Controlling power distribution to haptic output devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10268286-B2
Application number	US-201514979350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Apr 23, 2019
Grant date	Apr 23, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling power and/or current consumption for multiple haptic output devices are provided. Various features of the haptic output device may be described within a data structure. In response to a haptic instruction, a power budget for the haptic output device may be determined in accordance with its operational characteristics. A drive signal may then be applied to the haptic output device to produce the haptic effect in accordance with the calculated power budget. The calculated power budget may be configured to limit the current or power drawn by the haptic output device.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for controlling current consumption of a haptic output device, the method comprising:
receiving a haptic drive instruction for the haptic output device;
determining an excess projected current and an available current for the haptic output device based on a startup current or a steady state current of the haptic output device;
determining a current reduction value for the haptic output device based on the excess projected current and the available current; and
applying a drive signal to the haptic output device to produce a haptic effect, the drive signal based on the current reduction value.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device is included within a controller or gamepad.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the startup current or the steady state current of the haptic output device is stored in a data structure that further includes priority information.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the data structure further includes one of queue information, bidirectional information, or status information.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device is a trigger or a rumble output device.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a timing of the drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device is bi-directional.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the available current comprises a limited current that is available to render a plurality of haptic effects.

10. A device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing a program for execution by the processor, the program including instructions for controlling current consumption of a haptic output device, the instructions comprising:
receiving a haptic drive instruction for the haptic output device;
determining an excess projected current and an available current for the haptic output device based on a startup current or a steady state current of the haptic output device;
determining a current reduction value for the haptic output device based on the excess projected current and the available current; and
applying a drive signal to the haptic output device to produce a haptic effect, the drive signal based on the current reduction value.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the haptic output device is included within a controller or gamepad.

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

13. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the startup current or the steady state current of the haptic output device is stored in a data structure that further includes priority information.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the data structure further includes one of queue information, bidirectional information, or status information.

15. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the haptic output device is a trigger or a rumble output device.

16. The device according to claim 10 , wherein a timing of the drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

17. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the haptic output device is bi-directional.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program configured to be executed by a processor to control current consumption of a haptic output device, the program comprising instructions for:
receiving a haptic drive instruction for the haptic output device;
calculating an excess projected current for the haptic output device;
determining an available current for the haptic output device based on a startup current or a steady state current of the haptic output device;
calculating a current reduction value based on the available current;
applying a drive signal to the haptic output device to produce a haptic effect, the drive signal based on the current reduction value.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the haptic output device is included within a controller or gamepad.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the haptic effect is produced at a user input element of a peripheral device.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the startup current or the steady state current of the haptic output device is stored in a data structure that further includes priority information.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the data structure further includes one of queue information, bidirectional information, or status information.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the haptic output device is a trigger or a rumble output device.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein a timing of the drive signal is adjusted based on the available current.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the haptic output device is bi-directional.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Venkatesan Srivatsav
• Shah Kaniyalal
• Billington Douglas George
• Rank Stephen

Classifications

• G06F3/0383 Primary

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• A63F2300/209

  characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface · CPC title

• A63F13/285

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

• G06F3/01

  Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F2203/013

  Force feedback applied to a game · CPC title