Patents Examined by Jeaqn Lesperance
  • Patent number: 7209118
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for increasing the transmissibility of inertial forces produced by an inertial actuator on the housing of a tactile feedback interface device. A tactile interface device, coupled to a host computer, outputs tactile sensations to a user based on interactions and events occurring in a displayed graphical environment. An actuator produces periodic inertial forces, such as vibrations, and a compliant suspension couples the actuator to the device housing. A compliance of the suspension is selected such that the suspension magnifies the periodic inertial forces for a particular frequency range of the inertial forces. The magnified inertial forces are transmitted to the housing to be felt by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Erik J. Shahoian, Kenneth M. Martin