Systems and methods for haptic confirmation of commands

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9318006-B2
Application number	US-201314050784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2013
Priority date	Nov 4, 2009
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for haptic confirmation of commands are disclosed. For example a system for generating haptic effects to confirm receipt of a voice command includes a microphone; a housing configured to be contacted by a user, and an actuator in communication with the housing, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect to the housing. The system also includes a processor in communication with the microphone and the actuator, the processor configured to receive speech information from the microphone; recognize the speech information and determine a command associated with the speech information. If the speech information is recognized and the command is determined, the processor is configured to generate a first actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a first haptic effect, and transmit the first actuator signal to the actuator. Otherwise, the processor is configured generate a second actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a second haptic effect; and transmit the second actuator signal to the actuator.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A system for generating haptic effects to confirm receipt of a voice command, the system comprising:
a microphone;
a housing configured to be contacted by a user;
an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect; and
a processor coupled to the actuator and the microphone, the processor configured to:
receive speech information from the microphone;
recognize the speech information and determine a command associated with the speech information;
generate a first actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a first haptic effect, the first haptic effect configured to confirm recognition of the speech information; and
transmit the first actuator signal to the actuator.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
execute a function associated with the speech information;
generate a second actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a second haptic effect; and
transmit the second actuator signal to the actuator upon completion of execution of the function.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second haptic effect is configured to emulate the function.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the function comprises activating a turn signal indicator and the second haptic effect comprises a vibration that travels in the direction of the impending turn.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker in communication with the processor, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
generate an audio signal configured to cause the speaker to output a sound; and
transmit the audio signal to the speaker.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display in communication with the processor, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
generate a display signal configured to cause the display to display an image; and
transmit the display signal to the display.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first haptic effect is configured to emulate the command.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microphone, actuator, and processor are disposed within the housing.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises one of a Bluetooth headset, a Bluetooth earbud, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a touch-sensitive surface, a mouse, or a keyboard.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:
receiving speech information from a microphone;
recognizing the speech information and determining a command associated with the speech information;
generating a first actuator signal configured to cause an actuator to output a first haptic effect, the first haptic effect configured to confirm recognition of the speech information; and
transmitting the first actuator signal to the actuator.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
executing a function associated with the command;
generating a second actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to output a second haptic effect; and
transmitting the second actuator signal to the actuator upon completion of execution of the function.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the second haptic effect is configured to emulate the function.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the function comprises activating a turn signal indicator and the second haptic effect comprises a vibration that travels in the direction of the impending turn.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
generating an audio signal configured to cause a speaker to output a sound; and
transmitting the audio signal to the speaker.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:
generating a display signal configured to cause a display to display an image; and
transmitting the display signal to the display.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the first haptic effect is configured to emulate the command.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Heubel Robert W
• Ramsay Erin

Classifications

• G10L15/22 Primary

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06F3/14

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• G10L21/06

  Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids (G10L15/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

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