Systems and methods for a texture engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874935-B2
Application number	US-69701010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2010
Priority date	Mar 12, 2009
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for a texture engine are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: a processor configured to receive a display signal including a plurality of pixels, determine a haptic effect comprising a texture, and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to an actuator in communication with the processor, the actuator configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A system comprising: a processor configured to:
receive a display signal comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels is associated with a color and an intensity of the color;
assign a haptic value to each color;
receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to detect movement of a mobile device in the X, Y, or Z direction;
determine a haptic effect comprising a texture, wherein determining the haptic effect comprises determining the haptic value associated with one or more of the plurality of pixels, and wherein determining the haptic effect further comprises determining the haptic effect based in part on the movement; and
transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect;
an actuator in communication with the processor, the actuator configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect, wherein the haptic signal comprises a direction of operation and an intensity of operation for the actuator, wherein the direction of operation is based in part on the color and the intensity of operation is based in part on the intensity of the color; and
a display in communication with the processor, the display configured to receive the display signal and output an image, wherein the texture is output onto a surface of the display.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the texture is vibrotactile effect.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the texture comprises the texture of one or more of: sand, lizard skin, or a brick.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises one or more of: an eccentric rotating mass motor, a linear resonant actuator, a shape memory alloy, an electroactive polymer, or a piezoelectric actuator.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each color comprises an intensity, and determining the haptic effect further comprises adjusting the haptic value to correspond to the intensity.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the display.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to enclose the actuator and the processor.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a mobile device housing.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the housing.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the movement of the mobile device corresponds to a movement in a virtual workspace.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a touch-sensitive interface configured to detect user interaction and transmit a sensor signal to the processor based at least in part on the user interaction.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the haptic effect based at least in part on the sensor signal.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the touch-sensitive interface is configured to detect a speed of the user interaction and wherein determining the haptic effect comprises adjusting the haptic effect to correspond with the speed of the user interaction.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the touch-sensitive interface is configured to detect a pressure of the user interaction and wherein determining the haptic effect comprises adjusting the intensity of the haptic effect to correspond with the pressure of the user interaction.

15. A method for outputting a haptic effect comprising:
receiving a display signal comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels is associated with a color and an intensity of the color;
assigning a haptic value to each color;
receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to detect movement of a mobile device in the X, Y, or Z direction;
determining a haptic effect comprising a texture, wherein determining the haptic effect comprises determining the haptic value associated with one or more of the plurality of pixels, and wherein determining the haptic effect further comprises determining the haptic effect based in part on the movement;
transmitting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect, wherein the haptic signal comprises a direction of operation and an intensity of operation for the actuator, wherein the direction of operation is based in part on the color and the intensity of operation is based in part on the intensity of the color; and
outputting the display signal to a display configured to receive the display signal and output an image, wherein the texture is output onto a surface of the display.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each color comprises an intensity and determining the haptic effect further comprises adjusting the haptic value to correspond to the intensity.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving an interface signal from a touch-sensitive interface, and wherein the haptic effect is determined based at least in part on the interface signal.

18. A system comprising:
a touch-sensitive interface configured to detect a user interaction and transmit a signal corresponding to the user interaction, the touch-sensitive interface configured to detect the a speed and pressure of the user interaction;
a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive interface, the processor configured to:
receive a display signal comprising a plurality of pixels that each comprise a color and an intensity of the color;
assign a haptic value to each color;
receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to detect movement of a mobile device in the X, Y, or Z direction;
determine a haptic effect comprising a texture, wherein determining the haptic effect comprises determining the haptic value associated with one or more of the plurality of pixels, and wherein determining the haptic effect further comprises determining the haptic effect based in part on the movement; and
transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect;

an actuator in communication with the processor, the actuator configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect, wherein the haptic signal comprises a direction of operation and an intensity of operation for the actuator, wherein the direction of operation is based in part on the color and the intensity of operation is based in part on the intensity of the color; and
a display in communication with the processor, the display configured to receive the display signal and output an image, where in the texture is output onto a surface of the display.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a sensor configured to detect a movement of a mobile device in the X, Y, or Z direction, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine the haptic effect based in part on the movement.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the movement of the mobile device corresponds to a movement in a virtual workspace.

Assignees

• Cruz-Hernandez Juan Manuel
• Grant Danny A
• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Cruz-Hernandez Juan Manuel
• Grant Danny A

Classifications

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

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

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title