System and Method for Providing Passive Haptic Feedback
Systems and methods for providing passive haptic feedback are described. Embodiments of the present invention comprise an actuator for bringing a manipulandum and braking surface into contact and thereby providing a resistance. The manipulandum includes scroll wheels, scroll drums, linear sliders and similar user input devices. The actuator may be, for example, electromagnetic or piezo-electric. An embodiment of the present invention may include a processor in communication with the actuator for providing the haptic effects.
Latest Immersion Corporation Patents:
- Methods and systems for decoding and rendering a haptic effect associated with a 3D environment
- Systems, devices, and methods for providing actuator braking
- Systems and Methods for Controlling a Multi-Actuator System to Generate a Localized Haptic Effect
- Haptic effect encoding and rendering system
- Apparatus and methods for localizing one or more effects in a haptic interface
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/314,400 filed Dec. 8, 2002, entitled “Systems and Method for Providing Passive Haptic Feedback,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/399,883 filed Jul. 31, 2002, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTIONA section of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to providing haptic feedback to a manipulandum. The present invention more particularly relates to providing passive haptic feedback to user interface devices.
BACKGROUNDElectronic device manufacturers are constantly striving to produce a rich interface for users. Conventional devices utilize visual and auditory cues to provide feedback to a user. In some interface devices, kinesthetic feedback (such as, without limitation, active and passive force feedback), and/or tactile feedback (such as, without limitation, vibration, texture, and heat), is also provided to the user, more generally known collectively as “haptic feedback.” Haptic feedback provides additional cues that enhance and simplify the user interface.
A device may incorporate a variety of technologies for providing haptic feedback, including both active and passive devices. Active haptic feedback devices, including, for example, motors, add energy to a system; passive devices, such as brakes, remove energy from the system.
Conventional passive haptic actuators utilize magnetic particle brakes, magnetorheologic or electrorheologic brakes, or magnetic (non-friction) brakes. Each of these conventional approaches suffers from disadvantages. These conventional devices are expensive and difficult to produce. They are also larger than is practical for implementation in small, handheld devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like.
Conventional magnetic particle brakes utilize a powder comprising particles of a magnetic material. When a current is applied, the particles line up and cause the powder to expand. Rheologic fluid brakes utilize a fluid that changes viscosity when a current is applied. These types of devices are expensive because of the cost of the materials and because of the need to retain the fluid within the device.
A magnetic brake generates a magnetic field, and when a piece of metal passes through the magnetic field, an anti-current is generated, causing a resistance to movement of the metal. Conventional magnetic brakes require the metal to be moving at high speed to be effective. Thus, these devices are not practical for relatively slow moving user interface elements.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the present invention provide passive haptic feedback to manipulanda. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a manipulandum, a brake surface and an actuator in communication with either the manipulandum or the brake surface. The actuator causes the brake surface and manipulandum to come in to contact. The resulting friction between the manipulandum and brake surface causes a resistance, which can be controlled to deliver haptic effects to a user of the manipulandum.
Embodiments may utilize a variety of manipulanda, such as a scroll wheel, scroll drum, and linear slider. Embodiments also may utilize a variety of actuators, such as electromagnetic and piezo-electric actuators. In an electronic device incorporating one embodiment of the present invention, the manipulandum is in communication with a position sensor. The manipulandum and actuator are in communication with a controller, which receives position signals from the manipulandum and provides haptic feedback signals to the actuator. Embodiments of the present invention may be utilized by a broad array of devices, including cell phones, personal digital assistants, cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, and other electronic devices.
Further details and advantages of embodiments of the present invention are set forth below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESThese and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention provide passive haptic feedback systems and methods, and applications thereof, utilizing frictional braking. Embodiments include devices, comprising a manipulandum, a brake surface, and an actuator for bringing the manipulandum and brake surface into contact.
Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several figures,
A device according to the present invention may provide haptic feedback in various physical mechanisms, such as the scroll wheel (106) shown in
At its center, the scroll wheel 202 is connected to a shaft 204. The scroll wheel 202 and shaft 204 rotate around a common axis. A braking surface 206 in the form of a disk is mounted on the shaft 204 so that the braking surface 206 is moveable towards the scroll wheel 202 parallel to the shaft 204. The braking surface 206 in
Referring again to
A lever 414 is connected to the piezo-ceramic material 410. The lever 414 includes a flexure 416 at or near a midpoint of its length. The flexure 416 is connected to a fulcrum 418 so that the lever 414 can rotate about the flexure 416. A conical or tapered braking surface 420 is attached to the lever 414 at the end distal from the piezo-ceramic 420. The braking surface in the embodiment shown, the braking surface 420 is formed in a shape complementary to the shape of the conical indentation 408 of the scroll wheel 402. When current is supplied piezo-ceramic material 410, forcing away from the base 412, the lever 414 is also forced away from the base 412. This movement causes the lever 414 to rotate about the flexure 416, further causing the conical braking surface 420 into contact with the inside surface of the conical indentation 408 in the scroll wheel 402. When the braking surface 420 and scroll wheel 402 are in contact, the user feels a resistance to rotation of the scroll wheel 402. The resistance is proportional to the current fed to the piezo-electric material 410.
