Haptic trigger control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10416770-B2
Application number	US-201715454286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2017
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A system that controls a haptic effect experienced at a trigger is provided. The system receives a haptic effect definition including haptic data. The system further receives trigger data including at least one of: a position of a trigger of a peripheral device; or a range of the trigger of the peripheral device. The system further determines whether a trigger condition is reached based on the received trigger data. The system further sends a haptic instruction and the haptic effect definition to the peripheral device when the trigger condition is reached. The system further causes a haptic output device (or multiple haptic output devices) to produce haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition at the peripheral device in response to the haptic instruction.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for controlling one or more haptic effects rendered at a peripheral device that is communicatively coupled to a device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the device, a haptic effect definition data structure;
modifying the haptic effect definition data structure based on spatialization data that indicates a direction for the one or more haptic effects;
sending a haptic instruction and the haptic effect definition data structure to the peripheral device that includes a plurality of haptic output devices; and
causing, in response to the haptic instruction, the haptic output devices to produce the one or more haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition data structure,
wherein the spatialization data includes one or more hand positions of a user on the peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spatialization data is determined according to one or more positions of a user's character within a gaming application.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the haptic effects is produced by non-linearly scaling output of the plurality of haptic output devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a controller or a gamepad.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the haptic effects produces a sensation of movement from a first side of the peripheral device to a second side of the peripheral device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect definition data structure defines a plurality of parameters associated with each of a plurality of haptic data channels, and wherein each channel is coupled to a different haptic output device so that multiple channels are not coupled to a single haptic output device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect definition data structure corresponds to a plurality of channels, each channel including haptic data for one of a plurality of haptic output devices.

8. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing one or more programs for execution by the processor, the one or more programs including instructions for:
receiving, at the system, a haptic effect definition data structure;
modifying the haptic effect definition data structure based on spatialization data that indicates a direction for the one or more haptic effects;
sending a haptic instruction and the haptic effect definition data structure to a peripheral device that includes a plurality of haptic output devices; and
causing, in response to the haptic instruction, the haptic output devices to produce the one or more haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition data structure,
wherein the spatialization data includes one or more hand positions of a user on the peripheral device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the spatialization data is determined according to one or more positions of a user's character within a gaming application.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a controller or a gamepad.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein one of the haptic effects produces a sensation of movement from a first side of the peripheral device to a second side of the peripheral device.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the haptic effect definition data structure defines a plurality of parameters associated with each of a plurality of haptic data channels, and wherein each channel is coupled to a different haptic output device so that multiple channels are not coupled to a single haptic output device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by a processor of a device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
receiving, at the device, a haptic effect definition data structure;
modifying the haptic effect definition data structure based on spatialization data that indicates a direction for the one or more haptic effects;
sending a haptic instruction and the haptic effect definition data structure to a peripheral device that includes a plurality of haptic output devices; and
causing, in response to the haptic instruction, the haptic output devices to produce the one or more haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition data structure,
wherein the spatialization data includes one or more hand positions of a user on the peripheral device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein one of the haptic effects is produced by non-linearly scaling output of the plurality of haptic output devices.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the spatialization data is determined according to one or more positions of a user's character within a gaming application.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein one of the haptic effects is produced by non-linearly scaling output of the plurality of haptic output devices.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a controller or a gamepad.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein one of the haptic effects produces a sensation of movement from a first side of the peripheral device to a second side of the peripheral device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the haptic effect definition data structure defines a plurality of parameters associated with each of a plurality of haptic data channels, and wherein each channel is coupled to a different haptic output device so that multiple channels are not coupled to a single haptic output device.

20. A method for controlling haptic effects rendered at respective peripheral devices, the method comprising:
receiving, at a device, a haptic effect definition data structure;
modifying the haptic effect definition data structure based on spatialization data that indicates a direction for the one or more haptic effects;
sending haptic instructions to respective peripheral devices including a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device; and
causing, in response to the haptic instructions, a first haptic output device of the first peripheral device and a second haptic output device of the second peripheral device to produce the one or more haptic effects that are based on the haptic effect definition data structure,
wherein the spatialization data includes one or more hand positions of a user on the peripheral device.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein haptic data of the haptic effect definition data structure of a subset of channels is modified based on the spatialization data.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Lacroix Robert
• Grant Danny
• Da Costa Henry
• Rank Stephen D
• Birnbaum David
• Rihn William

Classifications

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• A63F13/60

  Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor · CPC title

• A63F13/54

  involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall · CPC title

• A63F13/285

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

• A63F2300/302

  specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser · CPC title