Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9612662-B2
Application number	US-201514712358-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	Jul 15, 2008
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a first signal associated with a mode of interaction, the mode of interaction associated with one or more of an active mode of interaction or a passive mode of interaction;
receiving a second signal associated with a user interaction;
determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction and the user interaction; and
generating a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the active mode of interaction to the passive mode of interaction.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the passive mode of interaction to the active mode of interaction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is controlled to return to a default setting after a period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is received from a sensor configured to detect one or more of an orientation or movement of an electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interaction comprises an interaction with a touch surface.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the user interaction further comprises interaction with one or more objects displayed in a graphical user interface associated with the touch surface.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mode of interaction comprises the active mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with a virtual object.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mode of interaction comprises the passive mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with one or more surface features of a virtual object.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second signal is received from a sensor configured to detect one or more of an orientation or movement of an electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user interaction comprises one or more of: tilting, shaking, rotating, or moving the electronic device.

12. A portable device comprising:
a first sensor configured to output a first sensor signal associated with a mode of interaction, the mode of interaction associated with one or more of an active mode of interaction or a passive mode of interaction;
a second sensor configured to output a second sensor signal associated with a user interaction; and
a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to:
determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction and the user interaction; and
output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

13. The portable device of claim 12 , wherein the first sensor signal is associated with changing from the active mode of interaction to the passive mode of interaction.

14. The portable device of claim 12 , wherein the second sensor signal is associated with changing from the passive mode of interaction to the active mode of interaction.

15. The portable device of claim 12 , wherein the user interaction comprises interaction with one or more objects displayed in a graphical user interface.

16. The portable device of claim 15 , wherein the mode of interaction comprises the active mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with a virtual object.

17. The portable device of claim 15 , wherein the mode of interaction comprises the passive mode of interaction, and wherein the haptic effect comprises an effect associated with one or more surface features of a virtual object.

18. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
receive a first signal associated with a mode of interaction, the mode of interaction associated with one or more of an active mode of interaction or a passive mode of interaction;
receive a second signal associated with a user interaction;
determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction and the user interaction; and
output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

19. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the active mode of interaction to the passive mode of interaction.

20. The non-transient computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the first signal is associated with changing from the passive mode of interaction to the active mode of interaction.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Birnbaum David M
• Ullrich Christopher J

Classifications

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• G06F3/167

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

• G06F2203/014

  Force feedback applied to GUI · CPC title

• H04M19/047

  Vibrating means for incoming calls · CPC title

• G06F1/1613 Primary

  for portable computers (cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202) · CPC title