Single actuator haptic effects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10241577-B2
Application number	US-201715665891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2017
Priority date	Aug 1, 2017
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A haptic enabled device that is configured to render one or more haptic effects is provided. The haptic enabled device includes an actuator and a plurality of user input elements. Each of the plurality of user input elements is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator. In addition, the actuator is configured to be positioned to render the one or more haptic effects at each of the plurality of user input elements.

First claim

We claim:

1. A haptically enabled device configured to render one or more haptic effects, the haptically enabled device comprising:
an actuator;
a first user input element that is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator, and
a second user input element that is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator,
wherein the actuator is configured to be coupled to the first user input element by moving a moveable shaft in a first lateral direction and configured to be coupled to the second user input element by moving the movable shaft in a second lateral direction.

2. The haptically enabled device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the actuator includes the moveable shaft that is configured to traverse first and second lateral directions.

3. The haptically enabled device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes the moveable shaft that is configured to rotate a drive gear of the actuator.

4. The haptically enabled device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a moveable shaft that is positioned according to an input voltage.

5. The haptically enabled device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a moveable shaft that is positioned according to an input signal type.

6. The haptically enabled device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator simultaneously renders haptic effects at a subset of user input elements.

7. The haptically enabled device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a bidirectional actuator.

8. A haptically enabled system configured to render one or more haptic effects, the haptically enabled system comprising:
a processor;
an actuator; and
a memory storing one or more programs for execution by the processor, the one or more programs including instructions for:
selectively coupling the actuator to a first user input element, and
selectively coupling the actuator to a second user input element,
wherein the actuator is configured to be coupled to the first user input element by moving a moveable shaft in a first lateral direction and configured to be coupled to the second user input element by moving the movable shaft in a second lateral direction.

9. The haptically enabled system according to claim 8 ,
wherein the actuator includes the moveable shaft that is configured to traverse first and second lateral directions.

10. The haptically enabled system according to claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes the moveable shaft that is configured to rotate a drive gear of the actuator.

11. The haptically enabled system according to claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes a moveable shaft that is positioned according to an input voltage.

12. The haptically enabled system according to claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes a moveable shaft that is positioned according to an input signal type.

13. The haptically enabled system according to claim 8 , wherein the actuator simultaneously renders haptic effects at a subset of user input elements.

14. The haptically enabled system according to claim 8 , wherein the actuator is a bidirectional actuator.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by a processor, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
selectively coupling an actuator to a first user input element; and
selectively coupling the actuator to a second user input element;
wherein the actuator is configured to be coupled to the first user input element by moving a moveable shaft in a first lateral direction and configured to be coupled to the second user input element by moving the movable shaft in a second lateral direction.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes the moveable shaft that is configured to traverse first and second lateral directions.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes the moveable shaft that is configured to rotate a drive gear of the actuator.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes a moveable shaft that is positioned according to an input voltage.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes a moveable shaft that is positioned according to an input signal type.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the actuator simultaneously renders haptic effects at a subset of user input elements.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Rihn William S
• Motamedi Mohammadreza
• Grant Danny A
• Olien Neil T
• Levesque Vincent
• Saboune Jamal

Classifications

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F2203/013

  Force feedback applied to a game · CPC title

• A63F13/285

  Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback · CPC title

• G06F2203/015

  Force feedback applied to a joystick · CPC title

• H02N2/001

  Driving devices, e.g. vibrators · CPC title