Method for providing force feedback to a user of an interface device based on interactions of a controlled cursor with graphical elements in a graphical user interface
US6219032A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2015 |
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 in conjunction with a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed by a host computer system. A physical object, such as a joystick or a mouse, controls a graphical object, such as a cursor, within the GUI. The GUI allows the user to interface with operating system functions implemented by the computer system. A signal is output from the host computer to the interface device to apply a force sensation to the physical object using one or more actuators. This desired force sensation is associated with at least one of the graphical objects and operating system functions of the graphical user interface and is determined by a location of the cursor in the GUI with respect to targets that are associated with the graphical objects. The graphical objects include icons, windows, pull-down menus and menu items, scroll bars ("sliders"), and buttons. The force sensation assists the user to select a desired operating system function or physically informs the user of the graphical objects encountered by the cursor within the GUI. A microprocessor local to the interface apparatus and separate fro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.