Vibrotactile haptic feedback devices
US6693622B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/016
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling magnitude and frequency of vibrotactile sensations for haptic feedback devices. A haptic feedback device, such as a gamepad controller, mouse, remote control, etc., includes a housing grasped by the user, an actuator coupled to the housing, and a mass. In some embodiments, the mass can be oscillated by the actuator and a coupling between the actuator and the mass or between the mass and the housing has a compliance that can be varied. Varying the compliance allows vibrotactile sensations having different magnitudes for a given drive signal to be output to the user grasping the housing. In other embodiments, the actuator is a rotary actuator and the mass is an eccentric mass rotatable by the actuator about an axis of rotation. The eccentric mass has an eccentricity that can be varied relative to the axis of rotation while the mass is rotating. Varying the eccentricity allows vibrotactile sensations having different magnitudes for a given drive signal to be output to the user grasping the housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.