Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for providing simulated physical interactions within computer generated environments

US6028593A · kind A · utility

325Cited by
178References
71Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 14, 1996
Grant dateFeb 22, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 14, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L67/131
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing force feedback to a user operating a human/computer interface device and interacting with a computer-generated simulation. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method simulates the interaction of simulated objects displayed to a user who controls one of the simulated objects manipulating a physical object of an interface device. The position of the simulated object, as provided within the simulation and as displayed, is mapped directly to the physical position of the user object. This mapping is broken under conditions that are effective to provide force feedback to the user which imparts a physical sensation corresponding to the interaction of the simulated objects. In another aspect, a ball simulated ball object interacts with a user-controlled simulated object in a simulation to allow the user to utilize a wide range of physical skill and dexterity in interacting with the simulation. In another aspect, a simulation apparatus provides a display device such as one or more display screens or a projection device, and which also provides an intuitive mechanical interface device for the user to skillfully and dexterously manipulate objects within …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.