activates.

23. The stylus system of claim 21, wherein the game console sends a command to the stylus to activate the LED.

24. A stylus system, comprising:

a stylus, wherein the stylus comprises;

an electric motor,

a control circuit electrically coupled to the electric motor, wherein the control circuit controls the electric motor, and

a first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is electrically coupled to the control circuit; and

a cartridge configured to detachably couple to a game console, the cartridge comprising;

a pulse-width modulator configured to generate a signal pulse, and

a second transceiver configured to electrically couple to the game console and transmit the signal pulse to the stylus to trigger activation of the electric motor.

25. The stylus system of claim 24, wherein the stylus rumbles or vibrates when the electric motor is activated.

26. The stylus system of claim 24, wherein the stylus further comprises a feedback mechanism electrically coupled to the control circuit that provides an electric shock, a temperature change, a physical jolt, audible waves or inaudible waves.

27. The stylus system of claim 24, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver establish a bi-directional wireless connection through which the first transceiver and the second transceiver can send and receive data and commands.

28. The stylus system of claim 24, wherein the stylus further comprises a button for sending commands to the game console.

29. The stylus system of claim 24, wherein the stylus further comprises a sensor.

30. The stylus system of claim 29, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer, a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a moisture sensor, a temperature sensor, a heart-rate sensor, or an orientation sensor.

31. The stylus system of claim 24, wherein the stylus further comprises an LED electrically coupled to the control circuit.

32. The stylus system of claim 31, wherein the LED activates when the electric motor activates.

33. The stylus system of claim 31, wherein the game console sends a command to the stylus to activate the LED.

34. The stylus system of claim 24, wherein the cartridge is a game cartridge comprising an electronically readable medium storing processor instructions to enable the game console to execute a computer game.