Encoding dynamic haptic effects

• US 9,958,944 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Da Costa, Henry, An, Feng Tian, Ullrich, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US15/211,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20160320845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 3404071, 3404072, 3403847, 340 76, 345156, 345168, 345173, 345177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A system is provided that encodes one or more dynamic haptic effects. The system defines a dynamic haptic effect as including a plurality of key frames, where each key frame includes an interpolant value and a corresponding haptic effect. An interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs. The system generates a haptic effect file, and stores the dynamic haptic effect within the haptic effect file.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to produce a haptic effect, the producing comprising:

detecting a user input using a pressure sensor;

generating an input signal in response to the detection of the user input;

displaying a user interface; and

generating the haptic effect based on the input signal, wherein the haptic effect is associated with one or more elements of the user interface,

wherein the haptic effect includes a first key frame and a second key frame, the first key frame including a first interpolant value and a first haptic effect, and the second key frame including a second interpolant value and a second haptic effect, wherein the first interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs for the corresponding first haptic effect, and wherein the second interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs for the corresponding second haptic effect.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein a swiping motion is detected by the pressure sensor.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein a two-dimensional motion or three-dimensional motion is detected by the pressure sensor.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a scroll list.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a dynamic haptic effect by interpolating the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the generation of the haptic effect includes generating a drive signal for a haptic output device.

7. A method of producing a haptic effect executed by a processor, the method comprising:

detecting a user input using a pressure sensor;

generating an input signal in response to the detection of the user input;

displaying a user interface; and

generating the haptic effect based on the input signal, wherein the haptic effect is associated with one or more elements of the user interface,

wherein the haptic effect includes a first key frame and a second key frame, the first key frame including a first interpolant value and a first haptic effect, and the second key frame including a second interpolant value and a second haptic effect, wherein the first interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs for the corresponding first haptic effect, and wherein the second interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs for the corresponding second haptic effect.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a swiping motion is detected by the pressure sensor.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a two-dimensional motion or three-dimensional motion is detected by the pressure sensor.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a scroll list.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a dynamic haptic effect by interpolating the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the generation of the haptic effect includes generating a drive signal for a haptic output device.

13. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing one or more programs for execution by the processor, the one or more programs including instructions for;

detecting a user input using a pressure sensor;

generating an input signal in response to the detection of the user input;

displaying a user interface; and

generating a haptic effect based on the input signal, wherein the haptic effect is associated with one or more elements of the user interface,

wherein the haptic effect includes a first key frame and a second key frame, the first key frame including a first interpolant value and a first haptic effect, and the second key frame including a second interpolant value and a second haptic effect, wherein the first interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs for the corresponding first haptic effect, and wherein the second interpolant value is a value that specifies where an interpolation occurs for the corresponding second haptic effect.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein a swiping motion is detected by the pressure sensor.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein a two-dimensional motion or three-dimensional motion is detected by the pressure sensor.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the user interface includes a scroll list.

17. The device according to claim 13, further comprising:

generating a dynamic haptic effect by interpolating the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect.