Systems and methods for pre-touch and true touch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10908686-B2
Application number	US-201113046263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2011
Priority date	Mar 16, 2010
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for pre-touch and true touch are disclosed. For example, in one described system for pre-touch and true touch includes a touch-sensitive interface configured to detect a user interaction and transmit a first interface signal based at least in part on the user interaction. The system also includes a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive interface and configured to receive the first interface signal and determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the first interface signal. The processor is further configured to preload a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The system also includes a cache in communication with the processor and configured to store the preloaded haptic signal for a time period and then transmit the haptic signal and a haptic effect generator in communication with the cache and configured to receive the haptic signal from the cache and, in response, output a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a touch-sensitive interface configured to:
detect a first user interaction within a first threshold distance from the touch-sensitive interface;
transmit a first interface signal associated with the first user interaction;
detect a second user interaction when greater than a second threshold area of a user's skin contacts the touch-sensitive interface; and
transmit a second interface signal associated with the second user interaction;

a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive interface and configured to:
receive the first interface signal;
determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the first interface signal; and
preload a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect;

a cache in communication with the processor and configured to store the preloaded haptic signal and transmit the haptic signal based in part on the second interface signal; and
a haptic effect generator in communication with the cache and configured to receive the haptic signal from the cache and output a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive interface comprises a touch-screen.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cache comprises a memory.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cache comprises one of: a capacitor, an inductor, or a battery.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cache comprises a flywheel, and
storing the haptic signal comprises rotating the flywheel.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a flywheel brake and wherein outputting the haptic effect comprises slowing the flywheel.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a user interaction above a surface of the touch-sensitive interface and transmit a sensor signal to the processor corresponding to the user interaction.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor comprises one of: an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, or a motion sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to contain the processor, the cache, and the haptic effect generator.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a handheld device housing.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the haptic effect generator is configured to output the haptic effect onto the housing.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold comprises an area of contact greater than 0.02 cm 2 .

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second threshold comprises a distance of less than 3 cm from the touch-sensitive interface.

14. A method for generating a haptic effect comprising:
detecting a first user interaction within a first threshold distance from a touch-sensitive interface;
transmitting a first interface signal associated with the first user interaction;
detecting a second user interaction when greater than a second threshold area of a user's skin contacts the touch-sensitive interface;
transmitting a second interface signal associated with the second user interaction;
determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the first interface signal;
preloading a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a cache configured to store the haptic signal;
transmitting the haptic signal based in part on the second interface signal; and
outputting a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the haptic signal is transmitted to the haptic effect generator after receiving the second interface signal.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first threshold comprises an area of contact greater than 0.02 cm 2 .

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second threshold comprises a distance of less than 3 cm from the touch-sensitive interface.

18. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
detect a first user interaction within a first threshold distance from a touch-sensitive interface;
transmit a first interface signal associated with the first user interaction;
detect a second user interaction when greater than a second threshold area of a user's skin contacts the touch-sensitive interface;
transmit a second interface signal associated with the second user interaction determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the interface signal;
preload a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a cache configured to store the haptic signal; and
transmit the stored haptic signal based in part on the second interface signal; and
output a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the first threshold comprises an area of contact greater than 0.02 cm 2 .

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the second threshold comprises a distance of less than 3 cm from the touch-sensitive interface.

Assignees

• Ramsay Erin
• Gregorio Pedro
• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Ramsay Erin
• Gregorio Pedro

Classifications

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title