Processors can include, for example, digital logical processors capable of processing input, execute algorithms, and generate output as necessary to create the desired tactile sensations in the input device in response to the inputs received from that input device. Such controllers may include a microprocessor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and state machines. Such processors include, or may be in communication with, media, for example computer readable media, which stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps described herein as carried out, or assisted, by a processor. Embodiments of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, an electronic, optical, magnetic, or other storage or transmission device capable of providing a processor, such as the processor in a web server, with computer-readable instructions. Other examples of suitable media include, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, CD-ROM, magnetic disk, memory chip, ROM, RAM, ASIC, configured processor, all optical media, all magnetic tape or other magnetic media, or any other medium from which a computer processor can read. Also, various other forms of computer-readable media may transmit or carry instructions to a computer, including a router, private or public network, or other transmission device or channel.
The device also includes an input/output (I/O) port 708, such as a game port, for performing bi-directional communication with external devices utilizing an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown, the device 500 receives power from an external power supply 710. In other embodiments, power may be supplied through the I/O port 708 or by utilizing an internal power supply. Various embodiments may utilize additional components as well, such as an amplifier to amplify signals to the actuator.
Embodiments of the present invention may utilize various other passive actuators as well. For example, in one embodiment, a hybrid actuator provides passive effects. In such an embodiment, a motor in communication with a manipulandum is short-circuited or set up to act as a generator, causing a resistance. If the motor is set up as a generator, then during certain braking effects and during damping effects, the motor can generate current back to the power supply.
If the entry is not a favorite, the application determines whether the first letter of the next entry is the same as the first letter of the current entry 812. If so, the actuator provides a soft detent effect 814. If the first letter of the entries is different, the actuator provides a hard detent effect 816. By differentiating between the various entries in this manner, an embodiment of the present invention provides a richer interface than is available in conventional devices.
Embodiments of the present invention may be incorporated into a broad array of devices. For example, a cell phone may incorporate a scroll drum according to this invention for use in navigating a menu structure. A television remote control may also incorporate an embodiment of the present invention for channel navigation, volume control, and other related functions. Similarly, an audio component remote control may utilize an embodiment for volume control or other audio control. A laptop computer may utilize an embodiment for navigation, volume control, or any other function utilizing a scroll wheel, scroll drum, linear slider, or similar user interface device. PDA's, handheld navigation, and handheld email appliances may also benefit from utilizing an embodiment of the present invention.
A camera utilizes an embodiment of the present invention for user control of the focus, f-stop, menu navigation, and other camera-related functions. Since the effects provided by the actuator are programmable, one manipulandum may be utilized to perform many or all of the functions on the camera. A video recorder may utilize an embodiment of the present invention to provide functions such as shuttle, fast forward, and reverse. The actuator creates detents on a frame-by-frame basis for the shuttle function and hard stops for fast forward and reverse.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An input device comprising:
- a scroll drum having a substantially cylindrical shape and an inner surface; and
- an actuator configured to output a haptic effect, the actuator comprising: an electromagnet disposed within the scroll drum, and a braking surface disposed within the scroll drum and between the electromagnet and the inner surface.
2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft coupled to the scroll drum and configured to rotate with the scroll drum, and the second shaft coupled to the actuator and configured to be non-rotatable.
3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet is configured to force the braking surfaces into contact with the inner surface when current flows through the actuator.
4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the braking surfaces comprise a curved surface complementary to the shape of the inner surface.
5. A handheld device comprising the input device of claim 1 and a processor.
6. The handheld device of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to generate an actuator signal, the actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect on the scroll drum.
7. The handheld device of claim 5, wherein the handheld device comprises a PDA or a cell phone.
8. A method comprising:
- sensing a movement of a scroll drum;
- transmitting an actuator signal to an actuator having an electromagnet, the actuator disposed within the scroll drum; and
- causing a braking surface to contact the scroll drum to output a haptic effect, the braking surface disposed within the scroll drum, and between the electromagnet and the scroll drum.
9. A computer-readable medium comprising program code, the program code comprising:
- program code for sensing a movement of a scroll drum;
- program code for transmitting an actuator signal to an actuator having an electromagnet, the actuator disposed within the scroll drum; and
- program code for causing a braking surface to contact the scroll drum to output a haptic effect, the braking surface disposed within the scroll drum, and between the electromagnet and the scroll drum.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 24, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 14, 2008
Applicant: Immersion Corporation (San Jose, CA)
Inventors: George Anastas (San Carlos, CA), Erik Shahoian (San Ramon, CA), Alex Jasso (San Jose, CA)
Application Number: 11/923,118
International Classification: B60L 7/00 (20060101);